The Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, Toledo, Spain, was the original choice for the final resting place of the Catholic Monarchs. It has also a very unique cloister.

Ready to visit?

Let’s explore it!

 

monastery of san juan de los reyes toledo spain

 

The Monasterio de San Juan de Los Reyes, or Monastery of Saint John of the Monarchs in English, is one of the main religious buildings in Toledo, together with the Toledo Cathedral.

 

monastery of san juan de los reyes toledo spain

 

In this travel guide about the Monastery San Juan de Los Reyes Toledo, you’ll find in the table of contents below everything that we’ll see, from learning facts & discovering the monastery to opening hours & entry fees.

Simply click on the table to expand it, then click on any part you’d like to jump to.

 

Where is the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes?

The Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes is located in the city of Toledo, Spain, south of Madrid.

The monastery is in the west of the city center, right after crossing the Puente de San Martin.

 

the monastery as seen from the puente de san martin

 

Facts about the Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes Toledo

Are you fond of facts? I know I am! I love learning more about a place and its history with some quick & interesting facts, so I’ve gathered a few about the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes for you:

  • the monastery was built in 1504; the construction started in 1477 and took 27 years
  • it was built under the orders of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile
  • initially, the monastery was meant to be the mausoleum of the kings, but Granada was chosen after its reconquest in 1492
  • Napoleon’s troops badly damaged the monastery in 1809 when they occupied Toledo; the monastery was restored from 1883 to 1967, when the restorations were finally completed

 

historical painting of the monasterio de san juan de los reyes toledo spain

 

Discovering the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes

When I went exploring one of the 2 original medieval bridges in the city, the Puente de San Martin, I saw a huge monument on top of the hill.

It was the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes.

And I decided on the spot that I was going to visit it, simply because it looked too damn awesome from the outside!

 

puente san martin toledo with the monastery san juan de los reyes in the back in vertical version

 

The facade you see from the bridge is pretty impressive, with the two bells on top and all the sculpted spires, in Isabelline style.

 

the monastery of san juan de los reyes from the puente san martin toledo spain

 

I crossed the bridge, and climbed the hill to reach the monastery. It looks even more imposing when you’re standing in front of the main facade, as you can see on the photo below.

 

front entrance of the monastery of san juan de los reyes toledo

 

Even though this is actually the main facade, the entry to the Monasterio de San Juan de Los Reyes is actually a bit further, in the street (17 calle de los Reyes Catolicos).

What will you find inside?

Let’s find out!

 

Iglesia San Juan de los Reyes

After you enter the monastery, the first thing you’ll find on your left is the church, the Iglesia San Juan de los Reyes.

 

main altar of the monasterio de san juan de los reyes toledo

 

I immediately noticed the altar; although it’s not the original one, that was destroyed in the Napoleonic War, the current one is equally as breathtaking, and it’s the center piece of the church.

What surprised me the most is how incredibly huge the nave was; the room is so big, and the ceiling so high, it gives a feeling of greatness as you stand there.

 

full view inside of the church of san juan

 

What else can you find in the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes?

 

The Cloister

The main attraction in the monastery is the cloister. The cloister is on 2 levels, and you can access both of them.

Lowest Cloister

The Lowest Cloister was built as a continuation of the church, and you can access it directly from the church.

 

inside the cloister of san juan de los reyes toledo spain

 

The cloister is pretty big, with 20 arches (5 per side) that open up on the little garden.

 

el convento san juan cloister inside the monastery

 

Upper Cloister

To reach the upper cloister, you’ll need to go back inside and take the main staircase. The upper part gives an even better view of the central garden:

 

garden inside the cloister as seen from the upper level

 

The upper part is very different than the lower one: the ceiling of the cloister is made of wood, painted with the Coat of Arms of the Catholic Monarchs, and creating beautiful patterns.

 

upper level of the cloister

 

detail of the mudejar ceiling inside the cloister of san juan de los reyes toledo spain

 

This part of the cloister felt very unique, and I’m glad I entered the monastery to see this!

 

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Right after your visit of the monastery, I recommend visiting the Sinagoga de Santa Maria La Blanca, which is literally just down the street.

 

Monastery of San Juan de Los Reyes Tickets

You have to buy a ticket to visit the monastery of San Juan de Los Reyes. With the entrance, you’ll receive an audioguide that will provide information during your tour.

 

Regular: 3€
Kids under 10 years old: free
Card only for more than 5€ – Carry cash with you

 

The monastery is included in the Toledo Tourist Bracelet, a tourist card that includes entries to 7 monuments for 10€.

 

the inside garden in the cloister

 

Monastery of San Juan de Los Reyes Opening Hours

The opening hours for the Monasterio de San Juan de Los Reyes vary depending on the time of year, so make sure to check below. There’s also a very limited number of visits to the tower each day, so you’ll need to plan in advance.

Please note that last entry/last tickets sales are 20 minutes before closing time.

 

From March 1st to October 15th: from 10am to 6:45pm
From October 16th to February 28th: from 10am to 5:45pm
Closed at noon on: December 24th and 31st
Closed on: January 1st and December 25th

 

iglesia san juan de los reyes inside the monastery

 

How to Get to Toledo

You can either get to Toledo by car, or by train.

By car

Toledo is a perfect day trip from Madrid, and from other Spanish cities. You’ll find below the driving time from nearby cities:

From Madrid: 1h

From Segovia: 1h35

From Valencia: 3h30

 

It’s difficult to drive and park in the city; the best option is to find a parking outside of the city walls, then walk to the center.

When you’ll reach Toledo, head to the north east of the city, right outside of the city walls. This is where you’ll find the cheapest parking options, and the most parking spaces available.

 

Bonus: Free Parking

 

looking through the western tower of the puente de san martin towards the east

 

By train

If you don’t have a car, you can get to Toledo by train from Madrid. There is a direct train that goes straight from Madrid to Toledo.

 

From: Madrid-Puerta de Atocha

To: Toledo

Duration: 33 minutes

Cost: 13.90€ (average price)

Book here: Train to Toledo

 

You can also take the trains from other cities in Spain (Barcelona, Segovia, …), just click on the link above to see all options.

From the Toledo train station, you can walk to the city center, which will take you around 20 minutes.

 

For more info: How to Get from Madrid to Toledo (Complete Guide)

 

sunrise over the puente san martin and the old town as seen from the sky

 

Where to Stay Near the Monasterio de San Juan Toledo

If you’re visiting Toledo, you have several options for where to stay. You’ll find below hotels depending on your travel style:

 

Budget: Albergue Juvenil Los Pascuales

Cheapest accommodation in Toledo, for around 14€ per night.

This youth hostel is only 2 minutes away from the Toledo Cathedral and the Toledo Castle. It also comes with included breakfast!

 

Find the Best Prices here: Albergue Juvenil Los Pascuales

 

Comfy: Hotel San Juan de los Reyes

The Hotel San Juan de los Reyes is my favorite accommodation for a comfy stay in Avila, for around 75€ per night.

 

It’s ideally located in Toledo, a short walk from all the main sights. The beds are pretty comfy, and the included breakfast makes it a perfect choice for your stay in Avila. You’ll also enjoy free parking (which is nice in Toledo), and spacious bathroom with a hydro-massage bathtubs, perfect to relax after a long day of exploration in the city.

 

Find the Best Prices here: Hotel San Juan de los Reyes

 

Luxury: Almunia de San Miguel

The best hotel in Toledo, hands down.

The Almunia de San Miguel has everything you’ll need, and even more: free parking, breakfast included, incredible rooms, and the location… The hotel is right next to the castle and the cathedral, you can’t be closer! There’s even a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the city.

 

Find the Best Prices here: Almunia de San Miguel

 

Visit Spain

Planning a trip to Toledo and Spain? You can find below several other articles about this wonderful part of the world to help you plan your trip:

Toledo Guides:

The Best Things to Do in Toledo!

See the Best View of Toledo

Visit the Alcazar de Toledo

 

Check all my Spain travel guides here

Spain Guides:

Best Sunrise Spot in Mallorca

Free Walking Tour of Avila

How to get from Madrid to Segovia

 

I hope you enjoy your trip to Toledo and to Spain!

If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below, I always reply.