However, don't leave without snapping at least one photo in its breathtaking Plaza Mayor, or marveling at both of the city's two cathedrals. Often overlooked in favour of trips to the Alps or even Sierra Nevada further south in Spain, the Pyrenees are an older mountain range with a lot of peaks over 3,000m above sea level. The streets of the old Jewish Quarter Great food & great stories, you can really get into the history of Seville in this area. The A-1 autova connects Madrid with Irn, in Guipzcoa (a province in Spains Basque country, next to the French border). Cuenca is perhaps best known for its gravity-defying hanging houses, which sit perilously on the edge of a steep cliff. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Argertine peso; With this stay, youll spend a night in a real castle and have time to explore the historical village it is located in. A short trip with a lot of breathtaking views and cliffs in the north and resorts with fantastic beaches on the south can be the perfect way to unwind on a short break! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Pisto Manchego a delicious local dish made from vegetables (similar to ratatouille) served with a fried egg on top. It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to get to Zaragoza. The towns rich history is reflected in churches like the 12th-century San Pedro and the 13th-century Convent of Santa Clara. But the charming town of Coca is a true hidden gem in central Spain. Zaragoza: The capital of Aragon with the heritage of the Roman era and Moorish past is the last stop on this road trip from Madrid. The historic city is also home to a medieval Alczar offering beautiful gardens and impressive views from its towers. The city walls are some of the best around from the outside and walking along the top. My list will be a mixture of cities near Madrid that you can easily reach by public transport as well as things to do in surrounding towns and villages that you may need to hire a car for. After a visit to the city that shares its name with the Castile and Leon region, the trip ends with a drive through the Ribera del Duero wine region - hugely underrated relative to Rioja and the Portuguese Douro wine further down the same river valley. In this post, I havent even mentioned some of the micro trips and things to do in surrounding towns in Madrid. Choose from these 10 stunning routes for your road trip in Spain with our guides, detailed itineraries and insider tips. The end of the trip gets you to Pedraza back in the Segovia province before taking a short drive back to Madrid's airport. You will start in the historic city of Segovia itself - famous for some of Spain's best architecture and declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Another option is to fly to nearby Bilbao, which is 64 miles (103 kilometers) from San Sebastian, and then take a one-hour bus ride to San Sebastian. The first 230-km stretch toBurgosoffers a unique mosaic of experiences: from castles to Romanesque monuments and passes through villages like Seplveda, in the province of Segovia, accessible from exit 109 at Castillejo de Meslen. La Rioja is a postcard of a province, with rolling green hills, alpine mountains, limestone . Miajadas boasts that it is the European Capital of the Tomato. La Granja de San Ildefonso: It is just a short drive from Segovia. The views back to the city are also pretty spectacular. You can visit sites such as the unique cathedral in Mejorada Del Campo or eat olives in Campo Real. Travel Tip: While the eponymous royal complex is obviously the big draw for most visitors to San Lorenzo de El Escorial, try and take some time to explore the rest of the charming town if you can. If the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal are calling you, the A-5 highway, which crosses the region of Extremadura to the Spanish-Portuguese border, has surprises like the town of Miajadas, in the province of Cceres, not far from Trujillo (famous as the birthplace of many of the men who explored and conquered the Americas). Rich in Arab, Jewish and Christian history, the former Spanish capital is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Summers are very hot and while driving is not a problem, getting out of the car and spending time outdoors can be a real challenge for some people when temperatures are high. However, as amazing as it is, a day trip to Seville from Madrid is not cheap, but it is definitely worth it. At the seaside enclave where the Urola and Narrondo rivers meet, steep streets lead down to the harbour, the centre of activity and life. It is one of the most interesting shortest road trips from Madrid which you can easily turn into a multi-day drive as the number of places to visit is huge. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. If you don't know it by name, you've definitely seen pictures of giant rocks and archways on the sandy beach before. Toledo is a medieval city located just 70 km from Madrid, the former capital of the country, and one of the most distinctive cities in Spain. Buitrago de Lozoya, for example, is particularly a special town as it is surrounded by water and ancient authentic walls built by the Moors in the 11th century. Toledo is famous for its beautiful churches. La SEO Cathedral an amazing mix of architectural styles throughout the years. This gives you the most flexibility to see as much as possible in a day. As you approach Avila from the outside, it looks spectacular, is it a walled city with some of the most eye-catching fortifications you will see thanks to years of restoration work. If not, you should definitely plan one since this region is full of wonders! A quickcortadocoffee served in a glass, a baked treat, and a glance at the souvenirs by the register that may be all that some holiday-goers see of small-townSpainas they drive fromMadridto the sea. Additionally, trains are available, but travel times differ depending on the type. The full circle - A complete road trip around Spain. So this is it, my list of road trips from Madrid for now. The Royal Alcazar A must see. Of course, you must try the authentic Valencian Paella (rabbit and vegetable paella) once in Valencia city. It is the one that I recommend all of my friends take when they come to visit me. Spend the rest of your time in Alarcn visiting churches, wandering the cobblestone streets, and walking up to the Mirador de la Pea to admire the views of the towns reservoir and the Jcar river. The Toledano are experts at crafting swords and stunning marzipan desserts. The distance of this trip is approximately 320 kilometers, but with so many places to stop at, you may want to take it slow and enjoy the ride. Of the countrys eight autovas, its modern toll-free highways, A-1 to A-6, extend out from the capital. Once you've been left sufficiently breathless, get a taste of culture at the Museum of Abstract Art, or learn more about Spain's robust Holy Week celebrations at the Semana Santa Museum. Puebla de la Sierra is a nice little village with a very good restaurant and easy hiking routes. Best Things to do in Madrid Explore Madrid's Art Triangle; the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofa and the Thyssen-Bornemisza are considered the best art galleries. So it is truly impressive. Finally, Spain loves food and everywhere you go is fiercely proud of their local fare, so I have also included what to eat when you there. As with the Castille Leon trip, it's easy to start and finish in Madrid if that's where you can get easy flights to. Travel Tip: Toledo is quite hilly, and its cobblestoned streets can complicate things even further. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Getting there: Media Distancia trains from Madrid take about an hour and a half. Garlic Soup The town loves its garlic, they even have a festival in honour of the delicious little edible bulb every October. Structuring Your 3 Days in Madrid. Here are the 15 best day trips from Madrid. Youll find it in bakeries throughout the city. Bus 664 or 661 from Moncloa also get you there in about the same amount of time. Honest Answers About the Spanish CapitalContinue, For a long time, I wanted to visit the northern coast of Spain. In the morning you'll pick up your rental car and begin your epic road-trip. I would love to show you, but it is not allowed to take photos. After that the road trip continues all the way to Port de Pollena before heading across the island to Cala Mesquida. There are few parts of the world which have so much to see in such a compact region both culturally and in nature. The main attractions of Valladolid are the 16th-century Cathedral, the National Sculpture Museum, and the Cervantes House. If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. Often overlooked in favor of nearby Segovia and Salamanca, the beautifully preserved historic town of vila gives the more popular destinations a run for their money. This medieval castle offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Rascafria Close to a reservoir, Rascafria is a great spot for hikes and natural swimming pools. Getting There: Getting to Segovia from Madrid couldn't be easier. The city is also home to the Alczar of Toledo. From Barcelona, head south along the coast to Tarragona with a stop in Sitges and the option of relaxing in one of a few great beaches along the way. After exploring the historic and religiously important city, the route goes back towards the coast and passes Pontevedra on the way to the pretty town of Vigo. The citys heart lies in the Plaza Nuestra Seora del Pilar. Coming your way in this post - click to expand ->. The local variety of castellano is incredibly pure and easy to understand. Take the AVE train to get there in under half an hour. Once you've hiked amazing gorges and filled yourself with pastries, it's time to hit the road and drive on to Oviedo and La Coruna. I would recommend Arganda as the place to plan most of your visits, however, San Martin does have a lovely reservoir and beach you can visit as part of the day trip. Also, explore the magnificent Alczar, a stunning castle that offers breathtaking views of the city which was the residence of the kings of Spain. Ultimate Southern Spain Road Trip: Madrid to Andalusia - 10 days. The trip continues east to Cuenca and Siguenza - both stunning towns but in completely different ways and both very different from a lot of typical Spanish destinations. From Salamanca, you can check out other beautiful historic towns of Ledesma and Zamora before a stop in Valladolid - the assumed capital of the Castille and Leon province. Salamanca 5. The easiest way is by high-speed train from Madrid Chamartin station. Hike through one of the best bird reserves in the country. The Cathedral of Toledo and the Church of San Tomhouse some of Spains most valuable works of art. Is Madrid Worth Visiting? San Ildefonso: A must-visit stop on this road trip from Madrid for anyone who wants to see the luxurious royal residence of the 18th century. The A-3 highway leads to Madrids beach, as some call Valencia, the closest city on the sea traveling from the capital. The highway that connects Madrid with Cadiz, on Spains southwestern coast, has as many colours as it has detours: the indigo blue doors of La Mancha, the green mantle of the olive groves of Jan, and the white villages that sit on hilltops and which become more common after you pass the Despeaperros National Park, in the north of Andalusia. One thing that you will certainly notice on a Toledo day trip are the many shops that sell awesome swords. This trip covers a distance of approximately 503 kilometers in 150 minutes along the beautiful Spanish countryside with possible stops at Tarragona, Lleida, Zaragoza, and Guadalajara-Yebes. Famous for Flamenco and the traditional Spanish pastime of bullfighting. Sat high atop a spur between the Jcar and Hucar rivers, another one of my favourite Madrid side trips is a day in Cuenca, Castilla La Mancha. Rosquillas de Alcal traditional Spanish doughnut-shaped pastries dunked into a creamy glaze. Getting There: Take the high-speed AVE train from Madrid (operated by Renfe, Spain's national rail service) to get there in two and a half hours. Visitors can spend hours exploring the hallways and gardens, but my stand out memory was the catacombs. From El Escorial, take bus 660 to Valle de los Cados o Cruce Cuelgamuros. You won't want a car in Madrid. Day 1 Madrid Itinerary: Get Acquainted + Major Sights. Valle de los Cados: A Controversial Monument, Seville: Andalusian Passion & Flamenco Flair, Valencia: A Colorful Mediterranean Metropolis, Cuenca: Hanging Houses & A Thriving Museum Scene. The storied medieval town is also home to an incredible cathedral and a castle (the Alczar) said to have inspired that of Disney's Sleeping Beauty. But, as it was also the burial site of Franco himself, it became a shrine for the far-right and detested by many Spaniards. She is working online and thats why has an opportunity to travel a lot and live in different countries. A huge cross in the mountains marks the site of this basilica that was built during the Franco regime. Monasterio de Piedra: Just a short drive from Zaragoza, the Monasterio de Piedra is another breathtaking stop on your road trip. Vineyards lots of them. The area of Aranjuez was a traditional strawberry producing powerhouse, and the Strawberry Train tries to take you back to this era. I am Anya, from Ukraine but in heart, I am a citizen of the world. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. To wrap up the trip, you've got to stop off at the resort town of Cala d'Or before making your way back to Palma. Medina del Campo: It is just a short drive from Coca. One other thing to bear in mind, if you are travelling with teenagers, Chinchn is really close to the Warner Brothers Theme Park. Best stops along Madrid to Seville drive The top stops along the way from Madrid to Seville (with short detours) are Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo, Old Town of Cceres, and Mirador del Valle. While it is Spains oldest producer of cava (the winery was founded in 1551), it is also known for its elegant Modernista buildings by Barcelona architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, a contemporary of Antoni Gaud. Valladolid: In the Middle Ages, Valladolid served as the residence of the Spanish and Castilian monarchs. Use an aggregator rather than booking directly from a rental company as it gives you protection in case something goes wrong. Cuenca: a small charming ancient city, perched atop a dramatic gorge. The best time to do a road trip from Madrid is during the spring and fall. As you travel in major cities such as Bilbao, San Sebastian and Pamplona, you will get to try the local pintxos tradition. The Segovia Aqueduct dating back to 50AD, it is rumoured to have been built by the Devil. That was the question I asked the first time when I had a long layover in the capital of Spain and wasnt sure if leaving the airport was worth the, Full Article Is Madrid Worth Visiting? Get lost in the winding streets and old buildings of Jewish District. The only real way to enjoy a day trip from Madrid to Salamanca is by driving yourself, it takes about two hours to drive to the city. It also is much better for families with kids who are better entertained hiking and doing active things than going to museums all day. The Basque country is a unique part of Spain - they have a prominent local language, cities that make up two prominent medieval kingdoms (Basque and Navarre) and a unique link to the Pyrenees. Aside from hiking, there are some fantastic little villages to be explored. The village also has deep historic and cultural roots at the Cave of the Seven Altars, visitors can see sacred art by Visigoths; portions of the Fernn Gonzlez castle date to the Moorish occupation in the 10th century; and the Romanesque church of the Virgen de la Pea was built in the 12th century.
