Segovia Day Trip from Madrid: Aqueduct, Alcázar and Train

Updated on October 1, 2026

Segovia, in Castile and León, is an easy day trip from Madrid: the AVANT train links Chamartín station with Segovia-Guiomar in about thirty minutes. Its old town and Roman aqueduct have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. The Alcázar, on Plaza Reina Victoria Eugenia, opens every day from 10:00 to 19:30 from April to October and from 10:00 to 18:00 from November to March; the palace and museum ticket costs €7, or €10 with the Tower of Juan II. From the aqueduct to the Alcázar, you cross the old town on foot via the Plaza Mayor and the cathedral.

Highlights

The Roman aqueduct

Built around AD 100, the aqueduct carried water from the sierra to the city. Its arches of granite blocks, fitted together without mortar, reach about 28 metres high on the Plaza del Azoguejo. Climb the staircase that runs alongside the aqueduct from the square to see it from above, with the old town behind.

The Alcázar

This royal fortress on a rocky spur was rebuilt after the fire of 1862. The visit takes you through the palace rooms, including the Hall of Kings with its frieze of monarchs, then the museum of the Royal Artillery College. The Tower of Juan II is climbed by a spiral staircase of 152 steps and offers views over the old town and the Castilian countryside; allow 40 to 45 minutes for the palace and museum, and no more than 25 minutes for the tower.

The cathedral

Begun in 1525, Santa María Cathedral overlooks the Plaza Mayor; it is one of the last great Gothic cathedrals in Spain. It opens Monday to Saturday from 09:30 to 18:30 and on Sundays from 13:30 to 18:30; admission costs €4 (reduced €3), and the guided tower tour €7. The church is free on Sundays from 09:30 to 10:30 from November to March and from 09:00 to 10:00 from April to October, without access to the cloister.

Getting there from Madrid by train

Renfe AVANT trains leave from Madrid-Chamartín station (metro lines 1 and 10) and reach Segovia-Guiomar in about thirty minutes. The station is outside the centre: urban bus line 11 reaches the aqueduct in about 15 minutes. Buy your return ticket in advance, as weekend trains fill up quickly.

Getting there from Madrid by bus

Avanza buses leave from the Moncloa bus station (metro lines 3 and 6) and reach Segovia bus station in about 1 h 20, a few minutes' walk from the aqueduct. It is the cheapest option, with no connection needed on arrival.

Opening hours and prices

The Alcázar is open every day from 10:00 to 19:30 from 1 April to 31 October and from 10:00 to 18:00 from 1 November to 31 March; last entry 30 minutes before closing. Special hours in 2026: 2 October from 10:00 to 17:30, 6 November from 11:30 to 18:00, 24 and 31 December from 10:00 to 14:30; closed on 25 December. Palace and museum: €7, reduced €5; palace, museum and Tower of Juan II: €10, reduced €8 (children aged 6 to 16, students, large families, the unemployed, over-65s). Free for under-6s and, for the palace and museum, for European Union citizens on Tuesdays from 14:00 to 16:00 (tickets at the ticket office, except public holidays). Audio guide in 12 languages: €3.50 (prices as of October 2026). The aqueduct can be seen freely.

Infos pratiques

Tips

Book your Alcázar tickets online, especially at weekends: those including the Tower of Juan II often sell out. Follow Calle Real from the aqueduct to the Plaza Mayor, then the cathedral and the Alcázar, and catch the bus or train back in the late afternoon. The local speciality is roast suckling pig (cochinillo), served in the restaurants around the aqueduct.

How to get there

Alcázar: Plaza Reina Victoria Eugenia, s/n, 40003 Segovia; aqueduct: Plaza del Azoguejo, 40001 Segovia. AVANT train from Madrid-Chamartín (metro lines 1 and 10) to Segovia-Guiomar, then urban bus line 11 to the aqueduct. Avanza bus from the Moncloa bus station (metro lines 3 and 6) to Segovia bus station.