A trip to the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes is a staple of any Toledo itinerary. You can either visit independently for a small fee (payable at the entrance by cash or credit card) or buy Toledo’s ‘tourist bracelet,’ which includes admission to nine different historical monuments: Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue, Cristo de la Luz Mosque, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, Salvador Church, Jesuits Church, San Juan de los Reyes Monastery, and the Doncellas Nobles School. The monastery is also included on most guided full-day tours of Toledo.
Getting to the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes is easy due to its central location right in the heart of Toledo’s historic Jewish Quarter. If arriving by public transit to Toledo, the nearest bus station is the Estacion de Autobuses de Toledo. From there, it’s just a five-minute taxi ride to the monastery. Enter the church via Reyes Católicos street, not through the front entrance, except during events such as weddings or baptisms.
The monastery is open year-round except for Christmas and New Year’s Day, although you’ll want to avoid visiting on Christmas Eve if you’re on a tight schedule as it closes early. Check up-to-date opening hours before planning your visit. In summer, the monastery stays open for an extra hour in keeping with the longer days.
A sublime example of Mudéjar architecture, Toledo’s synagogue was built in 1180 and is considered Europe’s oldest intact synagogue. Built by Muslim stone-carvers in a predominantly Christian territory, the building testifies to the multi-faith heritage that existed in Spain during the Middle Ages. In the 15th century, the synagogue was converted into a church and its name was changed from Ibn Shushan to Santa Maria la Blanca. The Toledo tourist bracelet includes free admission to the landmark.