Ávila & Segovia Full Day Tour from Madrid: Two UNESCO Sites

Two medieval cities in one day: walk the walls and aqueducts without building the itinerary yourself.

A full-day guided tour from Madrid takes you to Ávila and Segovia, two UNESCO World Heritage sites, with a bilingual guide leading 45 minutes of walking through Ávila's walled streets and 1 hour through Segovia's historic center. You'll see the Walls of Ávila (built starting in 1090, rebuilt largely in the 12th century, with 88 towers and an average height of 12 meters), the Roman Aqueduct of Segovia, and the Alcázar castle-palace rising above the confluence of two rivers—with the option to enter the Alcázar. Departure is 8:30 AM from Madrid with return by 7:00 PM; the journey includes coach transport between cities and free time to explore each one on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ávila and Segovia

• Walk Ávila city walls
• Visit Roman churches in Ávila
• See 12th-century Ávila cathedral
• Explore Gothic palaces in Ávila
• Learn about Santa Teresa de Jesus
• Travel to Segovia by coach
• See Segovia Roman aqueduct
• Visit Alcázar of Segovia
• Explore Segovia city streets

The Experience

The tour leaves Madrid at 8:30 AM and covers roughly 11 hours round-trip, so you're traveling with a local guide who speaks both English and Spanish. The coach carries you out of the city to Ávila first, where you walk the ancient streets inside the fortified walls—a 2,516-meter perimeter of stone that took centuries to complete, with nine gates and 88 semicircular towers still standing. The guide walks you through the Roman churches, the 12th-century cathedral, and Gothic palaces, and explains the life of Santa Teresa de Jesus, who shaped the city's spiritual history. After the 45-minute walking tour, you have free time to explore Ávila on your own before the coach moves on to Segovia.

In Segovia, the guide leads a 1-hour walking tour through the city's historic center, where the Roman Aqueduct dominates the skyline—one of the best-preserved elevated aqueducts from the Roman era and the symbol on Segovia's coat of arms. You'll also see the Alcázar, a castle-palace that rises on a rocky crag above the confluence of two rivers and is shaped like the bow of a ship; it started as a fortress and later served as a royal palace, a state prison, and a military academy before becoming a museum. If you book the option that includes Alcázar entry, you can go inside; otherwise, you see it from outside during the walking tour. The rest of the afternoon is yours to wander the streets, sit in a plaza, or return to any site that caught your eye.

The coach brings you back to Madrid by 7:00 PM. Comfortable shoes are recommended for the walking sections, and the tour is suitable for all fitness levels; infants can ride in a pram or stroller, and service animals are welcome. The bilingual guide means you hear the history in your preferred language, and the fixed schedule means the timing of both cities fits into a single day without you having to coordinate trains, book separate guides, or piece together the route yourself.

What’s included

• Round-trip coach transport from Madrid to Ávila and Segovia.
• bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• 45-minute guided walking tour of Ávila's walled city and historic center.
• 1-hour guided walking tour of Segovia.
• free time to explore both cities on your own.
• entry to the Alcázar of Segovia (if you select that option at checkout).

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by The Yellow Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to visit both Ávila and Segovia in one day with a set departure time and bilingual guide; pick a single-destination tour instead if you prefer to spend the full day exploring just one city at your own pace.

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Top questions

How long is the walking tour in each city?

Ávila has a 45-minute guided walk through the walled streets and historic center, and Segovia has a 1-hour walking tour of the city. The rest of the time in each city is free for you to explore on your own.

What are the Walls of Ávila?

The Walls of Ávila are a medieval fortification that began in 1090 and were largely rebuilt in the 12th century. They form a 2,516-meter perimeter with 88 semicircular towers, an average height of 12 meters, and nine gates completed over different periods—they still enclose the historic city center today.

Is entry to the Alcázar of Segovia included?

Entry to the Alcázar is optional and depends on which tour option you choose at checkout. One option includes Alcázar entry; the other does not. Either way, you'll see the castle from outside during the walking tour.

What time does the tour leave Madrid and when do we return?

The tour departs Madrid at 8:30 AM and returns by 7:00 PM, with an expected arrival back in Madrid around 7:00 PM. The full journey, including coach travel and both cities, takes approximately 11 hours.

What is the Roman Aqueduct of Segovia?

The Roman Aqueduct of Segovia is one of the best-preserved elevated aqueducts from the Roman era and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It's the foremost symbol of Segovia and appears on the city's coat of arms; you'll see it during the guided walking tour.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation from Madrid?

No. The tour includes round-trip coach transport from Madrid to both Ávila and Segovia, so you travel as part of the group and don't need to book trains or arrange your own way between cities.