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The Best Day Trips from Madrid

Generally speaking, you can see Madrid in 3 or 4 days, including the main museums and palaces in the city. However, there are other nearby cities and towns that you wonā€™t want to miss if youā€™re in Madrid.

Toledo

If we had to start with just one city, it would be Toledo without a doubt. This beautiful city, just 75km (46,5 miles) from Madrid, was Spainā€™s capital until 1561. Despite being a small city, Toledo has countless interesting places to visit, which is why re recommend arriving early and spending a whole day in Toledo.

day trips from madrid
Toledo, the Imperial City, was one of the most important cities in Europe during the Middle Ages. Its narrow streets take us back in times | Image credits: OgoTours

Donā€™t miss the incredible Toledo Cathedral or the gorgeous original synagogues that date back to the era before the Jews were expulsed from Spain. These buildings are the perfect example of why this city is known as ā€œThe City of Three Culturesā€.

How do you get from Toledo to Madrid?

To get to Toledo, you have two options:

  • Train: Trains to Toledo leave from the Atocha Station and the trip takes approximately 25 minutes. Price: ā‚¬25 (round trip).
  • Bus: The only downside to the bus is that they leave from the Plaza ElĆ­ptica, which is a bit far from the city center. The trip takes 1 hour. Price: ā‚¬10 approximately (round trip).
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Segovia

Segovia is one of our favorite destinations when we want to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Its cobblestone streets and stone houses will transport you to another era. Among its many sights, the symbol of the city is the Aqueduct, built by the Romans nearly 2000 years ago. A fascinating local legend says that the aqueduct was built by the devil himself in exchange for the soul of a young woman.

Besides the awe-inspiring Roman aqueduct and the Kingā€™s Fortress (AlcĆ”zar), Segovia is widely known for its roast pig, the star dish of the city. We recommend trying it at Jose MarĆ­a Restaurant (www.restaurantejosemaria.com).

The Best Day trips from Madrid: Segovia
The Roman Aqueduct of Segovia was built in the 1st Century A.D. According to experts, it is one of the best-preserved elevated Roman aqueducts in Europe | Image credits: rafa_castillo (Flickr / C.C.)

How do you get from Madrid to Segovia?

To get to Segovia, we definitely recommend taking the bus, which takes approximately 50 minutes. The buses to Segovia leave from the Moncloa Station. Price: ā‚¬20 approx.

Ɓvila

Ɓvila is a great unknown for many tourists who visit Madrid. But this small city, 107 km (about 66 miles) from Madrid, is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. In fact, Ɓvila is a member of the exclusive club of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain.

Without a doubt, what gets the most attention from tourists is that the old part of the city is completely surrounded by a wall that dates back to the Middle Ages and has remained intact ever since.

Day trips from Madrid
The majestic walls of Avila whose construction goes back almost 1000 years. Despite the passage of time, these walls still protect the city | Image credits: serge laroche (Flickr / C.C.)

How do you get from Madrid to Avila?

Trains to Ɓvila leave from the ChamartĆ­n Station, located in the northern part of the city. The trip takes approximately 2 hours and the price is around ā‚¬20.

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El Valle de los CaĆ­dos

Despite popular belief, this monument (literally, ā€œThe Valley of the Fallenā€) was not built with the intention of becoming the mausoleum of the dictator Francisco Franco.

This incredible monument was conceived as a monument representing reconciliation from the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). In fact, the remains of both sides who participated in the war are buried here. With Francoā€™s death in 1975, the authorities of the time decided to bury him in this place.

Day trip Valle de los Caidos
This monument is a beautiful way to approach one of the saddest episodes in modern history of Spain, the Civil War | Image credits: Neticola (Flickr / C.C.)

The cross that crowns the site is considered the largest in the world (150 meters tall and 260 meters long).

How do you get from Madrid to Valle de los CaĆ­dos?

Unfortunately, public transportation connecting the city center with the “Valle de los CaĆ­dos” is essentially nonexistent. Your best bet is to rent a car.

San Lorenzo del Escorial Monastery

In the 16th century, King Phillip II decided to build a great monastery which would be the final resting place of the remains of Spainā€™s kings. The project was King Phillipā€™s obsession for years until it was completed. Today, the massive complex (35,000 square meters or almost 377,000 square feet) in the shape of a gridiron (San Lorenzo, known in English as Saint Lawrence, was martyred on a gridiron in the year 258) is one of the most incredible buildings in Spain.

Day trip from Madrid to El Escorial
Probably one of the most beautiful buildings in Spain. Inside you will treasures of incalculable value | Image credits: http://fotolitoss.blogspot.com/

Donā€™t miss the Royal Pantheon, where all the kings and queens in the history of Spain are buried, with the exception of two: Phillip V and Ferdinand VI.

How do you get from Madrid to El Escorial?

Youā€™ll need to take the train line CercanĆ­as C-3, which passes by the Puerta del Sol and the Atocha Station. The trip takes approximately 1 hour because it makes a lot of stops. Once you arrive to the town, you will walk about 10 minutes to get to the monastery. Price: approx.. ā‚¬10 (round trip).

Aranjuez

This small town, located 40 km (25 miles) from downtown Madrid, became one of the preferred destinations for Spanish kings in the 16th century. This is where the kings would come when they wanted a break from the hustle and bustle of Madrid.

During centuriesĀ Aranjuez was a very important city. The Kings of Spain chose this place to rest for long seasons, which boosted the local economy | Image credits: Maxpixel (C.C.)

Construction of the magnificent palace began in the 16th century, but after being abandoned for a long period of time, it wasnā€™t finished until the 18th century. The lovely gardens that surround the palace were used by the kings for recreation and to organize sumptuous parties that were attended by societyā€™s elite.

How do you get from Madrid to Aranjuez?

The fastest way to get to Aranjuez is taking the train line CercanĆ­as C-3. This line stops at the Puerta del Sol and the Atocha Station. The trip takes approximately 1 hour and the price is around ā‚¬10 (round trip).

AlcalĆ” de Henares

If you are a lover of literature, you must visit AlcalĆ” de Henares, the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes. For those who havenā€™t heard of him, Miguel de Cervantes is considered one of the most influential writers in the history of the world, and is considered the creator of the modern novel with his work, Don Quixote de la Mancha.

In AlcalĆ” de Henares you will be able to know up close the life of Miguel de Cervantes, one of the most influential writers of universal history | Image credits: OgoTours

In this small town, you can see the church where he was baptized and even visit the house where he was born and lived as a young boy. And as if that werenā€™t enough, the town also has a rich heritage that by itself makes it worth a visit.

How do you get from Madrid to AlcalĆ” de Henares?

We recommend taking the CercanĆ­as C-2 or C-7 train. This line stops at the Atocha Station and takes about 45 minutes to arrive. Price: approximately ā‚¬10 (round trip).,

We hope this post helps you plan your trip to Madrid. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at info@ogotours.com

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About Javier

Hola! My name is Javier Redondo, tour guide in Madrid for more than 8 years.
As a good "MadrileƱo", I love football (I support AtlĆ©tico de Madrid), eating tapas and walk the cobblestone streets of old Madrid šŸ™‚

This Madrid blog is where I share tips on popular attractions, local food and off-beat spots.

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