Toledo Q's ....
 

I will be taking a train from Madrid to Toledo. At the Toledo station, I will take a bus. Can anyone tell me where I would get off the bus in the city itself? Is there a street name or name of a square that I should be aware of?

Also, from where can I get nice pictures of Alcazar and the Cathedral without having to walk to far to get them?

I appreciate your help.

Hi,

You can get all the details from Maribel's guide to Madrid, which can be found at www.maribelsguides.com

From the main square that you get off at, if I remember correctly, the Alcazar is a few block walk up the street, and the cathedral is a several block walk from there also. Just look at a map and you can easily find them. Toledo is not very big.

Karen

Thx, Karen, appreciate your information.

Hi Happy wanderer,

It is my understanding that the bus is more convenient to go to Toledo. THat's what we did a couple of years ago after researching bus vs. train options. the bus takes less time and runs more frequently. Here is an excerpt of something I found:

- Toledo by bus: From the South Bus Station (Metro: Mendez Alvaro), the Galiano-Continental bus company (Ph: 915272961) takes you there in 1 hour for 7,28 euros (return ticket). Buses leave every 30 minutes from 6:30 to 22h.

The train takes like 20 minutes more

Hi Happy Wanderer. Toledo is only a very small town who's streets seem to wind around a hill. The Cathedral and the Alcazar are only a few minutes apart.

If you do take the train, there are always taxis waiting to take you into the old part of Toledo. Get off fast and beat the crowd, or you'll wait til the taxis return from their first riders. We've easily walked from the train to old Toledo, but if your not energetic, take a cab into town, then walk around.
The Parador has a wonderful view of the town but that requires another cab ride away from the older part of Toledo

Hi,
I don`t know if you were thinking of going into the Alcazar in Toledo but it is closed at the moment. They are in the process of moving the military museum from Madrid and it won`t be finished this year.
The best pics can be taken outside of the city walls. As someone else already suggested, the Parador is a good place to get the full old city view or you could jump in a taxi (3 or 4 euros each way from the old town) and ask for the panoramica or vista de toledo where El Greco supposedly painted his famous "Vista de Toledo"
I also think the bus is easier though make sure you get the express service which takes an hour only - otherwise you stop in nearly all the villages en route
Hope this helps

if you do not take the train, you will miss seeing the beautiful train station. it is quite unique. try to take a look at it anyway.

Isn't the train line from Madrid to Toledo still under construction for the upgrade to high speed service? Last I heard you had to leave the train at Alcodor station and take a bus the last 15 minutes into Toledo and that there are also certain days the train is completely shut down for the construction work.

could be.. i don't live there and was there last several months ago, at which time it was still open.

good point. hotel will know if no one else can confirm.

Thx for all the great feedback. Really appreciate it all.

I took the bus and regretted it. The bus got stuck in bumper to bumper traffic. I got nauseus from all the stop-and-go traffic and bus fumes.

On my return trip I took the train. The train was faster than the bus, and much more comfortable. The train station is a long walk from the Old Town section. I found it to be a pleasant walk, but buses and taxi's are also options if you do not want to walk.

The Toledo Renfe station is a delight in itself. Its Mozarabe design mirrors much of the architecture you find in Toledo.
We just walked outside to a bus stop and caught a city bus going up the hill. It was a short ride but worth it because it was all uphill.

The best photos are from the bluffs on the other side of the rio Tagus. You can ask a taxista for a Paroramic tour ahd he/she will take you right where you need to go.