Toledo in 1 Day: all you need to know

Toledo is one of the most important cities in Spain. Given its value over the centuries, various civilisations have passed through the city, leaving their mark on its monuments.

If you are travelling to the City of Three Cultures in one day and you don't know what to see and do in Toledo, read this travel itinerary I propose.

One of the entrances to Toledo is the Bisagra Gate, a medieval tower that was once built as the Triumphal Arch. In its centre you can see the imperial coat of arms of Charles V and just to one side the remains of the city walls. As for the origin of the Puerta de la Bisagra, it is not clear whether it dates back to the Moorish or Mudejar period.

It was rebuilt in the mid-16th century and the work lasted more than 30 years. As you can see, the gate has two sections, which are joined by two walls. In the middle of them, you can see a courtyard with a statue of Charles V.

In addition to the Bisagra gate, there are other entrance gates to the city, such as the gate of Alfonso VI, the Cambrón gate and the Alcántara gate. However, the most famous of them all is the Bisagra Gate. My recommendation is that for your day trip to Toledo, you should take a walking tour of the city. This way, you will be able to see the main places of interest in the capital of Toledo and get to know its curiosities and history.

From the Puerta de Toledo, the Calle Real de Arrabal begins. If you continue along this road, you will end up in Zocodover Square. The journey takes approximately 10 minutes and along the way you will be able to see some of the main streets of the old town of Toledo. Plaza Zocodover is Toledo's main square.

It is the nerve centre for the city's inhabitants and has very good bus connections, as well as a taxi rank. It is here that Toledo's main events are held, such as the Christmas market, the Book Fair, the New Year's Eve chimes and the craft markets.

In the Plaza Zocodover square itself, you will find the Arco de la Sangre (Arch of Blood), just where Cervantes street begins. You can see a bronze sculpture in honour of Miguel de Cervantes just down the stairs from the arch. The Arco de la Sangre has centuries of history, as its origin dates back to the 10th century, when it was built under the Arab occupation.

Originally, the arch was part of a wall that surrounded the entire city. However, to this day there are no remains of this wall. It is named after the Cofradía de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo (Brotherhood of the Precious Blood of Christ).

If you are in the Plaza de Zocodover square, you will only have to walk about 5 minutes to find the Alcázar of Toledo. It is one of the main monuments of the city and can be seen from different points of the city, thanks to its magnitude. The Alcázar stands on one of the seven hills of Toledo, on what is said to be the highest point of the city.

Its origins date back to Roman times. It was once a palace that housed the barracks of the Roman army. During the Visigothic period, it underwent certain modifications. Again, under the reigns of Alfonso VI and Alfonso X the Wise, the fortress was rebuilt to make it into an Alcazar.

The Alcázar finally became what it is today in 1525, during the reign of Charles V. However, since its construction, the Alcazar has suffered three fires and has had to be rebuilt on several occasions. The last of these was carried out in 1961, following an episode that occurred in the building during the Spanish Civil War.

Today, the Alcazar houses the Museum of the Spanish Army, which has been located here since 2010. During the works and adaptation of the space, Roman, Arab and Visigoth remains were discovered, as well as a hanging garden from the 11th century. If you are interested in visiting the museum, opening hours are from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00.

One of the most important cathedrals in Spain is the Cathedral of Santa María de Toledo. It is an architectural complex of great artistic and historical wealth. The Cathedral is just over 5 minutes' walk from the Alcázar.

The monument is clearly Gothic in style and its origins date back to the 13th century. In the same square where it is located, there are also the Toledo Town Hall and the Archbishop's Palace. There are areas that can be seen free of charge, although you will have to pay to access all the spaces that make it up.

Given its size and the number of relics hidden in the Cathedral, my recommendation is that you take a guided tour of the Cathedral, so that you know what to see in Toledo Cathedral. The construction of this architectural complex began in 1227 and was built on the remains of the 6th century Visigothic Cathedral, which was used as a mosque during the Arab conquest.

Construction was completed in 1493, under the reign of Isabella the Catholic. Around the cathedral, different legends converge, such as that of the Descent of the Virgin. It also has important tombs of members of royalty.

After having seen the Catedral Primada, the time has come for you to head to the church of Santo Tomé. This church is just over 5 minutes' walk from the Cathedral. It is one of the most important churches in the city, as it houses El Greco's work 'The Burial of Count Orgaz'. In order to enter the church, you will have to pay an entrance fee, although it is quite cheap, about 3 euros, and well worth it.

Its origins date back to the 12th century, but it was rebuilt at the end of the 14th century at the request of the Lord of Orgaz. It was at this time that the Christian bell tower that you can see today was added. This bell tower is one of the most outstanding examples of Mudejar architecture in Toledo and the second great attraction of the church of Santo Tomé.

In addition to the El Greco painting and the Mudejar tower, the church hides other works such as a 16th-century marble baptismal font, several canvases by Luis Tristán and a beautiful 16th-century altarpiece.

From the Church of Santo Tomé, if you head towards Plaza del Conde and continue along Calle de Descalzos, you will come to the restaurant Víctor Sánchez-Beato, one of the best restaurants in Toledo.

This is the place I suggest for lunch during your visit to the city. It is a small restaurant specialising in meat, fish and seafood. It has a tasting menu with avant-garde touches in which the food is cooked in front of the customers themselves.

Since it is one of the best restaurants in Toledo, I recommend that you make a reservation so that you don't run out of room. The tasting menu consists of 4 appetizers, three starters, a fish dish, a second meat dish and a dessert. In addition, you can also add the pairing option, which includes 7 glasses of wine.

Just a 4-minute walk from the Víctor Sánchez-Beato restaurant is the synagogue of Santa María la Blanca.

In its time, this was the largest synagogue in Toledo and today it is the greatest exponent of the Jewish population that lived in the city. The synagogue is located in the Jewish quarter and dates back to the 13th century. It is called Santa María la Blanca because of something you can see with your own eyes, as it is entirely of this colour.

This Mudejar architectural complex is made up of five naves, all separated by arcades, which are supported by brick and tile columns.

The synagogue was restored in 1250 after suffering a fire. Although it is a Jewish temple, it shows a clear Muslim influence. The synagogue is open from Monday to Sunday and opening hours vary, but are usually from 10am to 5pm.

After seeing the Santa María la Blanca synagogue, you will head to one of the best places to watch the sunset in Toledo. From the Mirador del Valle viewpoint, you'll feel like you've been transported to another era, thanks to the medieval character of the city. Next to the viewpoint you'll find a kiosk where you can buy a snack and a drink or two, so you can make the most of the moment.

Also, next to the viewpoint is the Cerro del Bú (Boo Hill). This hill is famous, as it is where the city of Toledo originated during the Bronze Age. It is home to one of the most important archaeological sites in Toledo, and admission is free. So, if you have enough time, I recommend you visit this place.

On the other hand, at the El Valle viewpoint you will also find the Nuestra Señora del Valle hermitage, which is precisely what gives the viewpoint its name. The pilgrimage to this hermitage is held every year on 1 May, when the Virgin is taken for a walk in the surrounding area.

If you go to the viewpoint from the Santa María la Blanca synagogue, I recommend that you do so by car. You can also walk, but it will take you about 40 minutes. On the other hand, if you go by car, you will reach your destination in less than 10 minutes.

To end your visit to Toledo, I recommend you to go to the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes. This building was built at the request of the Catholic Monarchs in 1476. The temple has a single nave with a star-shaped dome and the main chapel.

One of the most beautiful areas of the monastery is the cloister, which was designed by the architect Enrique Egas. From the cloister you can access the beautiful courtyard, where you will have a magnificent view of the windows of the monastery.

The place suffered a fire during the French invasion. This accident destroyed the original altarpiece of the monastery, as well as the library and the second cloister. The site was not restored until 1977.

If you walk to the monastery from the viewpoint over the Toledo valley, it will take you approximately 30 minutes. You can also make use of public transport, as the l71 bus leaves you very close to the monastery. Finally, you can also get there by car, in which case the journey will take no more than 10 minutes.

After lunch in an exemplary and refined place in the city, I suggest a dinner in the purest Toledo style. If you want to try the typical gastronomy of Toledo, I advise you to go to Taberna El Botero, one of the best traditional bars in the city.

Taberna El Botero is located at Calle Ciudad 5, just over 10 minutes' walk from the monastery of San Juan de los Reyes. During dinner you can enjoy the works of art that decorate the walls of the establishment. Although it is a simple and unpretentious place, the food it offers is of high quality.

I recommend you try their meats, such as the venison tartare, the veal cheek or the beef rib. If you're more of a fish lover, you can opt for the caramelised salmon, the cod and crispy bacon cocochas carbonata or the yellowfin tuna tartare. Finish your dinner in style with one of the tavern's desserts, such as torrija de horchata, lemon pie tartlet or saffron rice pudding.

As you can see, there are many activities you can do in a day in Toledo. It doesn't matter if you go to Toledo in summer or if you travel to Toledo with children; you'll always find great things to do in the city.