Top Tourist Attractions in Toledo

Looking for top tourist attraction in Toledo? Your options are quite a few. With everything that Toledo offers, the city is a major tourist attraction in itself.  It receives numerous tourists from across the globe and has developed into a major traveler’s hub in Spain.

Spain is the most visited nation in the world after France, receiving approximately 60 million tourists a year. Toledo, located in Central Spain is a UNESCO World Heritage city and is one of the most popular tourist draws in Spain due to its historic and cultural heritage. Toledo was the capital and the most important city in Spain till 1560, when the capital was moved to Madrid. Due to its central location and political importance Toledo has been a melting pot of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and the three great religions have coexisted peacefully in Toledo for most of its history. As a result Toledo contains several monuments and cultural relics from all three religions.

Toledo is around 140 kms from Madrid and well connected bus or train, which is usually a few hours ride. Normally it would take a few days of living and exploring to visit all the attractions of interest. There are several very good hotels, restaurants and night-spots to keep you occupied. An additional attraction is to book accommodations near the Parador, which affords a fantastic panoramic view of the stunning visage of the historic city.

Toledo Key Attractions:

Toledo Cathedral:

This cathedral dating back to the Roman era is one of the top tourist attractions in Toledo. Built by the Visigoths when they occupied Iberia from the Western Roman Empire, the Cathedral served as the primary mosque of Toledo during Moorish occupation. When the Christians reoccupied Toledo in 1085, Alfonso VI promised to retain mosque for the large Moorish population of the city. However, in 1226, construction began for a great Gothic cathedral, which was completed in 1493. This magnificent building has historic heritage compared to few other sites in the world and also houses a fantastic priceless art collection, the showpiece of which is the Twelve Apostles by El Greco.

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10:30 am – 6:30 pm, Sunday 2 – 6 pm

Alcazar:

Possibly the most romanticized castle in Renaissance literature, this great fortress built by the moors is one of the most popular attractions in Toledo. It is strategically located above the Targus river and overlooks the plains of Castile. It became a royal residence during Christian rule, till the capital was moved to Madrid. The Alcazar attained great importance during the Spanish Civial War, being the site of a great siege which lasted over 70 days and almost entirely destroyed the citadel. It was later rebuilt as a military museum and now houses priceless artifacts dating to the Roman era.

Opening Hours: 9:30 am – 2 pm (Tuesday to Sunday)
 
Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes:

The monastery named after, and constructed by Fernando and Isabella, between 1477 to 1504, is famous for its magnificent cloisters and is counted among the important Toledo tourist destinations. It was built to celebrate the Christian victory over the Moors in Toro.

Opening Hours: 10 am – 1:45 pm (everyday) and 3:30 pm to 6 pm (7 pm in summer)

Iglesia de Santo Tome:

This little known 14th century church is a single room building in the Jewish quarter which is gradually gaining popularity among tourists and has become one of the major attractions in Toledo. It’s claim to fame is as the location of El Greco’s greatest masterpiece, The Burial of The Count of Orgaz (1586).

So, here is a list of the top tourist attractions in Toledo. Make sure you include the destinations mentioned above in your must visit list, in order to experience the best of the city. 

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