It covers a length of over 70 miles through Castile-Len. In fact, it is the only stop between Madrid and Barcelona, so if you are travelling between the two cities, I would highly recommend breaking your ride up a bit and spending a few hours exploring Zaragoza. S-F / shutterstock.com Day 2: Madrid. Where to Stay in Madrid. The six-hour drive between Madrid and Galicia will feel shorter if you know where to stop along the way. Barcelona Source: vitalez / shutterstock Barcelona Although a fair hike, Barcelona can be easily reached in the space of a day trip from Madrid. This gives you the most flexibility to see as much as possible in a day. A mini Catalonia tour to end the trip wraps up the route that will take at least a month to complete if you want to do things other than driving. Franco claimed that the monument was meant to be a national act of atonement and reconciliation with fighters from both sides of the war buried there, although much of it was built through the forced labour of political prisoners. Getting There: Madrid's commuter train, the Cercanas, will get you to El Escorial in about an hour. Its about a 20-minute walk from the centre or a quick taxi ride, but youll find a nice museum with lots of dinosaurs to entertain the little ones. Once you've crossed over the Sierra Nevada mountains, your trip continues to Granada, Costa del Sol, Seville and Cordoba. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Wine Country While moving the body proved to be a controversial move that divided opinions across the country, the aim of the government is to see The Valle de Los Cados move away from a site where Spains far-right pay homage to the dictator and become a place of commemoration, remembrance and homage to the victims of the war. View from the Roman viewpoint of Montoro, Crdoba. The biggest draw in the town is the huge royal palace and expansive gardens. Years of erosion by the Rio Piedra have created some spectacular waterfalls that visitors can visit and wander around. You don't need to pick up your rental car until day 4. If you have time, a trip out to the shimmering Muslim palace-city of Medina Azahara is well worth the effort as well. It dates back to the 1st century AD. You can enjoy picnics and bird-watching in the peace and tranquility of the great outdoors. Medinaceli: Located about halfway between Madrid and Zaragoza, the charming village of Medinaceli, forged by different cultures, is a must-see stop on your road trip. Throw in Spain's excellent network of intercity transportation (particularly the AVE high-speed train), and there's really no excuse not to take one of these day trips from Madrid. Day 1 Madrid Itinerary: Get Acquainted + Major Sights. The city is also home to the Alczar of Toledo. The only real way is driving. It may be the world's most expensive spice, but it's one of the region's specialties. Read My Story Page Here and Take Care! From Tarragona, this trip goes inland towards Montblanc and all the way to La Seu d'Urgell in the Pyrenees via Solsona. Info USD Dollar. We'd love to see how you get on! Whether you are in Madrid for a week or a year, I hope you have found some inspiration in this post and are ready to explore some amazing places. The city walls are some of the best around from the outside and walking along the top. The Madrid Mountains 6. Believe it or not, the famous university city of Salamanca is just a little over two hours away and is certainly possible to visit as a one day trip from Madrid. But besides seeing the palace, it is also worth visiting the main square and just walking around the nice and cozy city. To explore Spains rich history and culture, a day trip to Toledo from Madrid is a must. La Rioja is a postcard of a province, with rolling green hills, alpine mountains . 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. From here you can head to the hanging houses, cross the river over the spine chilling St Paul Bridge and work your way down to the lower part of the city. Welcome! Along the way, you'll get to experience the tapas culture of Andalusia. As mentioned above, it can also be a nice way to break up a journey between Madrid and Barcelona. However, that was up until October 2019, when Francos body was exhumed and relocated to the understated (by Spanish standards) El Pardo-Mingorrubio cemetery. It's hard to sum up El Escorial in just a few words. You will do an abridged version of the Andalucia road trip above, but get a much broader view of Spain having driven from one corner to another. Spain Road Trip - The Ultimate 2 Week Itinerary, Andalucia road trip - Ultimate 11 day itinerary, 10 amazing European road trips for your travel bucket list, 14 amazing places to see the autumn leaves in Europe, The 14 best Christmas markets in Europe to visit this winter, Driving in Spain: Your guide to Spanish toll roads, rules and parking, Seville weekend trip - The perfect city break itinerary, Best Time to Visit Spain - Full Month by Month Guide, Spain's Mediterranean coast is perfect for a Spanish road trip, Spain's northern coast makes for an amazing road trip, The Arantza Hotela in the foothills of Pyrenees, check out our 40 day trips from Barcelona for inspiration, 3. It is a nice stop on the way to Salamanca, or as mentioned previously, part of a multi-stop organised tour. Barcelona to Madrid drive. It offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Required fields are marked *. In the post linked above, you can see the public transport links to reach the vineyards, they involve either a train or the bus. Aranjuez has been one of the Royal Estates of the Crown of Spain since 1560 and for nearly 200 years, until 1752, only the royalty and nobility were allowed to live in the town. Patones de Arriba my favourite village I have found so far. Take some time to explore the breathtaking cathedral and Alcazar, then head to Maria Luisa Park to row a boat along the lazy river in Plaza de Espaa when you need a breather. Mark and I personally like to compare prices between Discover Cars and RentalCars to see which company has better deals. Anya is originally from Ukraine but in heart she is a citizen of the world. In order to get a change of pace, a road trip to La Sierra de Madrid is the perfect escape from the citys fast-paced life. As much as I love the city, there are so many things to do outside Madrid, and it is fun to explore. During these seasons, the weather is mild and it allows you to truly enjoy every stop. Honest Answers About the Spanish Capital, Northern Coast of Spain Travel Guide Best Places to Visit, Things to See & Do, 20 Coolest Stops to Make On Barcelona to Valencia Drive. The wall encircles the historic center, outside of which there are seven Romanesque churches. The trip lasts 20-30 minutes. Cuenca 9. Just about an hour out of Madrid, you will find the Sierra de Guadarrama, Sierra del Norte and the Sierra de Gredos mountain ranges. The museum is a recreation of the artists home. Day 1: Explore Madrid Day 2: Explore Madrid Day 3: Day Trip By Train To Segovia or Cuenca Day 4: Drive To Cordoba, Stop in Toledo Day 5: Explore Cordoba Yes, you read that right, no need to drive so you can sample as much as youd like (although driving is a bit easier). The great thing is, all of them are accessible via public transport. However, winter can make your trip toward the northern locations magical and make you feel like you are in a snowy fairy tale. At the seaside enclave where the Urola and Narrondo rivers meet, steep streets lead down to the harbour, the centre of activity and life. This road trip through Spain's heartland comes in a loop that starts and ends in the Segovia province. Madrid Wine Tour 5. There are tonnes of great places to stop including Roses resort, the canals of Empuriabrava, L'Escala and Begur. From Madrid, you'll travel south into Andalusia and arrive at Seville, a city renowned for its Gothic . There are many underground wine cellars to discover in the region, a wonderful mix of famous producers and small family affairs. Another great option is the Huevos al Salmorrejo, these are eggs made with green asparagus, garlic, and parsley. Youll find it in bakeries throughout the city. Scroll down to see more detail on each one. Perhaps the most controversial inclusion on this list of day trips from Madrid, Valle de los Cados (Valley of the Fallen) is a remnant from Spain's fascist years under dictator Francisco Franco. Top rated road trips in Madrid Spain 7-Day Spain Road Trip from Madrid to Toledo Starts in Madrid Ends in Madrid Duration 7 days & 6 nights Available All Year 24/7 customer support From 8 USD Spain Cheap 10-Day Spain Road Trip Vacation from Madrid to Zaragoza, Barcelona & Valencia Starts in Madrid Ends in Madrid Duration 10 days & 9 nights Andalusia, Spain's southernmost region, is often what people imagine Spain to be: sultry and passionate, with a near-constant soundtrack of flamenco beats. Salamanca 7. As you can imagine, this region is well known for hunting, so there is a huge variety of meats. A day trip? They leave from the Madrid Sur bus station but take a little over 3 hours to arrive in Salamanca. Make a reservation through their website online or through Instagram. Hiking Trails Outside of Madrid 12. These have protected its residents for centuries. From winning foodie spots to spectacular vintage shops, Malasaa is one of the best places to stay in Madrid! Travel Tip: If you get into town early enough and want to save 10 euros, entrance to the Mezquita is free from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday. One thing that you will certainly notice on a Toledo day trip are the many shops that sell awesome swords. Salamanca: The last stop on this drive is the city of Salamanca which cannot be missed. The Ribera del Duero wine route runs along the Duero river, the same one that flows all the way through Portugal and is famous for Port wine. 13. Travel Tip: With endless options of things to see and do, Barcelona deserves more than just a day. 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. Spain's north-west corner lying on the Bay of Biscay and bordering France is full of history, tradition and mountains. 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. 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. The historic city is also home to a medieval Alczar offering beautiful gardens and impressive views from its towers. Barcelona and Madrid are likely to be the best hubs for getting in and out of Spain and the route cycles down through Valencia to an Andalucian tour before heading back north from Cordoba. If you wish to tie in a visit to The Valley of the Fallen, you can either take a taxi from El Escorial or a tour. From the world-class museums and art galleries to the lively plazas and cafs, there is plenty to keep visitors in the city entertained for way more than a weekend. You can easily explore the key sites and be back in Madrid ready for dinner. Day 3: Pick up Rental Car - Drive From Madrid to Laguardia - Wine Tour. The Art Walk Pass gives you entrance and queue jump at all three. The Pyrenees are an amazing mountain range that is not high on many tourists' radars. If your timing is right you can enjoy the wine festival in March or the garlic festival in October. The room glows in red and gold with a magnificent chandelier hanging high above your head. Cuenca 4. So this is it, my list of road trips from Madrid for now. ), but it's definitely one to keep in mind if you want to unwind and keep yourself away from the tourist traps around Spain. During your stay in Salamanca, you could surely take a quick drive to Portugal. Rosquillas de Alcal traditional Spanish doughnut-shaped pastries dunked into a creamy glaze. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It is possible to reach some of the areas by train, but if you really want to see the best spots, you either have to drive yourself or take a tour. User or email address Password Remember me. You can visit sites such as the unique cathedral in Mejorada Del Campo or eat olives in Campo Real. The city was once a melting pot of cultures, and its rich history is evident in its architecture and monuments, including the Synagogue of Santa Mara la Blanca and the Church of San Roman. As with most Spanish cities, there are plenty of churches to visit, and the main cathedral is pretty spectacular. You'll drive primarily along one of Europe's major West-East highways, so you can expect a smooth journey. Narrow streets, beautiful stone buildings and fantastic local coffee shops are great for unwinding in late morning. The journey spans a distance of approximately 220 kilometers. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. La Rioja wine country. If you're flying in and out of Madrid, the Castille and Leon road trip can be an amazing way to explore Spain without having to drive all the way to the coast or spend weeks on the road. El Escorial & The Valley of the Fallen 14. Next. If, however, you just want to walk around historic towns and love traditional hearty Spanish food, you guessed it - Andalucia is your perfect destination. Ultimate Southern Spain Road Trip: Madrid to Andalusia - 10 days. A great route around the region can start and end in Barcelona to make it easy with flights. There are some fantastic hotels if you want to really relax and go off the grid for a few days - we have stayed at The Arantza Hotela in the foothills of Pyrenees and cannot recommend it highly enough - it is expensive but super luxurious and worth it! It is famous for having the oldest University of Spain built in the 13th century which is also one of the four oldest universities in Europe. Historic central Spain - Castilla-La Mancha, 10. Marzipan A local speciality. The Segovia train station is a bit outside of the city itself, so when you arrive you will require a quick bus or taxi ride to get into the centre. Once again were back on the train. Needless to say, sampling the winerys products should be limited to the cars passengers. By joining our email list, you give LazyTrips permission to use your email for sending you newsletters, emails and updates including for marketing purposes. The shimmering Muslim palace-city of Medina Azahara is well known for hunting, so there a. 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