Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Madrid - Toledo
100% customisable for you
Your cultural escape to central Spain starts today. Head to the airport, whizz through security and enjoy some down time in the airport lounge with some nibbles and refreshments as you await departure. Flight time to Madrid is two-and-a-half hours, just enough time to practice some handy Spanish phrases before touchdown. A private driver will be waiting for you on arrival to whisk you into the heart of the city centre. Your first accommodation is an elegant hotel located within easy walking distance of the main sites, where you’ll be staying for the next three nights. The rest of today is yours to spend settling into your new Spanish surroundings. We recommend heading out for a stroll through town to find some tasty eateries. One of our favourite spots is the Mercado de San Miguel, an upmarket food hall offering traditional fare, but you’ll also be armed with our coveted destination-specific Dossier, which is full of tried-and-tested recommendations for wining and dining.
It’s your first full day in Spain and what better way to spend it than discovering the capital in the company of a friendly local resident who knows the city inside out. The walk is relaxed and totally based around you, so before heading out you can discuss your tastes – are you a culture buff? A gastronome? A football fanatic? A fashion obsessive? Whatever it is, Madrid has plenty to fuel your passions and maybe even spark some new ones…. The rest of the afternoon is yours to play with. You can continue exploring the city at your own leisure or we can arrange for you to head out on a second walking tour, this time to discover Madrid’s fascinating history as a hub of writers, artists and intellectuals.
Today is all about soaking in Madrid’s grand cultural splendour. You’ll be armed with entrance tickets to the Prado Museum, one of the world’s most important art galleries. You can admire Velasquez’s ‘Las Meninas’ (1657), Charles V at Mühlberg’s ‘Titian’ (1547), Goya’s ‘Tres de Mayo (1814), Fra Angelico’s ‘Altarpiece of the Annunciation’ (1426), Caravaggio’s ‘David and Goliath’ (1605), Rogier van der Weyden’s ‘Descent from the Cross’ (1435), Hieronymus Bosch’s ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights’ (1504) and Greco’s ‘Portrait of Jeronimo de Cevallos’ (1613), just to name a few. The rest of today is yours to spend as you please, and there are plenty of other museums and sites worth visiting. We could also arrange for you to head out this evening with a knowledgeable local guide to discover the oldest taverns and tapas bars in Madrid, one of which dates back to at least 1787.
Your journey through central Spain continues today. After a hearty breakfast at your hotel, head to the beautiful and very green train station in Madrid to board a thirty-minute train to Toledo. On arrival, settle in for two nights in a characterful hotel in the heart of the UNESCO-listed historic centre. The rest of today is yours to spend getting your first taste of life in Toledo. We recommend simply getting lost in the labyrinth of bustling streets that make up the centre: admire impressive architecture before tucking into some indulgent culinary delights at one of the many inviting tapas bars.
Set atop a gorge overlooking a peaceful river, Toledo is a city that dazzles with scenic, cultural and historic delights. For centuries it was known as the ‘City of Three Cultures’ for being a place where Christians, Jews and Muslims co-lived, for the most part, harmoniously. Today you’ll be discovering the many sites that reside within the old city walls in the company of a knowledgeable local guide full of fascinating tales. Toledo’s treasures include Saint Mary's Cathedral, which dates back to the 13th century and displays a mixture of French Gothic and Spanish ornamentation; the 14th-century Santo Tomé church, with its Mudejar-style bell tower; and the 12th-century Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue (now a museum), whose name indicates the Christianization that took place here in the 15th century. The rest of the afternoon is yours to continue exploring. You could head over to the Alcazar, which was the place of iconic Civil War battles in the summer of 1936, or we can arrange for you to pair up with another local guide to discover the city’s hidden gems. For dinner this evening, follow your nose to find a classic little tapas bar in town or, once again, turn to our destination-specific Dossier for inspiration.
Sadly the time has come to bid farewell to Spain and embark on the journey home. This morning you’ll be collected by a private driver and transferred back to the airport in Madrid. After whizzing through security, settle into the airport lounge to enjoy some nibbles and refreshments before taking off on a two-and-a-half hour flight back to the UK.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
