Home to one of the best-preserved Roman aqueducts anywhere in the world, and a castle that reportedly influenced Walt Disney — Segovia punches well above its size.
The AVE from Madrid's Chamartín station reaches Segovia in under 30 minutes, though the station sits outside the old town — a short bus or taxi ride connects you in. Regional buses run direct to the centre in around an hour.
The Roman aqueduct is the headline sight — nearly 2,000 years old, built without mortar, and still standing at its full height through the centre of the modern city; it's genuinely more striking in person than in photos. The Alcázar, a turreted castle perched on a rocky spur, is said to have influenced Disney's Cinderella Castle. The Segovia Cathedral, one of the last major Gothic cathedrals built in Spain, rounds out the essentials.
Segovia is famous across Spain for cochinillo asado — whole roast suckling pig, traditionally served so tender it's cut with the edge of a plate rather than a knife. Several long-standing restaurants near the aqueduct specialise in it.
Segovia works well as a half-day trip if you're tight on time — it's more compact than Toledo — which makes it easy to combine with a relaxed Madrid morning before you go.