Segovia

At the foot of the Aqueduct

Segovia

Max 9ºC / Min 1ºC

An impressive aqueduct from the days of the Roman Empire marks the entrance to this fairy-tale Castilian city, with the Sierra de Guadarrama in the background.

After the initial amazement at this magnificent feat of engineering, with 167 arches held together only by the balance of forces, it’s time to visit towers, Romanesque churches, synagogues, Renaissance palaces, convents, gardens, hidden courtyards, a fortress which could have inspired the creators at Disney… In Segovia you don’t need a bus to see them all. You can enjoy each step and make the most of the walk.

Why is it a World Heritage Site?

You just need to stroll around the town to see why the old quarter of Segovia and the Aqueduct make up a World Heritage site. In a walk along the city walls you can see the Casa de los Picos, the Alhóndiga, Torreón de Lozoya, the church of San Martín… The first must-see is the Cathedral, known as the “lady of the cathedrals”, and the sensation of travelling through time continues with the mansions of noble families in the Caballeros district and the narrow streets of the former Jewish quarter.The second essential stop: The Alcázar: a castle with hidden passageways that seems straight out of a novel. We strongly recommend climbing the 152 steps of the spiral staircase in the Tower of Juan II. When you get to the top, the views are unique, and you begin to understand why some people compare this tower with the prow of a boat cutting through the waves, and why they say that Snow White’s castle at Disneyland was inspired by this Alcázar.Enjoying the streets of Segovia is wonderful, but if you go a little further out, you can find one of the viewing points to see the city from a distance, and feel the magic even more.

Cultural life, and for lunch… suckling pig

Apart from its monuments, the city has a wide range of cultural attractions all year, and its streets and other spaces always have music, dance, theatre or literature to enjoy. Its most famous festivals include Titirimundi, the MUSEG: Segovia Music Festival and the Hay Festival. As well as traditional museums like the Antonio Machado House-Museum (the famous writer lived here from 1919 to 1932), surprising new spaces are emerging, like La Cárcel, a former prison which now offers exhibitions, film seasons, microtheatre, and so on.If you want something traditional for lunch, the most famous local dish is suckling pig in the legendary Mesón Cándido or in some new restaurant contributing a touch of modernity. One last piece of advice. Around 10 kilometres from the city, you can take an excursion we recommend highly: La Granja de San Ildefonso, with a Royal Palace and spectacular gardens.

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Heritage cities

Visiting Spain brings you into direct contact with the history of…

The foolproof guide to the cities of Castile and Leon

One place nestled in rural Spain combines art, history,…

Segovia, a city with a long history, near Madrid

Segovia sits between the rivers Clamores and Eresma, and is an…

One-day tour of Segovia

Segovia is a World Heritage City, with unique sights that are…

Practical information

How to get there - transport information

Select the means of transport to see how to get there or how to get around at your destination.

How to get to aeroplane

The nearest airports to Segovia are:Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport, 105 kilometres away.Villanubla-Valladolid Airport, 130 kilometres away.Salamanca Airport, 145 kilometres away.

How to get to bus

There are coaches from Segovia to cities like Madrid, Ávila, Salamanca and Valladolid, operated by the companies Avanza and Linecar.
The bus and coach station is located on Paseo Ezequiel González 12 (+34 690 886 660). It is approximately a 10-minute walk to the city’s historic quarter.

How to get to train

The high-speed train between Madrid and Segovia makes the trip in just half an hour. The train departs from Madrid-Chamartín Station.Ticket booking
Segovia railway station is on Calle Obispo Quesada 1, about a 20 minute walk from the historic centre. High-speed trains arrive at the AVE station, about 6 kilometres from the city centre.
Bus route 12 runs between the AVE station and the city centre.
Bus route 11 runs between the AVE station and the Aqueduct.

How to get there by road

From Madrid, take the A6 and AP-6 towards A Coruña until kilometre 88. Then continue on the AP-61. The journey by car takes about an hour and 10 minutes.
Other roads that connect to Segovia:Main roads: N-110, Soria-Plasencia; N-603, San Rafael-Segovia; and N-VI, Madrid-La Coruña (San Rafael).- Regional roads: CL-601 and M-601: Valladolid – Segovia – Madrid (via Navacerrada); and CL-605: Segovia – Arévalo – Zamora.- Motorway: A-601: Valladolid-Segovia.- Toll motorways The AP-51 (toll motorway) runs between Ávila and the small town of Villacastín in Segovia.

Practical information

The tourist card can be purchased online or in person at the city’s Visitor Centre (Calle Azoguejo, 1). It offers discounts and free tickets at: hotels, restaurants, shops, craft shops, museums, active tourism companies and Segovia tourist products. It is valid for one year.

How to get around in bus