Advertisement
Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes

Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes

Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
4.5
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
About
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Plan your visit

The area

Address
Reach out directly

See what travelers are saying

  • johnmodesto
    Modesto, California816 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely large monastery
    This has a beautiful church and cloister with garden. The church has ample decoration and features, a unique way to admire the views are the two balconies on the second floor. You can walk the outside perimeter of the church, this will provide a close look at the exterior facade and views of the city and countryside. There's also a public WC, not well signed at a lower level. Entrance is 4 euros, the better value is the tourist bracelet, which is 12 euros for visiting 7 monuments.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 1, 2023
  • RjessMMM
    Vancouver, Washington594 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful place to visit
    A very peaceful place to wander around. There is a central garden that was inaccessible but still nice to look at. The architecture was amazing and you are able to climb a set of stairs that opens up overlooking via a small balcony overlooking the church. This area is pretty narrow and for those with acrophobia it might be a bit of a challenge but well work the very short climb. Stairs overall are at a minimum. Overall cost I recollect was 4 euros each which was well worth it. We were there on a weekend and saw no tour groups there and perhaps 15 people in total. I assume this would be far busier during the summer. Would definitely visit again in the future. Enjoy.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 4, 2023
  • Razorfish
    Little Rock, Arkansas5,275 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Majestic monastery in Toledo
    My wife and I visited the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes during our day trip to Toledo from Madrid. It was included in the tourist bracelet the allows you to visit up to seven monuments for €12. The monastery is magnificent. The altar is resplendent. The cloister is a secluded location in the center of the monastery. It is well worth visiting when in Toledo.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 16, 2024
  • MargaretPowell
    Melbourne, Australia1,640 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    You Must Go Inside!
    One of the Highlights of the multi pass, this really is worth the €4 it costs a tourist to enter. So much to see and made atmospheric by speakers playing chants and holy type music. On entry they were playing Bizet’s Carmen which was possibly a bit inappropriate for the venue! You can see the chapel from ground as well as cling up the the royal balconies. Truly a highlight of the pass.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written January 23, 2024
  • top-trippers
    Bolton, United Kingdom620 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Historically significant hidden gem
    There is a €3 entrance fee (free entry with the Toledo Tourist bracelet which, at €12, offers decent value). It can get busy. You can whizz round in about 30 minutes, but I would allow 1 hour. The church was built by Ferdinand and Isabella to celebrate their victory at the Battle of Toro (1476) over Afonso V of Portugal who had challenged the queen’s accession to Castile. It was intended to serve as their dynastic mausoleum, before they decided to be buried in Granada. The decoration is intricate and interesting. The façade facing the plaza symbolically incorporates chains and manacles worn by Christian prisoners freed after the Reconquista. Carvings of the yoke and letter Y (denoting Ysabella), and bundles of the arrows (fleches) and the letter F (for Ferdinand), the monarchs’ eagle-shield, are repeated everywhere inside and out. Most of the architecture is flamboyantly Gothic but, just after you enter the two-storey cloister, check out the beautiful Mudejar carved and painted wooden ceilings on the first floor. Highlights inside the main church, include the lofty Gothic vaulted ceiling; Renaissance styled starry dome; a beautifully decorated altar dating from 1545; a raised royal gallery; and the side Chapel dedicated to St Francis of Assisi. You will probably exit via the Pelican door which is named for the sculpture above, featuring a pelican with chicks symbolising Christ spilling his blood for mankind. (Pelicans were believed to feed their young on their blood, rather than the fish retained inside their beak.)
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 28, 2024
  • Tommo
    Melbourne, Australia57,158 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning facade
    Construction of thisw monastry commenced in 1477 and completed in 1504. It was a mausoleum to Catholic Monarchs but this later changed to Granada. The structure was damaged by Napoleon's troops during their occupation of Toledo, and left in ruins in 1835. Restoration was began 1883 and completed in 1967. The facade is stunning.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 17, 2024
  • Traveling Mario
    Seoul, South Korea2,656 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Convent with beautiful cloister
    This gothic convent was built by the catholic kings of Spain in commemoration of the Battle of Toro and the birth of Prince Juan. The ceiling of the upper-level cloister is nicely decorated in the mudejar style. The main altar was also impressive.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written September 2, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles2,493 reviews
Excellent
1,497
Very good
810
Average
159
Poor
18
Terrible
9

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

Kelleygirl2
Sarasota, FL6,291 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Our tour of Toledo and its marvelous Jewish quarters was over before we knew it. Our bus was waiting at the far side of the Bridge of San Martin over the Tagus river. On our way we passed the stately Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes with numerous statues of saints standing guard. I wish I had been able to go inside to see the courtyard gardens but alas, another trip.
Written January 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

top-trippers
Bolton, UK620 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
There is a €3 entrance fee (free entry with the Toledo Tourist bracelet which, at €12, offers decent value). It can get busy. You can whizz round in about 30 minutes, but I would allow 1 hour.

The church was built by Ferdinand and Isabella to celebrate their victory at the Battle of Toro (1476) over Afonso V of Portugal who had challenged the queen’s accession to Castile. It was intended to serve as their dynastic mausoleum, before they decided to be buried in Granada. The decoration is intricate and interesting. The façade facing the plaza symbolically incorporates chains and manacles worn by Christian prisoners freed after the Reconquista. Carvings of the yoke and letter Y (denoting Ysabella), and bundles of the arrows (fleches) and the letter F (for Ferdinand), the monarchs’ eagle-shield, are repeated everywhere inside and out. Most of the architecture is flamboyantly Gothic but, just after you enter the two-storey cloister, check out the beautiful Mudejar carved and painted wooden ceilings on the first floor. Highlights inside the main church, include the lofty Gothic vaulted ceiling; Renaissance styled starry dome; a beautifully decorated altar dating from 1545; a raised royal gallery; and the side Chapel dedicated to St Francis of Assisi. You will probably exit via the Pelican door which is named for the sculpture above, featuring a pelican with chicks symbolising Christ spilling his blood for mankind. (Pelicans were believed to feed their young on their blood, rather than the fish retained inside their beak.)
Written January 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Pernille I
Copenhagen, Denmark7,189 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Friends
Who says medieval Spain also says the Catholic Monarchs - the power couple of the time - Isabella and Ferdinand. Known for having financed Columbus' cruises - but unfortunately also for the expulsion of Jews and Muslims from the country.

The monastery was completed in 1495 to celebrate the victory of a battle but also the birth of a Portuguese prince. In a pure Spanish Gothic style, it impresses with its purity which remains intact even centuries later.

We visit the church as well as the cloister - we have the impression of returning to another time far from the noise of the world. The visit is part of the city's tourist bracelet route, and this visit alone is well worth investing 12 EUR in this bracelet.

There is less art than in the cathedral; here it is meditation and rest for the soul - but obviously we find the coats of arms of the Catholic Monarchs everywhere.
Google
Written April 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jef-grr
Grand Rapids, MI405 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
This was a surprisingly beautiful stop in Toledo. The exterior is quite lovely with its Gothic details. The cloister is a nice space, especially the upper level, which has beautiful wooden ceilings and the carved symbols from Ferdinand and Isabella's time. It is an interesting blend of Gothic and Moorish detail. The church is well worth a visit. It is quite spartan and without much color, but some of the stone work on the walls is quite fascinating. It surprised us, as the door is quite small and you step into an enormous space. It is also part of the €12 "bracelet" group.
Written October 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JessicaBarkley
New Taipei, Taiwan4,631 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Couples
The "Closet of St. John-Rayes" is also translated as "The Royal Monastery of St. John" and is a Gothic building featuring a beautiful two-story arche and chapel.

Why is this the Royal Monastery? Everyone should know that the famous two kings of Spain were King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella, who established a Catholic convent for their son Prince Juan in 1477. This Catholic church is directly owned by the Royal and is dedicated to St. John, and St. Juan-Reyes is the name of the prince.

The church has a total of two floors. The first floor features an arch-shaped hallway, and you can see several chapels from the window, which is a representative of the Gothic church in Spain. As we walk through the hallway, the guide Amanda wants us to guess the sculptures around the saints, although these sculptures have been spotted, one can still guess the appearance of different animals, such as monkeys, eagles, horses and human little angels. On the first floor there is a map Attraction game, this time we will visit three churches, so we can only collect 3😂.

The characteristics of the second floor are Islamic flower patterns, everyone can look for one, we have seen historical traces in roof wood sculptures, wall paintings, and ground magnetic tiles. You can also visit a special cabinet building, after entering is a site, can only stand no more than three people, this site can see the abbey of the monastery, the high coming view is very worth visiting.
Automatically translated
Written October 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kevin S
Pontypridd, UK7,113 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021
A pleasant monastery but nothing exceptional. The main church was OK but we saw a great many that were better. The cloisters, usually a good feature of monasteries was ornate but quite small. One when passing not to seek out. More impressive lit up at night, but you can't enter then.
Written October 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MargaretPowell
Melbourne, Australia1,640 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Solo
One of the Highlights of the multi pass, this really is worth the €4 it costs a tourist to enter. So much to see and made atmospheric by speakers playing chants and holy type music. On entry they were playing Bizet’s Carmen which was possibly a bit inappropriate for the venue! You can see the chapel from ground as well as cling up the the royal balconies. Truly a highlight of the pass.
Written January 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Malgorzata
12,077 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021
Extremely beautiful, well-kept monastery. It is worth entering and seeing the idyllic garden surrounded by two levels of cloisters, intricate decorations and sculptures, and of course the church itself with a stately altar. This monastery was built as a mausoleum for the Catholic monarchs before they moved to Granada. A beautiful monastery well worth visiting.
Written April 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Host29
Milan, Italy1,008 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
A very nice attraction, partially rebuild during 19th century. Waited over 30 min, for the (single) cashier employee, to prepare approx 200 visitor bracialets for some tour guides there (what about having a dedicated office for them?). I do not reccomend it, in case you see a queue there
Written August 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Seeking True Quality
Europe4,868 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Couples
We also stopped in front of the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes. Our guide told us that it was built by Queen Isabella of Castille and King Ferdinand of Aragon to mark the birth of their son Prince John and also their dubious victory over the Portuguese in 1476. In fact, both sides had significant losses in the Battle of Toro and the Portuguese also celebrated their own victory...

The building was planned to be the mausoleum of the Catholic Monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand, but they changed their mind and Granada was chosen.

On the facade, there is a peculiar feature of this building: chains! Those are believed to have been donated by the Christian captives who were liberated during the Reconquista!
Written September 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 507
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes, Toledo

All Toledo HotelsToledo Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Toledo
All things to do in Toledo
Amusement Parks in ToledoCasinos & Gambling in Toledo
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars