Best tours of Toledo

Among the best things to see and do in Toledo, there are plenty of guided tours of the city's main monuments. Places like the Cathedral or the Alcázar are some of Toledo's treasures, places you can't miss, although you can also take fun excursions by boat, bicycle or even hot air balloon.

As you can see, Toledo has everything you need to spend an unforgettable few days. Read on to find out which tours are not to be missed. I have selected for you the best options.

Live a unique experience, a mixture of game and sightseeing tour. You will walk through some of the most important places in Toledo on your own, while you follow clues and solve the different riddles that will be given to you. The goal is to become a medieval knight.

You will explore the streets of Toledo, known as the city of three cultures, in this exciting adventure to enjoy alone, with friends or with your family. As well as playing and having fun, you will learn about the history of the city and its incredible legends. As you solve the clues you are given, the history of each of the places you visit is unlocked.

Interesting details

• Price: from 10 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately one hour and 25 minutes in total.
• Means of transport: this is a walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: it is a perfect tour to do with children, as they have fun playing and learning.
• Disadvantages of this option: you do not have a guide in person.

Enjoy all the charm of the city of Toledo when the sun goes down. You will see how its cobbled streets, bathed by the yellow lights, become magical. Your guide will show you some of the most interesting corners of the city, while you listen to many of the legends that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Toledo has centuries of history behind it. Your specialised local guide will show you the best views of the city, the alleys and small passages that make it so picturesque. A completely different experience that captivates everyone. As a result, this is one of the best things to do in Toledo with children.

Interesting details

• Price: this type of tour costs around 14 euros per passenger.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Means of transport: it is a night-time walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to enjoy another side of the city. Small groups.
• Disadvantages of this option: Access to many of the monuments is not included, as they are closed at night.

The Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de España is one of the most outstanding buildings in the city of three cultures. Its beauty exceeds all mention, as it boasts sublime architecture that is well worth seeing. You will tour the interior to marvel at its details, its main altarpiece and the beautiful stained glass windows in each of the naves.

Toledo Cathedral is considered to be one of the masterpieces of Gothic architecture. Its construction began in the 14th century, during the reign of Fernando III, the Saint, and was completed in the 15th century. You will be amazed by the delicate workmanship of its doors. Among them, the Puerta del Reloj, the Puerta de los Leones and the Puerta del Perdón.

On this guided tour, you can also visit the sacristy chambers and its rooms, where you will learn about the history of the temple and its importance in the life and past of the city. After the visit you can walk around on your own and take some pictures.

Details of interest

• Price: from 25 euros per person.
• Duration: this type of tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Means of transport: this is a walking tour of the Cathedral.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to get to know all the details of this incredible Toledo landmark, thanks to your guide.
• Disadvantages of this option: it may not be recommended for small children.

Take a tour through the Templar past of the city of Toledo. After sunset, you will visit the Casa del Temple Museum, located precisely in the Temple quarter, where you will learn, together with your local expert guide, all about these religious knights.

The Knights of the Order of the Templars were noble warriors, who were always linked to activities full of mystery. They used to meet in secret, their original name being the Knights of the Order of the Poor Companions of Christ of the Temple of Solomon. It was one of the most important and influential military-Catholic orders of the Middle Ages. It remained active for two centuries and was later disbanded.

On this tour you will also visit the beautiful Church of San Miguel, an important part of Toledo's Templar past, while strolling through the historic centre of the city. A different experience, as entertaining as it is educational. Recommended for all ages.

Interesting details

• Price: from 13 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Means of transport: it is a walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: it is the only tour in Toledo where you can learn about this order of knights.
• Disadvantages of this option: no refreshments are included.

Embark on an underground tour of Toledo's past. The city boasts several ruins and excavations dating back to the region's Roman past. Places like the Caves of Hercules, the Roman Baths in the Plaza de Amador de los Ríos, the remains of the Pozo del Salvador, underneath the Plaza El Salvador or the Arab bath (hammam) in the Calle del Angel.

This is a guided tour for small groups, with individual headphones so you can listen to the explanations and stories your guide has to tell you. One of the most interesting tours in Toledo, as you will be able to see the foundations of the city today, and why it is known as the city of the 3 cultures.

This activity is one of the best things to do in Toledo in summer, as you will be able to enjoy the tour without having to dress warmly.

Details of interest

• Price: from 105 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours in total.
• Means of transport: this is an underground tour on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will have access to some of the archaeological excavations which are generally not open to the public.
• Disadvantages of this option: not recommended for people with reduced mobility, as there are a large number of stairs.

Take a different kind of night tour. If you are a friend of the paranormal or simply like stories of apparitions and ghosts, this is the tour for you. Together with an experienced guide, you will get to know those places that usually remain hidden to tourists. Dungeons, alleys, old houses where some unexplainable events have taken place, you will see the other side of Toledo.

An almost 2 hour scare-proof adventure, where you will walk through dark stone streets and spooky cellars, while listening to legends about witchcraft, magic and ghostly apparitions. Truly a tour with a difference, for those who are tired of conventional tours.

To make sure it's not all gruesome, the tour ends with a tasting of some of the local pastry delights, albeit... in a stone dungeon! This is one of the best things to do in Toledo at night.

Interesting details

• Price: from 14 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know the hidden side of Toledo and enjoy the city by night. Tasting of local pastries is included.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tour does not include hotel pick-up and drop-off.

But if what you want is a tour with style, you can't miss a hot air balloon ride over the sky of Toledo. This 3 to 6 hour tour will take you to see the main attractions of Toledo, but from a completely different and original perspective.

It is a large hot air balloon, with space for more than 10 passengers, from which you can get amazing views of the Tagus River, the Alcazar, the Cathedral, the walls and much of the historic centre of the city of Toledo. After being in the air for just over an hour, the pilot will descend to enjoy a delicious brunch and a glass of white wine.

The tour also includes insurance, HD quality video footage, photographs and flight certificate. This is an experience like no other. Take to the skies and enjoy Toledo to the full.

Details of interest

• Price: from 176 euros per person.
• Duration: from 3 to 6 hours in total.
• Means of transport: hot air balloon.
• Advantages of this option: get to know Toledo from the air. Includes brunch and glass of wine, photo, video and flight certificate.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is not recommended if you are pregnant or have a heart condition.

The best way to book a tour is always to do it online. This is the only way to be sure that the company providing the tour is a responsible and experienced company. If you choose to book a tour on the street, you may not find professionals and end up having a bad experience. By booking online, you can read reviews and opinions from other travellers, so you know what to expect from the tour.

The duration will depend on the type of tour you have chosen, but in general they are around 90 minutes or 2 hours. It is important that you find out, before you go on a tour, what timetables are available for it, and if the duration does not overlap with any other activity or tour that you would like to do.

There are many types of excursions, from guided walking tours of the old town or tours of the city's main monuments, to much more original options, such as the night-time mystery tour of Toledo, or the tour of the underground city. Each tour offers a different itinerary, so it is very important that you look at all the options so that you can choose the one that best suits your interests.

Toledo is a city full of attractions, so it is very likely that, while touring one place, you will come across several others that are worth visiting. My recommendation is to make a map with the different places you want to see and try to group them by zones, this way you will save time and you will be able to optimize your trip to the maximum.

Another tip (maybe the best one I can give you), take comfortable shoes, because in Toledo you walk, and a lot!

The prices for excursions in Toledo are usually not too expensive. Of course, there are as many tours as there are budgets, but walking tours are generally around 20 to 25 euros per person. Tours that offer a different activity, such as hot air ballooning, tend to be more expensive.

With all the attractions that the city of Toledo has to offer, a guided tour is the best way to get to know it in depth. A visit on your own will make you miss out on stories and details that only an experienced local guide can provide, so with cities like Toledo, with so much rich heritage and so much history behind it, I think a guided tour is essential.

Of course, there are two types of pass, the Toledo Card and the Toledo Tourist Bracelet. With the Toledo Card you will be able to visit a select handful of attractions that the city has to offer, ideal for visits of less than 4 days.

The bracelet, on the other hand, is the best option for trips lasting more days, as, in addition to having many more entrances to monuments, churches and museums, it also offers various guided walking tours of the city. The bracelet also does not expire, meaning you can repeat your visit to the attractions you liked the most. An excellent way to get to know the city and save both on entrance fees and time, as with the Toledo tourist bracelet you can skip all the queues.