How to save on your trip to Toledo, Spain
An easy jaunt from Madrid with good rail connections, the charming city of Toledo makes an ideal day trip destination. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986, the city’s shared Christian, Jewish and Muslim roots are particularly evident in its mountaintop old town with its striking monuments and traditional shops.
Once home to Spanish King Charles I’s court, in its heyday, Toledo was known as the Imperial City. Beyond the iconic walls and historic buildings, its also a good place to obtain a souvenir like a traditionally made sword, knife or weapon, as the city has specialized in steelmaking for centuries.
Getting there
The nearest airport is Madrid. Budget airlines fly regular routes between Madrid and major European cities like Paris, London, and Barcelona. You can search for flights on EuroCheapo.
From Madrid, you can hop a high-speed train for a 33-minute trip to Toledo for around €20 round trip. If you want to save a little bit, spend about half that and get to Toledo in around an hour with a direct ALSA bus from Plaza Eliptica. If you’ve got more time than money, go for a ride share with BlaBlaCar for around €5. You’ll get there in a little over an hour.
And regardless of whether or not you take the train, make sure to have a look around inside the city’s main station, a 19th-century Neo-Mudejar style building with tiled ceilings and floors, and stained glass windows.
Free and Cheap Things to Do
Free Walks
While many of Toledo’s attractions charge an admission fee, all of them are free to look at from the outside, so come dressed for the weather, wearing good walking shoes.
One option is exploring the city’s old town on foot, stopping to snap shots of historic convents like the Convent of San Pedro Mártir and opulent government buildings like Toledo’s Town Hall with its twin towers and Tuscan columns and Fuensalida, a 15th-century noble’s palace.
Don’t miss local landmarks like the Alcazar, a Moorish fortress perched on the highest hill in the city, the charming Bridge of San Martin, first built in the Middle Ages, the Roman era Alcántara Bridge, the 13th-century Primada Cathedral, and the ancient Cristo de la Luz Mosque with its red and white horseshoe-shaped arches, built in 999.
Or you can stroll the outskirts of the old town in search of Toledo’s eight famous city gates, what’s left of the wall that once protected the city. There’s a gate for every personality, from castle-like gates at Bisagra and Sun Gates to simpler arched gateways like the Bab-al-Mardum and Alfonso VI Gates.
Yet another option is putting Toledo’s historic buildings in better perspective with a hike up the ancient hill of the Cerro de la Virgen de Gracia for views of the San Juan de los Reyes Monastery. You could also cross the river Tagus, and head to the Mirador del Valle for panoramic views of the entire city.
Free Afternoons and Weekends
When heading to Toledo’s most famous museums, buildings, and monuments, remember that going on the weekends or late afternoon can save you the entry fee.
· See the spectacular Gothic-style Great Reading Chamber at the Synagogue of El Transito for free on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings.
· Wander the Alcazar fortress and the Military Museum inside for free, all day Sundays.
· Get to know El Greco at the museum dedicated his life and works, particularly his over 40 years residing and painting in Toledo, free Saturdays after 4 pm, and Sundays, all day.
· Walk the halls of a 16th-century hospital in search of mosaics, artifacts, and art at the Santa Cruz Museum, free Monday through Saturday from 5 pm – 6:15 pm.
Should you buy a Toledo Pass?
The Toledo Pass offers entry to different attractions for one price. There are five different passes and prices ranges from €4 – €36.
Think about what you want to do before you buy it. Unless you really want to go inside multiple monuments and can’t make a free entry day work with your itinerary, you might want to pass on it. If you’re happy enough to wander around, and there’s only one or two buildings or museums you actually want to go inside, it won’t be worth the money.
On the other hand, if you’re in a rush or want some guidance and plan to see lots of sights, all of the passes let you skip lines at admission and offer guided visits.
A sampling of local specialties from Toledo. Photo: michalo
Eating on the cheap
Make a cheap breakfast or snack of coffee and delicious pastries at La Felipa Pan y Café (Avenida de Madroño, 6). They’ve also got reasonably priced hamburgers and sandwiches on offer if you’re really hungry.
Fill up on local specialties like Venison in mushroom sauce and Carcamusa—stewed pork with tomatoes and peas for around €10 to €15 with wine and bread at Bar Toledo (c/ de las Armas, 15).
For an after dinner treat pick up a box of Toledo’s celebrated handcrafted marzipan sweets for around €5.
Hotel Sol is an affordable choice ideally located close to the center of town. Photo: Booking.com
Sleeping without breaking the bank
Due to the somewhat limited accommodations in this smallish Spanish city, staying overnight here can be more expensive than in Barcelona or Madrid. Even so, sleeping in Toledo is quite reasonable, with clean and basic hotels and pensiones in the historic city center starting at €60 – 75 per night. Shared dorm rooms in hostels and albergues start at around €13 per night.
We like the basic but clean rooms with private bath at Hotel Sol, less than half a kilometer from the city center and Toledo’s main sights. If you want to spend less and are traveling with a group, they also have three and four bed hostel rooms.
About the author
I know it’s not exactly cheap, but for 20€ there’s an incredible pre-fix dinner at Restaurante Tobiko just outside of the old city. 3 courses + an aperitif and a half bottle of wine… and the food was delicious. Check it out here: http://california2catalonia.com/holy-toledo/