I will be in Madrid for 4 days early September and plan to take a bus tour to Toledo. I can either take a 1/2 day tour or a full day tour which will leave me more free time in Toledo to explore on my own. Can you advise me as to which tour you would suggest?
Thanks and all the best!
Lynda Leibrock
Hi Lynda,
Thanks for your kind message.
I don't think you can go wrong spending more time in Toledo. Once the capital of all of Spain, it has an unusual number of treasures for such a small city. Its cathedral is one of the finest Gothic structures in all of Europe; its central museum is overflowing with important works of art (including many by El Greco, the man who painted the moody landscapes of Toledo that are still famous today); and the streets in the historic center still look just as they did during the city's medieval and Renaissance-era hayday (some are barely wide enough for two people to pass!). As well, staying a bit longer will give you a chance to try the famed cuisine of Toledo, which makes creative use of local mushrooms, artichokes and partridges (the city's most famous dish perdiz a la Toledana ---partridge cooked with herbs, olive oil and white wine--is worth a visit in and of itself!).
But I wonder if you really need to take a tour. I worry that it will be a time waster. A bus will take a good hour to transport you from Madrid to Toledo, while the new high speed rail train will get you there in just 30 minutes! Plus one of the primary delights of the city is simply getting lost among its winding lanes. I'd suggest you gather your courage and do it independently.
Have a wonderful visit! If you get a chance, pick up Pauline Frommer's Spain, which just hit the bookstore shelves about 2 months ago (making it one of the freshest Spain guidebook out there).
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