[Not What You’d Expect] El Alcazar de Toledo – Should You Visit?
The Alcazar de Toledo is one of the icons of Toledo, and dominates the whole skyline.
But is it actually worth going inside?
Let’s see what to expect when visiting the castle, and help you decide whether you should visit.
El Alcazar de Toledo, or Toledo Fortress, is a massive castle on the heights of the city, always included in tourist guides and walking tours. However it’s not always the best use of your time in Toledo to visit the Alcazar, especially since you probably won’t find what you expect.
In this travel guide about the Alcazar de Toledo in Spain, you’ll find in the table of contents below everything that we’ll see, from learning facts & seeing what to expect to entry fees & more.
Simply click on the table to expand it, then click on any part you’d like to jump to.
Where is the Alcazar de Toledo?
The Alcazar de Toledo is located in the city of Toledo, Spain, south of Madrid.
The alcazar is in the east of the old city, on the hill right after crossing the Puente de Alcantara.
Facts about the Alcazar 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 Alcazar Toledo for you:
- founded around the 3rd century, the castle was initially a Roman Palace
- the building you can see today was built under Charles V, who decided the construction to have a building worthy of himself
- the castle is situated on the highest part of the city, 548 meters above sea level
- most of the fortress was destroyed in 1936 in a 70-day siege during the Spanish Civil War
- renovation work started in 1939 and lasted until 1957, to restore the Alcazar to its glory
What to Expect in el Alcazar de Toledo
The Toledo skyline is dominated by 2 buildings: the massive Catedral de Toledo, and the castle overlooking the city from the hill.
The castle is very often the first thing you see when approaching Toledo, with the 4 towers peaking above the nearby buildings. Ever since I saw the magnificent castle from the Mirador del Valle at sunrise, I was obsessed with getting to actually visit it.
When thinking about how it will look like inside the castle, I was picturing being inside a classic medieval castle, exploring the halls, stone walls, magnificent rooms, and epic views from the fortified walls (just like the Alcazar de Segovia I guess).
If that’s also what you were expecting to find inside the Alcazar de Toledo, then I have bad news; it’s totally not like this.
The Alcazar is actually a museum.
Inside the fortress is the Museo del Ejército (Army Museum), a museum with a permanent exhibition about Spanish military History.
The museum contains 13 thematic rooms with different collections, plus 8 rooms displaying a chronological journey of Spanish military History.
You’ll also find the Regional Library of Castilla la Mancha, containing more than 380,000 books and including some special volumes.
As far as architecture goes, you’ll be able to see the main patio, which is pretty impressive.
The main stairs inside the fortress are also spectacular to see, and definitely add to the visit.
And finally, to end the visit, you can go to the top of the castle on the panoramic balcony, to have a view over the city.
So… Should You Visit the Toledo Castle?
All the guides you’ll read about Toledo will include the Alcazar as one of the must-visit in the city. But should you really visit the castle?
It depends on your personal preferences, and on how much time you have in the city.
Are you a huge fan of history and museums? Then you should definitely visit the Alcazar de Toledo and the Museo del Ejercito.
Will you stay several days in Toledo? Then you should visit.
Do you have only 1 day in Toledo, and aren’t that fond of museums? Then simply enjoy the view of the castle from the outside, and visit the other marvels in the city.
So there you have it, a bit more insight about what to expect inside the Alcazar de Toledo, to help you decide if you should visit the castle or just skip it.
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If you do decide to visit, you’ll find below practical information to plan your visit.
Alcazar de Toledo Tickets
You have to buy Alcazar Toledo tickets to visit the castle. There are 2 different tickets, depending on whether you want to go up the main tower or not.
Tickets include audio guides, that will help you discover the history of the place.
Ticket + Audio guide: 8€
Under 18: free
All Sundays: free
If you want to make the most out of your visit to the Alcazar and the museum, I highly recommend going on a guided tour with a local guide, who will make your visit extra special, and satisfies even more the history buff in you.
Alcazar of Toledo Opening Hours
The opening hours for the Alcazar of Toledo are the same all year long.
Please note that last entry/last tickets sales are 30 minutes before closing time, and staff will start to empty the castle 15 minutes before closing.
Closed on: All Wednesdays + January 1st, January 6th, May 1st, December 24th, 25th & 31st.
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.
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.
Where to Stay Near the Alcazar – Toledo, Spain
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!
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.
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.
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:
Discover the Puente de San Martin and its Legend
A Stunning Church + An Epic View? Yes Please!
Visit the Monastery of San Juan de Los Reyes
Spain Guides:
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.
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Many of these are stock photos. Did you even visit the place?
Hello Henry. I’m flattered you think my photos are so great they’re stock photos 🙂 I definitely took them myself, on my visit to Toledo/Avila/Segovia (you can’t find them anywhere else on the web, that’s for sure).