Toledo Travel Guide

Toledo offers tourists a broad range of accommodation, from cheap hotels and economic guesthouses, right up to the likes of the Parador Nacional and several four-star hotels offering magnificent views of this beautiful city.

Each year, thousands of tourists flock to the historical city, a great rock cradled by the Tagus River where Christians, Jews and Muslims have all left their mark. Due to tourist numbers, the past few months have seen the beginning of several hotel building projects - two luxury hotels in the Historical Quarter (Reyes Católicos and the Plaza del Juego de Pelota) and others in Cigarral del Bosque and Carreras de San Sebastián. There has also been renewed talk of converting the old Palacio Tavera - Museo de Lerma, which houses the Archivo de la Nobleza (Archives of Nobility), into accommodation. Other hotel chains, such as Meliá, Sheraton and NH, have expressed interest to the City Council in opening hotels in the city.

Many of the hotels already in Toledo are located around the Valle and Cigarrales, as well as on the city outskirts on the roads to Ávila and Madrid. There are also good hotels, both expensive and economical, in the Historical Quarter. Advanced booking is recommended, because on public holidays that are considered of tourist interest - Corpus Christi and Semana Santa (Easter Week) - hotel accommodation is at a premium.

Although there are currently no five-star hotels in Toledo, the Parador Nacional is a good choice for those who like luxury. Strategically situated and with splendid views of the city, it holds the honor of being where the acuerdo de las pensiones (lodging accord), better known as the Pacto de Toledo (Pact of Toledo), was signed six years ago. Among its frequent visitors are well-known personalities like football players Sanchís and Raúl, and singers like Sara Montiel and Juan Manuel Serrat. Very close to the Parador is the Hotel Doménico, more modern but no less beautiful nor less comfortable. In the area of the Valle, between the Puente de Alcántara and the Puente de San Martín and along a road running parallel to the river, there are many Cigarrales - typical Toledo country homes - that have been converted into hotels. They include Abacería, Los Cigarrales (inexpensive) and La Almazara (very cheap), and all have panoramic views of the city. In the same area, but in a new building, is the AC Ciudad de Toledo Hotel, a popular conference venue.

On the city outskirts, along the road leading to Ávila, stands the Hotel Beatriz. With its 295 rooms, it offers the largest accommodation capacity available in Toledo. Its 23 conference rooms seating 2,000 people make it a popular choice for many national conventions. More moderately priced, and located on the outskirts of the city on the road leading to Madrid, are the hotels María Cristina and Mayoral, close to the bullring. There are two four-star hotels in the Historical Quarter, Carlos V and Alfonso VI. They are located right in the city centre, beside the Alcázar - Biblioteca de Castilla-La Mancha (Fortress). Very handily located, they are within walking distance of places of interest, shops and the lively atmosphere of the Plaza de Zocodover, the city's nerve centre.

The Hotel Pintor El Greco, located right in the middle of the Jewish Quarter, offers good value for money - although prices rise during Corpus Christi and Semana Santa. Close by are monuments like the Museo Sefardí (Sinagoga del Tránsito), Sinagoga de Santa María la Blanca, Iglesia de Santo Tomé (Saint Thomas' Church), the Palacio de Fuensalida (Fuensalida Palace) and the Convento Gilitos (Cortes de Castilla-La Mancha) (Castilla-La Mancha Parliament). Even more economical is the cosy <Catedral.

For lovers of the outdoors and fishing, the Hotel El Diamantista is a good place to go. It is located in a quiet spot right beside the Tagus River, yet is only five minutes' walk from the city centre. If you are looking for something cheap, Toledo has several cheap new hotels with good facilities. These include the Hostal Centro, Nuevo Labrador and Sol. There are also camping grounds like Camping Circo Romano and Camping El Greco. If you hold a youth hostel card, you can stay at the hostel in Castillo de San Servando, beside the Academia de Infantería.2008-08-02T07:29:22.000 225