Catedral de Toledo – Is It Actually Worth Visiting?

Where is the Catedral de Toledo?

The Catedral de Toledo is located in the city of Toledo, Spain, south of Madrid.

The cathedral is in the center of the old city, a 8 minutes walk from the Alcazar de Toledo.

Facts about the Cathedral de 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 Cathedral de Toledo for you:

• the construction of the cathedral took more than 200 years
• construction started in 1226, and the vaults of the nave were finished in 1493
• the cathedral is 120 meters long (390 feet) and 44.5 meters high (146 feet)

• before the cathedral, there was a Visigoth church (in 587), who was destroyed and replaced by the main mosque of Toledo (who stood until 1222)
• it was built after the Bourges Cathedral in France

Discovering the Catedral Toledo

Ever since I watched the sun rise over Toledo from the Mirador del Valle (best viewpoint over the city!), and seen the massive building that is the cathedral in the center of the city, with the bell tower towering above Toledo, I knew I had to visit it.

The cathedral seemed huge, with many different parts, and I was sure there would be a lot to discover inside; the construction reminded me of the Segovia Cathedral, and I had a blast visiting this one, so I know I couldn’t go wrong with visiting the Toledo Cathedral.

One thing that struck me was how central the cathedral is: after looking at the bell tower, I wondered if you could actually climb to the top, and enjoy what would be the perfect view over the city.

After sunrise, I parked my car right outside of the city in a free parking spot (check below for the spot). I crossed the Alcantara bridge, climbed the stairs up to the old city center, and made my way to the cathedral.

The cathedral is set on the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (city hall square), and it’s such a stark contrast compared to the other low buildings on the square.

The bell tower especially looks so imposing, towering over 44 meters (146 feet). All over the facade are fine details, sculpted faces, statues and ornaments, that all contribute to making the building even more impressive.

There are 3 main portals in the main facade; the one you can see on the image above is the Puerta del Perdón (Portal of Forgiveness), located in the middle. To the left is the Puerta del Infierno (Portal of Hell), and to the right the Puerta del Juicio Final (Portal of the Last Judgement).

On the other facades of the cathedral, you’ll find many more portals, such as the Puerta del Reloj (Portal of the Clock) or the Puerta de los Leones (Portal of the Lions).

Let’s go through one of the portal and explore the inside!

Inside the Cathedral

As I expected when I saw the size of the cathedral from the outside, the inside looks huge. As soon as you step in, you get blown away by the sheer size of the place.

The nave is gigantic, with the very high ceiling, and beautiful with the stained glass windows on each side, letting the light shine through and illuminating the otherwise pretty dark place.

At the end of the nave, you’ll find the Altar Mayor, a stupendous golden altar with statues and sculptures all the way up the ceiling.

During your visit, make sure to explore all of the chapels in the Cathedral; there are more than 20 chapels, each beautiful in its own way, with different history that you’ll learn with the audioguide.

The photo above is one the chapel, the Chapel of Saint James (or Chapel of Alvaro de Luna). This is one of the largest of the 20+ chapels, but this gives you an idea of what to expect in the other ones.

The centerpiece of the Cathedral is the Transparent, made of marble and jaspers, made in a way that it gets hit by the light during the day.

There are many other things to see in the cathedral, including a cloister, going up the bell tower, admiring the paintings from masters, or checking out the museum; this makes it an absolute must-visit in Toledo, and it’s totally worth the price you’ll pay for the ticket.

Plan at least 2 hours if you want the full experience of the cathedral, and lose yourself in its immensity with the audioguide to help you learn more about the place.

Toledo Cathedral Tickets

You have to buy a ticket to visit the Toledo Cathedral. 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.

Toledo Cathedral Opening Hours

The opening hours for the Catedral Primada Toledo vary depending on the time of the week, so make sure to check below.

Please note that last entry/last tickets sales are 30 minutes before closing time.

! Make sure your shoulders and legs are covered, there is a dresscode to enter the Cathedral !

The Cathedral has many different opening hours on special days (15 special days in the year), so make sure to check directly in front of the cathedral for exact hours.

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 Catedral de Santa María de 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!

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:

Your Free Self Guided Tour of Toledo

The Stunning Sinagoga Santa Maria la Blanca

Visit the Monastery of San Juan de Los Reyes

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.

Photo credits: 3 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 16