From Madrid: Ávila & Salamanca Guided Tour with Wall & Cathedral
Description
Discover why this tour won the TRIPADVISOR TRAVELERS' CHOICE AWARD 2025! We will start the tour leaving Madrid on the way to Salamanca. Once there, you will have the opportunity to discover its patrimonial legacy with its innumerable corners and details. We will start in the center of the city. The tour includes the history and curiosities of the University of Salamanca, which was of great importance in the history of Spain. If you choose the option with tickets, you will also visit the Cathedral. We will finish in the surroundings of the Plaza Mayor, where you will have time to taste its fantastic gastronomy and savor its iconic `tapas´. Then, we will leave for Ávila. Once in the quintessential medieval city, the tour will begin with a view of the wall, and we will pass by the San Vicente Sanctuary and the Cathedral. If you have sleected the option with tickets, you will end the tour by visiting the medieval wall, you will have the chance to go on the top and enjoy the views.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your first stop will be Salamanca, whose history dates back to Celtic times, very well-known for its ornate sandstone architecture. It was founded in the 12th century and was a key intellectual center in the 15th and 16th centuries. Here, our guide will guide you through the city's most important sites, learning about their history and architectonic characteristics.
The front of the plaza, showing the clock tower in the background and social gatherings in the front. Is a large plaza located in the center of Salamanca, used as a public square. It was built in the traditional Spanish baroque style and is a popular gathering area. Our guide will explain us here about the history on this square.
It is the oldest university in the Hispanic world and the third oldest university in the entire world still in operation. The formal title of "University" was granted by King Alfonso X in 1254 and recognized by Pope Alexander IV in 1255.
The Casa de las Conchas in Salamanca is an old urban palace in the Gothic style with Plateresque elements.
The Plaza del Corrillo is located in the historic center of the city of Salamanca, next to the Plaza Mayor from which it is accessed through the so-called Arco del Corrillo.
If you choose the option, you will visit the inside of the Cathedral of Salamanca, composed of two connected cathedrals: the Old Cathedral and the New Cathedral. The Old Cathedral, built between the 12th and 14th centuries, showcases Romanesque architecture, while the New Cathedral, constructed from the 16th to the 18th century, features a blend of Gothic and Baroque styles. These two cathedrals share a wall and are connected internally, creating a unique fusion of architectural styles. The Cathedral of Salamanca stands as a major historical and cultural landmark and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site designation for the city.
The second destination is Ávila, famous for its intact medieval walls, with more than 80 semi-circular crenelated towers and 9 gates, including the arched El Alcázar. Our guide will also provide you with the best experience in the city, showing you the best landmarks of the city, while you learn in an enjoyable way.
You will have some free time to visit the inside on your own. Please note that the opening times of the Cathedral may change depending of the time of the year
The Plaza del Mercado Chico, the main square of Ávila, is located in the center of the city, inside the walls. It is a rectangular square with arcades on three of its sides and opposite the church of San Juan Bautista, on the side without arcades.
If you choose the option, at the end of the tour in Ávila, you will visit the Walls of Ávila, completed between the 11th and 14th centuries, are the city of Ávila's principal historic feature. These fortifications are the most complete in all of Spain. We will have the chance to admire them and take pictures of the landscape.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- We recommend to wear comfortable shoes
- We recommend to take sun cream, a hat and water, specially in summer
- If you have reserved a private tour and you want to be picked up at your hotel please send us the hotel details
- It is mandatory that children under 11 years old seat on a baby car seat. Amigo Tours can not provide it. Please bring your own baby car seat.
- Not recommended for travelers with reduced mobility
Reviews(265)
I booked this trip back in February for 8 th June and Amigo Tours Cancelled it ( for unseen circumstances) they offered me an alternative date for 6 th June which I accepted and they have just cancelled that date ( for unforeseen circumstances) we are now unable to visit Salamanca as we return home on the 10th and they are saying the next availability is the 12 th. Amigo Tours are a very incompetent company who offer very bad customer service. Ie They don’t give a damn.
Dear Customer. We regret that the tour could not operate on the scheduled dates. Whenever unforeseen circumstances affect an activity, we inform our customers as soon as possible and provide available alternatives so they can adjust their plans accordingly. We are sorry that, in this case, none of the options fit your travel dates. Best Regards from the Quality Department of Amigo Tours – Rodrigo.
Kostas was excellent; the tour was in Spanish and English, and he was able to switch languages effortlessly with perfect pronunciation. Salamanca is beautiful to visit; Avila is nice but is more of a stopover given the distance between Salamanca and Madrid. Kostas still recommended all the nicest activities to do and was very helpful.
Dear Nicole, thank you for your comments. We are glad you enjoyed Salamanca and Ávila, and that Kostas provided clear explanations in both languages and was helpful throughout the tour with recommendations. We appreciate your feedback. Best Regards from the Quality Department of Amigo Tours – Rodrigo.
All was organized very well. All was described on time: meeting point and so on... Good guide and good chauffeur... Beautiful sites.
Avila is pretty, and we got to walk up the wall to have good views of the surrounding. The visitor center has clean bathrooms. The tour is conducted in both Spanish and English at the same time, and there is no head set. It would have been better if there are separate guides with different languages and a head set for each person.
While it was a long bus ride we got to visit 2 world heritage sites outside of the city while staying in Madrid. Our guide Khan provided bilingual information as our tour group was made of English and Spanish speakers. He did a great job describing the history of Salamanca University and later the ciry of Avila. We had a 20 minute break during the long drive and plenty of time for lunch and self exploration.
It was perfect.Ciri was very kind
Visiting Salamanca and Avila was formidable, they are cities with a great history and beauty in their constructions. Delicious food and very friendly people. The explanations of our guide Costas have been unmatched, you can see that he has spent a lot of time studying the history of these cities. The best thing about the tour was the explanations and kindness of Costas and our driver Nuria.
Segovia was AMAZING!! The only thing I can say about this tour is do NOT add in the lunch. We didn't have time to eat the dessert. They were VERY slow and we didn't get a chance to see or shop at all. Get lunch on your own.
Dear Sandy, We appreciate your feedback. The tour follows a set schedule that includes the lunch service, and perceptions of timing and free time can vary depending on personal preferences and expectations. We take note of your comments. Best Regards from the Quality Department of Amigo Tours – Rodrigo
I booked on Civitatis, not even them (never had heard of Amigos Tour) a day trip to Salamanca and Avila for my mum and aunts and a week before, AMIGOS sends me a Whatsapp cancelling the whole thing (all paid). No explanations. Civitatis knew nothing about it, and by reading the reviews on Amigos Tours on Google, Trustpilot and others I see now they do this often. You think you’re safe because Civitatis are well known, but they couldn’t care less. You know what explanation Civitatis/Amigos gave me? An issue with the bus! As if they couldn’t fix a bus in one week or get, maybe, another bus being this their entire JOB? Bus tours? Nunca más. Cancelan el tour a último minuto y ni se dignan a dar la cara y decir la verdad. Obviamente sobre vendieron los cupos del tour y cancelaron el viaje de mi madre y sus hermanas. Vergüenza de “agencia”. Busquen agencias serias y de confianza. No confíen en Amigo Tours ni en Civitatis.
Dear Roxana. We regret the inconvenience caused. We always work to provide timely information and offer solutions when unexpected operational issues arise. Best Regards from the Quality Department of Amigo Tours – Rodrigo
Good tour with Khan and Eva. It would have been better if there was a little more story about the places to visit.
