Madrid & Toledo: Spain Tour

Toledo, Spain

What to expect on this itinerary

Open your eyes to the beauty of Spain. The awe-inspiring art, magnificent monuments, convivial culture, and unbelievable nightlife will dazzle you. Celebrate the moment and discover the country’s grandiose past. This tour offers a wonderful insight into the fascinating contrasts of Spain. The bustling modern city of Madrid immerses you into the vibrant energy of Spanish culture, while the perfectly preserved ancient city of Toledo transports you to another era.

Countries Visited

Spain

Places Visited

Madrid, Toledo

Suggested Duration

7 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Madrid – Arrive in Spain

The tour begins with your arrival at the Madrid airport. To ensure that you have a stress-free start to your vacation, you’ll be greeted at the airport by your driver who will provide a private transfer to your hotel. Today after you’ve checked in to your hotel and have taken some time to relax, you can begin your discovery of Madrid.

Spain was the most powerful country in the world in the 16th and 17th centuries—during the Age of Exploration. As Spain’s capital city, Madrid became the center of the world. Although the Spanish empire declined in following centuries, Madrid has recently reemerged as a great city. Ever since Spain joined the European Union, there has been a renaissance of culture and cuisine in Madrid. The city boasts world-class art museums, from the Museo Nacional del Prado that was created as the Royal Museum of Painting and Sculptures for King Ferdinand VII, to the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza that opened in 1992 to display two remarkable private art collections. There are also many new culinary landmarks where you can sample the finest, most innovative Spanish gastronomy.

Madrid is a lively place to visit and tapas is one enjoyable tradition that you can’t miss. The Spanish equivalent of the American happy hour or pub-crawl, meeting for tapas is a casual social gathering. Friends may decide to meet at a bar in the late afternoon or early evening to enjoy a glass of wine. In Spain, wine is always accompanied by “tapas,” small snacks such as fried anchovies, specialty ham, canapés and olives. Ask the locals where to go and experience the Spanish social life from an insider’s point of view. The Madrilenos are friendly and open people, and you’ll find it’s easy to strike up a conversation even though it’s a big city. Immersion into the culture becomes more interesting when you get to know the people.

What's Included:

Accommodation
Transfer
Breakfast
Day 2 - 3

Madrid – Guided Tour of Madrid’s Habsburg Quarter

Day 4 - 5

Toledo – Guided Visit to UNESCO World Heritage Site Toledo

Day 6

Madrid – Day of Leisure

Day 7

Madrid – Tour Concludes with Departure from Madrid

Trip Highlights

  • Visit world-class art museums in Madrid
  • Enjoy innovative gastronomy at fine dining establishments
  • Live like the locals and get into the fun-loving Spanish culture
  • Experience the convivial Spanish tradition of tapas
  • Take in the vibrant energy of Madrid’s amazing nightlife
  • Madrid entertainment: Flamenco, live music and jazz lounges
  • Guided visit to the medieval walled city of Toledo, a UNESCO site
  • Take a tour of Toledo’s fairy-tale palace and magnificent Cathedral
  • Soak up ancient ambience as you stroll Toledo’s cobblestone streets

Detailed Description

This tour gives you a taste of Spain’s cultural highlights. You’ll visit two of the country’s most important cities, each of which represents a totally different aspect of Spain. Madrid, the capital of Spain, is a dynamic modern city that buzzes with excitement. As a perfect contrast, the nearby historic city of Toledo has a magical aura. Strolling around Toledo takes you back in time to a world that existed several centuries ago.

Madrid is pure energy. Fun-loving people, amazing sites and nonstop nightlife await you. You’ll discover world-class art, tour the amazing royal palace and enjoy the finest cuisine—all in the same day! Adjust your schedule to sync up with Spanish time, so that you can enjoy the leisurely late lunches and dinners. If you’re visiting in summertime, you’ll want to do as the Spaniards do and take a siesta in the afternoon. Stroll the impressive grand boulevards, meet the locals at tapas bars and visit a fashionable casino or jazz lounge. 

Toledo is often described as the “soul” of Spain or the “essence” of Spain. This ancient walled city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is steeped in history. High above the city looms the foreboding Alcázar, the ancient Moorish fortress that was later converted into the palace for Christian kings. From a distance, the Alcázar appears to be a fairy-tale castle. When you arrive up close, you can feel the magic of centuries gone by. Take in the inexplicable sense of mystery and history. You will feel the ambience of another era, as you stroll the ancient streets.  

For more ideas and itineraries, visit the Spain tours page and the Spain travel reviews section to read what others have shared about their experience.

Starting Price

$2,800 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 2499 reviews

Lauren S.
Spain Trip Review: Toledo, San Sebastian, Wine Tasting, Pintxos Tour, 12 Nights

We have been very happy with everything Zicasso's travel agent planned for us. All of the days were good, but some were just amazing. We enjoyed all of it.

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Corinna S.
Spain Family Trip Review: Basque Country, 15-Day Tour

Our family was very happy with our trip. The experiences were excellent, the local travel guides were exceptional, and all of the logistics went off without a hitch. It was great to have someone always a text away!

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Michele M.
Spain Vacation Review: 2 Weeks

From beginning to end, Zicasso's travel experts took great care in taking care of everything. We received great communication, guides, hotels, transportation, suggestions, etc, and they were reliable before and during our trip

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Olivia L.
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The planning experience was wonderful overall. From the initial conversation about what my family was looking for to the final touches to the itinerary, Zicasso's travel expert was engaging, responsive, and helpful.

The accommodations he selected for us exceeded expectations; they were spacious, beautiful, and well-located. The tours/activities suggested were really fun and gave us a sense of the locale in a unique and memorable way that fit our family well. Once we were in-country, communications were easy and helpful. We felt very well cared for.

Payment to our travel company was easy and it was a real pleasure once we were in-country to have all the identified items already paid for. I would definitely book a trip with them again.

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William L.
Spain Vacation Review: History, Architecture, Hiking, E-Biking, Barcelona, Caminito del Rey, Marbella, 2 Weeks

Zicasso's travel specialists did a great job for us. They clearly listened to us and curated an experience that was made specifically for us. It checked all of the boxes and more.

Highlights were the local tour guides in each city. It was great to meet and get to know local people, learn so much history, see the architecture (Gaudí in Barcelona and the awesome palaces and cathedrals that we visited), the Montserrat hike, Caminito del Rey (which was absolutely better with a guide), and the Marbella e-bike adventure.

The hotels were wonderful; all unique and all great choices. We came home happy and tired, which is the sign of a good trip for us (since we do not ever sit on beaches or at pools and relax!).

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Junis N.
Spain Travel Review: Asturias, Covadonga, Shrine, Fishing Villages, 8 Nights

My family and I loved Asturias. We considered it a “once-in-a-lifetime” trip. Zicasso's travel agent planned the perfect outings for us. Our guides were knowledgeable and helpful. Our agent also provided us with very helpful hints and suggestions for restaurants and shops. Both of the hotels he chose were located perfectly and staffed by friendly employees.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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