Puy du Fou España

Puy du Fou España recreates moments from Spanish history with large-scale shows, recreated historical villages, and a theme park built for a full day out. It's 40 minutes from Finca La Simona, about 60 km by road, right next to Toledo: we say it plainly because some listings in the area claim 30 minutes, and that isn't accurate. It's worth knowing before planning your day.

Around the park there are more than 150 hotels and an official agency selling hotel-plus-tickets packages, with partner hotel rates ranging from €68 to €175 per person and night. A large group with children who don't fit into a single hotel room pays considerably less per person by staying in a whole house, in exchange for a 15-minute-longer drive. The detailed comparison, with our recommended two-night plan, is on the Puy du Fou with your group page.

If you're not watching the clock, skip the fast road and take the CM-4001 local road, a lovely drive through olive groves and the Tagus valley. It passes through La Puebla de Montalbán and, halfway along, it's worth the detour to the Barrancas de Burujón, a small Grand Canyon above the Castrejón reservoir that looks its best at sunset, so it fits better on the way back from the park on days without the night show. Ten minutes from the estate, Malpica de Tajo castle is the natural first stop on the route. With the detours, allow a good hour instead of 40 minutes.

You'll be walking around the park for hours, so comfortable shoes, a cap and water are close to essential in the hotter months. With young children it's worth checking in advance which shows have age restrictions or very loud sound, so you don't have to walk out midway through. If the group prefers to pace itself, one option is to split the visit into two halves with a long lunch break inside the park, saving the shows with the biggest special effects for mid-afternoon once the heat has dropped.