# Segovia: a day trip from Madrid > Segovia is an old city an hour from Madrid, famous for three wonders: a Roman aqueduct of granite blocks laid without mortar, the fairy-tale Alcázar on its rock and a vast Gothic cathedral. The old town and aqueduct are UNESCO-listed. The high-speed train from Madrid takes about half an hour; allow a full day, and try the local roast suckling pig. Web page: https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/segovia - City: [Madrid](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid), Spain - YesGo score: 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 6 h - Opening hours: The town is always open; the castle and cathedral by day - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Town free; castle and cathedral ticketed - Getting there: Fast train ≈ 30 min or bus ≈ 1 h 15 min - Highlights: The aqueduct, the Alcázar, the cathedral - Time needed: A full day - Try: Cochinillo, roast suckling pig - Location: ≈ 90 km north-west of Madrid - Coordinates: 40.94806, -4.11833 - Facts checked: 11.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1985** — the old town and aqueduct joined the UNESCO list (source: UNESCO, no. 311) - **≈ 28 m** — maximum height of the aqueduct (source: English Wikipedia) - **167** — arches in the aqueduct (source: English Wikipedia) - **16th c.** — the cathedral, one of Spain's last Gothic ones (source: English Wikipedia) ## About Segovia Segovia sits on a rocky ridge between two rivers at the foot of the Guadarrama mountains. In ancient times it was a Roman town, in the Middle Ages one of the great centres of Castile, and its royal castle, the Alcázar, long served as a residence of monarchs. In **1985** the old town and its aqueduct joined the **UNESCO** list. The town is small and charming: from the aqueduct, the main street climbs in half an hour through the Plaza Mayor to the cathedral and on to the castle at the western tip of the ridge. Along the way are Romanesque churches, palaces with patterned façades and viewpoints over the mountains. ## The aqueduct, cathedral and Alcázar The **Roman aqueduct** is the city's symbol. Built around the 1st or 2nd century of granite blocks laid **without mortar**, it holds together through precise weight and engineering alone. Its tallest stretch, about **28 metres**, crosses Plaza del Azoguejo, and it has **167 arches** in all. For centuries it carried water to the town from the mountains. In the middle of the old town rises the **cathedral**, built in the 16th century and one of the last Gothic cathedrals in Spain, nicknamed the 'lady of cathedrals' for its elegance. At the western edge of the rock stands the **Alcázar**, a castle-palace of pointed towers straight out of a fairy tale. Inside are a throne room and halls with carved wooden ceilings, and the main tower looks out over the valley. ## What to see in Segovia - **The Roman aqueduct** — granite arches without mortar. - **Plaza del Azoguejo** — the best view of the aqueduct. - **The cathedral** — late Gothic, the 'lady of cathedrals'. - **The Alcázar** — a castle-palace on the rock. - **Plaza Mayor** — cafés facing the cathedral. - **Romanesque churches** — San Millán and San Martín. > **Saving time** Start at the aqueduct, walk up the main street to the cathedral and finish at the Alcázar, so the route runs one way without doubling back. Castle and cathedral tickets are sold on site and online. The Alcázar tower is a steep spiral climb on a separate ticket. ## Food and walks Segovia is famous for **cochinillo**, suckling pig roasted in a wood oven until the skin crackles. In the well-known restaurants by the aqueduct it's traditionally carved with the edge of a plate to show how tender it is. Try the hearty bean stew and the local sweet, ponche segoviano, a marzipan-topped sponge. For great photos, walk down to the valley below the Alcázar or along the viewpoints by the town walls, where the castle stands against the mountains. In winter the Guadarrama peaks are often snowy, and the town looks especially magical. ## How to get there from Madrid 1. High-speed train from **Chamartín** station, about 30 minutes to Segovia AV. 2. From Segovia AV station to the aqueduct, a city bus of about 15 minutes. 3. Bus from **Moncloa** station, about 1 h 15 min, straight to the old town. 4. By car, about an hour on the AP-6 over the Guadarrama mountains. ## Tips for your trip The high-speed station is outside town, so take the bus straight to the aqueduct, as it's a long walk. The bus from Madrid is slower but drops you at the old town, often easier for a day trip. Book weekend tickets ahead. Segovia is higher and cooler than Madrid: even summer evenings can be fresh, and winter is cold and windy, so bring a jacket. Wear comfortable shoes for the steep cobbles, and book your cochinillo lunch, especially at weekends. You can pair Segovia with Ávila or El Escorial, but each deserves its own day. It's fun with children too: a towered castle, the aqueduct and wide squares to run around in. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Book a train or bus - [ ] Reserve a cochinillo lunch - [ ] Photograph the aqueduct from Plaza del Azoguejo - [ ] Visit the cathedral - [ ] Climb the Alcázar tower ## Places in Madrid: compare and choose Places in Madrid rated by YesGo. - [Temple of Debod](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/temple-of-debod) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free - [Segovia](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/segovia) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 6 h · Town free ## Don't mix it up Segovia's Alcázar and Seville's are different palaces. Seville's is a Moorish palace with gardens in the south of Spain. ## Tips - Trains leave from Chamartín. - Walk from the aqueduct to the castle. - Bring a jacket: it's cooler here. - Book your cochinillo lunch. ## Questions ### How do I get from Madrid to Segovia? By fast train from Chamartín in 30 minutes, or by bus from Moncloa in 1 h 15 min. ### What is there to see in Segovia? The Roman aqueduct, the cathedral and the Alcázar. ### How long do you need in Segovia? A full day. ### What should I eat in Segovia? Cochinillo, roast suckling pig, and ponche segoviano. ### How was the aqueduct built? From granite blocks laid without mortar, held by precise stonework. ## How we checked Facts from English Wikipedia and UNESCO. Prices, hours and timetables weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - UNESCO: Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct (no. 311) - English Wikipedia: Segovia - Segovia tourism portal, turismodesegovia.com --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.