Must Visit Places in Segovia in 1-Day + Tapas
Segovia is a beautiful Spanish city with many must-see places you can visit. You can explore the Roman Aqueduct, Plaza Mayor, and its charming narrow streets in just one day.
If you’re hungry for some delicious tapas, stop by Mesón Restaurante Las Cuevas del Duque for their famous patatas bravas or cordero asado (roasted lamb). You’ll never regret visiting Segovia!
Segovia has been a UNESCO Heritage city since December 1985, and when you walk through its streets, you will see why!
Segovia is commonly known for its Roman aqueduct, but this city has so much more to offer, which I will tell you about in this post.
I hope you like it as much as I do!
- Check Out: Guided Walking Tour (Activity with a guide who speaks English)
- Check Out: Must-Visit Places in Madrid
- Check Out: Where to go Tapas in Segovia (In Spanish, but you can understand it)
Best Things To Do in Segovia in a Day
Here, you will find parts of the traditional visit to Segovia, part of the Jewish quarter, and the Segovian wall. Are you ready?
Roman Aqueduct
The Aqueduct of Segovia is a work of the Romans. It was built to bring water to the city; however, it is not clear at what time it was made, whether it was in the 1st century with Flavius or during the time of Trajan.
But more or less, it is around 2000 years old.
It has 167 arches of granite stone. It makes it even more majestic because it does not take any kind of mortar to join it; it “simply” stands after so many centuries by the “balance of forces.”
The work of the inventiveness of the engineers of the time.
It is in the Old Town of Segovia, and you cannot miss it. In addition, in this area, you can go for tapas, one of the essential things in Segovia.
Calle Real and Casa de los Picos
Calle Real is the most commercial street to visit in Segovia, and it takes you directly to the Plaza Mayor and the Cathedral, passing before the Old Synagogue Major.
It changes its name occasionally (Cervantes, Juan Bravo, Plazuela del Corpus and Isabel la Católica).
You can continue along this street until you reach the Mirador de la Canaleja; from it, you can see the mountain of the dead woman and the neighborhood of San Millán.
The Casa de Los Picos is currently the School of Applied Arts and Artistic Crafts.
It is from the sixteenth century and is believed to have been built to defend the city, although it is also said to have been from a Jew or the city’s executioner.
Plaza de Medina del Campo and San Martín
You can continue walking along the Segovian Royal Street (Calle Real) and arrive at the Medina del Campo Square, where you’ll see:
- The Church of St. Martin of the twelfth century, romanesque style
- an old palace of the Tordesillas of the fifteenth century,
- the Tower of Lozoya of the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries,
- the House of Solier,
- the House of Bornos of the 16th century Renaissance style.
- The statue of Juan Bravo and two busts are known as the Sirens.
Undoubtedly, a square that goes back 5 centuries in time deserves us to stop and contemplate this architectural ensemble.
Plaza Mayor and Segovia Cathedral
The Plaza Mayor is the heart of Segovia. You’ll find the Town Hall and the new Church of San Miguel here.
The previous one was located in the center of the square and sunk and was consequently moved to one side.
In the Plaza Mayor, you can also visit the Cathedral of Segovia and a few bars and restaurants where tourists and locals eat tapas, lunch, or dinner.
The Cathedral of Segovia, also called Lady of the Cathedrals, is of late Gothic style. Construction began in 1525.
The main facade is Puerta del Perdón (Door of Forgiveness, literal translation in English), and in the bell tower lived the bell ringer until the twentieth century; great views!
The interior of the Cathedral houses has 18 beautiful chapels from the 16th century and fantastic stained glass windows that are worth the visit.
The Jewish Quarter of Segovia
The Jewish quarter of Segovia is located in what is now the commercial area.
At the time, there were 5 synagogues, but today only remains the Major Synagogue, which is now the convent of Corpus Christi.
In the Jewish quarter, a teaching center aims to show, teach, and disseminate to visitors the history of the Jews of Segovia.
It’s very interesting, and the general entrance only costs 2 euros and is free on Thursdays. (The price may change over the years).
Former Major Synagogue
The old “Sinagoga Mayor” is the best-preserved synagogue in Segovia.
It is believed to have been built in the 13th century and functioned as a synagogue until 1410, when it was converted into a Catholic church.
Its caretakers are the Clarissa nuns. So if you feel like visiting it from the inside, you can do it during these hours:
- Monday and Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
- Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. 1:45 p.m. 16:00 a.m. 17:45 a.m.
- Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
- Closed: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
- And the entrance fee only costs 1 euro.
The Segovia Wall
Although many people do not know, there is also a wall in Segovia. The thing is, it only got three kilometers (1.86 miles) left.
Because when it was no longer needed as a defensive element, it was considered a nuisance, and they either demolished, built on, or stuck to it.
Then, until the twentieth century, they began to preserve and restore it.
In 1941, UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site the entire walled compound and its aqueduct.
The entrance to visit the wall of Segovia is only 1euro.
Alcazar de Segovia
The Alcazar of Segovia looks like a fairytale castle on top of a hill. However, before you arrive, you find green gardens that are very well maintained.
You will have great views on the right and see the Church of Vera Cruz and Zamarramala. Finally, the end of the gardens reaches the Alcazar, where you can see the moat with a drawbridge.
Some say that the profile of the Alcazar of Segovia looks like a ship over the river; give it a little imagination, and you may see it!
To enter the castle, you have to pay for a ticket, depending on where you want to visit you can spend 2, 5.50 or 7.50 euros.
If you watched the Wheel of Time, this image, you know where it is?
Segovia Guided Tour with Cathedral and Alcazar
A guided tour with a professional local guide is an activity that you can do in Segovia to learn a little more about its history and essential places to visit.
This guide will take you to discover Segovia on foot and will show you the city of the aqueduct from Roman times to the present day. All in a fun and entertaining way. Also, It includes visiting the Cathedral and the Alcazar.
Flying in Globe in Segovia
One of the activities I have pending in Segovia is flying a balloon and seeing the city from the heights. It has to be a marvel and an unforgettable experience.
The tour departs at 8 a.m. and lasts in total about 3 hours. It’s an hour’s flight and then includes a toast with cava and lunch, video, certificate, and the extraordinary experience recorded on your retina.
It is also an activity for the whole family, as children from 6 can fly.
However, to do the balloon ride through the sky of Segovia, you have to make the reservation more than two days in advance.
San Andres Gate
The Puerta de San Andrés is part of the wall of Segovia. It has been a Historical Monument since 1941 and today. It is where you will find all the information about the Segovian wall.
Why do we mention this door? Because it is the one that stands out the most from the wall. She’s pretty, even though her goal was defensive.
You can also hear that they call it “Arco del Socorro.” This is due to the image of the Virgen del Socorro that was installed there. But this is something modern.
This door was essential and had a lot of activity in the middle ages since it was the one that gave way to the Jews who went to the old cemetery, which was in Pinarillo.
Also, through this door, the Jews of Segovia were expelled.
The gate was restored several times and underwent modifications over the years. But it retains its appearance, at least on the outside, of the eleventh century.
Currently, you will find tourist information on the Segovia wall, exhibitions, audio guides, guided tours, etc.
Open in the morning. Address: Plaza del Socorro, 2 and 3.
Azoguejo Square
This is where all visits to Segovia usually begin. The Plaza del Azoguejo is where the highest aqueduct is located.
In this Segovian square, the markets of the city were held. Farmers, ranchers, and dealers met here.
Its urban planning still conserves a certain air of popular architecture with not very tall, well-differentiated houses, which makes the monumentality of the aqueduct stand out even more.
One of the oldest quotes about the Plaza de Azoguejo is a codex of the Cantigas de Alfonso X el Sabio from the 13th century.
Since ancient times, this square has led to Calle Real, Segovia’s commercial street.
St. Stephen’s Church
The church of San Esteban de Segovia is a very well preserved Romanesque-style temple in the capital of Segovia.
The exact construction date is unknown, but it is estimated that it was at the end of the 12th century or the beginning of the 13th century.
Today’s building is not the same as the one from the 13th century since it underwent a significant remodeling in the 18th century that almost finished the building.
Without a doubt, what stands out the most is the tower of San Esteban. It has been a National Artistic Historical Monument since 1896.
As of 1901, rehabilitation works began that have achieved, that today we can enjoy this architectural work.
San Marcos Prairie Viewpoint
The Mirador de la Pradera de San Marcos is the place you have to go to take a photo of the Alcazár de Segovia.
I’m sure you’ve seen her in many posts. From here, you have a great perspective of this fairy tale castle.
The best dates to go are in spring (and summer if you don’t mind the heat). Of course, it is also very cool in winter when it snows. But regardless of the season of the year, it is best to go at sunset.
To get to this famous viewpoint of the city of Segovia, you have to leave the center. If you don’t mind walking, it’s about 5 kilometers from the center; you can also get there by public transport or with your vehicle.
The best thing is to put Google Maps and follow the directions; it’s straightforward.
In the surroundings, you can also see the Church of San Marcos, the Santuario de la Fuencisla, and the church of Veracruz.
Juan Bravo Theater
The Juan Bravo theater was built at the beginning of the 20th century in 1917 and was inaugurated the following year.
It was closed for most of the 1980s for restoration, and since 1989, you can see different performances of theater, music, dance, children’s shows, etc.
Cervantes Street
Cervantes Street is another of the streets that you have to go through in Segovia. This street ends at the aqueduct and at the Plaza de Azoguejo.
Surely you will take a few photos of this street with the aqueduct in the background.
Recommendations
Where to Eat in Segovia?
Segovia is also well known for its gastronomy that will not leave you indifferent.
If you want to get out and enjoy tapas from around the city, visit this post with 11 tapas places around Segovia, you will love it!
Where to Sleep in Segovia?
As you can see, there are many things to see in Segovia in a day!
So the chances are that you will want to sleep to enjoy the city of the aqueduct to the fullest. To do this, you can take advantage and stay to sleep.
They have a wide range of hotel offers. So tell us what your choice was!
Tell us what your choice was!
Plan Your Visit from Madrid
Last Updated on 22 September, 2023 by Veronica
Disclosure: Some of the links on this post are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Author: Veronica
Vero, a seasoned traveler, has explored 25 countries and lived in five, gaining a rich perspective and fostering an infectious passion for travel. With a heart full of wanderlust, Vero uncovers the world’s hidden gems and shares insights, tips, and planning advice to inspire and assist fellow adventurers. Join Vero and let the shared passion for travel create unforgettable memories.
