Avila and Segovia day tour

• Bus tours
• Tours from Madrid

Day trip to Avila and Segovia from Madrid

On this day trip to Avila and Segovia from Madrid, discover two cities full of history and declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Guided tour in Avila

We begin our Avila guided tour even before stepping into its streets, at the Mirador de las Cuatro Columnas lookout. From here, enjoy the best panoramic views of the city, surrounded by its imposing medieval walls.
In Avila, you’ll come face to face with its famous walls, a fortress that has protected the city since the 11th century. As you walk alongside these stone defenses, feel the grandeur of this 2-kilometer-long wall, featuring 90 towers and 9 entrance gates, reaching up to 12 meters in height and 3 meters in thickness. Remarkably, it has remained almost intact since its construction, making it the best-preserved medieval walled enclosure in the world.
After passing through the city walls, many surprises await on our guided tour of Ávila. Some are even built into the fortress itself, such as the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, which began in the Romanesque style and was later completed with Gothic elements.

The tour also takes us to the Plaza Mayor square, the heart of Avila, where the City Hall stands. As you walk along its cobbled streets, admire the many noble palaces that bear witness to the city’s glorious past.

One of Avila’s most illustrious figures is Saint Teresa de Jesus (1515–1582), and part of our tour is dedicated to her legacy. We will learn about her life and visit the Church of San Juan and the Church of La Santa, built on the site of her family home, where her bedroom has been preserved as a chapel.
Our visit to Avila concludes at the Basilica of San Vicente, a Romanesque-style church built in the 12th century and declared a National Heritage Site. It is considered one of the greatest architectural masterpieces of its time in Spain. Inside, its most remarkable feature is the polychrome stone cenotaph, beautifully preserved and recognized as one of the finest examples of Romanesque sculpture in the country.

Guided tour in Segovia

Upon arriving in Segovia, one of the first things you’ll see is its iconic Aqueduct, an ancient Roman engineering marvel that transported water from the Sierra de Guadarrama to the city, 15 kilometers away. Built in the 2nd century, its most visible section extends 800 meters, reaching a height of 28 meters at its highest point. As you stand before it, marvel at how it has remained firmly in place, stone upon stone, without any mortar holding it together.

After admiring this breathtaking architectural feat, you’ll have time to enjoy Segovia’s delicious cuisine. You can choose to dine on your own or savor a traditional Segovian menu, featuring the famous judiones de la Granja (a hearty bean stew) as a starter, followed by roast suckling pig, and for dessert, ponche segoviano, the city’s signature cake, served with ice cream and coffee.
If you prefer to find your own spot for lunch, we recommend two of the city’s most renowned restaurants: Mesón Cándido and Casa Duque.Once re-energized, we resume our guided tour of Segovia at its Plaza Mayor square, where you’ll find the City Hall and the Church of San Miguel, the historic site where Queen Isabella I of Castile was crowned.

From this square, admire the Cathedral of Segovia, the city’s second great landmark. The Cathedral of Saint Mary, built between the 16th and 18th centuries, represents the last example of Gothic architecture in Spain. If you wish to explore its interior, you’ll have the chance to do so during your free time.

Our final stop in Segovia is another of the city’s most emblematic landmarks: the Alcázar of Segovia. This impressive fortress, once home to many Castilian kings, invites you to step into history as we explore its grand halls.

Stroll through legendary rooms such as the Hall of the Throne, the Hall of Kings, the Armory Room, and the Royal Chamber, each brimming with fascinating stories and regal splendor.

As our excursion to Ávila and Segovia comes to an end and we head back to Madrid, we hope you return with unforgettable medieval memories—both in your mind and in your photos—that will stay with you for a lifetime.