Best day trips and excursions from Madrid

The Spanish capital is not only home to diverse proposals to enjoy for many days, but is surrounded by a unique mountain landscape and very close to other emblematic Castilian cities for its history and tradition, all especially beautiful. If you want to take a day off from Madrid, there are many options to visit on a day trip, to make your vacation much more comforting and complete.

Toledo

Toledo is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe and one of the few that maintains its original and complete city walls. The walled city stands out for the number of religious temples, a centuries-old architectural wealth and a cultural heritage that you can appreciate in its streets, terraces, viewpoints and museums.

The fastest way to get to Toledo from Madrid is by the high-speed AVANT train, with regular departures from Atocha station.

Aranjuez

It stands out for its imposing Royal Palace, built by order of the Catholic Monarchs on the banks of the Tagus River, in a paradisiacal natural environment. Its gardens and halls are very different from each other in terms of style and decoration. Highlights of the tour include the Throne Room of Isabel II and the Porcelain and Arabian cabinets. General admission costs 9 € and the reduced rate, for children under 16 and over 65, is 4 €.

To get to Aranjuez from Madrid, the C3 commuter train, which departs from Atocha or Sol, takes 50 minutes and the ticket costs 4 €.

Avila

Ideal for a romantic getaway, Avila is another of the best preserved walled Castilian cities. Its historic center, like that of Toledo, is part of the Unesco World Heritage Site and is perfect for walking aimlessly hand in hand with the person you love and get lost in its narrow streets. Its viewpoints, markets and churches will transport you to the medieval world and you should not miss the great star dish of the city: roast suckling pig.

Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial

It is a huge complex built in the sixteenth century that was once the residence of the Spanish Royal Family and is now the site reserved for the burial of its members. It has a palace, a college, a monastery, a basilica and a pantheon. The general admission price is 12 € and reduced for 6 €.

To get from Madrid to San Lorenzo de El Escorial you can take the C3 commuter trains that depart from Atocha, Sol and Chamartín stations.

Watershed

The houses perched on a rocky hill in Cuenca are reason enough to visit this city, which is also on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. But there is more, because the area offers impressive rock formations in what is called the Enchanted City and great viewpoints to contemplate the idyllic panorama of the Castilian mountains.

You can go to Cuenca from Madrid on an AVE high speed train that leaves from Atocha and drops you off at Fernando Zóbel station in 25 minutes.

Salamanca

Another perfect day trip from Madrid to get to know this historic city, famous for housing one of the oldest universities in the world. And with a main square that is an authentic monument perfectly preserved and with one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Spain. The Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells) deserves special mention, a stately palace from the late 15th century that combines Gothic, Renaissance and Mudejar styles in a building unique for its beauty and complexity, with more than 300 shells on its façade, which give rise to its name.

To go to Salamanca from Madrid you can take an ALVIA train from Chamartín station for 25 € and start a journey that takes about 90 minutes.

Sierra Norte

For adventure and nature lovers, the villages and landscapes of the Sierra Norte de Madrid are perfect for day trips. You have many options for hiking and biking routes in the Jarama Valley, the Sierra del Rincón and the upper, middle and lower Lozoya Valley. A natural environment with a very varied ecosystem, with an area of wetlands and the source of the most important rivers of Castilla, with an enormous wealth of trees in many species and with mountain peaks up to 2000 meters high.

Chinchón

A perfect town to spend a Sunday escaping from Madrid and stroll around its Plaza Mayor, declared a Historic-Artistic Site, and with medieval origins, which has been very well maintained over the centuries. Its arcades and balconies are very characteristic of this town, which is also famous for its typical sweets with very particular names: “tetas de novicia” and “pelotas de fraile”. If you drive from Madrid, in 50 minutes you will be in the center of town. By bus, the 337 will take you there in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Alcalá de Henares

A city very close to Madrid and easily accessible by train, it is famous for two things: its university and for being the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, the famous author of Don Quixote. Its historic center has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. We recommend you to walk along the bookstore street and Mayor street, enjoy the Cervantes square and visit the historic building of the University.

Segovia

This Castilian city is famous for having the best preserved Roman aqueduct in the world and, perhaps, the most important monumental work left by the Empire in its passage through the Iberian Peninsula. You can visit this marvel in the city of Segovia, just 1 hour drive from Madrid, which is a real open-air museum, where its medieval walls, the old Jewish quarter and the Cathedral stand out.

Guadalajara

A 1 hour drive from Madrid is the city of Guadalajara, ideal for a day trip to see the remains of its medieval wall and visit some of its historic palaces. It is also a good opportunity to enjoy the exquisite Castilian cuisine and enjoy a stroll through its historic center.

La Granja de San Ildefonso

Another interesting destination a little more than 1 hour from Madrid, in this case to know what is called the “Spanish Versailles” for the great royal palace that used to be the place of retreat of Philip V and his family. The Royal Site of La Granja de San Ildefonso was the hunting area of the kings of Spain from the Middle Ages until the Catholic Monarchs, when they ceded some buildings to the Hieronymite monks.