Alcazar de Segovia Spain, The Castle That Inspired Disney

While planning our trip to Spain, I had seen many pictures of this gorgeous castle – and I had to see it in person! Just 30 minutes, by train, lies the small town, of Segovia. Tucked between glorious mountain ranges and amazing countryside, the Segovia Alcazar lies on the edge of the city, making it worth the journey!

Getting There:

We took a day/morning trip from Madrid. Our day began early in the morning to catch the 7:30 am train to Segovia. (We took the metro from San Bernardo to Chamartín, the train station is just a quick walk out of the metro. Here is a great Madrid metro app. Our metro passes were for three days for just €14).

Train station: Chamartín (There are cafes and shops to browse through while you are waiting for your train). No announcements are usually made. There are time boards posted throughout the station. Be sure to check your passage number and head to the right door.

 Tickets: We bought our Renfe tickets online through Loco2. It was so easy, all we had to do was put the stations and times/dates we wanted and then it showed what tickets were available.  There is an option to buy tickets at the metro station, but both mornings we were there, the machines were not working. The total for one person, the return trip was $30

We arrived at the Segovia train station, outside the city. We took Bus 12 all the way to the last stop -Paseo de Ezequiel González. It was around €5 euros for both of us. After we got to the last stop, it was about a 5-10 minute walk to the Aqueduct. (We stopped along the way at the Traditionarius Segovia, for some hot chocolate and churros).

Roman Aqueduct

Our first stop of the day was the Roman Aqueduct. This structure just fascinated me! It is unbelievable this is a *free-standing* structure, built in the first century, and is still standing today! Both sides are beautiful to photograph, we got there right when the sun was peaking over the hills. It gave me goosebumps to see it – also it was like 50 degrees (5 degrees for my Celsius friends). There is a viewpoint we climbed to, facing the square, up the stairs on the left.

Segovia Cathedral

It was a short walk to the center of Segovia. Right in the heart of Plaza Mayor is the Segovia Cathedral. Its magnificent and bold architecture just takes your breath away! As we were there super early in the morning, it was not open yet. But we would love to come back one day and see the inside! (Just €3, children under 10 are free).

Church Of Vera Cruz

At the very edge of Segovia lies the Vera Cruz church. It was a church built by the Knights Templar in the 13th century. Although we would have loved to visit here, we were short on time and only got some views from afar – but they did not disappoint.

Alcazar De Segovia

Now, of course, the main reason we went to Segovia is to see the Disney Castle! This is not technically a Disney Castle – it was supposedly the inspiration behind the design of the Cinderella Castle at Disney. It does look just like a fairytale though! The rounded towers are my favorite!

We were the first ones there (around 9:30 am) and it was perfect to get some great shots of the castle! After we had gone through, we noticed the crowds starting to pick up – so get there early if you can! 

The tickets for the castle started at €5.50. You can also include the tower which is an additional €2.50.

The castle opens at 10 am; we were the first in line and basically had the castle to ourselves that morning. The crowds did not show up until later in the day. 

I had seen different views of the castle and I was determined to get a different shot. Once you exit the castle, there is a stairway to the left that leads down to the road. Once you are down the steps, you follow the walkway until you reach the park. This park has the most gorgeous views of the castle and it is a great way to see Segovia! 

Getting Back:

Coming back for us was a bit of a challenge. From the Roman Aqueduct square, we thought we would just take bus 11 back to the station; but when we got to the square the busses were parked and we were not sure what time they would be leaving. We would have waited, but we had to catch our train. We ended up getting a taxi back to the station, which was about €15

Madrid

Once you are back in Madrid, here are just a few sites to see when you are there! Madrid is a fun, bustling city! There are many places to see and things to do; I have narrowed it down to just a few of the top things to see and do!

Plaza de Cibeles

Located in the heart of Madrid is the beautiful Plaza De Cibeles. If you want to see some great views of the city, you can climb to the balcony for a few dollars

Parque del Buen Retiro

This park is gorgeous, not to mention massive! From the enormous trees to the beautiful flower gardens, you will need a few hours just to walk the entire park! Don’t miss out on seeing the park lake, the Glass Palace, and the rose garden!

Plaza de Toros

A quick metro ride over from the Chamartin train station is the Plaza De Toros. The architecture of the building is stunning! There are not as many bullfights in Spain as there used to be, and in many places, they are outlawed, but they do have a few featured in the Plaza De Toros.

Plaza Mayor

If you are looking for a nice plaza to spend the evening, Plaza Mayor is perfect! Plaza Mayor is much bigger than Puerta del Sol and also less crowded when we went. They have some amazing outside restaurants too! 

Avila

Another great day trip from Madrid is Avila! In Avila, you will be able to climb the medieval walls and see gorgeous views of the city! The wall opens at 10 am, we were there right when the doors were open, and practically the only ones there! Although there are some sections that are closed off, you will get a great view of Avila and some stunning photos!

Once you buy your ticket, you can walk straight up to the walls! (There is an elevator available as well). The stairs are a bit steep, so wear great walking shoes and do some stretches before the climb. 

I wish we had planned to stay longer, it was such a beautiful place! The views are just fantastic, and it would be the perfect place to have a picnic! We hope to be back!

Basilica De San Vincente

The Church of San Vicente is a sacred spot. The story goes, Christian martyrs, Vicente, Sabina, and Cristeta were martyred during the Roman Empire in Avila. They were buried in the rock, but later a church was built over their tombs. It is a beautiful church and worth a visit!

If you enjoyed this blog, please comment below! Also, if you have anything specific you would like to know about Segovia, you can email us! We would love to hear from you!