Toledo or Segovia: The Best Day Trip from Madrid

Toledo and Segovia are the two classic day trips from Madrid. Both are UNESCO World Heritage cities, and both are about 30 minutes away by high-speed train. Toledo is the better choice for history, art and a large medieval old town. Segovia is the better choice for the Roman aqueduct, a fairy-tale castle and a shorter, easier day.

If you have two free days, see both. If you have only one, this guide helps you choose. You can compare the guided visits on our Toledo walking tours page and our Segovia history tours page.

Why visit Toledo?

Toledo stands on a rocky hill inside a deep bend of the river Tagus, about 70 kilometres south of Madrid. It was the capital of the Visigoths and, for centuries, the seat of the Spanish kings. Christians, Muslims and Jews lived side by side here in the Middle Ages, and Toledo is still called the city of three cultures. Its old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986.

The main sights are the Gothic cathedral, one of the largest in Spain, the Alcázar fortress at the top of the hill, two medieval synagogues and the paintings of El Greco, who lived and worked in Toledo. The streets are narrow, steep and full of small squares, so a guide saves you a lot of time.

The Alcázar of Toledo above the roofs of the old town

Why visit Segovia?

Segovia is about 90 kilometres north-west of Madrid, on the other side of the Guadarrama mountains. Its symbol is the Roman aqueduct: rows of granite arches, built almost two thousand years ago without mortar, that still cross the lower town. The old town and the aqueduct have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985.

At the other end of the old town is the Alcázar, a royal castle on a rock between two rivers. Its towers and slate roofs make it one of the most photographed castles in Spain. Between the two stands the cathedral, the last great Gothic cathedral built in Spain. Segovia is also famous for its food, and above all for cochinillo, roast suckling pig.

The Alcázar of Segovia on its rock at sunset

Toledo vs Segovia: how they compare

Travel time. High-speed trains reach Toledo from Madrid Atocha station in about 30 minutes, and the station is a short bus or taxi ride below the old town. Trains reach Segovia from Madrid Chamartín station in about 30 minutes, but Segovia-Guiomar station is outside the town, so you need a bus of about 15 to 20 minutes to the aqueduct. By bus, both cities are about one hour to one and a half hours from Madrid.

Size. Toledo's old town is larger and steeper, and it has more sights. A full day is not too long. Segovia is compact: you can walk from the aqueduct to the Alcázar in about 20 minutes, so a day there feels easier.

What you see. Toledo is about many layers of history: Visigoth, Islamic, Jewish and Christian, plus great art. Segovia is about three big monuments, the aqueduct, the cathedral and the Alcázar, in a smaller and quieter town.

Food. Toledo is famous for marzipan, which nuns still make by hand in some convents. Segovia is famous for roast suckling pig and for ponche segoviano, a local cake.

Who should choose Toledo?

Choose Toledo if you like history, churches and art, if you want to see El Greco, or if you enjoy getting lost in old streets. It is also the better choice in winter, when Segovia, which is higher, can be cold.

Who should choose Segovia?

Choose Segovia if you travel with children, if you want a famous castle and one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in Spain, or if you want a relaxed day with a long lunch. Its three main sights are easy to see in one day.

The best tours in Toledo

The easiest way to see Toledo is a private day from Madrid. The Private Toledo Day Trip by Car collects you at your hotel in Madrid in a hybrid car, with a private guide in English, Spanish or German. It stops at the Mirador del Valle viewpoint, includes a two to three-hour walk through the old town and your cathedral ticket, and ends with a marzipan tasting and a demonstration of damascene, the local craft of inlaying gold into steel.

If you go on your own, Toledo has excellent guided visits in Spanish. The guided visit of Toledo Cathedral with entry included shows you the treasures of the cathedral with a guide. The Alcázar and Army Museum guided visit takes you inside the fortress. The Toledo underground tour visits five hidden places under the streets, including medieval baths and Roman baths, with an official guide.

For a private walk with a local guide, see the private Toledo tour with an official guide. For something sweet, the convent route with marzipan and wine tells the story of Toledo's marzipan in its convents.

The best tours in Segovia

The Private Segovia Day Trip by Car collects you at your hotel in Madrid and reaches the aqueduct about one hour later. Your private guide speaks English, Spanish or German. The day includes a two to three-hour walk through the old town, entry to the Alcázar and a stop at the viewpoint below the castle walls.

If you go on your own, the Segovia guided tour of the city, cathedral and Alcázar covers the three great sights in 2.5 hours, with entry included. The tour is in Spanish. You can also climb the cathedral tower on the Segovia Cathedral bell tower visit, which has a free audio guide in English.

If you have extra time, the Royal Palace and Gardens of La Granja is about 11 kilometres from Segovia. The palace was a summer home of the Spanish kings, and its gardens have some of the finest fountains in Europe.

Segovia Cathedral above the old town in the evening light

Can you see Toledo and Segovia in one day?

It is possible, but we do not recommend it. The two cities are on opposite sides of Madrid, about two hours apart by road. In one day you would spend more time in the car than in the cities. Plan two separate days, or choose one city and take your time.

Which is closer to Madrid, Toledo or Segovia?

Toledo is closer by road, about 70 kilometres, against about 90 kilometres for Segovia. By high-speed train, both take about 30 minutes, but Segovia's station is outside the town.

Is one day enough for Toledo?

One day is enough for the main sights: the cathedral, the Alcázar, a synagogue and a walk through the old town. If you want to see the city at night, when the day visitors have gone, stay one night.

Do you need a guide in Toledo and Segovia?

You can visit both cities on your own. A guide helps more in Toledo, where the streets are a maze and the history has many layers. In Segovia, a guide is most useful for the cathedral and the Alcázar.

For more ideas, see all our tours in Toledo, tours in Segovia and tours in Madrid.

Written by the local guides of Artista Tours, a tour agency founded in Barcelona. About Artista Tours.