A small and historically beautiful city located Northwest from Madrid, Segovia is a must-do day trip for people visiting Spain’s capital. While it’s often passed up for the popular Toledo excursion, Segovia features distinctive medieval architecture and massive Roman aqueducts. Meander down the cobblestone roads and people-watch in the main plaza. The city is small enough that once you arrive, you can experience the whole city by foot. Much of the town is catered toward tourists, but it still retains its historical charm and local essence. Here’s what I did while taking a day trip to Segovia last summer during my study abroad in Madrid!
How to Get There
You can take a bus, train, or chartered tour from Madrid to Segovia. I booked a bus with GoEuro from Madrid to Segovia for about 20 euros round trip. The prices depend on the season and the time of day, but the bus is the cheapest option. The bus leaves from the Moncloa station, easily accessible by metro. The trip to Segovia takes about 1.5 hours.
What to Do
The three main attractions in Segovia are the Alcazar, the Segovia Cathedral, and the aqueduct. I visited all three during my day in Segovia. Originally a palace in the middle ages, the Alcazar is now a museum where visitors can witness Moorish decor, armory, and an arsenal of crossbows and cannons. The Alcazar was also once used as a prison and is surrounded by what used to be a moat. Be sure to head up to the roof for views of the entire city.
The Segovia Cathedral was built during the Renaissance, but features Gothic architecture like flying buttresses. While the cathedral isn’t as impressive compared to others located throughout Spain and Europe, it’s worth a short visit.
You can’t visit Segovia without taking in the view of the aqueduct. In fact, it’ll probably be the first thing you see upon arriving. Climb the stairs to get a better view, or sit in the grassy hill alongside the aqueduct. If you stay late enough for sunset, this is definitely the place to watch it.
What to Wear
I visited Segovia in the summer months and wore shorts, a three-quarter sleeve shirt, and a cardigan. Cardigans are one of my favorite travel pieces for summer because you never know when you might get a little chilly. They’re especially great because they’re small enough to throw in the your bag or tie around your waist.
For day trips, I love wearing my Sperry Seacoast Leather Sneaker because they’re a tad fancier than athletic shoes but still super comfortable to walk long distances. This leather pair with tie leather laces are one of my most-worn travel shoes.
