10 Things to Do in Toledo in Summer

Although Toledo does not have beaches as it is an inland city, this does not mean that it is not worth visiting in the summer months. If you're going to the City of Three Cultures at this time of year and don't know what to see and do in Toledo, read on.

From relaxing sessions in Arab baths to walks along the Tagus River, Toledo has an endless list of things to do in the summer months without having to suffer from the heat.

Toledo is a beautiful city with a wealth of culture, art and history. Although it is true that the best way to get to know the city is on foot, in summer this is a bit of a struggle. That's why I recommend you to make use of the best sightseeing bus tours in Toledo.

By taking a bus tour with free stops in Toledo, you will be able to get on and off at any of the stops along the route with total freedom and independence.

The bus passes through the main sights of the city, such as the Bisagra Gate or the Jewish Quarter. From the upper deck of the vehicle, you can enjoy the views of the city. In addition, the route is completed with an audio guide through which you will be able to understand each of the places and monuments you see.

Although Toledo doesn't have a beach, that doesn't mean you can't take a relaxing dip in the city. Toledo has several Arab baths, which have their origins in the time of the Arab conquest. Precisely for this reason, all of them are located in the old town.

One of the most famous is the Medina Mudéjar Toledo. With a 12th century Islamic wall, its cisterns and the tiles that decorate it, a visit to this Hammam will take you back to the Middle Ages.

It is the perfect place to escape the summer heat and at the same time relax during your holidays. The establishment has pools at different temperatures, as well as a Turkish bath and a relaxing patio where you can have tea or play a game of chess. The Medina Mudéjar Arab Baths are located in Plaza de Santa Eulalia 1, very close to the Jesuit Church and the Convent of Santo Domingo el Antiguo.

If you want to walk through the streets of Toledo and not die in the heat, you can take this night tour of the city. This is a tour with a local guide, who will explain the curiosities of the different places you visit.

Apart from getting rid of the summer heat, this night tour allows you to see the city in a different way, thanks to the magical touch of the streetlights. With this tour you will learn about the main legends of the City of the Three Cultures, as well as stories about magic and witchcraft, which you will love if you are a fan of fantasy.

What better time than summer to enjoy a nice boat ride. This activity is ideal for the warmer months and with it you will be able to leave the borders of Toledo and get to know one of the most beautiful municipalities next to the city: Aranjuez. The gardens of Aranjuez have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, so you can imagine the great beauty that characterises them.

The boat trip lasts approximately 45 minutes. During the trip you'll be able to see the town's gardens and even enjoy a drink. The trip includes a tour guide who will explain the curiosities and history of this place. You can also have a photocall with the captain of the boat and have fun with an audiovisual trivia game. This activity is one of the best things to do with children in Toledo.

Since the heat is very strong in the city of Toledo, one of the best things to do in Toledo in summer is to take the air under the shade of the trees and enjoy the freshness of the vegetation. Toledo has many parks and most of them have terraces where you can have a drink.

One of the most important parks in the city is the Parque de La Vega, which is located next to the Bisagra Gate and the Tavera Hospital.

It is one of the best things to do with children in Toledo, as it has different play areas and several terraces.

The Parque de La Vega hosts many of the city's events, such as music festivals, workshops, sporting events and temporary exhibitions. The park is also home to the Casa del Corcho, a 19th-century house that is a clear example of romanticism.

Other parks in Toledo

• The Park of the Three Cultures, named in honour of the peaceful coexistence of Jews, Christians and Muslims in the city, is the largest park in Toledo and has all kinds of sports courts, from paddle tennis to basketball and beach volleyball. This is the place where families go for walks and a favourite place for locals to enjoy the outdoors.
• The Circo Romano Park is a place where you can breathe fresh air and take refuge from the heat while you observe the imposing archaeological remains of the city's Roman circus. This circus was built during the 1st century under the orders of the emperor Octavian Augustus.
• The Parque del Tránsito, which is located in the old Jewish quarter of the city, just opposite the Tránsito Synagogue and the El Greco Museum. From the park you can see the views of the Tagus River, as well as the Virgen de la Cabeza hermitage.

When the sun goes down, the heat diminishes, making it the perfect time to enjoy the great beauty of Toledo. That's why I recommend you visit some of the city's best viewpoints. The most famous of them all is the Mirador del Valle viewpoint, from where you can see the city wall surrounding the city.

The viewpoint has been awarded the prize for the Most Beautiful Night Panorama in the World and is one of the most photographed places in the city. At the viewpoint itself there is a kiosk where you can buy something to drink while you enjoy the views.

Next to the viewpoint is the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora del Valle, whose pilgrimage is celebrated on 1 May. You can reach the viewpoint on foot or by car. However, in summer it is best to avoid going on foot, as Toledo is a hot city during these months of the year.

Other viewpoints worth visiting in Toledo

In addition to the Mirador del Valle viewpoint, Toledo has other impressive places to enjoy the views of the city. One of them is the viewpoint of the Virgen del Valle hospital, which is less known than the previous one and therefore provides greater tranquillity.

Also, next to the Cigarrales area is the viewpoint of the Virgen de la Cabeza hermitage, from where you can see the bridge of San Martín, Toledo Cathedral and the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes.

If you want to escape the heat, take advantage of the Tagus River to go hiking. I recommend that you do this route first thing in the morning. The most famous is the Vuelta al Valle, a 6 km route that becomes even more beautiful at dawn.

On this route you can enjoy privileged views of the city and its main monuments, such as the famous Virgen del Valle hermitage. It starts at the Alcántara Bridge, which dates from the year 866. From here you can see the castle of San Servando and the remains of the Artifice of Juanelo.

You will pass over the New Bridge, from where you can see the Alcázar and the remains of the convent of El Carmen. Continue your route to the bridge over the La Degollada stream and skirt the Cerro del Bú hill, where you will find one of the most important archaeological sites in Toledo.

You will then continue up to the hermitage of the Virgen del Valle and enjoy the privileged views from the viewpoint. From this point, you will start to descend until you reach the bridge of San Martín, where you will be able to see the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes. If you cross the bridge, you can finish the route on a high note by jumping off the longest urban zip line in Europe, which crosses from one bank of the Tagus to the other.

In summer, Toledo hosts a variety of open-air concerts in the main parks and squares of the City of Three Cultures. Most of these concerts are part of the Toledo fair, which is held in the summer months, around August.

The inauguration of the fairgrounds is the event that kicks off this festivity and is held in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (Town Hall Square). From here, a parade of giants and big-heads starts off accompanied by music bands. You can also enjoy a free lemonade tasting and different concerts by national artists.

From July to September, Toledo celebrates Heritage Thursdays. These consist of 10 Thursday evenings with free guided access where you can enjoy the different spaces that make up the historic centre of Toledo.

This is undoubtedly a great way to visit places without having to pay for admission. What's more, you'll also get to see monuments you wouldn't otherwise be able to visit.

Among the places that make up Heritage Thursdays are the Caves of Hercules, a water reservoir that was built during Roman times to supply the whole city. You will also be able to enter the Roman Baths of Amador de los Ríos, which are located in the subsoil of the city and were built at the end of the 1st century.

On the other hand, you will have the opportunity to visit the Oratory of San Felipe Neri, the only space that remains today of what was the old church of San Juan Bautista, which was demolished in the 18th century.

On this occasion, I am going to the Convents neighbourhood in Toledo to suggest a night-time tour of its sheds, one of the best things to do at night in Toledo. This area is located in the northern part of the old city and includes all the streets and squares that were once taken over by priests, nuns and different members of the Catholic Church.

As you can guess, it is so named because of the large number of convents it houses. You can leave your car on the Paseo del Recadero and cross the Puerta del Sol to enter the neighbourhood. The Puerta del Sol was once the entrance to the medina and was built for defensive purposes.

If there is one thing that characterises the Convents quarter, it is its sheds. To get to them, you have to go along Calle Alfileritos, which is named after the tradition of young women from Toledo of sticking pins into their bodies and into the Virgin, in the belief that this would provide them with a suitable groom.

Many of the sheds in the convent quarter were destroyed during the reign of Juana la Loca, who ordered the demolition of any sheds that were not as tall as a rider on horseback. You can see the shed of the Convent of Santo Domingo el Real, as well as the one in Calle Colegio de Doncellas.

Toledo's climate is Mediterranean, so summers are very hot. In terms of temperatures, they tend to be similar to those in Madrid, although a little higher. The hottest month of the year in Toledo is July, when the average temperature is around 27°C. The highest temperatures during this season reach 41 degrees at midday. As far as rainfall is concerned, it rarely rains in the city during the summer, although the occasional thunderstorm can break out in June.