Cidade Turismo
Spain

Before you go

Your trip to Ávila.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Ávila – Castela e Leão Destination Toledo, Segóvia and Ávila

How to get there

  • Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas (MAD) Madri · 128 km
  • Estación de Ávila 2 km
  • Estación de Autobuses de Ávila 2 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

From Madri there is a conventional, non-high-speed train to Ávila station, about 2 km from the centre, and buses to the coach station near the railway station. The journey is longer than to Toledo or Segóvia: check the duration when buying tickets. The nearest airport is Madri-Barajas, about 130 km away. Check before purchasing.

How many days

One day is enough for the wall walk, the Cathedral, San Vicente, the Convent of Santa Teresa and the view from the Cuatro Postes. Two days allow you to include the Monastery of Santo Tomás and the Encarnación at a relaxed pace and to see the wall illuminated at night.

When to go

May to June and September to October are usually the most pleasant months. From December to February it is very cold, with frosts and sometimes snow, and it gets dark early. In mid-October the festivities of Santa Teresa take place.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. The walled center is explored on foot, and the train station and bus terminal are a 20-minute walk away. A car is only useful to link Ávila to Segóvia, about 75 km, or to Salamanca, or to explore the serra de Gredos.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Ávila
  1. Morning
    Wall from above

    Start at the Plaza de Santa Teresa and climb onto the adarve at the Puerta del Alcázar. Walk the open sections along the top of the wall and go down to view the Puerta de San Vicente from the outside.

  2. Afternoon
    Cathedral and San Vicente

    Visit the Cathedral and the museum. Have lunch at the Mercado Chico, bearing in mind that lunch begins around 14:00. Afterwards, leave the wall to go to the Basílica de San Vicente and the crypt.

  3. Late afternoon
    Santa Teresa and Cuatro Postes

    Pass by the Convento de Santa Teresa on the south side of the wall. Exit through the Puerta del Puente, cross the Adaja and climb up to Los Cuatro Postes to see the wall in the low light.

  4. Evening
    Dinner and illuminated wall

    Return to the center and have dinner near the Mercado Chico; dinner service begins after 21:00. Those returning to Madri the same day should check the last train or bus.

2 days in Ávila

Day 1

  1. Morning
    Adarve of the wall

    Climb onto the adarve at the Puerta del Alcázar and walk the open sections at a leisurely pace. See the Iglesia de San Pedro, in the Plaza de Santa Teresa.

  2. Afternoon
    Cathedral and Mercado Chico

    Have lunch at the Mercado Chico. Afterwards, visit the Cathedral, the cloister and the museum, which houses works by El Greco and Ribera.

  3. Late afternoon
    Basílica de San Vicente

    Exit via the Puerta de San Vicente and enter the basilica to see the cenotaph of the saints and the crypt of the Soterraña.

  4. Evening
    Illuminated wall

    Take a walk outside the illuminated wall before dinner.

Day 2

  1. Morning
    Mosteiro de Santo Tomás

    Go down to the Mosteiro de Santo Tomás and explore the three cloisters, the church with the tomb of Prince Dom João, and the museums.

  2. Afternoon
    The steps of Santa Teresa

    Visit the Convento de Santa Teresa and the crypt museum. Then walk to the Monasterio de la Encarnación, outside the wall to the north.

  3. Late afternoon
    Los Cuatro Postes

    Cross the river Adaja and climb up to Cuatro Postes to see the entire wall at the end of the day.

  4. Evening
    Farewell at the Mercado Chico

    Dine at the Mercado Chico. Order the chuletón de Ávila and yemas de Santa Teresa for dessert.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How to get from Madri to Ávila?

There is a conventional train from Madri to the Ávila station and buses to the bus terminal, which is near the station. There is no high-speed train, and the journey takes longer than to Segóvia or Toledo. Check the duration and schedules when buying.

Is Ávila doable as a day trip from Madri?

Yes. In one day you can walk the adarve of the wall and visit the Cathedral, San Vicente and the Convento de Santa Teresa. Leave early, because the outbound trip is long.

Why is Ávila so cold?

The city is over 1,100 meters above sea level; it is the highest provincial capital in Spain. In winter, from December to February, frosts are common and it sometimes snows.

What does Santa Teresa have to do with Ávila?

Teresa of Jesus was born in Ávila in 1515 and lived for nearly forty years at the Monasterio de la Encarnación, from where she prepared the reform of the Carmelites. The convent built over her birthplace and the Encarnação are the main sites associated with her.

Can Ávila and Segóvia be combined?

Yes. The two are about 75 km apart by road. By car the link is straightforward; by public transport there are buses between the two cities. To see them properly, ideally spend a day in each.

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