Hotel Infanta Isabel
Why we like it: Hotel in a 19th-century building on the Plaza Mayor, opposite the cathedral, with rooms that have balconies over the square.
From €56
View details
Duration1 night
Best timeSpring and autumn
Budget€300–420 pp with the balloon
Getting thereBy car, or by AVE without the Pedraza stop
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed for arriving at midday on Saturday and flying at dawn on Sunday. Book the balloon first: if the wind doesn't allow flying, the company changes the date. Without the balloon, sleep late and start Sunday with the Aqueduct.
Saturday
- 112:30Arrival and parking
Leave the car in a car park in the centre, such as the University one or Oblatas, and walk up to the Plaza Mayor. The Infanta Isabel is on the same square.
- 213:30Lunch at Casa Duque
On Calle Cervantes, between the Aqueduct and the Plaza Mayor: suckling pig or lamb from a wood-fired oven. At the weekend, book by phone.
- 316:00Alcázar and the Juan II tower
In November it is open until 18:00; palace, museum and tower, €10. Climb the tower before the light falls.
- 417:30The Eresma valley and the Vera Cruz
Go down towards the river and cross to San Marcos to see the Alcázar from below. If the light is low, stay at the viewpoint on Plazuela del Alcázar.
- 520:30Dinner in the Azoguejo
The Mesón de Cándido is open every night from 20:00 to 23:00, with the Aqueduct lit up in front. Go to bed early.
Sunday
- 1DawnBalloon flight
They meet you at the flying field; the time depends on the season. An hour in the air, a toast and a picnic on landing.
- 211:00Aqueduct and the Casa de Moneda
Back on the ground, the Azoguejo and the climb to the wall viewpoint. Then down to the Casa de Moneda, which on Sundays is open until 14:30.
- 313:30Lunch in Pedraza, on the way home
40 minutes away, La Olma is open every day at midday. Then a stroll round the town and, if there is time, Zuloaga castle, which reopens at 16:00.
Segovia can be seen in a day, but sleeping there changes the trip for two reasons: the empty city and its light at night, and the balloon, which takes off after sunrise and from Madrid would mean setting out in the small hours. You are an hour and a quarter from Madrid, an hour from Ávila and an hour and a half from Valladolid. On Sunday, on the way back, Pedraza is 40 minutes away for a roast lunch.
Is the balloon worth it?
It is what turns the getaway into something else. Siempre en las Nubes flies over Segovia every day of the year when there is no wind or rain. It takes off after sunrise from a flying field about 500 metres from the wall, and flies for around an hour: the Cathedral almost within reach, the Aqueduct from above and the Alcázar like a prow over the two rivers. The whole activity, with set-up, landing, a cava toast and picnic, lasts about three hours. It costs €205 per person. First thing it is cold even in summer: country walking clothes and closed shoes.
Where to sleep?
| Accommodation | Where | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Infanta Isabel | On the Plaza Mayor, facing the cathedral | Those who want to stroll at night and leave the car parked |
| Parador de Segovia | 3 km away, with views of the city | Families and anyone who wants a pool and parking |
| Camping Acueducto | La Granja road, with bungalows | Tight budgets, with a city bus to the centre |
If you don't fly
Without the balloon, the plan loses the early start, not its point. Sleep late, have breakfast on the Plaza Mayor and do the Aqueduct and the Casa de Moneda at leisure. If you have the morning to spare, the Puerta de San Andrés and the Jewish quarter are five minutes away.
With children
The balloon is for older children who can cope with an early start and three hours of activity; ask about ages and conditions when you book. The Alcázar, the Aqueduct and the Casa de Moneda work for all ages. In Pedraza, the town jail is the visit they like most.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Segovia, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Segovia
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
Segovia by car, with a base outside the walls
From Madrid you arrive via the A-6 in a little over an hour. The car is for the surrounding area, not for the old town: leave it in a car park and explore the city on foot.
70–130 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepParador de Segovia, 3 km…
- Getting aroundPark at the University, Oblatas…
- EatSuckling pig at the Azoguejo…
- ServicesVisitor Reception Centre at the…
Sleep
- Parador de Segovia, 3 km away, with a pool and views of the city
- Hotel Infanta Isabel, on the Plaza Mayor, to leave the car for two days
- Camping Acueducto, with bungalows and a bus to the centre
Getting around
- Park at the University, Oblatas or next to the Aqueduct
- The old town has restricted traffic: enter on foot
- Pedraza is about 40 minutes away and the Duratón Gorges a little over an hour
Eat
- Suckling pig at the Azoguejo or next to the Plaza Mayor, with a booking
- Tapas at the bar for quick meals
Services
- Visitor Reception Centre at the Azoguejo
- Free campervan area next to the bullring
Segovia without a car, by train or bus
Segovia is one of the few getaways from Madrid that works just as well without a car: everything important is within walking distance between the Aqueduct and the Alcázar.
60–110 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepHotel Infanta Isabel, on the…
- Getting aroundAVE to Segovia-Guiomar in about…
- EatMesón de Cándido, open every…
- ServicesInformation points at the bus…
Sleep
- Hotel Infanta Isabel, on the Plaza Mayor
- Bungalows at Camping Acueducto, with a city bus every 15 minutes
Getting around
- AVE to Segovia-Guiomar in about 30 minutes, then a bus or taxi to the centre, 6 km away
- Avanza bus to the station on Paseo Ezequiel González
- Regional train via Cercedilla, about 2 hours, to a station next to the centre
Eat
- Mesón de Cándido, open every day beside the Aqueduct
- José María, with a kitchen that does not close at midday
Services
- Information points at the bus station and at Guiomar
- Audio guides at the Visitor Reception Centre
Segovia by campervan
You have two options: the free municipal area, next to the bullring, or the campsite, with pitches with water, electricity and drainage three kilometres away.
40–80 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepCampervan area on Calle Campo…
- Getting aroundFrom the area to the…
- EatRoast houses in the centre…
- ServicesFresh-water supply and grey and…
Sleep
- Campervan area on Calle Campo Azálvaro: 10 pitches, free
- Camping Acueducto, pitches of 60 to 90 m²
Getting around
- From the area to the Aqueduct, a short walk
- From the campsite, a city bus every 15 minutes
Eat
- Roast houses in the centre, with a booking at weekends
Services
- Fresh-water supply and grey and black water emptying at the municipal area
- Laundry at the campsite
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights1
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're drivingwithout a carin a campervan
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
© ParadoresHotelParador de Segovia
Why we like it: Modern parador 3 km from the centre, with gardens, a seasonal outdoor pool and a glass-walled heated pool with views of the city skyline.
Camping Acueducto
Why we like it: Campsite opened in 1979, 3 km from the centre, with 60 to 90 m² pitches with water, electricity and drainage, bungalows and a city bus every 15 minutes to the Aqueduct.
Segovia Campervan Area
Why we like it: Free municipal area with 10 pitches next to the bullring, with emptying point and water, a walk from the Aqueduct.
Free
View details
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Segovia
Mesón de Cándido
What to order: roast suckling pig and, to start, judiones de La Granja.
José María Restaurant
What to order: suckling pig with the guarantee mark from its own farm, or tapas at the bar if you are in a hurry.
Casa Duque
What to order: roast suckling pig or lamb from the wood-fired oven; tapas at Las Cuevas de Duque.
Tips
Worth knowing first
Local tip
Book in this order: the balloon, the hotel and Saturday's two meals. If wind postpones the flight, the company changes the date: keep Sunday free until mid-morning.
We'd skip it
Long weekends and Christmas if you haven't booked everything: the Azoguejo fills up and the roast restaurants have no tables.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Madrid to Segovia?
An hour and a quarter by car. By AVE, about 30 minutes to Segovia-Guiomar, plus the bus to the centre; without a car you won't be able to stop at Pedraza.
How much does the balloon flight cost?
€205 per person in Segovia; the night flight, €225.
What time does it fly?
Always after sunrise: the time changes with the season.
What happens if it is windy?
It doesn't fly; the company proposes another date.
Where to sleep to catch the balloon?
In the centre, on the Plaza Mayor, or at the Parador, 3 km away. Both leave you near the flying field.