Ávila
Walk the medieval walls of Ávila, one of Spain's best-preserved walled cities, then visit the birthplace of Saint Teresa.
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Ávila is a walled city on a high plateau in Castilla y León, in central Spain, about 100 km northwest of Madrid. Its medieval walls still encircle the old town, with towers and gates, and visitors can walk stretches of the wall top. The Gothic cathedral forms part of the same wall line. Ávila was also the birthplace of Saint Teresa, the 16th-century Carmelite reformer, so her sites sit alongside the walls. Ternera de Ávila, the local beef, is a regional specialty.
Avila works as a day trip from Madrid by train or bus, which covers the walls and the cathedral. An overnight stay lets you see the walls in evening light and walk the old town after day visitors have left. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, because the plateau is cold in winter and hot in summer. Allow half a day for the walls and cathedral, and a full day if you add the Saint Teresa sites.
Ávila in five
- Walk the walls at dusk, not middayPart of the 2.5 km wall circuit can be walked on a ticket, and the stone stays hot in summer. Check the official site for the opening hours of each section, which change with the season.
- Pack a layer even in MayAt about 1,130 m, Ávila is Spain's highest provincial capital and stays cold into spring. Mornings and evenings can be 10 degrees cooler than Madrid.
- Eat chuletón and try the yemasThe local beef T-bone is the lunch choice, and yemas de Santa Teresa, a sweet egg-yolk treat, are the signature pastry. Ask for the weight before ordering a chuletón.
- Go by train from MadridRegional trains from Madrid Chamartín reach Ávila in roughly 1 to 1.5 hours, with fewer departures than the Segovia line. Check the return time before you commit to the day.Madrid
- Base here and visit Segovia in a half-dayA bus links Ávila and Segovia in about an hour, so one night in Ávila opens both towns. Spend the second morning in Segovia.Segovia
Things to do in Ávila
See all attractions in Ávila
Need to know
- Airport
- Madrid-Barajas (MAD), then train or bus
- Getting there
- Train from Madrid Chamartín in about 1–1.5 hours; buses also run
- Getting around
- On foot; the walled center is small
- Best base
- Inside or just outside the walls
- Time needed
- 1 day; a night for the walls at dusk
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy9 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low0°Cold, frostJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, frost
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low2°Cold, clearFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, clear
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh11°Low2°Cool, breezyMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, breezy
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°MildAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh19°Low8°Mild, greenMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- JuneClear8 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh25°Low13°Warm, long daysJuneClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, long days
- JulyClear2 rainy daysHigh30°Low16°Hot, dryJulyClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- AugustClear2 rainy daysHigh30°Low16°Hot, quietAugustClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, quiet
- SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh23°Low12°Warm, clearSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 32 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- OctoberClear10 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Crisp, goldenOctoberClear
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Crisp, golden
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°ColdNovemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh9°Low2°Cold, lightsDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, lights
Average daily high and low in Ávila, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Ávila
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 46%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Ávila
09:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today16°0°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue9°0°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed12°-2°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu13°-2°3%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 13°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri14°-1°21%Friday: Rain. High 14°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 21%.
- Sat13°7°37%Saturday: Rain. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 37%.
- Sun13°11°62%Sunday: Rain. High 13°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 62%.
Updated 09:35 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Mayfestivities of San Isidro LabradorMadrid, a day trip
- Jun–SepPHotoESPAÑAMadrid, a day trip
Before you go to Ávila
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Ávila, checked
- Spain is part of the Schengen Area. Check your entry requirements on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (exteriores.gob.es) before you book.
- Non-EU visitors entering through Schengen borders are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System, which takes fingerprints and a photo at passport control.
- Carry your passport or national ID at all times, as police in Spain can ask to see identification.
Plan around Ávila
Base for Ávila and the other Castilian day trips
Read the guideSegovia travel guideAn aqueduct town about an hour away by bus
Read the guideToledo travel guideThe larger historic day trip from Madrid
Read the guideSalamanca travel guideA university city further along the same line
Read the guideAll of SpainCities, trains and entry rules for a Spain trip
Read the guideÁvila FAQ
Is Ávila worth visiting?
Yes, if you like intact medieval walls and a calm Castilian atmosphere. It is small, so it works as a day trip, but evenings on the walls are the most memorable part.
How do you get from Madrid to Ávila?
Regional trains from Madrid Chamartín take about 1 to 1.5 hours, with fewer departures than other day trips. Buses also run, so check both timetables and the last return before you go.
How long do you need in Ávila?
Half a day covers the walls, the cathedral and lunch. Stay a night to walk the circuit at dusk and add Segovia the next morning.
What is Ávila known for?
Its medieval walls, Santa Teresa and the yemas de Santa Teresa sweets. It is also the highest provincial capital in Spain, which explains the long, cold winters.
Can I visit Ávila and Segovia in one day?
You can, by bus, but it makes for a rushed day. Give each its own half day and sleep in one of them, or pick Segovia if you want a single landmark.