I will be in Madrid for four days arriving on Sunday (around noon) and leaving on Thursday. I want to take two day trips to Toledo and Segovia. Given that most museums are closed on Mondays, do you think it is best if I go on one of my day trips on Monday or should I get to know "the streets" of Madrid instead.

Also will be in Seville on a Monday and would welcome any suggestions for that day too. Thanks!

As for Seville, you can visit the Cathedral and Giralda tower and the Casa de Pilatos which is a beautiful mansion full of art, history and gardens -and is often missed by tourists- .
Also you can visit the open sights like the ones in Maria Luisa Park -Plaza de España and Plaza de America- which are great photo ops with wonderful architecture, the famous Santa Cruz quarter and Betis street -great view over the river to the old town center-, which is full of nice bars and restaurants. While on that side of the river, on the north end of Betis street is where you find the Triana district's ceramic workshops and stores. They have better prices than the historic center's souvenir shops!
Another neat thing to see for me is the traditional food markets, a nice slice of sevillian life not usually enjoyed by tourists. There is a very nice one just renovated, by the Isabel II bridge -aka Triana bridge- on the opposite side of the river, by Betis street. Also the Mercado del Arenal near the bullring.
Of course, you can always go shopping adn just enjoy walking around and barhopping!

Thank you Olga. Your suggestions are exactly what I love to do when I travel, which is to assimilate into "daily life" as much as possible during my brief stays.

I appreciate your inventive ideas!

Madrid: Most of the daytrip Bus Tours don't operate on Mondays. You could do an 'on your own' tour to Toledo from Madrid's Puerta de Atocha (train) or Estacion Sur de Autobus (bus). Much of the stuff in Toledo is open - I don't know about the El Greco museum but the Sao Tome Church where El Greco's Burial of the Count of Orgaz is on display, is open.

Hi NedsIreland: yes, I do most walking tours on my own, so that's no problem that paid tours are not running on Mondays. After you listed some of the sites in Toledo, I went to the web to search for myself, and here is what I found:

Museo de Santa Cruz, which has a collection of canvases from El Greco, is open on Monday (closed Sunday).

El Alcazar: closed Mondays
El Greco House-cum Museum: closed Mondays
Toledo Cathedral and Cathedral Museum: closed Mondays
Sephardic Museum: closed Mondays

I guess I'm answering my own question regarding Toledo...I should wait until Tuesday or Wednesday to go there.

But what about Segovia? well I did some investigation and The Alcazar (on spain.info.com) does not indicate that it is closed on Mondays, but I seem to recall reading a prior post of an upset traveler who said it was closed one monday. Could it have been a one time closure for repairs or something? If anyone else knows for sure, it would be greatly appreciated!

tskobo,
Just a note about the day excursion bus tours from Madrid.
They do all operate on Mondays to Segovia and Toledo, but there's no excursion to El Escorial or the Toledo-El Escorial-Valle de los Caídos one, since the Monastery at El Escorial is closed Mon.

As you know from your detailed research, Mon. is not the best day for Toledo due to the numerous closings. Also the Alcázar in Toledo is closed for renovation as is the Sinagoga del Tránsito/Sephardic Museum with no reopening date set. We recently toured the Museum/House of El Greco, and it can be seen very quickly as the collection, mostly portraits of Toledo noblemen (plus a copy of his famous "View of Toledo&quot, is quite limited now.

In Segovia, the Alcázar is open Mon. as is the cathedral, but the special exhibit there the "Edades del Hombre, El Arbol de la Vida", wonderful sacred art treasures from Castilla-León on display until Nov, can't be seen on Mon.
Also in Segovia the little 13th century treasure, the twelve-sided Iglesia de la Vera Cruz, in the valley down below the city is closed on Mon.
Hope this helps.

Thank you for the tip Maribel. Looks like Toledo is undergoing a serious overhall and I'm sure its for the best. It seems that I have some decisions to make..but a good dilemma to have never the less.

I do have another question though. I had planned on using public transportation throughout my trip. I know of transportation to take me from Madrid to El Escorial and Madrid to Segovia (thanks to your file!), but is there a bus that can take me from El Escorial to Segovia so that I may see them both in one day, or is that not advisable/doable? Thanks.

hi tskobo,
No, there isn't a bus that would take you from El Escorial directly to Segovia, and I wouldn't suggest doing both on the same day. I like to allow a full day for Segovia, departing on the 9 or 9:30 La Sepulvedana bus. The ride takes exactly 1 hr. 15.

There is a way to do Segovia/Avila by bus and train, (bus to Segovia, then bus to Avila, then train back to Madrid),but it's a bit tricky, harder on wkds. when schedule is abbreviated, and you need to get the timing just right, plus it makes a very loooong, tiring day!

Thanks for all the info. At this point I'll just think it over and play it by ear.

Thanks again.