Ávila and Segovia from Madrid with Tickets Included

What you'll see

Ávila and Segovia are just over an hour from Madrid and are two of the best-preserved historic cities in Castile, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This full-day trip covers them with an official guide and, unlike the cheaper versions, actually goes inside the key monuments rather than just seeing them from the outside.

• Walls of Ávila: the most complete medieval fortifications in Spain, raised in the 11th century, encircling the entire old town.
• Basilica of San Vicente (entry included): one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Spain, just outside the walls.
• Church of Saint Teresa of Jesus: built in the 17th century by the Discalced Carmelites on the spot where, by tradition, the saint was born.
• Aqueduct of Segovia: the city's great Roman engineering work, with its double row of granite arches raised without mortar.
• Cathedral and Alcázar of Segovia (entries included): the Gothic cathedral dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption and the Alcázar fortress, on the crag where the Eresma and Clamores rivers meet.

How it works

You are met by the Fun and Tickets team at calle San Bernardo, 7, in central Madrid. Arrive about 15 minutes early for check-in and don't confuse the spot with other operators on the same street. Departure is by air-conditioned coach with WiFi on board.

The first stop is Ávila, just over an hour from Madrid. There you walk the walls, the Basilica of San Vicente — with entry included — the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral and the church of Saint Teresa. Then there is a break with free time during which a snack and a drink are included.

Next, the coach continues to Segovia. The guided visit starts at the Roman Aqueduct and continues to the Cathedral and the Alcázar, both with entry included. The visit uses an audio system with headsets, so you can follow the guide easily even in a large group. The full day lasts around 9 hours including travel, returning to the departure point in Madrid.

Who I'd recommend it to

• If it's your first time in Ávila and Segovia and you want to go inside the monuments, not just see them from outside.
• If you'd rather not drive or organise trains and buses to link the two cities.
• If you want the tickets to Segovia Cathedral, the Alcázar and the Basilica of San Vicente already sorted.
• If you value having an official guide to put what you see into context at each stop.

Who I would NOT recommend it to

• If you want to wander calmly and without a clock. It's two cities in 9 hours; if you're after a relaxed visit, give each one its own day.
• If mobility is an issue. Ávila and Segovia have slopes, steps and cobblestones, and this format is not accessible.
• If you only care about the exteriors and budget is the priority. For that there is the Ávila and Segovia budget day trip, cheaper and without entries.
• If you'd rather have a pace and attention tailored to you. A private tour fits better, though at a different price.