Planning a Segovia day trip from Madrid? Here are my tips for how to get there, what to see, where to eat, and how to fully enjoy this beautiful city in just one day. (Spoiler: Don't miss the cochinillo!)
When I first moved to Madrid several years ago, I took lots of day trips to nearby small towns and cities—but I purposely avoided visiting Segovia. Not because I didn't want to go, but because I figured it would be nice to save something new for when family came. And I was right!
When my parents came to visit, we spent eight days pintxo-hopping through San Sebastian, touring the enormous cathedral in Burgos, and walking the streets of Madrid until our feet begged us to stop. By the final day of their trip, we were all pretty exhausted.
So when my father suggested spending his last day in Spain on a day trip, we were all surprised. But I already knew exactly where we'd go: the historic city of Segovia, known for its Roman aqueduct, Gothic cathedral, and medieval castle—not to mention a pretty special local delicacy.
How to Get to Segovia From Madrid
Segovia isn't quite as easy to reach as Toledo or Alcalá de Henares, but it's worth the extra trouble. There are two main ways to get to Segovia from Madrid by public transportation: bus and train.
The bus to Segovia leaves from Moncloa station in Madrid at regular intervals throughout the day. It takes 1 hour and 20 minutes (make sure to choose the direct route) and costs about €11 round-trip (as of 2023). You can check times and buy tickets on the Avanza website.
Although it's more expensive than the bus, I recommend taking the high-speed train to Segovia. It only takes 27 minutes and costs about €22 round-trip. Make sure you choose the Renfe Avant train (the others are either more expensive or take longer), and keep in mind that it leaves from ChamartÃn station in Madrid.
When you arrive at the train station in Segovia, it feels like you're in the middle of nowhere—all you see is countryside. To reach the city center, you can catch a local bus, hail a taxi, or walk (about 20 minutes to the aqueduct). If you don't have much time, a taxi is the best option.
What to See in Segovia in One Day
Segovia is small enough that you can see pretty much everything in one day—which is why it's such a perfect day trip from Madrid! It's also the kind of place where you don't necessarily need to go inside anywhere; you can admire all its main monuments from the outside if you're short on time (or money!).
First there's the Alcázar de Segovia, a medieval castle that's said to have inspired Disney's Cinderella castle. In the past it was a royal palace and fortress, and today it houses a museum and military archives. It even has a place for a moat!
You can tour the inside of the castle, but I think the views of it from the outside are the best part. And its perch above the city means you'll get incredible views of Segovia as well. If you do want to go inside, admission is €10 for the palace, museum, and tower, or €7 for just the palace and museum (as of 2023).
Next, head to Plaza Mayor and the Segovia Cathedral. This Gothic church dates back to the 1500s, and is one of the most impressive cathedrals in all of Spain. It's located on one end of Segovia's main square, Plaza Mayor. If you want to go inside, general admission is €4.
Finally, there's the famous Aqueduct of Segovia. This incredibly well-preserved stone structure was built by the Romans in the first century AD, and was used to transport water until 1973. Its two levels of stone arches stretch across Plaza del Azoguejo, right in the center of Segovia.
Where to Eat in Segovia
With all of that sightseeing you're bound to work up an appetite, and in Segovia there's only one way to satisfy it: cochinillo de Segovia. This is the city's most iconic dish—suckling pig that's slow-roasted in a wood-fired oven for hours.
Cochinillo is an absolute delicacy and a must-try when visiting Segovia. When I went to Segovia with my parents, we stumbled upon Mesón Don Jimeno, where we dined like royalty for a very reasonable price. There are lots of places for roast suckling pig in Segovia, but I can personally recommend this one!
Insider Tip: If you can't make it to Segovia, try cochinillo in Madrid at Restaurante BotÃn.
Itinerary for a Segovia Day Trip From Madrid
There are plenty of ways to enjoy Segovia, but to give you an idea of what a day trip from Madrid might look like, here's my suggested itinerary!
- Take the train from Madrid to Segovia, then a taxi to the Alcázar
- Walk around to admire the castle and spectacular views of the surroundings
- Make your way down to Plaza Mayor to see the ornate cathedral
- Head to Mesón Don Jimeno to have authentic cochinillo for lunch
- Walk to the Roman aqueduct, exploring the streets of Segovia and popping into shops along the way
- Take a taxi back to the train station—or walk, depending on how tired you are!
How to Enjoy Segovia on a Budget
If you don't want to spend too much money, you can easily visit Segovia on a budget! Just adjust the above itinerary accordingly; take the bus instead of the train, walk to and from the city instead of taking taxis (or catch the bus), skip souvenir shopping, and admire the Alcázar and cathedral from the outside.
The one thing that's worth splurging on is lunch—but even that doesn't have to be too expensive. At Mesón Don Jimeno, you can get a huge portion of cochinillo (enough for 2–3 people) for around €38. It's not the cheapest meal in Spain, but it's totally worth it!
The Perfect Day Trip From Madrid
I loved each and every minute of our trip to Segovia—and so did my parents! It's an extremely beautiful and peaceful town, the aqueduct is incredible, our food was great, and you can easily enjoy the city in one day (although I would've been happy to stay longer).
Segovia Day Trip FAQs
The top two day trips from Madrid are definitely Segovia and Toledo. It's hard to pick between them! But if you don't have much time, Segovia might be a better choice. It's smaller and there's less to see, so it's not as overwhelming if you only have a few hours to explore.
The best time for a day trip to Segovia is either spring or fall, when the weather is nicest and there are smaller crowds. A chilly fall day is also the perfect time of year to enjoy a hearty plate of cochinillo asado.
Segovia is a small city with a few truly special sites: the fairytale-like Alcázar, the impressive cathedral, and the stunning Roman aqueduct. It also has a delicious local specialty—roast suckling pig—that alone makes it worth the trip from Madrid!
Absolutely! All the main sites in Segovia are within easy walking distance. It only takes about 10 minutes to walk from the Alcázar to the cathedral, and another 10 minutes from there to the aqueduct. You can even walk from the train or bus station into the center.
Love Spanish food? Sign up for my free weekly newsletter and receive a new Spanish recipe once a week! Join today and get my FREE Spanish ingredient essentials guide!
Lisa
Was so glad I found your post. We followed your lead-took the train and a taxi to the castle and then worked our way down the hill to the cathedral and plaza ending at the aqueduct. A great day-thanks!
Katherine
Hello Lauren,
Do you think it that wise to combine El Escorial in the morning and Segovia in the afternoon? Or is that too much for one day? I want to do Toledo for the full day, but was hoping to do El Escorial and Segovia in 1 day or 2 - 1/2 days. What do you think?
Thank you,
Katherine
Lauren Aloise
It's definitely possible! It would be a long day, but if coming to visit in summer, our days are very long anyway (sun until 10pm!) Good luck 🙂
Moises Segovia
Hola Lauren, We will be going to Segovia , this October will be Staying in Segovia for 3 days!! Do you know if they rent any motorcycles there in Segovia
Lauren Aloise
Hello! That's wonderful! I don't know of anything, but it sounds like a great idea.
moises segovia
Hi , how is the weather like in October,,we will be there in Segovia. Is cold , rainy?Thank you
Sarah
Loved your blog. I am going to Madrid on January 4, 2017 for 5 days. So I plan to take a one day trip to Segovia . Should I take the bus from Madrid? Now the bus leaves grom the Moncloa station, how far .is it from Madrid? Will be staying near Retiro park .
Lauren Aloise
You can take the bus or the train-- I'd personally go for the train!
Vanessa
Hola Lauren!
We are very excited we are finally coming to Spain in December, I already book our devour tours in Madrid and Barcelona. Can't wait!
I was reading you post abot a day trip to Segovia, how many hours do you think we need, not rushing and having a cochinillo lunch?
Thank you
Vanessa
Lauren Aloise
Hi Vanessa! Just seeing this comment here now-- so happy to hear you'll be in Spain this month! I'd say you need a minimum of 5-6 hours spent in Segovia (so excluding travel time), just to have a nice lunch (at least 2 hours) and walk around the town. This won't give you time for really entering any sites, or shopping too much. I'd plan a full day trip personally, but if time is tight, about 5 hours will at least let you see the main sights! Enjoy it!!
John Graham
Between segovia and toledo it is all in the eye of the beholder. For a manageable boutique visit that's easier on the feet segovia is the way to go. For grandeur, but more blisters, Toledo is it. Loved the Romanesque churches in Segovia but we found ourselves alone at most of the smaller churches around , and startled locals when we blundered into the unlocked ones. Most people seem to have stuck to the main drags, unlike in Toledo where they were everywhere. Answer for us - do both - and take full advantage of Segovia!
John
kumara
I am going to Madrid, Segovia, Salamanca,Toledo and back to Madrid for a few days. What is the best way to travel to these cities without going back to Madrid each time. do like bus travel as you see so much more of the country.
Lauren Aloise
Bus or train are both great options! Check our Renfe.com for connections. You can also buy a Spain Pass if taking a lot of high speed trains during a month period.
Suzanne
I've been looking for train routes to Segovia from Madrid and RailEurope says there are no trains in October from Madrid to Segovia. Also I was looking at tours, are they worth it in your opinion?
Lauren Aloise
That can't be right-- there are definitely trains everyday. Check http://www.renfe.com (although perhaps they haven't published October's schedule yet...). I would prefer to wander around on my own to a tour, though I'm sure with a good tour you'd learn heaps!
Nicole
Definitely do your own thing!! We were in Segovia yesterday. Do a bit of reading on where you want to go first, then gran a map from the tourist info centre and wander!! Recommend Alcazar (good reason not to book a tour - my partner ended up proposing outside the castle!) as well as the cathedral and aqueduct are both beautiful. Train and bus are easy to navigate and much cheaper than organised tours. My favourite place so far 🙂
Suzanne
Nicole!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! Thank you for your post! It is settled then, on our own it is and Lauren you may be right, perhaps not posted yet... I finally got one schedule to show up today from Madrid to Segovia but not return, a little odd but I will figure it out once I'm there. We are looking into buying a Renfe Spain pass and I'm assuming I can travel without restrictions or additional fees. I'm hoping I'm right! Thanks again Ladies!!
Nicole
Hi! Am definitely set on a trip to Segovia when we are in Madrid in just over a week (YAY!).
Is it essential to get bus/taxi to the centre? I liked the idea of walking at least one way!
Thanks,
Nicole
Lauren Aloise
Good questions Nicole! I believe it is (if I recall it's on a highway). Of course, technically one can always walk... but I think it's advisable if coming by train, and there is plenty of walking to be done in the town itself.
Cookie Knott
I will be in Madrid from July 3-21 with 3 friends. We would like to take a cooking class. What is your recommendation?
Also, we are interested in local artisans....potters, jewelry, etc
Lauren Aloise
Hi Cookie-- I don't have any personal experience with Madrid cooking classes but have seen that Cooking Point is well reviewed on Tripadvisor. If you'd like to meet local food artisans, our Huertas Neighborhood Food and Market Tour would be perfect-- 3.5 hours of 11 family run Madrid food establishments! For jewelry there's a great place on Calle Codo, and for leather in the same area there's a place called Taller Puntera. Hope this helps!
Cate @ Chez CateyLou
I am heading to Madrid next week for the first time, and am so happy that I stumbled upon your blog! I was debating if we should do a day trip to Segovia, and I think you have convinced me! Thank you so much for all of these great details. I can't wait to check out your other blog posts!
Lauren Aloise
So happy it's been helpful-- and yes, go to Segovia! 🙂
Bill Richardson
Thanks for the great intro to Segovia. We are going to Madrid in September and want to do a day trip to Segovia, but I'm worried about how to get around between sights (Alcazar, aqueduct, museums and jewish quarter maybe). How much is within walking distance of one another
Lauren Aloise
Hi Bill, it's not too much walking! About 10-15 minutes between different sights and monuments-- at the most!
Katrina
So glad I found this post! I'm going to Madrid in September and cannot decide on a day trip. I'm tossing up between Toledo and Segovia, I think I'd prefer Segovia but I'm a bit worried about the transport. Are the taxis easy to come by? Also, what camera do you use? Your photos are beautiful and I'm buying a new camera before my trip and would be thrilled if my pics turn out like these.
Lauren Aloise
Segovia is my personal pick (although Toledo is incredible too). Taxis are very easy to come by, there are usually some waiting at the station and then there is a line of them in the center as well. My camera is a Canon EOS rebel-- a very old one! I bought the most basic version hoping to use it as a starter camera, still don't feel comfortable switching to anything more expensive! But it's been great to learn on. Thanks for reading!
Katrina Williams
Thank you so much. I've really enjoyed reading your posts and can't wait to get to Madrid.
Trevor Huxham
I loved Segovia when I was there for 2 nights in September! The big monuments were awe-inspiring, and the food was filling, but was really surprised me were the oooooooold Romanesque churches hiding around every corner of the city. So fascinating!
Although Segovia was great, I would have to throw my hat to the Toledo ring--there's just so much more to do and see and the old town was more moody and interesting than Segovia's.
Lauren Aloise
Totally understand your opinion, but that's exactly why I prefer Segovia. Less to do, so more relaxing in my opinion! But both places are incredible!