Use an aggregator rather than booking directly from a rental company as it gives you protection in case something goes wrong. Here is the last for now Madrid road trip which is a great pick if you look to explore more charming towns and cities of central Spain. Hidden away in plain sight right next to Madrid, it stretches almost as far as Valencia and Murcia in Spain's south east. With seabirds circling overhead, the mystical ocean breezes blowing, and a plate of some of the best octopus you will ever taste sprinkled with Txakoli (the local dry sparkling white wine) and your visit to Zumaia may be more than a mere stop and instead the highpoint of your trip. You can take the direct short cut but you will miss out on a whole lot of stunning scenery, ocean-facing cliffs and spectacular locations for light houses - on the shoreline, on cliffs and even on their own islands. It is a huge square where you will find the gorgeous basilica, La SEO Cathedral and the entrance to the historic Roman parts of the city. Once you reach La Sierra de Madrid, you can hike through its lush forests, go rock climbing, or simply relax and soak up the stunning scenery. The area of Aranjuez was a traditional strawberry producing powerhouse, and the Strawberry Train tries to take you back to this era. It is a fantastic destination for a laid-back yet surprising trip, Full Article Valencia in Winter Quick Guide: Weather, Christmas, Things to Do & Travel TipsContinue, Barcelona is a special city. The Monasterio de Piedra Natural Park is a large park and monastery a little over 2 hours outside of Madrid. As a Madrid resident myself, I have spent a lot of time exploring the fringes of the city and the nearby neighbours, so I thought I would put together some of my top recommendations and share the best day trips from Madrid. Youll find it in bakeries throughout the city. After some cultural sightseeing, head on to Cadaques on the coast - there are some great beaches and a Salvador Dali House Museum. Besides the citys iconic Roman aqueduct, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there is also an impressive cathedral, Alczar castle, the Jewish quarter, pretty central Plaza Mayor square with its 15th-century buildings, and more. Road Trip form Madrid to Porto from US$223. Of course. It is possible to drive close, but most people leave their car at the bottom in the more modern village of Patones and hike up. Spain Road Trip with Bernabu Tour from US$197. Madrid is a great travel destination with a lot to do and see, but sometimes you need to get away and explore the surrounding areas. Show only these on map Parque Warner Madrid Save On 3 lists Amusement park A road trip from Madrid to Lisbon through Salamanca is a wonderful way to see two countries without spending too much time on driving and seeing some eminent highlights. You won't want a car in Madrid. It takes a little under 3 hours each way, but with regular departures throughout the day from Madrids Atocha Station, there is plenty of time to see the city highlights and be back in Madrid by bedtime. Palma is the capital and often overlooked by visitors who go straight from airport to their preferred corner of the island. Admire its stunning architecture, and discover its rich cultural heritage. The road trip then moves west along the coast to Santander, before further stops in Santillana del Mar, the Picos de Europa national park and Gijon. In medieval times, Basque country spanned the mountain range, including parts of France on the other side. Where to Stay in Madrid. 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. If you visit Cuenca, I would recommend starting in the castle area and working your way through the steep cobbled streets down into the main town. Our tip is to ignore the navigator which will send you inland along faster roads. It is a university town that is most famous for being the birthplace of Cervantes, the author of Spains most famous literary work, Don Quixote. Alczar of Toledo An imposing castle on the cities highest point and home to an Army Museum. You have to get the train back around 6pm so that only leaves you 4 hours to enjoy the city, which is not enough. By joining our email list, you give LazyTrips permission to use your email for sending you newsletters, emails and updates including for marketing purposes. And relish taking your time amid small Spanish villages, far from the crowds. Lindsey Zimmerman is a freelance writer and travel expert who has lived in southern Spain since 2015. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. From El Escorial, take bus 660 to Valle de los Cados o Cruce Cuelgamuros. Siguenza: A small ancient city with unique architecture and old as ages historical monuments. Castille Leon - visit the heart of Spain, 7. You'll relax in the world famous Andalucian white villages of Mijas, Benahavis and Casares and mingle with new money in Puerto Banus' marina full of expensive supercars, people with too much plastic surgery and the world's biggest yachts. 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. You can spend weeks travelling around the area and still not see dozens of amazing villages, secret beaches, mountain waterfalls or quirky museums. Of the countrys eight autovas, its modern toll-free highways, A-1 to A-6, extend out from the capital. No matter what your political persuasion, there is no doubt the monument is an impressive maker to the bloody past of a dark time in Spains history. The city actually has a lot to offer so it's great to spend the first or last night here depending on your flight times. The A-1 autova connects Madrid with Irn, in Guipzcoa (a province in Spains Basque country, next to the French border). Salamanca: The last stop on this drive is the city of Salamanca which cannot be missed. The Castle was built by the Arabs in the 12th century as a defensive structure, but after the Reconquista, on the initiative of Cardinal Mendoza, it was converted into a residence for bishops. Now, personally, I hate the sport of killing a bull and I dont feel it has a place in the modern world, but there is quite a history and prestige to it and, it is said that as a Matador if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. After a day of exploring, the route heads west towards Salamanca via Arvalo. Royal Palace of Aranjuez 8. Nevertheless, Zaragoza is among the interesting historical and cultural places in Spain. If you have time on your hands and feel adventurous, a road trip around the entirety of Spain can be an amazing way to delve into the culture, see all the corners of this amazing country and really get immersed. 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. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. We have driven up and down and across Spain a lot of times over the past 15 years. The coffins are vertically lined up the walls with the names of the ex-monarchs. You don't need to pick up your rental car until day 4. Another thing is to walk along the streets of Salamancas old town as it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you know of anything I may have missed off of this list, drop it in the comments, Id love to check it out myself some time and maybe add it to the list. The town also has some wonderful large squares and impressive Mudejar architecture. Welcome! This is due to the citys historical metalworking industry. The biggest thing in the city is the university, it was the first one in Spain and is widely recognised as one of the best in the world with students from around the globe. The Church of Nuestra Seora de la Asuncin sits atop a hill, overlooking the town and is home to a piece of early work by Goya, one of Spains most famous artists. 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! 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. Once you've crossed over the Sierra Nevada mountains, your trip continues to Granada, Costa del Sol, Seville and Cordoba. The wall encircles the historic center, outside of which there are seven Romanesque churches. I want to share the top 4 resources I personally use for planning a road trip in Spain: The best time to do a road trip from Madrid is during the spring and fall. The A-3 highway leads to Madrids beach, as some call Valencia, the closest city on the sea traveling from the capital. Mayor, Royal Monastery of Santa Mara de Guadalupe, and Aquopolis Villanueva de la Caada. Also, try some other kinds of rice like senyoret (with peeled seafood) or a banda (a very thin layer of rice with seafood). Alicante. And if at this point youd love to stay in a unique location, then Monasterio de Piedra can be an excellent choice. 13. The coolest road trips from Madrid Spain's beaches, and its beach towns, are justifiably famous. The trip lasts 20-30 minutes. Trains to El Escorial leave from Atocha or Chamartn station. Decadent facades are on all four sides and there is a great little microbrewery to grab a drink, just sit and enjoy some people watching. Book your tickets online in advance to avoid long queues. The city walls are some of the best around from the outside and walking along the top. Madrid to Valladolid route is only 200 kilometers long but it is full of pretty and important sites. Of course, there is always a chance to make them longer than day trips and stay overnight in one of the authentic hotels along the road (I mention some of them in the article) as these places have a high concentration of medieval sights and unique historical monuments that you may want to explore in depth. The streets of the old Jewish Quarter Great food & great stories, you can really get into the history of Seville in this area. View Map. The town is also famous for its roast lamb, which will provide sustenance as you continue your journey to the sea. Road Trip Through Central Spain at a Glance Day 1: Arrive Madrid Day 2: Madrid Day 3: Madrid to Toledo Day 4: Toledo Day 5: Don Quixote Countryside Day 6: Hike through the Tablas de Daimiel If you get out of the tourist areas, you will find local pintxo bars where the snacks are free as long as you keep buying the drinks! 10 Best Road Trips Near Madrid Escape to the Community of Madrid This Weekend! The trip then continues around the coast to Santiago de Compostela. If you are looking to get the most out of your time in Spain, that could be a really good option. The best way is by far to drive yourself, but there are bus and train options. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Note Please know, some of the external links on this page are affiliate links, this means that if you purchase after following one, I make a small commission from the sale at no additional cost to yourself. There are three main wine subsections in Madrid, San Martin and Navalcarnero to the South East and Arganda, the largest, to the south-west. The city was once the capital of Spain and is also known as The City of Three Cultures, a nod to being one of the few places that the Jewish, Muslim and Christian cultures co-existed in relative peace. When in Chinchon, pay a visit to Bodega del Nero winery with generous tastings and tapas. Cross Stone Bridge cross the old river bridge and look back across the Ebro for great views of the Basilica. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Toledo Cathedral A gothic masterpiece dating to the 13th century. But, as it was also the burial site of Franco himself, it became a shrine for the far-right and detested by many Spaniards. The Hanging Houses of Cuenca the iconic site across the gorge. The Art Walk Pass gives you entrance and queue jump at all three. Some of the towns worth visiting in La Sierra are Rascafria, Buitrago de Lozoya, Manzanares El Real, and Chinchon. 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. It is only 45 minutes by car or a little under an hour by train. A drive inland to Girona is optional before you make it down to the relaxation end of the journey with beach stops in Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar on the menu. On day two you have the chance to shape your Spain itinerary however most interests you. If you want to just relax and enjoy the day, then tours with pick up and drop off are available and offer good value. They are the municipal Cercanas Renfe lines which mean there are a lot of stops, but they are also cheap. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. While the towering Roman aqueduct may be Segovia's biggest claim to fame, don't just come for the sake of checking it off your list. Rich in Arab, Jewish and Christian history, the former Spanish capital is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Puerto de Navacerrada (Ski Resort) 10. The cathedral, designed by French architects, is a building of different styles as the building process lasted over a few centuries. Other than the Hercules Tower, the main sight here is the light house. 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. 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. A royal resort town, Aranjuez offers travelers something a little different making it one of the best side trips from Madrid. Linking Barcelona and Madrid, the two largest cities of Spain, the A-2 winds through Guadalajara, Soria, Zaragoza, and Lrida with a multitude of sights along the way. I will be exploring more of Spain during the next few months and will add more road trips to this list once I check them out. However, my highlight is a network of alleyways called El Tubo. Cuenca 4. Getting There: You can get to Salamanca from Madrid via bus. Andalusia, Spain's southernmost region, is often what people imagine Spain to be: sultry and passionate, with a near-constant soundtrack of flamenco beats. Your email will not be provided to third parties. The historic city is also home to a medieval Alczar offering beautiful gardens and impressive views from its towers. But the charming town of Coca is a true hidden gem in central Spain. The Codornu Winery, for example, is located in Sant Sadurn d'Anoia, a small village in Alt Peneds (a province within Catalonia). La Granja Palace, a highlight of San Ildefonso, is a clear testament to the wealth and grandeur of the Spanish monarchy of the 18th century which led the worlds largest power with colonies around the world. I visited Zaragoza recently, although I must admit I cheated, it was an overnight trip, not a day trip, however, the fact that it is a very pretty city and on the high-speed train line, certainly makes it worth considering. Hugging the coast for virtually the entire trip means that you are always a few minutes away from a beach - something that can provide welcome distractions on your way. There is a bus option, but it takes a bit longer, or you can hire a car and drive yourself which will take around an hour and a half. Bus 664 or 661 from Moncloa also get you there in about the same amount of time. As you would expect, this gives the city a rather sophisticated feel of one steeped in academic history. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Scroll down to see more detail on each one. However, a tour would be my recommended option, or if you have a partner who is willing to drive, this is by far the easiest way. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. From the unfinished masterpiece that is the Sagrada Familia church and the quaint Catalan charm of picturesque Gracia, to a diverse drinks and dining scene and dozens of fabulous beaches, you're guaranteed to never be bored in the Catalan capital. Probably the least famous town on this list, Chinchn is home to one of Spains prettiest Plaza Mayors. The town of Medina del Campo is another point of interest worth a stop. The palace project (which was a residence of the monarchs) began as a Spanish response in the 17th century to the French Versailles. While it is regions such as Rioja and Ribera Del Duero that dominate the Spanish wine fame, Madrid actually has their very own Denominacin de Origen Vinos De Madrid. Wear comfortable shoes if you plan on doing a lot of walking. Madrid is a wonderful city full of life. Take the exit and you can tour some of its olive-oil mills, snap some photos of the nearby Torre del Castillo de Villaverde (which has survived the centuries though the small town that it once protected has not), or simply stroll through the streets of this postcard-perfect Andalusian village. 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. My other highlight is crossing the pedestrianised Roman Bridge. Make sure you check out the huge Cathedral (you really can't miss it) and the part of the city around the market (only open in the morning). If budget allows and you are ready to take it slowly, stop for a night in the elegant Parador de Alarcon set in an 8th-century castle. After a few days of luxuriating, it's time to drive down from the mountainside and make your way to Pamplona - a historic city famous for its July bull running festival has far more to offer than the medieval tradition. ), then in this city try the roasted Cochinillo (Pork) or Lechazo (lamb). El Postiguet is the city's main beach, just a short stroll from its old town. If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. Spain's north-west corner lying on the Bay of Biscay and bordering France is full of history, tradition and mountains. This historic city is a must-see stop as it is famous for its impressive defensive medieval walls, which stretch over two kilometers with 87 towers and nine gates. 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. Additionally, trains are available, but travel times differ depending on the type. Miajadas boasts that it is the European Capital of the Tomato. The first stop is the La Rioja wine region, located in Basque Country about 3.5 hours north of Madrid. Im sorry to say though, wherever you eat it, it wont be as good as my mother-in-laws. Its a simple motorway so little chance of getting lost, although the road does get pretty busy at rush hour. Freelance writer and travel expert who has lived in southern Spain since 2015 France is full of pretty important! 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