Aulani – Disney’s Hawaiian Paradise

Disclaimer: Included in this post are links to tours I have personally taken or booked for clients on Viator. If you book these tours thru the links in this post, as a travel agent, I will receive a small commission.

There are two things that I have always really loved in life, anything Disney and the beach. So, imagine my excitement when years ago I heard Disney was opening a resort in Hawaii, it was like a dream come true. I’ve been visiting Walt Disney World since I was 5 years old and I spent my childhood dreaming of visiting the paradise that is Hawaii, it was almost as if Disney’s Hawaiian Resort, Aulani was being built with me in mind!

While Aulani opened in August 2011 just weeks before I took my first trip to Hawaii in September 2011, it took me until March 2024 before I finally stayed at Aulani and I will admit it was well worth the wait and I will definitely be staying there again in the future, probably multiple times if I can swing it financially.

Aulani Location

Aulani is located on the southwest coast of the island of Oahu within the Ko Olina resort area, which is located 24 miles from Honolulu. The resort’s location on the leeward side of the island of Oahu means you will be less likely to encounter much rain. Ko Olina was once sacred land for Hawaiian leaders to relax and the name translates to “Place of Joy” It truly is a place of joy and relaxation. Ko Olina features man-made lagoons which create a calm swimming area for the resort hotels in the area. Combine this with being away from the hustle and bustle of the busy Waikiki Beach and Ko Olina is a perfect location for a family-oriented resort like Aulani.

Aulani Resort Overview

The 21-acre resort opened in August 2011 after years of planning that involved collaboration with cultural experts to help build a resort that not only would provide an authentic Hawaiian experience for its guests but would also celebrate the culture and traditions of the Hawaiian Islands.

Aulani translates to “messenger of a chief” The resort in fact is the messenger of the legends of Hawaii. From the theming of the resort to the food, activities, entertainment and even Disney characters you can meet throughout the resort, the spirit of Hawaii is alive.

Aulani Resort Room Options

Disney’s Aulani resort consists of two 15-story towers that house over 350 rooms, 16 suites and over 480 Disney Vacation Club villas. There are plenty of room options to accommodate everyone.

Resort rooms come with your typical hotel room amenities like a coffee maker, small refrigerator and balcony. They are available with either a king bed and queen size sleeper sofa or 2 queen beds. You can book these rooms with the following resort views:

  • Standard View – This is the cheapest room available and doesn’t come with much of a view.
  • Island Gardens View – These rooms feature views of the surrounding mountains, spa or landscaping.
  • Poolside Gardens View – These rooms feature a partial view of the pool.
  • Partial Ocean View – These rooms feature a partial view of the ocean.
  • Ocean View – These rooms feature a view of the ocean.

Disney Vacation Club rooms not only feature more room for larger families but also more amenities like you would have in your own home like kitchens. All Disney Vacation Club studios and villas at Disney’s Aulani are available in the same view options (listed above) as the regular resort rooms.

  • Deluxe Studios – These rooms all come with a queen size bed and queen size sleeper sofa. They feature a mini kitchen which provides more than the fridge and coffee maker that you will find in the resort rooms. It also includes a microwave, toaster, plates, glasses and silverware, making it a great room if you plan to have a quick breakfast in the room or heat up leftovers.
  • One Bedroom Villas – These villas are great for a little extra space and more comforts from home. They sleep 5 and feature a king size bed, a queen size sleeper sofa and twin-size pull-down bed. They also have a living room and full kitchen, making it a great option if you want to be able to cook some of your meals instead of eating at restaurants for your entire stay.
  • Two Bedroom Villas – These villas sleep 9 and feature all the amenities of the one-bedroom villas with an additional bedroom featuring 2 queen size beds and a twin-size sleeper chair instead of the twin-size pull-down bed.
  • Three Bedroom Villas – For the even larger groups, these villas sleep 12 and include everything the two-bedroom villas include including a third room with 2 queen size beds and an additional twin size sleeper chair.

Disney’s Aulani Resort offers 16 suites:

  • Parlor Suites – These suites sleep 5 and include a king bed, queen size sleeper sofa and twin-size pull-down bed. They all feature at least a partial ocean view.
  • Lei Hulu Signature One Bedroom Suite – For a luxurious stay, consider one of the signature suites. These suites sleep 5 and include a king bed, queen size sleeper sofa and twin size sleeper chair. They also feature a full kitchen, butler pantry with catering access, deluxe bathrobes, whirlpool tub and rain head shower.

All rooms, villas and suites include Hawaiian decor and little Hawaiin touches that are sure to make your stay special.

Aulani Dining Options

Aulani offers many different dining options, everything from quick service restaurants, spots for quick bites by the pool, sit down restaurants, a Hawaiian Luau and of course a character breakfast. There is definitely something for everyone no matter what your day entails.

Quick Service Restaurants:

  • Ulu Cafe – The main quick service location at Aulani is Ulu Cafe which is located in the pool area. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Ulu Cafe offers both grab and go items as well as hot entrees.
  • Mama’s Snack Shop – If you’re looking to grab a quick lunch or snack by the pool, Mama’s Snack Shop is the perfect spot. This spot features meals like chicken fingers and fish & chips and snacks like fries and mozzarella sticks. It’s located right in the pool area making it a great spot for lunch during a relaxing day at the pool.
  • Papalua Shave Ice – If you are looking for a snack to cool you off, grab the popular Hawaiian treat, shave ice. Also located in the pool area, this is a must visit when at Aulani. You just can’t visit Hawaii without trying shave ice. With over a dozen different flavors, there is sure to be a combination you will love and as an added bonus, you can add Mickey ears to your shave ice for an additional charge.
  • Little Opihi’s Beachside Kiosk – If you are looking to cool down while enjoying the beach, check out Little Opihi’s. This is a great spot for beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), fresh fruit, ice cream and the Disney favorite, Dole Whip.

As a note, with the exception of Ulu Cafe which is open from 6:30am-9pm, the other quick service restaurants are only open from 11am-5pm.

Sit Down Restaurants:

  • Off the Hook – This casual restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It features typical American fare like burgers and sandwiches along with Hawaiin specialties like Huli Huli Chicken and Hawaiin Style Ahi Poke.
  • ‘AMA’AMA – For more upscale dining, head to this restaurant overlooking the beach. Open every evening other than Tuesday, ‘AMA’AMA serves Hawaiin cuisine featuring fresh locally sourced seafood and produce.
  • Makahiki – Located on the first floor of the main building, this restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner. Both meals feature a three-course pre-fixe menu. The morning at Makahiki starts with a character breakfast. As you arrive for breakfast, you meet both Mickey Mouse outside of the restaurant and when you walk inside you meet Minnie Mouse. Then you are taken to your table and while you eat, Pluto and Stitch come by to say hi. The character breakfast is a must for any Disney fan. A sample of the menu is below.

Specialty Dining:

  • KA WA’A – You cannot visit Hawaii without attending a Luau and luckily you don’t even have to leave the Aulani resort to attend one. The luau takes place on select nights and can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Make sure to make a reservation as early as possible as they do sell out well in advance. KA WA’A luau is three hours long and features a buffet style meal and traditional luau performance that will take you on a journey thru Hawaiian culture and history.

Bars:

  • The Olelo Room Bar & Lounge – Located just outside of Makahiki, is the Olelo Room. This bar and lounge features indoor and outdoor seating which overlooks the koi pond. The Hawaiian word Olelo means “to converse” making this a great spot to grab a drink and small bite to eat while enjoying some great conversation.
  • Wailana Pool Bar – Is there anything more relaxing than enjoying a drink by the pool when on vacation? This pool side bar offers lunch items such as pizzas, sandwiches and burgers as well as a full bar. This is located next to the Wailana Pool and the dining area is for guests 18+ only.

Aulani Activities

While there is so much to see and do on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, when visiting Aulani, make sure to devote a few days to enjoy the activities available at the resort.

Aulani Pools:

When visiting a tropical location, especially when traveling with kids, some time at the pool is a must and there are multiple pools available to enjoy at Aulani.

  • Waikolohe Pool – This 8,200 square foot zero entry pool is the main pool at the resort. This pool is full of activity including the Volcanic Vertical waterslide and the Shake-A-Shaka Pool Party featuring your favorite Disney characters, dancing and pool games.
  • Wailana Pool – If you are looking for a pool with a little less activity, this 1,500 square foot pool is just what you are looking for. It’s perfect for adults with the nearby Wailana Pool Bar.
  • Ka Maka Grotto – This infinity pool overlooks the beach and is a great spot to enjoy the ocean views and sunset.
  • Waikolohe Stream – This lazy river can be quite relaxing, but the name Waikolohe also means “mischievous water” so expect to come across some waterfalls and caves along your journey down the river. The Tubestone Curl is located here as well, this tube waterslide can be ridden both solo or with a friend or family member.
  • Whirlpool Spas – There are 5 whirlpool spas available in the pool area. They are located near the Waikalohe Pool, Ka Maka Grotto and Waikalohe Stream. For a quieter experience, head to Alohi Point where there are two infinity whirlpool spas available exclusively for guests who are aged 18+. These were my preferred spot to relax while the sun was setting.
  • Keiki Cove – Next to Ka Maka Grotto is Keiki Cove. This splashpad caters to kids 5 and under but is open for all ages to enjoy.
  • Menehune Bridge – This 2,100-foot water play area is exclusively for kids under 4 feet tall. It includes two waterslides, interactive water elements and a bridge for the kids to climb on.
  • Rainbow Reef – If you want to get in the water with fish but the ocean might seem intimidating to you or your young kids, try out snorkeling in Rainbow Reef. For an additional charge (either daily or for the length of your stay), you can pay to snorkel in this 3,800 square foot reef featuring an array of colorful tropical fish. You can also pay for scuba diving lessons as well. And if you prefer to stay dry, you can view the tropical fish from the viewing windows.

** Pool Policies** – The pools are a very popular spot at Aulani. To make sure they are fully enjoyed only by guests of the hotel, they have the following policies in place.

  • Daily wristbands are required in the pool area, you can get your wristband by showing your room key at any of the towel huts throughout the pool area. You will need to get a new wristband for each day, they can be given out starting in the late afternoon for the following day.
  • Pool chairs and loungers are on a first come first serve basis. Prior to 8am each day you must be sitting in order to save the chair/lounger. Be warned people get out to the pool area as early as 6am for the best spots. After 8am when the pools open, you cannot be away from your chair for more than an hour, or you run the risk of the pool staff removing your items and giving up the chair to others.

Aulani Beach:

Along with the pools, the beach is also a must when visiting Hawaii. Being located on the Ko Olina lagoons makes for a calm and relaxing beach for the whole family. Its perfect for kids as you don’t need to worry about any big waves or rip currents in the lagoon.

At Makiki Joe’s Beach Rentals, you can find everything you need to enjoy the beach. Items such as sand toys, boogie boards and life jackets are complimentary. For a fee you can rent snorkel equipment or stand-up paddle boards. At Makiki Joe’s you can also book a Sailing Canoe Experience.

The beach has the same policies regarding wristbands and chairs.

Character Experiences

It wouldn’t be a Disney resort without your favorite Disney characters! Throughout the day, you can meet multiple different Disney characters and get your photo with them. Most were located near the koi pond between Makahiki restaurant and the pool area. Check the Aulani app throughout the day to see the schedule of characters for that day.

Aunty’s Beach House

Children ages 4-12 can enjoy these 5,200 square foot kids club. Here your little one can take part in activities that will teach them more about the Hawaiian culture with some added Disney touches. From arts and crafts, storytelling and Disney movies, there are plenty of complimentary activities for the kids to enjoy. For a more exclusive experience, there are also premium experiences available at an additional cost.

Pau Hana Room

This community hall is the perfect spot for the entire family to enjoy activities together. From arts and craft activities like making your own Mickey ears and painting parties to learning how to play the ukulele to starting out on a resort scavenger hunt, the Pau Hana Room is a great spot to discover something new while staying at Aulani.

Spa and Fitness

You don’t have to forget about your fitness routine while visiting Aulani. Head to the 2,000 square foot Mikimiki Fitness Center which has a wide array of fitness equipment including Peloton bikes. They also offer fitness classes, both complimentary and premium ones for an additional fee. Make sure to check out the schedule on the app. These classes range from boot camps to cardio to yoga. Many even take place on the beach for the perfect tropical fitness experience.

If you are looking to relax, head to the Laniwai spa. Here you can enjoy services such as massage, facials and body treatments. They have couples and even family treatments. With each treatment you can also enjoy the outdoor hydrotherapy garden which includes both cold and warm plunges, hot tubs and outdoor showers.

Do you have an event to attend while at Aulani, head to the salon which offers hair, nail and waxing services. They also have a special studio for children ages 3-12, Painted Sky. Here your child can get a magical makeover with some Hawaiian and Disney touches, think Moana!

Entertainment

In true Disney fashion, there is plenty of entertainment available at Aulani:

  • Hula and Ukulele – throughout the resort you can enjoy this authentic Hawaiian experience
  • Mo’olelo Fireside Storytelling – After dark, gather around the beachside firepit and hear Hawaiian stories and legends. You may just end up hearing some stories told to you by Moana.
  • Imi Loa Naa Hoku – For an additional charge, you can enjoy some star gazing along the beach and learn how the ancient Polynesian people used the stars for navigation.

Excursions

If you are looking to get off the resort and explore other parts of the island of Oahu, visit the Holoholo Tours and Travel desk in the lobby. They offer a wide variety of activities to choose from like Island tours, Pearl Harbor tours, surf lessons, kayaking and zip lining to name a few.

Things to Do Near Aulani

While there is plenty to enjoy right on site at the resort of Aulani, it’s location in Ko Olina comes with some great things to do off resort that are just a walk away.

Ko Olina Center & Station

Just a short walk across the street from Aulani is Ko Olina Center & Station. This is a great spot to shop for some locally made gifts, decor and apparel. There is also an Island Country Market where you can pick up essentials like sunscreen, snacks and grocery items.

If you are looking for more variety of restaurants than the ones at the resort, Ko Olina Center & Station has many to choose from. Here you can find a Starbucks, breakfast restaurant, cafe & juicery, poke shop, brewhouse, Mexican restaurant and ice cream shop. One of the more popular restaurants is Monkeypod by award winning chef Peter Merriman. Featuring local sourced food and a full bar, it’s the perfect spot for lunch and dinner. They also offer happy hour from 3:30-5pm each day which includes both food and drink specials.

Ko Olina Lagoons

The four man-made lagoons are what makes Ko Olina such a special area and great for the whole family. There is a walkway that goes from the neighboring Four Seasons Resort all the way to the marina. This walkway is a beautiful spot for a walk or run. It’s about 2.5 miles roundtrip. The views of the water here are stunning. The walkway does get busy later in the day but is so peaceful early in the morning. Along the lagoons is also a perfect spot to watch the nightly Hawaiian sunset.

Cruises from Ko Olina Marina

When in Hawaii, you must get out on the water. At the opposite end of the lagoons from Aulani is the Ko Olina Marina. Here there are multiple companies offering both private and public cruises.

I took a cruise with Ocean Joy Cruises and would definitely recommend this company. They offer great snorkeling cruises that take you out to a snorkeling spot where you will not just be able to snorkel amongst the colorful fish, but there is also a high likelihood of turtles in the area. During the winter months, the cruise will stop along the way to spot whales in the ocean. The cruise has an open bar and also serves a Hawaiian buffet lunch.

The best part of the cruise though is the staff, they were so accommodating to everyone. They had a photographer on board who not only took photos of everyone on the boat but also while we were in the water and of the turtles and whales we saw along the way. Of course, they try to sell you a link with all the photos, but I will say these photos were worth the extra cost of the photo link.

The tour is offered in the Morning (if you are prone to seasickness, this is the ideal time of day, especially in the winter), afternoon and in the summer, they offer a sunset snorkel cruise. I highly recommend this Oahu Catamaran Cruise: Wildlife, Snorkeling & a Hawaiian Meal.

Paradise Cove Luau

If you aren’t able to get reservations for the KA WA’A Luau at Aulani, check out the Paradise Cove Luau. Located in Ko Olina, this luau is only a 1/2 mile walk from Aulani, this traditional luau features Hawaiian crafts, food, entertainment, all with the beautiful Hawaiian sunset as the backdrop.

Book your Paradise Cove Luau experience today.

Hawaii is a dream vacation for many people and if you are also a Disney fan, then staying at Aulani is a must. While a bit on the pricey side, it’s well worth the money and a great trip if you are splurging for a special occasion.

As the owner of Beyond The Miles Travel, I specialize in Disney travel and am also a Hawaiian Destination Specialist. I would love to help you plan your magical Hawaiian vacation to Aulani.

Pin for Later:

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is one of the moderate priced resorts located within the Walt Disney World Resort. The theming of the resort is a mixture of Spanish, Mexican and America’s Southwest cultures. This very modern resort includes a convention center and wide variety of restaurants and bars. Therefore, even though, like all Walt Disney World resorts it’s great for families, it is also a top choice for adult only trips to Walt Disney World.

Like the other moderate priced Walt Disney World resorts, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort if a fairly spread-out resort with multiple bus stops and a sometimes-lengthy walk to the main building where the lobby is located, Gran Destino Tower.

Gran Destino Tower

In 2019, the Gran Destino Tower opened at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.  The Gran Destino Tower is where the lobby of the resort is located. There are also restaurants and bars located within the tower.  The Gran Destino Tower is the highlight of the resort and my top place to stay in the resort. When you walk into the lobby, you will feel as if you are walking into a Deluxe resort as opposed to the moderate resort that Disney’s Coronado Springs is classified as. The lobby is especially beautiful during the holiday season.

And it’s not just the lobby that will remind you of a Deluxe resort, but the rooms located in the Gran Destino are a step above a moderate resort room, for a lower price than your typical Deluxe hotel room at Walt Disney World.

One of the main highlights of the rooms is they are in the tower, so there is an interior corridor as opposed to the other rooms in this resort as well as other moderate resorts which have exterior doors to the rooms.

They have multiple types of rooms in the tower including a larger selection of King Rooms, which cater more to the business traveler at the resort for an event in the convention center:

  • Standard View Room
  • Water View Room
  • King Rooms
  • Deluxe Suite with Club Access
  • One Bedroom Suite with Club Access
  • Presidential Suite with Club Access

And being that these rooms are located in the tower, they come with some really great views. Last time I stayed at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, I was lucky enough to be given a corner room in Gran Destino Tower. It was really great to have the two large windows, especially since there was one day in which it was pretty rainy, so I spent a bit more time in the room than normal.

The water view rooms include a view of the lake within the resort, Lago Dorado. It also includes a view of the entire resort and in the distance, you can see Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.

The Gran Destino Tower is connected by an interior walkway to El Centro which is where you will find the convention center, gift shop and most of the restaurants located at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. This definitely makes staying in the Gran Destino Tower extremely convenient and cuts down on a lot of the walking thru the sizable resort. It was a huge advantage when I was there on a very stormy day.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Rooms

While the rooms at the Gran Destino Tower are my preferred rooms, the other room offerings in the resort are also great and a bit less expensive than the tower rooms. 

There are three different room areas in the resort: Casitas, Ranchos and Cabanas. Each section of the resort has its own bus stop, laundry facilities, and quiet pool area. Buildings are multi-levels, and all include elevators.

Ranchos
Cabanas

Within these three areas, they have the following room types available:

  • Standard View Room
  • Water View Room
  • King Rooms
  • Preferred rooms – located closest to El Centro
  • One Bedroom Suites

The modern rooms are decorated in the resort’s Spanish, Mexican and Southwestern theme and include such Disney touches as the Three Caballeros adorned in the room. As a huge Donald Duck fan, I loved these decorations!

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Dining Options

The big highlight of staying at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is the multiple dining options that are located within the resort. Not only are there a lot of dining options, but they are also quite delicious dining options.

Located in El Centro:

  • El Mercado de Coronado – This quick service restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and features typical American food along with some Tex-Mex specialties like rice bowls and mexican street corn.
  • Cafe Rix – This grab n go location is open in the mornings and is a great spot if you want to grab a quick breakfast or lunch. The pastries alone will lure you in here each morning.
  • Rix Sports Bar & Grill – Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, this is the perfect spot to watch your favorite sports team while visiting Disney. They offer your typical bar food and a full bar.
  • Maya Grill – Open each evening for dinner, this Mexican restaurant is a hidden gem for Mexican food lovers visiting Disney World. Not only is the food delicious, but I also highly recommend the margarita flight if you have a hard time choosing which margarita you want with your meal. This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants on property.

Located in Gran Destino Tower:

  • Barcelona Lounge – located in the lobby, this lobby bar is open in the morning for breakfast, featuring Spanish coffees and in the later afternoon and night as a full service bar also featuring appetizers.
  • Dahlia Lounge – This rooftop bar is located on the 16th floor of the Gran Destino Tower and offers great views for you to enjoy while savoring delicious tapas and specialty cocktails.
  • Toledo – This rooftop restaurant located across from Dahlia Lounge is a great spot for a more upscale meal at Walt Disney World. At Toledo, you can enjoy dinner featuring steak, seafood, tapas and a wide variety of Spanish wines.

Located throughout the resort:

  • Three Bridges Bar and Grill at Villa del Lago - Located on Lago Dorado, this open-air waterfront restaurant is the perfect setting for an evening meal or cocktail. Open for dinner, they offer a mix of Spanish, Mexican and American cuisine.
  • Siestas Cantina – This quick service restaurant is located at the main pool and is a great spot for a poolside cocktail or lunch.
  • Laguna Bar – Located just outside El Centro along the shores of Lago Dorado, this bar is a great casual spot for an evening drink outdoors.

Activities at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Along with the many restaurant and bar options at Coronado Springs, there are also many activity options as well. This will give you plenty of do if you decide to take a break from the theme parks and want to enjoy a resort day. A sample of the monthly activities is pictured below:

  • Pools – There are 4 pools located within Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. There are three leisure pools, one located in each section of the resort. These are great if you are looking for a quieter pool experience. The main pool, Lost City of Cibola Pool, is located in the Dig Site pool complex. This pool has a Mexican theme and includes a 50-foot Mayan pyramid. The pool also includes a 123-foot waterslide. Other than the Lost City of Cibola Pool, the Dig Site also includes Walt Disney World’s largest hot tub, Siestas Pool Bar, sand volleyball court, arcade, playground and kids swimming pool. Regularly scheduled activities are held at the Lost City of Cibola Pool to keep the entire family busy.
  • Fitness Centers – One of the things that sets Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort apart from the other moderate resorts is that it has certain amenities that you can only find in Deluxe resorts, like fitness centers. And this resort actually has two fitness centers. La Vida Health Club and Fitness Center is located in the Casitas section of the resort and then a smaller fitness center is located in the Gran Destino Tower. 
  • Sangria University – If you have worked up a thirst at the pool or in the fitness center, sign up for the Sangria University. Offered on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at Three Bridges Bar and Grill, you can try 4 varieties of house-made sangria and also make your own sangria! While enjoying your sangria, you will hear about the history of this popular drink. Extra cost and advance reservations recommended.
  • Spanish Mosaic Art – On Monday, Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, head up to the Dahlia Lounge to create your own Disney mosaic art like the ones you may see in Barcelona, Spain. Extra cost and advance reservations recommended.
  • Colors of Coronado Painting – On Friday afternoons, head up to Toledo to create your own Disney painting. Designs change monthly, so this is a great experience to do more than once. Extra cost and advance reservations recommended.
  • Campfire – Nightly at the Dig Site, you can roast marshmallows and make s’mores around the campfire.
  • Movies Under the Stars – On the lawn outside of the Gran Destino Tower, watch your favorite Disney films on select nights each week.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is the perfect moderately priced resort to stay at when visiting Walt Disney World. Whether you are there with your family, friends or for a conference, there is something for everyone at this resort. 

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is just one of many moderate priced resorts at Walt Disney World. Check out my posts on the other moderate resorts: Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World can be overwhelming. Beyond The Miles Travel specializes in Disney travel planning and would love to help you plan your next trip. Contact us today!

Pin for later:

8 Great Things To Do When Visiting Madrid

Disclaimer: Included in this post are links to tours I have personally taken or booked for clients on Viator. If you book these tours thru the links in this post, as a travel agent, I will receive a small commission.

Much like other large cities across the world, there is no shortage of things to do in Spain’s capital city of Madrid. While visiting Madrid, you can experience history, culture, the outdoors, sports and food. With so much to see and do, it might be difficult to narrow down what should be on your Madrid itinerary. Below are my top 8 things that you should experience when visiting the capital city of Madrid:

1. Royal Palace of Madrid

Located in the historic district of the city of Madrid, is the Royal Palace of Madrid. It was built in the 18th century and is the largest palace in Western Europe. In fact, with 3,418 rooms covering 135,000 square metres, it’s also considered one of the largest palaces in the world. The Royal Palace is still a functioning palace today and one of the few that is open to the public to visit. For this reason, it should be on the top of your bucket list of places to visit in Madrid. 

Before you go into the actual building, you will walk thru the very spacious courtyard. If you happen to visit on a Wednesday or Saturday, you will be able to see the changing of the guard in the courtyard between 11am and 2pm.  The courtyard is also a good spot to get a photo of the Royal Palace and really take in exactly how big the palace is.

It’s important to note, that while visiting the interior of the palace, there are some rules to follow. If you have a larger bag or backpack, it will need to be checked, smaller purses are ok. There are also no photos allowed once you are past the Main Staircase. 

Below are the highlights you will see in the Royal Palace:

  • Main Staircase – The main staircase is in the first room you will visit in the Royal Palace. As mentioned above, this is the only room inside the Royal Palace where photos are allowed. Flanked by lions, there are two staircases that make up the main staircase, one for the King and one for the Queen. Above the staircase is a beautiful fresco.
  • Hall of Columns – This was used as a ballroom and function hall for many civil ceremonies of the court that do not take place in the Throne Room.
  • Throne Room – Dating back to 1772, this room is full of lots of ornate gold furnishings and of course the King and Queen’s Thrones.
  • King and Queen Apartments – See the many rooms used by the King and the many rooms used by the Queen. 
  • Royal Armory – The Royal Palace houses one of the most important armories in Europe, second only to the Imperial Armoury of Vienna. The items located here date all the way back to the 13th century.
  • Crown Room – One of the most important of the thousands of rooms in the Royal Palace is the Crown Room. In this room, you can see the King Charles III crown and scepter.

When leaving the interior of the Royal Palace and heading outside, make sure to have a look at the views from the balcony alongside the courtyard.

Another spot to see outside of the Royal Palace is the Plaza de Oriente, located on the east side of the palace. This square feature three separate gardens, Central, Cabo Novel and Lepanto Gardens.  Along the sides of the Central Garden are a collection of statues featuring the Gothic Kings. 

The line for the Palace gets quite long and I highly recommend considering purchasing skip the line tickets or better yet, a tour that includes skip the line tickets. I went on this tour and not only did we skip right by the huge line, the guide was wonderful and provided lots of information that I’m not sure I would have learned if I had visited the Royal Palace on my own. There is also an option to add on a tour of the Almudena Cathedral which is located next to the Royal Palace. More on the cathedral below.

2. Almudena Cathedral

Located next to the Royal Palace is the most important religious building in all of Madrid, Almudena Cathedral.  It was the first cathedral outside of Rome to be consecrated when Pope John Paul II consecrated it in 1993.

Construction on the cathedral began in 1883 and it wasn’t officially considered complete until 1993. The cathedral has been home to many weddings over the years, including the current King Felipe VI in 2004 when he was still Prince Felipe VI.  Many members of the Spain Monarchy are buried in the crypt located in Almudena Cathedral. 

The cathedral itself is free to enter, although a donation is suggested. When visiting the cathedral, you will notice the use of the stained-glass windows and sunlight to create a color within the interior of the cathedral.

There is also a museum located at Almudena Cathedral that includes 12 halls that explore the history of the catholic church in Madrid.  There is an additional cost for the museum, prices and opening hours can be found on their website. You can also visit the Dome of the Almudena Cathedral for views of the city of Madrid.

3. Museums of Madrid

Like most major cities across the world, there is no shortage of museums to visit in Madrid. There are over 60 museums in Madrid covering a wide range of topics including art, history and science. Below are a few of the most popular museums in the city of Madrid:

  • Museo del Prado – As the best-known museum in Madrid, the Museo del Prado should be at the top of your list of museums to visit in Madrid.  The Museo del Prado opened in 1819 and was one of the first public art museums in the world. The museum includes art collections of the Spanish monarchy and helps to show the history of Spain thru works of art.
  • Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia – Located near the Museo del Prado is another well-known art museum in Madrid, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. Opened in 1992, this art museum features more modern art from the likes of Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso.
  • National Archeological Museum of Spain – If you are interested in ancient history, you will enjoy the National Archeological Museum. Here you can see artifacts dating back to prehistoric times thru the 15th century.

4. Madrid Plazas and Squares

A great way to see the city of Madrid is by exploring it’s many plazas and squares. In many of these you can find shops and restaurants to enjoy and historic monuments to see. Here is a list of some can’t miss plazas and squares in Madrid:

  • Plaza Mayor – If there is one square you must visit, it’s the iconic Plaza Mayor. As the name suggests, this is the main square in Madrid.  The square was completed in the 17th century and there is a statue of King Phillip III in the center of the square to honor him for his involvement in completing the square. Plaza Mayor is surrounded by buildings on all four sides and has nine separate entrances into the square. Back in the early days, you could experience just about anything in the square from weddings to bullfights to even executions. Now the square is a major tourist attraction with many shops and restaurants. In the warmer weather, it’s a nice spot to grab a meal outdoors and as the weather gets colder and the holiday season nears, the Christmas Market is held here, it’s been at this same location for over 150 years! One of the more beautiful buildings at Plaza Mayor is Casa de la Panaderia. This building once housed the main bakery in Madrid and now it is adorned with beautiful artwork.
  • Puerta del Sol – Known as the center of Spain, it is the location of kilometer zero, which is the starting point of six of the major highways in Spain. The clock on the Real Casa de Correos is another famous landmark in Puerta del Sol. This clock is used to countdown to midnight on New Years Eve in Madrid. As it makes its 12 chimes, people eat 12 grapes for luck in the New Year. Another important site in Puerta del Sol is the Tio Pepe sign. The sign has been a staple in Puerta del Sol since 1936 until a new owner of the building it sat on top of took the sign down. There was public outcry but thankfully the sign returned on top of another building at Puerta del Sol.
  • Plaza de Cibeles – As a symbol of the city of Madrid, Plaza de Cibeles is located in the city center. It includes the famous Cibeles Fountain which features the greek goddess Cybele on a lion-drawn carriage. Behind the fountain is the beautiful architecture of Palacio de Cibeles which is the seat of the Madrid City Council. It’s a very striking building.
  • Plaza de Colon – Named after Christopher Columbus, this square includes a fountain, gardens and a monument to honor Chistopher Columbus.
  • Plaza de Santa Ana – The next plaza dates back to 1810 and has gone thru many renovations throughout the years.  The plaza has a rich history of the performing arts and here you can find monuments to playwright Pedro Calderon de la Barca and poet Frederico Garcia Lorca (pictured below).
  • Plaza de la Villa – This beautiful plaza is surrounded by three buildings. The largest of the buildings, Casa de la Villa, was once a prison and town hall.  The City Council was located here until it moved to the Palacio de Cibeles in Plaza de Cibeles.

5. El Retiro Park

After spending some time in a big city, it’s always a good idea to get a little close to nature to relax. A city park is a great escape right in the city. In Madrid, the largest city park is El Retiro Park. The park was originally owned by the Spanish Monarchy before it opened to the public in 1868. The 350-acre park has something for everyone. Some of the can’t miss sites in El Retiro Park are:

  • Paseo de la Argentina – This promenade it lined with statues of Spanish kings. For this reason, it is also known as the Paseo de las Estatuas.
  • Palacio de Cristal – Built in 1887, this beautiful building was designed after the Crystal Palace in London. While it was originally built as a greenhouse, it is now used as an exhibition venue.
  • Palacio de Velazquez – Built in 1884, this building houses temporary art exhibits and offers free admission.
  • Estanque del Retiro – This large artificial lake is a great spot to rent a rowboat or take a walk along the lake. A monument to King Alfonso XII is along the side of the lake.

Along with these above-mentioned must-see spots, taking some time to walk thru the park and enjoy the different paths and gardens is a great way to get a little bit of nature while visiting the city of Madrid. It’s also a great spot for a bit of exercise to work off some of those extra vacation calories. While visiting El Retiro Park, I saw many people going for a run or bike ride thru the park.

6. Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

Football (or as it’s known in America, soccer) is a much bigger and more popular sport in all of Europe than it is in America. It’s as popular, if not more, than our American Football. One of the most successful football clubs in the world is located right in Madrid. Real Madrid has won a record 14 European Cups, including the first five! They have also won the FIFA World Cup 5 times. 

Needless to say, if you are wanting to see a football game while visiting Europe, Madrid is the place to see one. I highly recommend attending a game if there is one during your stay in Madrid, it’s definitely a fun experience.

If you are unable to attend a game, there is the option of taking a tour of Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and also visiting the Real Madrid Museum.

7. Mercado de San Miguel

As with most cities around the world, enjoying the local food should be on the list of top things to do. In Madrid, a visit to Mercado de San Miguel is a must.

Located close to Plaza Mayor, Mercado de San Miguel sits on the site of a former church. The church was demolished in 1809 and an open-air market was opened on the site. Then in 1916, a structure was built on the site and the indoor market opened. 

Mercado de San Miguel is a great spot to try some of the local Spanish tapas. With fresh seafood, gourmet hams and cheeses, a variety of tapas, desserts and alcoholic beverages, you can create your own little tapas crawl right in one building.

The market is open from 10am to midnight Sunday – Thursday and 10am to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. It gets quite busy in there, so pack your patience or if you are looking for a slower time of day, head there right around opening time. Its never too early for tapas!

8. Chocolateria San Gines

If there is one food that you just cannot leave Madrid without trying, it’s churros, specifically chocolate with churros. While you can get this popular breakfast meal in many places in Madrid, Chocolateria San Gines is the most popular spot. 

Founded in 1894, Chocolateria San Gines is the oldest chocolate shop in the city of Madrid. The famous chocolate with churros here became popular with theater goers after they got out of the show. Even though its located down a somewhat hidden alley, its popularity over the years makes it hard to miss.

They also serve coffee and tea as well. As it was my first stop in Madrid after flying all night from Boston, I ended up getting the churros with coffee. Even without the chocolate, the churros were still delicious! Not to fear, I did end up having chocolate and churros for breakfast a couple of other days I was in Madrid, so I didn’t miss out. 

The interior of Chocolateria San Gines is reminiscent of a 19th century cafe.  They have photos of celebrities that have visited the cafe on the wall, which is fun to see. The spot is small, but they have expanded to other small spots in the same alley. The line to get in can get quite long, so expect a wait. Luckily, you can try different times of day if the line is really bad, Monday to Wednesday, they are open 8am-midnight and Thursday to Sunday they are open 24 hours a day. And even if there is a line, it’s definitely worth the wait!

Bonus – Day Trips from Madrid

While there is so much to see within the city itself, make sure to save some time for some nearby day trips from Madrid. 

If you are interested in history and different cultures, make sure to head to Toledo where you can explore the history of the three cultures that co-existed in this city for over 400 years. Learn more about Toledo in my post here.

If you dream of historic walled cities with fairytale like castles that inspired a Disney castle, make sure to take a day trip to the cities of Avila and Segovia. Learn more about both Avila and Segovia in my post here.

If a trip to Spain is on your bucket list, make sure you include Madrid in your itinerary.  I would recommend spending 3-4 days there at minimum especially if you want to take a day trip to one of the surrounding cities. 

For help in planning your trip to Madrid, check out the tours in the link below:

Book your Madrid Tour!

If you are looking for more detailed help in planning a trip to Madrid or other parts of Spain, Beyond The Miles Travel would be happy to help.

This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Madrid.

Pin for Later:

Step Back In Time With A Day Trip to Avila and Segovia

Disclaimer: Included in this post are links to tours I have personally taken or booked for clients on Viator. If you book these tours thru the links in this post, as a travel agent, I will receive a small commission.

Living in the US, many cities here are not anywhere near as old as the cities in other parts of the world. As I grew up in and currently live in one of the oldest cities in the US, one of my top reasons to visit Europe is to explore cities that are even older than my home city of Boston. 

These cities have buildings and structures that are still standing thousands of years later. From churches to castles to military forts and the walls that protected the cities, you can be transported back in time while exploring these cities. If you dream of visiting these walled cities and castles that inspired castles in Disney movies, this day tour to Avila and Segovia from Madrid is for you.

Avila

Located 70 miles northwest of Madrid is the medieval walled city of Avila. The city was founded in the 5th century BC, but it wasn’t until the 11th century that construction began on the walls that have made the city so famous today. It’s been said that Avila’s walls are some of the best-preserved walls in all of Europe. This is very evident when you arrive in Avila and see the walls bordering the city. It’s different from other cities, where large portions of the walls are no longer in existence. These well-preserved medieval walls just add to the charm of this ancient city in Spain.

While some of the city has stretched out beyond the walls, the main part of the city is within the walls. The walled part of the city consists of 77 acres, surrounded by these walls which reach up to 39 feet and include 88 circular towers.  The walls became a national monument in 1884. To gain access beyond these walls, you can enter thru one of the nine gates into the city of Avila. I won’t lie, walking thru this gate below, had me feeling like I was walking into a castle from a fairytale.

Once thru the gates, there is a lot to see. Take a walk thru this medieval town admiring the city streets and old buildings. Some highlights to make sure to visit are:

  • Plaza del Mercado Chico - Shortly after we entered thru the city gates, we came to the main square in Avila. The Plaza del Mercado Chico is the main meeting spot for people in the city of Avila. In this square, you will find the Town Hall, the Church of San Juan Bautista, restaurants and shops. 
  • Convent of Santa Teresa – Born in Avila in 1515, Santa Teresa was a nun in the city of Avila. Years after her death she was declared a saint in 1622 and then again centuries later she was recognized as the first woman doctor of the Roman Catholic Church due to her mystical ideas on mental prayer. The convent was built in 1636 on the site of Santa Teresa’s birthplace.
  • Take a walk on the walls – Have you ever wondered what the view looks like from on top of the city walls? Well wonder no longer, because here in Avila, you can take a walk on a section of the walls. This was probably my favorite part of the time we spent in Avila. While you are up on top of the walls, you can imagine the guards who were up on top of the walls defending the city centuries ago. The walls were not just used to aid in the defense of the city, but they also controlled who and what came into the city, this kept diseases from spreading into the city from outsiders.

While the walls are mostly still in great shape, not all sections are safe to walk on, but the portion currently open to the public consists of 1700 meters of the 2.5-kilometer length of the walls. As you can see from the photos above the views from the walls are stunning. 

Before we head out of Avila to Segovia, please enjoy this video of part of my walk on top of the City Walls of Avila:

Segovia

After leaving Avila, we headed just under an hour northeast to the historical city of Segovia. The city of Segovia dates back 2000 years and was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. This historic city is also a walled city like Avila and includes a roman aqueduct, a castle that inspired a Disney film’s castle, old buildings and a historic Jewish Quarter. There is definitely no shortage of things to see in Segovia, below are the highlights:

  • The Aqueduct of Segovia – Driving towards Segovia, we were presented with the site of a beautiful Roman aqueduct. 

The aqueduct was built in the late 1st century/early 2nd century as a means of bringing water from a nearby river to the city of Segovia.  The aqueduct of Segovia is not only beautiful, but it is considered the most impressive Roman structure in Spain. With over 20,000 blocks of granite held together without the use of mortar spanning over 2,000 feet across and 93 feet tall at its highest point, it’s also considered an extraordinary engineering accomplishment. The aqueduct is located at Plaza del Azoguejo, which is the starting point of most people’s visit to the city of Segovia. I recommend not only seeing the aqueduct from the plaza below, but to also take a walk up the stairs to the left or right of the plaza to get a different perspective seeing it from a higher and closer vantage point as well.

  • Lunch at Jose Maria Restaurante - One of my favorite things to do when I travel is try the local food, when in Segovia, you must try cochinillo (suckling pig).  Having cochinillo for lunch is not only delicious but also an experience.  So, what exactly is cochinillo? The pigs come from nearby farms and are only a few weeks old. The pigs’ innards are removed, and they are minimally seasoned and cooked over an oak fire.  Being that the pigs are so young, the cochinillo comes out so tender that the pig can be cut with a plate. And this is exactly how the cochinillo is served to you. They bring the cooked whole pig out by your table and start cutting it with a plate.  It’s quite the experience to see. As a warning, they do also cut the head of the pig off with the plate right in front of your table as well, if you might be sensitive to seeing something like that. The cochinillo feeds between 4 and 8 people depending on its size and it’s served with such sides as potatoes and salad. I must say, the cochinillo was the most delicious meal I had while visiting Spain, so definitely give it a try if you visit Segovia.
  • Alcazar of Segovia – The one place in Segovia that I was really looking forward to seeing was the Alcazar.

As someone who grew up dreaming of being a princess, I have loved castles from a very young age. And this castle had a connection with Disney, so it really piqued my interest. Back when Walt Disney was getting ready to animate such classics as Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, he took a trip to Europe to do research on castles.  One of the castles he visited was the Alcazar of Segovia and this became the inspiration for the Evil Queen’s castle in the animated film, Snow White. The front of the castle, which is inaccessible, will definitely remind you of the castle in Snow White. And even though Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany was the inspiration for Cinderella’s Castle, the turrets of the Alcazar of Segovia also gave some inspiration to Cinderella’s Castle in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. 

Other than the outside of the Alcazar, there were many other spots within the castle that reminded me of Snow White.  On one of the outdoor balconies, I felt like I was looking at the wishing well from Snow White. This photo just screams Disney to me!

It’s not known exactly how long the Alcazar has been in Segovia, it’s first mention was in the early 12th century, but many believe it’s been there much longer than that. The Alcazar was first used as a military fortress but later became a place for the royal treasury, archives and armory. At one point it was even used as a prison. In 1764, the Alcazar became the home of the College of Artillery and remained so for almost 100 years until there was a fire that destroyed the roof and parts of the interior of the Alcazar in 1862. 

Going inside the Alcazar, you will see it’s past displayed in front of you. There are many different rooms to see inside of the Alcazar and they will all take you back in time. Some of these rooms include:

  • The Throne Room – Like many castles around the world, the room where the King and Queen conducted formal business and presided over official ceremonies, is a must see. In this room you can see the King and Queen’s throne, they weren’t nearly as ornate as I’ve seen in other castles.
  • Hall of Kings – This room featured ornamental depictions of the many Kings in Spain over the years. It’s definitely a very impressive room to see.
  • Hall of the Galley – This room is named after the ceiling in the room which is in the shape of a ship’s hull. At the far end of this room is a beautiful painting of the coronation of Queen Isabella I in the 15th century.
  • Armory - With the Alcazar’s history of being used as an armory, it’s no surprise that there is in fact an Armory to see while touring the Alcazar today. 
  • Museum of the Royal College of Artillery – As mentioned previously, the College of the Artillery was located at the Alcazar of Segovia for close to 100 years, so it makes sense that there is a museum dedicated to the College in the Alcazar today.

Throughout the castle, you can also see beautiful stained-glass windows and views of the surrounding countryside.

A walk around the grounds of the Alcazar is also a great idea. You can really get some wonderful photos of the Alcazar of Segovia from all different angles to truly capture the fairytale vibes of the building.

  • Plaza Mayor and Segovia Cathedral – The main square of Segovia is called Plaza Mayor. Here you can find many restaurants and cafes to enjoy a meal at. This is also the location for many of the festivals that occur in the city of Segovia and where Spanish holidays are celebrated in the city.  It is also the location of the Cathedral of Segovia. Construction on the gothic style cathedral began in 1525 and continued until 1768 when it was completely finished. You can visit the cathedral where guided tours of the cathedral and tower are available.
  • Take a Walk Thru the City – A walk thru this old city is a must. The streets are filled with beautiful old buildings to see.

If you dream of visiting older walled cities and seeing castles that will remind you of fairytales, a day trip from Madrid to Avila and Segovia is the day trip for you. You can book this day trip here.

For another great day trip from Madrid, check out my post on Toledo.

If you are needing help in planning your Spain vacation, Beyond The Miles Travel would be more than happy to help you. 

Pin for later:

Toledo – A Must Do Day Trip From Madrid

When visiting a large city, I always think it’s a good idea to take a day trip outside of the city to see surrounding cities and towns. When visiting Madrid, Toledo is top on people’s list of day trips.

History of Toledo

Toledo is a very historic city, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first mentions of Toledo date back to ancient roman times when a battle was fought nearby the city, then called its Latin name of Toletum in 193 BC.

The city is often known as the “City of Three Cultures” as Christians, Muslims and the Jewish people all co-existed in Toledo and actually got along. The city converted to Christianity in the year 589 AD. In 712 AD, the Muslims took over the city and would be the dominant religion for 373 years until 1085 when the Christians took control of the city again. At that time the Jewish and Muslim people in the city decided to stay in the city and co-exist in a peaceful manner with the Christians. Sadly, this harmonious co-existence only lasted for 400 years as the Jewish were expelled from Toledo in 1492.

The great thing about this Full Day Tour to Toledo that I took from Madrid, is that it explores all three of these cultures and their history in Toledo. The tour is also in both Spanish and English, making it a great tour for visitors from many countries in the world.

Arriving in Toledo

Aside from the history, one of the reasons that a visit to Toledo is a must is the beautiful views of the city. 

The drive to Toledo takes just under an hour from Madrid and our first stop as we approached the city was to one of the many viewpoints overlooking the city, Mirador del Valle. Known as the best viewpoint of Toledo, the view is absolutely stunning from here, definitely Instagram worthy.

While the viewpoint was rather high up, you could still see just how much the city of Toledo was built on a hill above the Tagus River and valley below. Not to fear though, there are escalators that you can take up to the city from the valley below. These were a welcome site for my still not fully healed post covid lungs when I was visiting. 

After arriving up to the old city of Toledo via the escalator, we walked along the old walls of the city. One of the aspects of the old cities in Spain that I loved was that not only were they walled cities, but that many of the walls remain in the present day.  Along with the walls, there are also many gates that lead in and out of the city. Pictured below Gate of Puerta del Sol which we walked thru as we left the city at the end of the day.

Exploring the Three Cultures of Toledo

As I mentioned earlier, one of the reasons Toledo is so special is that for centuries, the Christian, Jewish and Muslim people all lived together in harmony in the city. You can expect to spend a good portion of your day visiting the religious buildings of these three cultures.

  • San Juan de los Reyes Monastery – Our first stop was the San Juan de los Reyes Monastery which was built between 1477-1504 as a burial place for the Monarchs of Spain.  The monastery is beautiful; things that are worthy of seeing are the garden at the bottom of the two-floor cloister and the altar in the main chapel which features scenes from the Passion and the Resurrection. The thing I found most interesting were the ancient paintings on the wall that have been unearthed during renovations to the monastery.
  • Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca – While the exact date the Synagogue of Santa Maria La Blanca was built is unknown, based on documentation, it is believed to have been built in the late 12th century. As I mentioned earlier, the Jewish were expelled from Toledo in 1492, but even decades before this, the synagogue was taken over by the Christians and became the Church of Santa Maria la Blanca. Considered the oldest synagogue building in Europe, it now serves as a symbol of the Jewish history in the city of Toledo. The white columns inside make for quite the architectural site to see.
  • Church of Santo Tome – The Church of Santo Tome was originally built in the 12th century at the site of an old mosque and then rebuilt in the 14th century after years of disrepair. Santo Tome is one of the most visited spots in all of Spain thanks to a very famous painting being located within the church. Greek Painter El Greco, who lived in Toledo from 1577 until his death in 1614, painted the “Burial of the Count of Orgaz. The painting is said to depict the burial of mayor of Toledo who was buried in Santo Tome in 1323.
  • Toledo Cathedral – My favorite part of the tour to Toledo was seeing the Cathedral. If you’ve visited thru a lot of the cities of Europe, chances are you have seen many cathedrals. I’ll admit considering that Toledo is one of the smaller cities I’ve visited, I wasn’t expecting the Cathedral to be as impressive as it ended up being. Construction on the cathedral began in the thirteenth century and it was not until over 200 centuries later that the final of the eight chapels were completed. 

The architecture and artwork in the cathedral is beautiful enough that you could spend hours inside seeing it all. Below are some of the must-see sites in the Toledo Cathedral:

Main Chapel – There are eight chapels located inside the cathedral.  As I’m sure you can imagine; the main chapel is more than worth spending some time exploring. The altar is just stunning and features filigree details. Taking a walk around the main chapel, it’s evident that not only is the cathedral a place of worship, but it could very well be considered an art museum. Paintings and sculptures fill the main church on the floors and walls and even above in the ceilings.

Choir – The choir was something that I was very interested in seeing. Located across from the altar in the Main Chapel is the choir. The 2-level rectangular room features 2 organs and seats around the edges of the room for the people in the choir. As soon as you walk in, you feel like you have stepped back in time centuries.

Monstrance of Enrique De Arfe – One of the most visited items in the cathedral is this beautiful Monstrance. Created by German metalworker Enrique De Arfe in the early 1500s, this Monstrance is said to have been made of the first gold to arrive in Spain.  Standing at over 10 feet tall, it is displayed behind bullet proof glass and a state-of-the-art security system. The Monstrance does get taken out of the cathedral each year to be carried in the procession to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi, the most important and largest festival in the city of Toledo.

Sacristry – Like other parts of the cathedral, the sacristry is a great spot to see some beautiful pieces of art. Not only are there paintings and sculptures throughout the room, the ceiling fresco is absolutely beautiful. 

You could easily spend hours exploring the cathedral and all the hidden corners, on the day tour that I took, we spent a good amount of time being guided to the highlighted spots I mentioned and some of the other chapels.

  • Alcazar of Toledo – Dating back to the 3rd century, this fortress is located on top of a hill overlooking the city of Toledo. It played a big part in the Spanish Civil War and is a symbol of Spanish nationalism. Now it houses a military museum and is a great place to visit if you are interested in Spanish history. The museum was closed on the day I visited, but the Alcazar was the location of our lunch that was included in the tour. Lunch consisted of an included drink, either soda, water, wine or beer and some tapas. It was very delicious and a great way to get to know some of the others on the tour. One of the reasons I love taking day tours when I travel is being able to meet people from all over the world. This day I dined with a fellow American from California, a lady from Mexico and a gentleman from Argentina. It was so much fun to chat about their travels and their home countries.
  • Mosque of Cristo de la Luz – Our final stop after lunch was the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz. Built in the year 999, not only is it the oldest standing monument in Toledo, but it is also surprisingly the same as when it was built all those centuries ago. The mosque was built and used by the Muslim community but was later taken over by the Christians and it remains a Catholic Mosque today. It’s a beautiful building and you can see both the Muslim and Catholic influences inside the mosque. There are also many aspects in and around the building showing just how old it is. Including an old Roman walkway just outside the mosque that was unearthed hundreds of years later.

The history of the three cultures of Toledo is what makes it such a unique place to visit, but along with seeing the religious buildings, I also recommend taking a walk around the city streets and squares if you enjoy visiting older cities. While walking thru the streets, I enjoyed seeing the many details in the buildings and streets. Many of the homes and buildings had gated courtyards which were very beautiful. 

If you are planning a trip to Spain and are spending some time in Madrid, I highly recommend a day trip to Toledo. It’s a great way to see some of the older history of Spain while learning about the three cultures that co-existed in this beautiful city.

This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Toledo.

Pin for later:

Is a Half Day Tour Enough Time to Visit Montserrat

Disclaimer: Included in this post are links to tours I have personally taken or booked for clients on Viator. If you book these tours thru the links in this post, as a travel agent, I will receive a small commission.

One of the top sites to see outside of the city limits of Barcelona is Montserrat. Located less than 40 miles from the city of Barcelona is a monastery high on top of a mountain, the views alone are worth the journey. There are a few different ways you can get to Montserrat from Barcelona, including train, car or by tour. As a solo traveler I enjoy doing a tour on one or two days of my trip as a way to meet other people.

Based on all the things I wanted to see and do while I was in Barcelona, I opted for an afternoon half day tour to Montserrat. This post will provide my honest opinion of if that half day tour was enough time to experience everything at Montserrat. First let’s learn more about the history and everything to see and do at Montserrat.

History of Montserrat

The name Montserrat translates to serrated mountain. It’s apparent how it received this name when you see the beautiful mountain that the monastery is located on. There are many rocks and pinnacles that rise from the mountain. While the monastery is the main site to see at Montserrat, people are often amazed by the beauty of the mountain as well.

The religious history of Montserrat is thought to date back all the way to the year 880, when visions of the Virgin Mary were first reported by shepherds working on the mountain. The visions were reported in a cave on the mountain and many people made a pilgrimage there to see the Virgin Mary. This cave became known as the Holy Grotto and a chapel was built just outside of the cave.

With the area then being considered sacred, in 1025 a small group of benedictine monks opened the monastery in Montserrat. Pilgrams and now tourists have flocked to this area for centuries since then.

Things to see and do at Montserrat

Below is a list of things that you can see and do while visiting Montserrat:

  • Black Madonna – The top thing that people want to see when visiting Montserrat is the Black Madonna. Named for its dark face, the statue of Our Lady of Montserrat Patron Saint of Catalonia was not always this dark, but over the years, the stone varnished and started taking on a darker color. The Black Madonna is located in a small chapel that overlooks the main church. It does involve walking up 50 steps to get to it and the line can get quite long. The majority of the statue is behind glass with the exception of her right hand which is holding a globe. It’s been said that touching this hand has healing powers and can cause miracles. You will see many people touching this hand and the globe for this reason.
  • Ave Maria Path – As you walk out of the church after seeing the Black Madonna, you will be walking along the Ave Maria Path. This stone path carved into the mountain will take you past hundreds of candles. You can light a candle as a prayer for a loved one if you would like. It’s definitely a beautiful way to leave the chapel that the Black Madonna is in.
  • Montserrat Basilica – To see the Black Madonna, you will go into the Montserrat Basilica. This church features gothic, renaissance and Catalonian architecture. The interior of the Basilica is stunning, but the Atrium of the Basilica is what I really fell in love with. This open-air courtyard features many sculptures, and the floor is black and white marble and was inspired by Michelangelo’s work in Rome.
  • L’Escolonia Choir – Dating back to 1307, this boys’ choir is one of the oldest in Europe. Consisting of 50 members between the ages of 9 and 14, the choir is made up mostly of boys in the neighboring area to Montserrat. You can see them perform Monday thru Friday at the Montserrat Basilica at 1pm and at the evening mass at 6:45pm. On Sundays they perform at Noon and 6:45pm masses.
  • Museu de Montserrat – The museum opened in 1963 and houses works of art including many pieces that were found at Montserrat over the years. The museum features an archeological section with biblical items from around the world. They also feature both modern and ancient paintings from around the world, with an emphasis of paintings from Catalonian artists.
  • Interactive Exhibit – A visit to Montserrat should start with the Interactive exhibit. This exhibit features a video and then additional exhibits on the geology of the mountain, the history of the monastery and the boys’ choir as well as the daily life of the monks living in Montserrat.
  • Open Air Museum – The outdoor area of the monastery is a beautiful open-air museum with many different monuments to see and you can also get photos of the beautiful landscape of the mountain and the valley below while walking thru the monastery grounds. There are audio guides as well as maps describing the monuments and art you can find in the Open-Air Museum.
  • Santa Cova – Santa Cova, otherwise known as the Holy Grotto, is where the visions of the Virgin Mary were seen back in the year 880. Also located here is the Chapel of Santa Cova which was built in 1696. To get to Santa Cova, you can either take a funicular up or if you are more adventurous you can hike up to Santa Cova.
  • Montserrat Nature Park – Being that Montserrat is located on the top of a mountain, many people enjoy spending some time in nature while they are here. The nature park is a must visit for outdoor lovers. It’s the perfect spot for a hike and you may also run into some wildlife in the nature park, like mountain goats.
  • Gift Shop – The gift shop is worth a stop, not only does it have some typical souvenirs, it also includes some items made by the monks at the monastery.

Getting Around Montserrat

Being on the top of a mountain, getting to Montserrat from the foot of the mountain can be done by car (parking is limited), but there are a couple of other options that are an adventure in itself. One of these options is the Aeri de Montserrat which is a cable car offering stunning views for your 5-minute ride to the monastery. If you are a bit uncomfortable with heights, there is Montserrat’s Cremallera. This rack railway will get you up to the monastery in 15 minutes and features stunning views as well at a much less nerve-racking ride than the cable car. If you are looking for a challenge, you can also hike up to the monastery.

Is a half day tour enough time?

As you can see, there is definitely a lot to see and do at Montserrat. You could definitely devote an entire day for a trip here from Barcelona. I’m a firm believer in giving honest reviews on places I’ve been and tours I’ve taken. We all know not everything always goes as planned, so it’s best to be honest.

I took an afternoon tour to Montserrat and I found it to be extremely rushed. The tour was 4 1/2 hours long, and it was a Friday afternoon of a holiday weekend in Barcelona, so the traffic leaving the city was pretty bad. By the time we got to Montserrat, we didn’t have time to see much of anything. We started with the Interactive Exhibit, did a liquor tasting at the gift shop and then had less than an hour to see the Black Madonna and take a look around the grounds of the monastery. It was in no way long enough to truly enjoy Montserrat and our guide even seemed stressed out on the lack of time we had.

If you really wanted to take a tour and only had a half day available, I would recommend the morning tour to Montserrat as it is 5 1/2 hours long so that at least gives you an extra hour to explore Montserrat. The best option if you are interested in seeing Montserrat as part of a tour would be a full day tour. That way you can really experience all that you want to see at Montserrat while still doing so on a tour. There are many full day tours to Montserrat to choose from.

If you are looking for even more control over your time at Montserrat, going on your own as opposed to a tour will be your best option. Montserrat is fairly easy to get to on your own from Barcelona. If you have a car, while in Barcelona, it’s a very easy and scenic drive to Montserrat. If you are without a car, the train is a great option, leaving every hour from Barcelona, the train takes a little over an hour and will take you to both the cable car station and the rack railway station for you to continue up the mountain to the monastery by the transportation option of your choice.

In conclusion, unless you are just wanting to see the Black Madonna and check Montserrat off of your travel check list, I do not think that a half day tour is enough time to experience Montserrat. Either a full day tour that allows for more time at Montserrat or going on your own via car or train is the best way to see Montserrat.

Make sure to check out my other posts from my trip to Barcelona:

8 Great Things To Do When Visiting Barcelona

Costa Brava – The Perfect Day Trip From Barcelona

As always, Beyond The Miles Travel would love to help plan your next vacation to Barcelona or any other location in the world you are interested in seeing.

Pin For Later:

8 Great Things To Do When Visiting Barcelona

Disclaimer: Included in this post are links to tours I have personally taken or booked for clients on Viator. If you book these tours thru the links in this post, as a travel agent, I will receive a small commission.

As the second most populous city in Spain, the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona is a popular travel destination. Located on the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona is a great choice if you enjoy history, architecture, culture and food. Below are my favorite 8 things to do when visiting this beautiful city:

1. Sagrada Familia

Probably one of the first things that comes to mind when people think of Barcelona is Sagrada Familia. Construction on Sagrada Familia began in March 1882 and is still continuing as of the writing of this post. It’s the largest unfinished Catholic Church in the world! When will the church be complete, no one knows, originally estimated to be finished by 2026, after some delays due to that pesky covid, they now have stopped providing and estimated completion date.

The construction of the church is funded by donations, so this caused it to get off to a slow start. Then there were delays due to construction stoppage and some parts of the completed construction being destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. But it definitely looks to be getting closer to completion and the construction over the past few years has really been picking up speed thanks to the donations received when you purchase a ticket to tour Sagrada Familia. And wow do a lot of people buy tickets! Sagrada Familia is probably the busiest tourist attraction in all of Barcelona.

There have been a number of architects involved with the construction of Sagrada Familia, including the infamous Antoni Gaudi who took over in 1883 when the original architect resigned. Gaudi was famous for incorporating elements of nature and color into his architecture. His architectural designs were modern looking, but he also made sure they were functional as well. Gaudi worked on Sagrada Familia until he was hit by a trolley car in 1926. As Gaudi used to dress very modestly, when he was hit by the trolley car, he was mistaken for a homeless man, and it was days before they realized it was him in the hospital. He eventually passed away from his injuries from the accident. He is buried in the crypt of Sagrada Familia.

I highly recommend signing up for a skip the line tour of Sagrada Familia. I took this tour and it was great to hear additional information from the tour guide that I may not have learned if I wasn’t on the tour. But the best thing was being able to skip the very long line into Sagrada Familia. There is a lot of detail in the church and during the tour, the guide will point out the features of the outside of the church.

You could spend hours admiring all the details on the outside of the church. And the great thing about the tour, which lasts one hour and a half, is that you are allowed to stay as long as you would like after the tour is over to see more of Sagrada Familia on your own. While the details on the outside are stunning, it’s the interior that I really enjoyed. Keeping with Antoni Gaudi’s use of nature in his architecture, the interior columns looked like trees. And you must visit during daylight hours, the colors inside the church from the sun reflecting in thru the stained-glass windows was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.

2. Park Guell

Another one of the many Antoni Gaudi attractions in Barcelona is Park Guell. Many of you will probably recognize this park from the pictures of the colorful benches overlooking the gingerbread style houses high above the city of Barcelona. Park Guell is a must visit.

Park Guell was originally planned as a housing development based on an idea by Eusebi Guell who the park is named after. Guell hired Gaudi as the architect for the project. After two houses were built on the site and neither of them sold, Gaudi moved into one of the homes and that home now serves as the Gaudi House Museum.

After they were not able to get any buyers on the homes built, they opened the area as a municipal park. Up until October of 2013, the park was free to enter, but since that time they started to charge an admission fee into Park Guell. Be sure to check the website for admission times and prices before you go. Like most things since covid, you must purchase your tickets in advance for a timed entry. They do offer skip the line guided tours as well, I took this tour and I really enjoyed it. As always, you are free to stay in the park and explore more after the tour.

It’s really a shame that no one was interested in purchasing a home at Park Guell. I have to wonder if there would be more interest if they tried to sell the homes today, the view alone would definitely bring some interest to the site. You must be forewarned; a great view comes with quite the elevation. If you take the metro to Park Guell be prepared for a walk up a steep hill and stairs. The view is definitely worth the walk up though. It’s even a beautiful spot to catch the sunset.

The park is a perfect example of Gaudi incorporating nature and animals into his architecture. The colorful bench along the balcony is also a perfect example of how he not only creates something beautiful but also makes sure that it’s functional. There is so much in architecture that is beautiful but doesn’t serve a function or is very uncomfortable. The bench is not just beautiful but also a comfortable spot for many people to sit and relax.

3. Gaudi Houses

By now you have probably noticed a theme that many attractions in Barcelona are related to Antoni Gaudi’s work. There are so many buildings around Barcelona designed by this famous architect. There are three homes that I highly recommend visiting while you are in Barcelona.

Casa Batllo is probably the most visited of the three homes. My hotel was located around the corner and no matter what time of day or night I walked by there was a group of people outside either waiting to get in or taking pictures of the outside of the building.

The outside of the home is impressive enough with colorful mosaic tiles adorning the front and interesting shape of the balconies and facade. Casa Batllo was actually a 1904 redesign of a previously built home. The interior of the home is equally as stunning as the exterior. They have a few different ticket options on their website, including some that include an augmented reality experience where you can use a tablet in each room to see how it would have looked back in the day.

One thing I noticed about Barcelona is their love of rooftops. Gaudi took the rooftop designs to a new level; the roof of Casa Batllo is arched to look like the back of a dragon. On a nice day, make sure to spend some time on the roof, they have a bar and plenty of seating.

Casa Mila is not far from Casa Batllo. Gaudi designed this home for the Mila family between 1906-1912. It is also known as La Pedrera, which translates to stone quarry, because it resembles the look of a quarry.

Like Casa Batllo, Casa Mila features interestingly shaped balconies and a curving facade. The rounded interior with the open-air ceiling was impressive to say the least. The attic was shaped like the inside of a whale and the roof top of Casa Mila was even more impressive than Casa Batllo’s rooftop. Remember I said that Gaudi likes things to be both beautiful and functional, this was just what he accomplished with the roof. The chimneys and skylights looked more like art.

The final of the three houses to visit is Casa Vicens, which was my personal favorite. While it’s one of the lesser visited of the three houses, Casa Vicens is Gaudi’s first major project.

Built between 1883 and 1885 as a summer home of the Vicens family, Casa Vicens has a more colorful look to it than the other two homes. The style of the home was part of Gaudi’s Orientalist period with influences from places such as Japan and India. The home included a beautiful garden and fountain and had a somewhat open atmosphere to it. As with all of his buildings, the roof top was also stunning.

4. Gothic Quarter

No visit to a major city is complete without a visit to the historic center of the city. In Barcelona, this would be the Gothic Quarter.

Dating back thousands of years, the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona was once settled by the Romans. While the remains of the Roman walls are still a part of the Gothic Quarter, many of the buildings you will see today date back to only the 19th and early 20th century. The buildings definitely seem older as you walk along the narrow streets in the quarter.

Some things of note to see while exploring the Gothic Quarter:

  • Barcelona Cathedral – Construction started on the cathedral in 1298. While the majority of the Barcelona Cathedral was completed some 150 years later, it wasn’t until 1913 when the facade and tower were completed.
  • Church of Santa Maria del Pi – Built in the 14th century, this church has suffered quite a bit of damage over the years from an earthquake, a war and a fire. It went thru a number of restorations with the most recent being after a 1936 fire that gutted the church.
  • Barcelona City Hall – Built in the late 14th century, this building has been in use by the government of Barcelona dating back to the middle ages.
  • Street Art – Blending in with the old gothic buildings is present day street art. One of the more popular pieces of street art is the Kissing Mural. Looking at the mural, you can’t really see what it is, until you look into your camera and you see the two lips kissing, it’s quite a remarkable piece of street art.

5. Montjuic

While there is a lot of history dating back thousands of years in the Gothic Quarter, the birthplace of Barcelona is the famous hill in the city, Montjuic. Translated as “Jewish Mountain” and standing at over 550 feet at its highest point, Montjuic provides stunning views of the city and port of Barcelona below.

Many of the attractions at Montjuic were built for the 1929 International Exhibition. The International Exhibition wasn’t the only large event to take place on Montjuic. It was also the site of many venues for the 1992 Olympic Games and you can visit the Olympic & Sport Museum at Montjuic. Some other must-see attractions are:

  • Barcelona Botanical Garden
  • Joan Miro Foundation Art Museum
  • Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
  • Magic Fountain

One of the top attractions is Montjuic Castle, located on the very top of the hill. The first military fortress on Montjuic dates back to 1640. It was demolished in 1751 and the current fortress was built by the end of the 18th Century. Montjuic Castle has been part of many wars over the years and has a rather violent history, most notably during the Spanish Civil War when prisoners of both sides were tortured and shot on Montjuic. Regardless of its violent past, Montjuic Castle is worth a visit.

Getting to the top of Montjuic is an experience in itself. While you can walk up if you have the energy for a steep walk, most people take a combination of a funicular to the Montjuic Cable Car to get to the top. The views from the cable car are absolutely amazing! You can see Sagrada Familia in the distance and really get a better idea of just how large it is when you see it towering over the city of Barcelona.

6. Arc de Triomf and Parc de la Ciutadella

In 1888, the first World’s Fair in Spain was held in Barcelona. There was a lot of construction that went on in the city prior to the World’s Fair. One of the more popular places that was constructed for the World’s Fair was the Arc de Triomf.

As you walk thru the Arc de Triomf, you will come across the palm tree lined walkway, Passeig Lluis Companys. Along this beautiful walkway, you can see street artists performing and many locals and tourists alike out enjoying the day. When I walked thru there was a gentleman who was entertaining children with bubbles. It’s a great spot for the whole family to take a walk.

Parc Ciutadella is the main site of the 1888 World’s Fair. Prior to that it was the site of a military citadel which is how the park got its name. Some of the buildings from the 1888 World’s Fair are still standing at Parc Ciutadella to this very day.

Some of the main sites to explore at Parc Ciutadella are:

  • Barcelona Zoo – which has been on this site since 1892
  • Cascada – This waterfall and fountain was built for the 1888 World’s Fair
  • Castell dels Tres Dragons – this beautiful building was built as a restaurant for the 1888 World’s Fair and more recently housed the Museum of Zoology until 2010.

7. La Rambla

Located to the west of the Gothic Quarter is the most well-known street in the city of Barcelona, La Rambla. Stretching from Placa de Catalunya at the north end of the street to Port Vell at the southern end, La Rambla is made up of a series of shorter streets. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as Las Ramblas. La Rambla is worth checking out both during the day and at night.

Some of things to do along La Rambla include:

  • Liceu Theatre – As the largest opera house in all of Europe when it opened in 1847, this theater is a great place to see the opera or ballet while in Barcelona. They also offer tours of the theater in the mornings.
  • Mercat de La Boqueria – The first known mention of a market in this location dates all the way back to 1217. With a long past, this is a must visit for fresh fruits, meats and a small meal in one of the food stalls.
  • Tablao Flamenco Cordobes – No visit to Spain is complete without experiencing a Flamenco show. Located on La Rambla is Tablao Flamenco Cordobes which is the most historic tablao in Barcelona, founded in 1970.
  • Restaurants, shops and street performers – There are no shortage of restaurants, most with outdoor seating along La Rambla. There is also plenty of shops to explore and amazing street performers to entertain you along La Rambla.

8. La Barceloneta

Being that Barcelona is located on the Mediterranean Sea, you must visit the area along the sea while there. This area is known as La Barceloneta. Unlike the oldest part of the city, the Gothic Quarter, La Barceloneta only dates back to the mid-eighteenth century when fishermen in Barcelona began to settle in this area of the city.

Probably the most popular spot to visit in La Barceloneta is the beach. Not only can you relax on the beach, but there is also a beautiful promenade along the beach for a relaxing walk.

Other than the beach, you can walk the narrow streets and grab a bite to eat or a drink in one of the many restaurants and bars. This is a great area of the city to enjoy some fresh seafood.

If you are a history buff, you must visit the Museu d’Historia de Catalunya to learn all about the history of Catalonia. Just like at Montjuic, there is a cable car in La Barceloneta as well. This cable car will take you from La Barceloneta to the bottom of Montjuic.

Near La Barceloneta is Port Vell where you can visit Barcelona’s Aquarium, visit the IMAX theater and get some shopping done.

Bonus – Day Trips from Barcelona

While there is plenty to see and do in the city of Barcelona itself, there are plenty of day trips that are worth taking. Some top day trips include:

  • Montserrat – Located just an hour outside of Barcelona, this Monastery is the most popular day trip from Barcelona. Located on the top of a mountain with some unusual and beautiful rock formations, it’s worth the visit for not just the history of the monastery but also the stunning views and hiking. The monastery is known for its Boys Choir which dates all the way back to the early 1200s as well as the Black Madonna. I took a half day tour to Montserrat, check out my post on whether a half day tour was enough time at Montserrat.
  • Costa Brava – If you want to explore more of the Mediterranean coast than what you can see in La Barceloneta, a day trip to Costa Brava is a must! With its rocky cliffs and clear Mediterranean waters, this vacation spot is popular for some relaxation and sunshine. Some of the towns in Costa Brava date back to as early as the 12th century, making it a popular spot for history lovers as well. If you have ever visited Cinque Terre in Italy, it’s fairly similar with different towns along the coast to visit. Check out my post on Costa Brava to learn more about this great day trip.

There’s a lot to see and do in Barcelona and beyond. You could easily spend a full week or more in this beautiful city in Spain, but if you are short on time, I would suggest no less than 4 days to at least be able to enjoy the highlights. If you are planning a trip to Barcelona and other parts of Spain, Beyond The Miles Travel is more than happy to help you make the trip a memorable one.

Pin for later:

Costa Brava – The Perfect Day Trip from Barcelona

Disclaimer: Included in this post are links to tours I have personally taken or booked for clients on Viator. If you book these tours thru the links in this post, as a travel agent, I will receive a small commission.

Living in the US, I’ve traveled to many islands in the Caribbean and was always in awe of just how beautiful the Caribbean Sea is and thought there couldn’t possibly be a more beautiful sea. Until eight years ago, when I visited Italy and one look at the Mediterranean had me realizing just how much more beautiful it was compared to the Caribbean Sea.

When I was planning my trip to Spain, I just knew that I needed to plan a day to explore the Mediterranean coast while I was in Barcelona. I came across this great Costa Brava Day Trip with Barcelona Holiday. It was a perfect way to visit a couple of towns in this area with both guided portions of the tour and also ample free time to explore on my own.

In Spanish, Costa Brava translates to rugged coast. This is evident by its rocky cliffs which are part of what makes it such a beautiful location. It’s located along the coast of the Mediterranean from just north of Barcelona all the way north to the French border, within the province of Girona. With its close location to the French border, it attracts many tourists from France, therefore, you may see items such as restaurant menus printed in many different languages including Spanish, Catalan, French and English.

Not only is Costa Brava popular for its beaches, but there is also a lot of history as this area dates back to hundreds of years before the 1950s when Spain started promoting the area as a vacation destination. And its most definitely a beautiful vacation destination!

Costa Brava Day Trip Specifics

The tour that I took to Costa Brava is available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The tour is available in both Spanish and English. The day I took the tour, they were able to split the group in two with one guide taking the Spanish speakers and one guide taking the English speakers. The tour takes approximately nine hours and follows the below schedule:

  • 8:30AM – Bus leaves from Barcelona Nord bus station. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early to check in.
  • 10:00AM – Arrive in Lloret de Mar, the main tourist village in Costa Brava. Here you will have an hour and a half of free time to explore the town.
  • 11:30AM – Board the Dofi Jet Boat for a scenic hour-long ride along the Mediterranean to Tossa de Mar.
  • 12:30PM – Arrive in Tossa de Mar where you will have over 3 hours to explore the island. You can spend that entire time on your own or you can start with a 45-minute guided tour of the historical section of the city.
  • 3:45PM – Meet your guides for a walk thru Tossa de Mar back to the bus before leaving to head back to Barcelona.
  • 5:30PM – Arrive back in Barcelona Nord Bus Station

As you will be on the water, make sure to bring sunscreen and some water to drink with you. With ample free time on this tour, it’s a great day to pack a towel and your swimsuit if you want to get some beach time in. While there is a lot of free time on the tour, make sure to also utilize your tour guides expertise. They were more than helpful with not just answering questions but also giving recommendations on things to see at each stop and where to find good restaurants.

Now on to the details of what you can enjoy on the tour!

Lloret de Mar

As the main tourist village in Costa Brava, Lloret de Mar has a lot to offer. There have been tourist visiting Lloret de Mar dating back to 1918 when the first summer villas were built. As you arrive in Lloret de Mar, you will see just why this Costa Brava village became such a popular vacation spot. Summer is the time that most tourist head to Lloret de Mar due to the beautiful beaches and Mediterranean views.

There are many things to do in Lloret de Mar, including the following:

  • Spend some time at a beach – The top reason that people visit Lloret de Mar is definitely to enjoy the beaches. The most popular beach is Playa de Lloret which is a large beach located right in the heart of this tourist village. This beach isn’t just a great beach to relax in the sun or swim in the ocean, but there are also many activities to enjoy on the water like parasailing jet skiing. To the left of Playa de Lloret is Sa Caleta. This small bay includes a small beach and is a popular spot for snorkeling or diving. If you are looking for a quieter beach, if you head right from Playa de Lloret, about a 15-minute walk away is Lloret de Mar’s second largest beach, Fenals Beach. At Fenals Beach, you can rent a stand up paddleboard to enjoy the clear Mediterranean waters.
  • Visit the Parish Church of Santa Roma – Located in the historic center of Lloret de Mar is the gothic style Parish Church of Santa Roma. Built in the early 1500s, part of the interior of the church was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War, and shortly after they expanded the church with more modern architecture. You can see the original gothic style of the church in the entrance and the modern additions of the colorful domes. The mixture of the two architectural styles really makes this church a must see while visiting Llloret de Mar.
  • Admire Castell d’en Plaja – At the end of Playa de Lloret near Sa Caleta is what looks like a medieval castle. While the turrets and walls of this building may have you sure it’s a castle dating back hundreds of years, you may be surprised to learn that this building is actually a private mansion that was just built in the 1930s/40s. As Castell d’en Plaja is a private residence you aren’t able to get a look inside, but there is a path up the hill to get a closer look of the mansion and a stunning view of Lloret de Mar from higher up.
  • Explore the Shops and Restaurants – Just steps from Playa de Lloret is the heart of Lloret de Mar and this area is filled with your typical tourist shops and many restaurants to enjoy some tapas or a delicious meal. There are also some restaurants right on the beach if you are looking for something with a little more ambiance and a great view.
  • Take a walk along the Mediterranean – No beach visit is complete without a walk along the water. Playa de Lloret features a palm tree lined walkway along the beach. They also have another short walkway across the street with plenty of benches to sit and enjoy the atmosphere. As mentioned above there is a path to the left of Playa de Lloret that goes up to Castell d’en Plaja. If you go to the right of Playa de Lloret there is a beautiful path that goes along the Mediterranean. This path winds up and down hills for beautiful views and heads towards Fenal Beach. I took this walk while I was in Lloret de Mar and highly recommend it as a must do.

Dofi Jet Ferry Ride

After spending an hour and a half exploring Lloret de Mar, we went to the Playa de Lloret where the Dofi Jet Ferry docked right on the beach for our ride to Tossa de Mar. These glass bottom boats stop at numerous beaches and villages in Costa Brava. Our trip from Lloret de Mar to Tossa de Mar stopped at a couple of beaches on the way to Tossa de Mar. The ferry has both indoor and outdoor seating and offers snacks and drinks for sale.

Along with stopping at some beaches along the way, the boat also stopped in a cove so that passengers could go down to the glass bottom viewing area to see the many fishes in the Mediterranean Sea. While the fish aren’t the colorful variety that you may see in other seas like the Caribbean, there were so many fish in the water. If you aren’t up for heading down to the glass bottom viewing, you can still get a glimpse of the huge number of fish from the boat due to how clear the water is.

Tossa de Mar

One of the more well-known villages in Costa Brava is Tossa de Mar and this is where the tour spends a good portion of the day which includes ample free time to enjoy the beach or explore the village on your own.

As we arrived in Tossa de Mar, our tour guide took those who wanted on a 45-minute tour of the historic area, La Vila Vella. As the boat came into Tossa de Mar, we could see the walls of La Vila Vella high up on the hill. It looked beautiful, so I was very excited to get a tour of this area.

We headed up the hill towards La Vila Vella, which was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. It’s surrounded by walls that were built to keep the pirates out of the city at the time. The walls are reminiscent of the walls of a castle, it was a beautiful sight. As we walked up, we stopped at different viewpoints for photos. There were many old cannons that were used against pirates attempting to raid the city.

We walked up along the walls that enclosed the city centuries ago and came to the site of the original Sant Vicenc Church. While this church was rebuilt outside of Vila Vella when the town outgrew the original church in the 1700s, portions of the structure still stand today. Our tour guide mentioned that it’s mostly used for weddings and normally she tells tours this and that’s the end of the story. But the day I was there, a wedding was happening at the site of the original Sant Vicenc Church, even the tour guide was happy to see this joyous occasion happening in front of us. It was definitely nice to see, such a beautiful location for a wedding overlooking the mediterranean.

At the highest point of Vila Vella, 60 meters above sea level, is the Tossa de Mar Lighthouse which was built in 1917. After we spent some time at the top of La Vila Vella, admiring the lighthouse and the views, we took a walk down the narrow streets within the walled historic center of Tossa de Mar. Along these streets are shops and restaurants to explore and enjoy.

One of the more surprising things that we saw on the tour was a statue of American actress, Ava Gardner. In 1950, she filmed the Flying Dutchman in Tossa de Mar and fell in love with the town and the surrounding area of Costa Brava. She often spoke of her love in Tossa de Mar and helped bring attention to the town to the American public. She was beloved in Tossa de Mar, so to show their gratitude to her, the town erected a statue in her honor.

After the tour ended, we had free time to explore Tossa de Mar for the rest of the afternoon. Some other things to see in Tossa de Mar other than La Vila Vella are:

  • Spend some time at a beach – There are so many beaches to visit in Tossa de Mar. The most popular beach is Platja Gran. This is the beach that the ferry docks at and is located in the center of town. It is also the largest beach in Tossa de Mar. If you walk past Platja Gran in the opposite direction of La Vila Vella, you will come to Platja Mar Menuda. This is the second largest beach in Tossa de Mar and it features a shallow cove, making it popular for families with small children. Platja Mar Menuda is also a popular diving and snorkeling spot in Tossa de Mar. The beach that I thought was the most beautiful was located just outside of La Vila Vella. Platja es Codolar is surrounded by cliffs and incredibly picturesque. Photos of each beach in order noted above are below.
  • Explore the Shops and Restaurants – Along with the shops and restaurants that can be found in La Vila Vella, you can also find plenty of more shops and restaurants in the Fisherman’s Village section of the town as well as many restaurants by Platja Gran with beautiful views of the Mediterranean. The Fisherman’s Village is located near La Vila Vella and was built as the town expanded and more fishermen came to town. The whitewashed buildings created quite the contrast against the older buildings of the walled Vila Vella.
  • Take a walk along the Mediterranean – A walk along the Mediterranean is a must when visiting Tossa de Mar. The views from the walk up to La Vila Vella are stunning, from high above the color of the Mediterranean waters really shined. I could not get over just how beautiful it was. Walking in the opposite direction towards Platja Mar Menuda will also provide you with some great views.

We ended our day by meeting the tour guide back in the center of town at Platja Gran. From there we had a bit of a walk thru town to the area where the town allows buses to pick us up. Then it was back to Barcelona. I really enjoyed this tour and was happy that I saved it for the end of my trip, it was like I left the best for last. Being that Costa Brava is located on the Mediterranean, it reminded me a lot of Cinque Terre in Italy. And there are many similarities, one of which is that just like Cinque Terre, you can walk up and down the cliffs between the towns of Costa Brava. I guess I’m going to have to make another visit someday so I can do that.

I highly recommend this day trip if you are visiting Barcelona especially if you love being by the sea like I do. Be sure to also check out my post on the 8 Great Things to Do When Visiting Barcelona.

Beyond The Miles Travel is more than happy to help you plan your future trip to Costa Brava.

Pin for later:

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

There are many things I love in life. Travel would be at the top of the list and as much as I love exploring new countries, cities and towns, my all-time favorite vacation spot has always been Walt Disney World. And when it comes to holidays, while most people would pick Christmas as their favorite, I have always picked Halloween. So, as you can imagine, celebrating Halloween at Walt Disney World is like a dream come true. Luckily the Halloween season at Walt Disney World starts fairly early giving you plenty of time to enjoy this special time in the parks.

Still in the midst of summer, as August rolls around the Halloween decorations start showing up at the Magic Kingdom. The highlight of the Halloween season at Walt Disney World is definitely Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Running on select nights from mid-August thru Halloween, this separately ticketed event is not to be missed! In 2023, the party runs on select nights from August 11th thru November 1, 2023. I’ve attended this event on three separate years, including most recently in 2023 over Labor Day Weekend.

Party Specifics

The tickets to the party normally go on sale in late April, coinciding with the halfway to Halloween point of the year. Certain dates like Halloween itself sell out fairly quickly so it’s best to get your tickets as soon as they go on sale if possible. The 2023 prices ranged from a low of $99 for some of the earlier dates to $199 the closer you get to Halloween. While, like most things Disney, the price seems a bit steep, it is worth it in my opinion based on the following reasons:

  • Tickets are limited, so its much less crowded than a normal park day this means lower lines for rides and less crowds for parades and fireworks.
  • The party runs from 7pm-midnight but they allow you into the park starting at 4pm, so you can get a full 8 hours in the park.
  • Halloween themed fireworks, shows, entertainment and parade (more detail on these later).
  • Rare character meet and greets.
  • Halloween themed photo ops and magic shots.
  • The opportunity to wear your favorite Halloween costume in the park, no matter the age, it’s always so much fun to dress in costume for halloween.
  • Free candy, like A LOT of candy!

Now lets get into the specific fun Halloween themed things to enjoy at the party:

Trick or Treating Throughout the Magic Kingdom

Most people dress up in costume for the party and if you are going to be in costume, you might as well go trick or treating for some free candy! Who doesn’t love free candy? Growing up my friend and I went trick or treating throughout our entire childhood even all thru high school, we were masters at it, I would end up with so much candy I would more times than not get it to last until Christmas. Being able to trick or treat in Disney World is something I always dreamed of as a child and even as an adult, I still loved it.

As you enter the park, head to the right side of Main Street USA, this is where you will go to get your trick or treating bag. You will be led behind Main Street USA where they have some fun bronze statues of Disney characters in their Halloween costumes. After you walk thru this area, you will receive your trick or treat bag and your first pieces of candy.

There are over a dozen trick or treat locations scattered throughout the park for you to go trick or treating at. And being Disney, they have thought of everything, if someone has a food allergy they will be provided with a teal trick or treat bag. When they go to the trick or treat locations in the park with the teal bag, they will be given tokens to exchange at one of the two allergy friendly locations in the park for their own special treats. Disney is always so great when it comes to accommodating food allergies!

At the end of the night, you will end up with quite the haul of candy that will make for great snacks during the rest of your trip!

Character Meet & Greets

One of the more popular things about Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party are the rare character meet & greets. Some people will wait in lines for hours to take a photo with their favorite Disney characters in their Halloween costumes and some rare characters not normally seen in the parks.

As I mentioned above, they allow guests with party tickets into the park starting at 4pm. The lines for some of the more popular meet and greets, specifically Jack Skellington and Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas start right at 4pm and these two characters have been known to start seeing guests prior to 7pm, I’ve even heard it start as early as 4:30pm. Other popular characters that you can see during the party include many of your favorite Disney characters in their Halloween costumes, such as Stitch dressed as Elvis. The lines do get very long, so I would definitely prioritize which character is most important for you to see so you don’t spend all evening in character lines, unless that’s how you want to spend your night.

Halloween Themed Photo Ops and Magic Shots

Everyone loves taking photos these days, especially if you are on a family vacation to Walt Disney World. During Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, there are many different Halloween themed photo ops throughout the park.

And if you have purchased the Memory Maker for your Walt Disney World vacation, there are quite a few fun Halloween magic shots such as, the Headless Horseman and the Hitchhiking ghosts from the Haunted Mansion.

Haunted Mansion

Speaking of the Hitchhiking Ghosts, a ride on the Haunted Mansion is a must during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party! Even the ride queue gets into the Halloween spirit. They had two “ghosts” entertaining guests in line. They were definitely a good laugh while in line.

The line will be long as this is the most popular ride during the party. I recommend going on the ride during one of the parades (more on these later) when the line tends to be shorter. If you’ve been on this ride in the past couple of years, you know that they now have an on-ride photo (not specific to the party) which is fun. Do you know where it’s located in the ride? It took me a bit but I now know exactly where it is so I can prepare for a fun photo.

The atmosphere around the ride is very much haunted Halloween style, with fog and lights that definitely create a creepy atmosphere. They also have a photo op in front of the ride that is worth checking out.

Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular

There is so much entertainment during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular is not to be missed. Taking place on the stage in front of Cinderella’s Castle, this show features the Sanderson Sisters from Disney’s hit Halloween movie, Hocus Pocus. Playing a few times a night, the Sanderson Sisters bring together many of the other Disney villains in this fun show featuring great hit songs from the movie such as “I Put a Spell on You”.

Boo To You Halloween Parade

My personal favorite part of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is definitely the Boo To You Halloween Parade. I have always been a big parade lover at Disney World, but this one is by far their best parade in my opinion.

There are two showings of the parade during the party. The earlier parade tends to be the most crowded as families with younger children prefer that parade. If you are not with kids or your kids are older, I recommend the later parade. Not only is it a lot easier to get a great spot to view the parade, but as mentioned above you can use the time during the earlier parade to get on a popular ride like Haunted Mansion or maybe even get into one of the lines to meet one of the characters.

Prior to the parades, the headless horseman takes a ride down the parade route. He does this fairly early; about 15 -20 minutes before the parade starts. I would plan on being there a bit more than 20 minutes prior to parade time if you want to see him. I got there about 15 minutes before this past visit and had already missed him. The parade is full of characters dressed up in their Halloween costumes, fall floats, plenty of Disney villains and of course a whole section of the parade is dedicated to the Haunted Mansion. And the music in the parade is catchy enough that it will stick in your head for the rest of the night.

Below is a small preview of the Boo To You Halloween Parade:

Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular

A night in the Magic Kingdom just isn’t complete without viewing fireworks. In between the two showings of the Boo To You Halloween Parade, Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular fireworks show takes place over Cinderella’s Castle.

One of the great things about Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is the limited attendance. This makes for a much less crowded and more enjoyable fireworks viewing experience than on a non-party night in the Magic Kingdom.

The fireworks are set off to your favorite spooky Disney Halloween songs and feature Halloween themed projections on the castle.

Check out the video below with a short bit of the fireworks show:

If you are a Halloween and Disney fan, attending Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is a must. It’s a fun-filled Halloween evening in the Magic Kingdom that will bring lasting memories and make you want to return year after year.

For more on how Disney celebrates Halloween, check out my post on Halloween at the Disneyland Resort in California.

Beyond The Miles Travel is happy to help you plan your next Disney vacation, contact us today.

Pin for Later:

Anchorage – Gateway to an Alaska Land Vacation

Disclaimer: Included in this post are links to tours I have personally taken or booked for clients on Viator. If you book these tours thru the links in this post, as a travel agent, I will receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

Alaska is a bucket list location for many people. Full of wildlife, glaciers, mountains and national parks, it’s a once in a lifetime trip. The majority of people who visit Alaska do so via a cruise, most of which depart from Seattle, Washington or Vancouver, British Columbia and explore the towns along the coast of Southeast Alaska. But a cruise is definitely not the only way to see some of the largest state in the United States.

If you are like me and cruising just isn’t your thing, there are still ways to see this amazing state. And chances are if you are planning a land vacation to Alaska, you will fly into the largest and most well-known city in Alaska: Anchorage!

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska and is home to 40% of the state’s population. To give a glimpse of the amount of Alaska residents that live in this part of the state, the area including Anchorage and the nearby Matanuska-Susitna accounts for over half the population of the 663,268 square mile state.

While most cities and towns in Alaska came about due to the fishing and mining in the area, the construction of the Alaska Railroad is what put Anchorage on the map. Some 2000 construction workers lived in 1000 tents in what is now Anchorage in 1915. They started calling the town Tent City. Later that year, they decided on a more official city name of Alaska City. Little did they know though that the U.S. Postal Service office in Seattle Washington had already decided on the name of Anchorage and five years later, the city of Anchorage was incorporated in November 1920.

Not only is Anchorage a great city to fly into for your trip to Alaska, but it also has plenty to offer in the city and surrounding area as well. If you are flying into Anchorage for your Alaska vacation, I highly recommend setting aside a few days to explore Anchorage.

Below are some of my top picks for a trip to Anchorage, starting with downtown and heading out to other parts of the municipality of Anchorage.

  • Log Cabin Visitors Center – Downtown Anchorage makes for a great place to stay while in Anchorage. There are plenty of things to do while you are there. While a visitors’ center may not seem like an exciting place to visit on vacation, it should always be your first stop. Many places I’ve visited have lacked a good visitors center, but this one is pretty great and the log cabin building with a grass roof is just adorable. The staff inside are here to answer any and all questions you may have on Anchorage and the surrounding area and there is no shortage of brochures available. Just outside the visitors center you will also find this really neat bear sculpture.
  • Anchorage Trolley Tour – Leaving from in front of the log cabin visitors center is the Anchorage Trolley Tour. This is a great way to get an overview of the city and learn a bit more about its history. They offer a one-hour trolley tour which does not include any stops. There is also a deluxe trolley tour which is an hour and a half long and includes stops at Lake Hood Seaplane Base, Ship Creek, Earthquake Park and Point Woronzof. More on each of these locations to follow. I took the deluxe tour and really enjoyed, it was definitely worth the extra money to be able to get off at the various stops and the tour guide I had definitely made it a very interesting tour!
  • Delaney Park – Named for a former Mayor of Anchorage, Delaney Park is located in Downtown Anchorage. It’s just one block wide, but 13 blocks long. The park was originally built as a firebreak between Downtown Anchorage and the nearby forest. Other than a city park, it’s also served as an airstrip, golf course and temporary housing development. Now, it’s a multi-use park great for the entire family. In the park you can find baseball and soccer fields, tennis and volleyball courts, an ice rink in the winter, a rose garden and memorials for people like Martin Luther King Jr and the military. It’s a great spot to walk around or even go for a run.
  • Downtown Anchorage Street Art and Totem Poles – Like most major cities, Anchorage is full of lots of fun street art to admire while walking thru the downtown area. One of the more popular murals is the Whaling Wall located on D Street. Along with the street art, there are also many totem poles through the city. Totem Poles are very popular in Canada and the Northwestern part of the United States, including the southeastern part of Alaska. They are said to serve as a monument to indigneous people’s heritage.
  • Shopping in Downtown Anchorage – Like most cities around the world, there is no shortage of souvenir shops in Downtown Anchorage. Great place to pick up some souvenirs for family and friends at home and some souvenirs for yourself as a keepsake of your trip. The stores might seem pretty touristy, but there are also a lot of fun animal themed displays that can be found outside on the sidewalks near the stores. Great places for a safe photo with one of the animals native to Alaska.
  • Food and Beer in Downtown Anchorage – There are numerous great restaurants and bars located right in Downtown Anchorage. Most coming to Alaska look forward to enjoying some fresh seafood, in particular the famous Alaskan Salmon. For a quick bite for breakfast, Dark Horse Coffee Company is a great independent coffee shop. If you are looking for a bigger breakfast, check out the Snow City Cafe, this popular brunch spot is open daily from 6:30am-3pm and serves breakfast all day. For lunch or dinner, Glacier Brewhouse is a must. They serve fresh Alaskan seafood, rotisserie meats and craft beer. I actually ate here on both trips I took to Alaska and talked with many people who live in Anchorage who also love this restaurant, so it’s a must. For a local craft brewery, check out 49th State Brewing located right downtown. Did you know that Alaska actually consumes the most ice cream per capita of all US states? Well, when you are in Anchorage, you must get ice cream at Wild Scoops. This local ice cream shop features homemade waffle cones and homemade ice cream. They have some inventive flavors made with local ingredients like syrup from local birch trees.
  • Alaska Statehood Monument – Alaska became the 49th state in 1959. In 1990, this monument featuring Dwight D. Eisenhower who was president back in 1959 was built. The monument is located on the edge of downtown overlooking the Port of Anchorage and the Alaska Railroad, which helped to put Anchorage on the map.
  • Ulu Factory – We are heading a bit out of downtown now. Down the hill from the statehood monument is the Ulu Factory. Ulu knives came about years and years ago when Eskimos in Alaska needed a knife that could be used to cut animals like seals, walrus and eventually salmon to prepare not just their meals but also clothing and boots. At the factory, in addition to purchasing ulu knives, you can also see them being made or watch a demonstration on how to sharpen them. They even offer a free shuttle from downtown.
  • Salmon Fishing at Ship Creek – Did you know that a great spot in Anchorage to try and catch some salmon is just down the hill from the statehood monument? Ship Creek is located right next to the Ulu Factory and is a popular spot for salmon fishing. Even if you aren’t into fishing, it’s also fun to watch the fisherman from the viewing platform at Ship Creek.
  • Tony Knowles Coastal Trail – If you are looking to get active and see some great coastal views while doing so, you must go for a bike ride, walk or run along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. This 11-mile trail starts downtown and follows the coast of the Cook Inlet. The views are absolutely stunning on this trail. On a really clear day you may even be able to see Mt. McKinley, also known as Denali. Even if you are not able to see Denali, you will probably get a chance to see Mount Susitna just across the Cook Inlet, otherwise known as Sleeping Lady. This 4,396-foot-tall mountain got its nickname from the fact that it looks like the profile of a sleeping lady. At Point Woronzof, you can get a beautiful view of Downtown Anchorage from the coastal trail. During low tide, the many mud flats in Cook Inlet will emerge. It’s important to heed the signs stating the danger of these mud flats. The mud flats are basically quicksand and just about a month before I was in Anchorage, a young man had lost his life from walking on the mud flats. They tried to rescue him, but a rescue on mud flats is extremely difficult. Other things to be cautious of on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is wildlife. It’s not rare to spot a moose or bear on the trail, so it’s a good idea to carry bear spray and to be in a group while on the trail.
Near Point Woronzof
Mud Flats
Running on the Coastal Trail
  • Earthquake Park – Along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is Earthquake Park. In 1964, the most powerful earthquake in North America and second most powerful earthquake in the world struck Alaska. The 9.2 magnitude earthquake was centered in Prince William Sound, south of Anchorage and lasted almost 5 minutes. There was quite a bit of damage in Anchorage including a neighborhood of 75 houses that was at the location of Earthquake Park that ended up sliding into the ocean. Astonishingly, only 3 people from that neighborhood passed away as they all came together and formed a human chain to lift each other to safety as the homes slid into the ocean. What makes this more miraculous is that the earthquake occurred on Good Friday, so the majority of people were off work and home in their houses when this happened. The picture below does not do it justice, but you can see just how far the woods sank from the earthquake in this location.
  • Lake Hood Seaplane Base – One of the more popular ways to get around in Alaska is by Seaplane. It’s not uncommon for kids to learn to fly a seaplane around the same time they learn to drive a car. So, it’s no surprise that the largest and busiest seaplane base in the world is located right here in Anchorage. Lake Hood Seaplane Base is located near the Anchorage airport and serves on average nearly 200 daily flights. At Lake Hood you can take a tourist flight to see the beauty of Alaska from above or you can even just take a walk and see the beautiful planes. Watching a seaplane take off is always a fun experience.
  • Anchorage Brewery Tour – If you like beer, you must try a brewery tour with Big Swig Tours. They pick you up right in front of the Log Cabin Visitors Center downtown and you will visit three breweries in 4 hours. Make sure to eat a heavy lunch as there is a lot of beer involved in this tour. When I took the tour, the first stop was at King Street Brewing Company which has been brewing beer for 12 years. They started off in a very small space and have since grown into a much larger space. We were given a flight of samples and given a tour of the brewery with information on the brewing process. Next stop was Midnight Sun Brewing Co. which is Anchorage’s oldest brewery, it’s been in business since 1995! Here we were given a few beers and enjoyed a charcuterie board, which was definitely needed as we had quite a bit of beer at this point. Next we visited Turnagain Brewing which just so happens to be located in King Street Brewing Company’s original space. The brewery is owned by a former doctor who started as a homebrewer and then opened the brewery in 2018. It was very interesting to listen to how he uses his biology background in the brewing of beer while we were enjoying some of the breweries delicious beers. If you love beer, I highly recommend adding this half day brewery tour to your Anchorage Itinerary.

While there is plenty to see and do right in the Anchorage metro area, it’s also a good base for some great day trips. Below are some of the more popular day trips you should consider when visiting Anchorage:

  • Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center – If you would like to see some of the Alaska wildlife in a safe environment or are like me and want to make sure you see a bear before leaving Alaska, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a great place to do so. This non-profit sanctuary features brown beers, black beers, wood bison, moose, wolves, coyotes, elk, caribou and a bald eagle among other animals. The animals are in natural environments instead of cages like in zoos and the center is dedicated to preserving the wildlife of Alaska. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is located about an hour south of Anchorage and it’s a beautiful drive along the Seward Highway. If you don’t have a car, 907 Tours offers a great half day wildlife tour to the conservation center.
  • Glacier Cruise– When visiting Alaska, seeing a glacier from the water is a must. The closest glacier cruise, about an hour and a half from Anchorage, is Portage Glacier. But if you want to see multiple glaciers, how about taking a 26 Glaciers Cruise. On this 5 1/2-hour long cruise with Phillips Cruises and Tours, you will cruise by 26 glaciers and stop at a few of them to get a closer look. Chances are good that you will see a glacier calving while on the cruise and this is quite the amazing experience. The cruise takes off out of Whittier Alaska, about 1 1/2 hours from Anchorage. Phillips Cruises and Tours also offers a coach tour from Anchorage. The coach tour includes a stop at Portage Lake and commentary and information on the area and the history of the Whittier Tunnel, which is the only way in and out of the town of Whittier.
  • Glacier Hiking – If you think you’ll enjoy seeing glaciers from the water, you will definitely enjoy hiking on a glacier. 907 Tours offers a great tour to Matanuska Glacier. After the 2-hour drive to Matanuska Glacier, you will embark on a 2-mile hike on the glacier. The guided hike takes about 2-3 hours and includes stops along the way and information about the glacier provided by the guide. This bucket list tour is a must when visiting Alaska.

From Anchorage you can extend your trip to other locations in Alaska such as Seward, Denali National Park and Fairbanks. There are many different ways to explore the state, whether by car, RV or the Alaska Railroad, it’s sure to be the adventure of the lifetime.

Alaska is a must visit state in the United States, whether you travel by cruise or land, it’s always a trip to remember. If you are wanting to explore it via land, Anchorage should definitely be your first stop. Beyond The Miles Travel would love to help put together a great itinerary for your Alaska vacation.

This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Anchorage.

Pin for later: