Taltul

We're going to daytrip to Toledo in October while in Madrid. I want to make good use of our time since most of the places we want to see close between 2 and 4 (and we have a five thirty train back to Madrid). After looking at a map of Toledo, I saw that there are 3-4 places in the Jewish quarter that we want to visit and since that is the furthest point from the Plaza de Zocodover, I thought we would start there and work our way back to the cathedral and the Alcazar.
We are planning on taking a taxi from the train station. Does anyone know where it could drop us off so we would be close to the Jewish quarter?
Everyone writes that Toledo is small and walkable. How long would it take to walk from the Jewish quarter to Plaza de Zocodover? (I know that it's hilly and the streets are cobblestone.)
Thanks.

maitaitom

"How long would it take to walk from the Jewish quarter to Plaza de Zocodover?"

20 minutes or less with no stops.

Sassafrass

Trains run all day long. Unless you must be back in Madrid at a specific time for a show or something, you do not need to book the train back for a particular time. Same is true for taxis in Madrid. We called ahead to go to the airport, but otherwise it was easy to go to a taxi stand or just hail a taxi.

I truly do not think it matters too much how you approach it, but it is easy to get a bit turned around in Toledo, so allow a little time for that. Be sure to allow plenty of time for the cathedral, IMHO, one of the most beautiful in the world. We easily spend two hours or more there.

Taltul

The question about the taxi was for Toledo. I read many posts that recommended buying tickets in advance because it's also a commuter line and tickets get sold out. We are getting up early the next day to leave Madrid so we want to get back to organize ourselves etc...
I know that a day trip won't do justice to Toledo but it was an afterthought because our trip is to Andalucia and we could only spare a day.

Taltul

I meant buying train tickets in advance....

Sassafrass

You will not regret using the day for Toledo. It is so interesting and beautiful. The history of Toledo is incredible, very glad you are doing it!

Can't answer the question of taxi in Toledo as we walked. We never had a problem getting on the train, but have heard it could happen.

Robert2533

A taxi, from Plaza de Zocodover to the Toledo train station, should be around 7€. And yes, you should buy your train tickets at least a few days in advance to make sure you can get a seat. You'll receive a small discount when purchasing a roundtrip ticket. I would look at the 7:50 (19h50) train back to Madrid. It will give you a little more time to explore.

Most places, including stores, are closed between 1:30 and 4:00 pm because people like to go to lunch and relax at little.

You might be interested in reading the following guide: www.maribelsguides.com/mg_toledo.pdf

joannyc

Have the taxi drop you off at San Juan de los Reyes in Toledo and begin your site seeing there then head east down the street to see the other sites in the Jewish quarter. Google "toledo spain tourist map" and you can plan your itinerary.

Christina

I just walked around, it isn't that big in the center, although that is a good work out for all day.

I think starting at the plaza San Juan de los Reyes is a good idea. It's about 1 km from there to the plaza Zocodover, but only if you go direct, not if you go to the Casa de Greco, for example, a more roundabout way.

chapla

As someone mentioned, it's very easy to get turned around in Toledo. Stop by the tourist office for a great walking map.I got quite frustrated because I like to wander and found myself in a maze of very narrow/claustrophobic streets/alleys!I finally followed someone on a bike to the main street!
I suggest taking the little tourist train next to the cathedral to get your bearings.There are also free walking tours that meet there.

Taltul

All great ideas. I've already bought the tickets and I hope we'll have time to take the tourist train while we're there. Thanks joannyc and Christina for the tip about San Juan de los Reyes. I looked at the map of Toledo and that is exactly where we want to start. We don't want to waste time walking back and forth from Plaza de Zocodover since it's only a day trip. Even "saving" 20 minutes walking gives us more time to explore, take a break or spend more time at the Cathedral.
One last question - does anyone have any experience changing a late train to an earlier one on Renfe if the ticket is already bought? I think we will probably want to get to Toledo earlier rather than staying later.

kja

"thanks joannyc and Christina for the tip about San Juan de los Reyes. I looked at the map of Toledo and that is exactly where we want to start."

It's a very small thing, but if you want to start by the Jewish sites, you might be aiming for a place that is just the tiniest bit away. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't mention it, but since you seem to be on a VERY limited time frame, and since it is (as already noted) VERY easy to inadvertently explore (i.e., get lost in) Toledo's evocative back lanes, I thought I'd chime in.....

"We don't want to waste time walking back and forth from Plaza de Zocodover since it's only a day trip"

I must say that I wouldn't consider that to be WASTED time. It just might not be time spent to your purposes. For me, It was part of why I visited Toledo.

Christina

I'm not sure what kja means about aiming for a place that is a tiniest bit away. There are things to see in that area, it isn't just a point to be dropped off and then leave. For example, the church and monastery of San Juan de los Reyes. And the El Greco museum isn't that far away from it, either, or the Sinagoga de Santa Maria de Blanca, Sinagoga del Transito, the church of Santa Tome, etc. I think I even stopped in the Alcazar, but I like military museums. Not to mention the Cathedral, which isn't in the direct line from San Juan de los Reyes to plaza Zocodover.

This really shouldn't be difficult, I was only there for a day trip, also, but saw all these things and I was walking. I think the OP mean it was wasting time to do a roundtrip between Zocodover and San Juan de los Reyes. It wouldn't waste that much time, you could go the direct way going and the other way returning, but as long as you are taking a taxi anyway, there really isn't a good reason to start in plaza Zocodover, either. I just started there because I took the bus from the bus station and that's where it left us off.

I took the bus to Toledo, I thought it was more convenient, anyway, as the main bus station is closer to town than the train station. They have express buses all the time, they leave from metro station Eliptica. So didn't try to change a train ticket. I'm not sure what the original one was, I did get there early in the day and spent all day there and had no problem with time and saw plenty of things. 7 hours is a long time, after all (say 10-5).

texasbookworm

We are hoping for a day trip to Toledo from Madrid in October too; can you tell me what major sites are closed in middle of the day? Seems cathedral and Alcazar are not closed, and walking around streets can happen any time of the day. But what do I need to know is closed?

Robert2533

You might want to start a new post with: what major sites are closed in middle of the day?

Ackislander

It isn't a very big place, so I just walked.

Unless someone knows of city buses, you might want to take a taxi to one of the overlooks high above the other side of the river. If you have seen a photo of the Toledo skyline, it was probably taken from one of these. Iconic.

iris1745

Been there twice and it is easy walking to all the sites.

But agree, in the city center is a tiny cho cho train that goes across the river for a view of the city.

Purchase tickets.

Wonderful view. Forgot the cost.

Taltul

I like digging around Internet sites to get all the practical information before travelling (especially day trips which are always crammed with possible places to visit.)
I found several sites with information that the Alcazar and the art museum next to it are open all day but all the other major museums, synagogues, churches close in the afternoon.
( The best site is http://www.go-toledo.com/walks/ - this site has good maps and well planned itineraries. ) But then when I started to check each place individually (going into each museum, synagogue etc... site), I discovered that all the places are open from the morning to the evening without closing. So I'm going on the belief that everything is open non stop. If it isn't true, I'll post when I get back .

maitaitom

"But agree, in the city center is a tiny cho cho train that goes across the river for a view of the city. Purchase tickets. Wonderful view. Forgot the cost.

Pretty sure it was €5.50 for the train. Catch it at Plaza de Zocodover.

iris1745

Hey Taltul; I put a foto of the old guy and the kid looking out over Toledo.