Madrid Day Trips: Top 5 Escapes From the City

Okay, so you have experienced Madrid’s energetic city center, wandered around the busy Plaza Mayor, and taken your fair share of memorable bites. You might just find yourself wanting something more, anyway something a little bit different. That’s actually where the idea of incredible day trips pops in. You could actually discover that a whole bunch of surprising jewels just sit a short distance from Madrid. We’re talking old cities holding history, outstanding structures, and beautiful landscapes. Getting out of the main city doesn’t have to be a hard or lengthy trip. Prepare for great memories as we explore five terrific day trips close to Madrid, actually each offering its own separate kind of attraction, right?

1. Segovia: A Roman Aqueduct and Fairy-Tale Castle

Very few places capture your attention almost instantly like Segovia does. Actually the famous Roman aqueduct is very, very majestic. This well-kept construction that comes from the first century AD is something. I mean imagine, you’re viewing the architectural wonder of very ancient times. And then there’s the Alcázar of Segovia, which is what seems like something out of a fairy tale. Legend states that it inspired Walt Disney’s castle. With its special design and historical background, one can feel just like a visiting royal for a moment, you know?

What I feel is quite special, so Segovia offers beyond just architectural destinations. Walking through the old town means viewing an array of very old churches and small streets, actually filled with appealing stores and places to try delicious foods. Don’t miss out on trying the ‘cochinillo asado,’ that is, suckling pig, arguably Segovia’s most famed dish, alright?

Getting to Segovia: You may choose to drive that takes about an hour and a half. There are options, though the high-speed train (AVE) might be the preferred option, actually cutting travel time down to approximately 30 minutes from Madrid’s Chamartín Station. Is that fast, or what? Once you’re there, almost everything, like the aqueduct and the Alcázar, are pretty easily available by local transportation or strolling.

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Segovia Day Trip)

Read our full review: Segovia Day Trip Full Review and Details

2. Toledo: The Imperial City

Toledo, actually known as the “Imperial City” thanks to once being the key place of the Spanish royal court, that can really feel like going into history itself. Very many different cultures, including Christian, Muslim, and Jewish have impacted Toledo, with architectural and artistic echoes, you can just about make it out by seeing these impacts spread around this scenic place. Basically it all blends very elegantly there, like your average culture collage, almost?

Toledo’s cathedral is really a building one ought to visit, you know? It features very nice Gothic design, along with outstanding artworks. Taking strolls down the city’s twisty, narrow streets lets us all observe small shops with products such as marzipan – basically, a standard Toledo candy.

Plus, you might choose to cross the Tagus River by the San Martin Bridge to obtain some terrific scenic views of Toledo against the environment that surrounds it. Going when it’s getting dark gives a genuinely very captivating experience when the city is being bathed in a rather beautiful light, you know?

Getting to Toledo: The quickest way could very well be a train ride that is approximately just 30 minutes on the AVE from Madrid’s Atocha Station. The drive is often very doable, anyway, at about an hour, so, just consider any probable traffic. When at Toledo train or bus stops, a simple taxi or a quick bus will take you to the actual main entrance to that old city.

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Toledo Day Trip)

Read our full review: Toledo Day Trip Full Review and Details

3. Ávila: The City of Saints and Stones

Consider Avila, known as “City of Saints and Stones,” well recognized by its excellently maintained middle ages city walls. Almost as soon as you see it you feel the historic significance with these very defensive systems which have been around for ages. Did you know that Saint Teresa of Ávila, who is a really famous spiritual figure, spent their life there? Avila often features a certain sense of mysticism with its many places of worship.

Don’t miss visiting Avila Cathedral, which is just a fantastic example of Spanish Gothic design, it features various impacting artistic and architectural factors. Walking the top of the town walls supplies spectacular town vistas that give a complete comprehension of Ávila’s design and old position. What is nice is trying conventional dishes like “chuletón de Ávila” or large steak in one spot in this town, too.

Getting to Ávila: So you’ll find driving usually takes close to one hour and a half from Madrid. The train may take an equal length time to reach that very destination departing from Príncipe Pío Station in Madrid, okay? Within the city, walking proves as the simplest way to explore the spots within the town’s areas.

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Avila Day Trip)

Read our full review: Avila Day Trip Full Review and Details

4. El Escorial: A Royal Monastery

Very next is the spectacular El Escorial monastery that’s an ultimate display of Spanish Renaissance structure. So basically, commissioned via King Philip II in the 16th century, the actual considerable place serves as a palace, monastery, collection, as well as pantheon. Did you realize it is an expression of both grandeur and religious dedication, basically?

The monastery features elaborate courtyards, actually beautiful halls, and is host to a huge collection of fine art including parts by Spanish plus international artists. Also, the pantheon holds tombs concerning Spanish kings, thus offering insights into Spanish record, that is. Getting lost in this huge compound just may bring hours; hence you might find the experience to be enriching plus thought-provoking as part of its grand nature plus profound histories.

Getting to El Escorial: You could perhaps find driving is normally more or less 1 hour, determined via current site traffic of course, by road A-6, almost directly. On a regular routine, trains go off of Madrid’s Chamartín station, a more helpful technique, primarily in times whenever you have many things to accomplish for the whole day. Whenever people arrive, getting about to every location will very rarely seem harder because the Monastery happens to be the town’s major fascination so everything’s typically near!

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (El Escorial Day Trip)

Read our full review: El Escorial Day Trip Full Review and Details

5. Cuenca: The Hanging Houses

You could also consider, the one of a kind town for several visitors, so Cuenca has its “hanging houses” or “Casas Colgadas,” found virtually all suspended on cliff edges with, certainly, a pretty mind blowing panorama for most visitors! Very, this exceptional architecture brings together nature utilizing metropolitan areas in a special way, possibly more like other places?

People visit Cuenca often to get a look at these extraordinary residences, it shows just the very skilled type creativity through history. Besides this particular location, the ancient Cathedral found at Cuenca plus the medieval quarter happen to be definitely crucial to discover. Getting outside of main streets normally discloses undiscovered little gemstones. I wonder, wouldn’t taking various hikes within Serrania de Cuenca regional park provide fantastic views mixed to make great out of town jaunts for anybody!

Getting to Cuenca: You will probably find that taking a Train using AVE from Madrid’s Atocha Rail will have people transported much more speedily within about merely an hour which often helps a great deal. Alternatively you could be driving anyway could very well need approximately 2 hours if road travel looks beneficial? At Cuenca exploring the primary scenic attractions can often come simple using urban hiking nonetheless one ought to start using a metro perhaps maybe taxi if time gets short but what will people love while being outside!

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Cuenca Day Trip)

Read our full review: Cuenca Day Trip Full Review and Details