day trip to Toledo
 

would you reccomend a tour or just taking the train from Madrid and sightseeing on our own?? Is the train station close to the main attractions in Toledo? Can the main sights be seen on foot? Im just trying to save some $$$$ <BR>thanks :)

Variants on this question have been asked a lot, I think, so please do a search for &quot;toledo&quot; as well.<BR><BR>With that said, I can't offer any pro/con as I have not done a tour. However, my most recent experience (one month ago) in Toledo was taking the train from Madrid for a day trip, so it might be useful to you. The train station (a nifty neo-mudejar building in its own right) is a healthy but doable hike from the old city. My girlfriend and I walked (largely uphill, approx 15 minutes to the city walls), but there is a bus station directly outside the train station and there appeared to be taxis as well. We enjoyed the walk.<BR><BR>The old city is very compact and all the main tourist sites are within it. With that said, it is a quite confusing city to get around in, as the streets are narrow, steep, and jumbled together in a typical medieval manner. We enjoyed that aspect of it, but it did make getting around challenging. Still, amny of the small delights of the city arose from getting lost and stumbing across interesting buildings, alleys, and other sites. Give yourselves plenty of time.<BR><BR>While I agree that Toledo should be seen at least once (especially the Cathedral which is worth a couple of days itself), I can't really say I enjoyed this recent experience all that much. Every single business in town seems to exist onlt to seperate the hordes of tourists from their money, from the mind-numbing number of souvenir stores to the poor and overpriced bars and restaurants. Maybe next time we'll try staying overnight, and see what it looks like when the daytime crowds depart.<BR><BR>At any rate, we caught the train at the Chamartin station in Madrid, but it stops at Atocha on the way. Buses are another frequent and cheap option. I believe they depart from the Estacion del Sur (metro Mendez Alvaro).

Hey,post on the correct board next time.Last time I looked Toledo was in Ohio,USA!

Geogie:<BR><BR>You fool! Toledo, OH was named after Toledo, Spain.

Please don't call me a fool. I admit I made a mistake. Maybe if I wasn't hooked-up to this respirator I could get out and see more of the world.

Just back from 3 weeks in Spain.You can certainly see all the main sites on foot and at your own pace. I would do my own tour and save money. Round-trip on the same day on the train is around $8.50 and on the bus less. I wanted to stay overnight in Toledo, but could not get a room there, so made 2 day trips. I travelled by both bus and train, each of which has its good points. There are more buses, so more flexibility going that way, just be sure to get on an express and not a local bus. Also, the bus station is also closer to the sites. The train was more comfortable. In either case, you can catch a no. 5 or 6 local bus to the Plaza Zocodover--the main square--for 78 cents each way. The bus stops on the street in front of the train station; it runs through the bus station only a few feet from where the bus comes in from Madrid.<BR>Going back, buses run from Plaza Zocodover. Stops are in front of the best mazapan shop in Toldeo. <BR>

You can get around on foot very well--you would do that with the tour anyway since buses do not run into the old streets. Las Maravillas hostal is just steps from the Plaza Zocodover and has a very good, moderate priced restaurant which stays open through the early evening. Take the train so you don't miss the train station.

Hi, we tried both taking a bus, which was very good left us right there, and taking a tour.<BR>The tour is much more expensive, of course, and you are bound to waist a lot of precious time picking up and bringing back other passagers in different locations.<BR>A visit to Toledo certainly can be done by foot, with a good map and a good book.

Go on your own! MUCH nicer way to see this wonderful town. Tour guides are notorious for taking you to a &quot;sword factory&quot; for a wasted hour, when you will be told you can buy souveniers for 29 prcent discount! This &quot;factory&quot; is just another tourist shop where prices are inflated 50 percent and the guide gets a 30 percent discount. Plus, trying to nameuver Toledo in a group of 20-30 people is not relaxing. Get a good guide book (and MAP!!) and explore yourself. Also, don't take the train--bus is faster and easier. My sincere recommendatio is that you stay overnight. Toledo is a wonderful place to explore after the mobs of turist leave in the afternoon. I travel to Spain quite frequently, and I always include at least two nights in Toledo when I am in central Spain.

Go on your own! MUCH nicer way to see this wonderful town. Tour guides are notorious for taking you to a &quot;sword factory&quot; for a wasted hour, when you will be told you can buy souveniers for 29 prcent discount! This &quot;factory&quot; is just another tourist shop where prices are inflated 50 percent and the guide gets a 30 percent discount. Plus, trying to maneuver Toledo in a group of 20-30 people is not relaxing. Get a good guide book (and MAP!!) and explore yourself. Also, don't take the train--bus is faster and easier. My sincere recommendatio is that you stay overnight. Toledo is a wonderful place to explore after the mobs of turist leave in the afternoon. I travel to Spain quite frequently, and I always include at least two nights in Toledo when I am in central Spain.

Don´t miss the view of Toledo from the Circunvalacian road south of the town.