A large sculpture of a tomato (perhaps the worlds largest tomato sculpture) sits atop a large pole, greeting visitors to the town, while the annual Tomate Rojo Rock festival, in early July, combines music and a celebration of the local crop. 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. However, most visitors to the city take what is known as the Strawberry Train. Mark and I personally like to compare prices between Discover Cars and RentalCars to see which company has better deals. Toledo 3. You can visit sites such as the unique cathedral in Mejorada Del Campo or eat olives in Campo Real. Salamanca: The last stop on this drive is the city of Salamanca which cannot be missed. There are also a few very nice cheap restaurants with good food. Its medieval architecture, including a Roman arch unique for its triple arches and a castle, are a testament to its rich history. If your timing is right you can enjoy the wine festival in March or the garlic festival in October. 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 cathedral, designed by French architects, is a building of different styles as the building process lasted over a few centuries. 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. How to Get From Madrid to Toledo by Train, Bus, and Car, Spain's Must-See Sights and Attractions: City by City, How to Get From Madrid to Cuenca and What to Do There, How to Travel From Madrid to Salamanca by Train, Bus, and Car, How to Travel from Madrid to vila by Train, Bus, and Car. In the morning you'll pick up your rental car and begin your epic road-trip. If you want to just relax and enjoy the day, then tours with pick up and drop off are available and offer good value. From Seville you can take easy self-drive day trips to Cadiz, Jerez, Huelva, or Ronda. From winning foodie spots to spectacular vintage shops, Malasaa is one of the best places to stay in Madrid! Aranjuez 11. Alcala de Henares is in zone B-3 which means a return ticket can be bought for less than 5. A must for fans of eye-popping architecture, Avila is a road trip to remember. Many don't associate Mallorca with a road trip, but the island has a huge amount to offer beside the beaches and clubs. Trains to El Escorial leave from Atocha or Chamartn station. Im back with another wine region. But if you are coming on a trip to Madrid for 5 days or longer, then you can create a more action-packed itinerary and see the surroundings after renting a car and going for a drive. Of course, you may want to check your airline baggage rules before buying that 15th-century replica broadsword that would have had William Wallace running in fear! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 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. Cross the Roman bridge for amazing views of the city and the River Tormes. 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. The local variety of castellano is incredibly pure and easy to understand. Protos is my personal favourite. Rascafria Close to a reservoir, Rascafria is a great spot for hikes and natural swimming pools. Baslica de Nuestra Seora del Pilar Simply stunning from the outside and home to a dome that was painted by Goya and a tower you can get to the top of for wonderful views. The roads through the Pyrenees are fantastic and can make for really great road trips with the added bonus of hardly any other cars as you drive around. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Ultimate Southern Spain Road Trip: Madrid to Andalusia - 10 days. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 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. The Zaragoza Route is the most direct way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid, at a distance of 650 km. 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. It has this splendid 15th-century castle, which features a mix of Gothic and Mudjar architecture and is a popular attraction. 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. Cuenca 9. Seplveda belongs toThe Most Beautiful Villages of Spain association, and you wont have to spend long wandering the streets of the hillside town before you will agree the superlative fits. This medieval castle offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Best Time to visit Madrid Madrid is a city with four lovely seasons, loveliest of which are spring and fall. 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. The best way to see Avila is either by organised tour or driving yourself. The journey spans a distance of approximately 220 kilometers. The winding streets of the old Jewish Quarter, awe-inspiring cathedral, and Spain's most impressive mosque outside of Cordoba help make this fascinating city one of a kind. Travel Tip: Toledo is quite hilly, and its cobblestoned streets can complicate things even further. 1. However, from our experience, we noticed that Discover Cars has much better offers, especially in the winter season in Madrid. Vineyards lots of them. Finishing off with a day trip inland to Santiago de Compostela, you will travel the entire length of Spain's Bay of Biscay coastline with everything to see along the way. It is only a short detour from Toledo where Martian-like mountains are located right next to the reservoir. Spain's Mediterranean coast is perfect for a Spanish road trip - just make sure you put sun screen on your left arm if you're driving - the sun gets hot! The walls of the village are punctuated by a number of gates including the Puerta del Campo (a must-stop for a photo of the village) and the Puerta del Calabozo (or dungeon). It takes a little over 35 minutes to drive from Madrid to Alcala, but there is also a local train that will take you there. 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. It would make sense that you might want to get to them as quickly as possible. The Madrid Mountains are full of traditional villages, Spains wine country is not far away, and with the high-speed trains, it may surprise you what you can fit into a day trip. The Monasterio de Piedra Natural Park is a large park and monastery a little over 2 hours outside of Madrid. There are also many different guided Toledo day tour options which would be a good choice if youre not confident using public transport and want to enjoy a stress-free day trip. Really? Needless to say, sampling the winerys products should be limited to the cars passengers. Welcome! 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. Take a boat tour of the parks lagoon or enjoy a picnic on the sandy shores. Famous for Flamenco and the traditional Spanish pastime of bullfighting. 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. The walk around the top of the walls was a really nice experience, but other than that, I didnt find a whole lot more that really stands out about the city. If Theme Parks are not your thing, just drop your kids there for the day while you explore the town. The mountains offer panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Anything in Rey de Patones an amazing restaurant, but be sure to check your bank balance first! 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. This blog post will explore the various destinations you can drive to and will help you plan the ultimate road trip experience from Madrid. Historic central Spain - Castilla-La Mancha, 10. After some cultural sightseeing, head on to Cadaques on the coast - there are some great beaches and a Salvador Dali House Museum. 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. Seville 8. The small town of Aranjuez is a nice escape from the city of Madrid. Miajadas boasts that it is the European Capital of the Tomato. Is Madrid Worth Visiting? Plaza de Toros one of the oldest in Spain. Just dripping in decadence and youll never want to leave the garden. Zaragoza is on the high-speed train route between Madrid and Barcelona meaning there are loads of departures from Atocha station throughout the day. Honest Answers About the Spanish CapitalContinue, For a long time, I wanted to visit the northern coast of Spain. The San Sebastian Airport is just 14 miles (22 kilometers) from the city center and it takes about a half-hour to get there by cab or bus. Besides seaside cities and national parks, there are, Full Article 18 Most Beautiful Coastal Towns in Northern Spain to Add to Your ItineraryContinue, Valencia in winter is a perfect warm place to visit in Spain where it is easy to recharge and have a stress-free vacation. The main attraction there are Plaza Mayor from the 18th century in the radical baroque style. Seeing it and touring around is a number one activity. 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. El Escorial is a town just to the north of Madrid that most people visit to see the imposing Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, and the nearby Valley of the Fallen, a Catholic basilica and controversial civil war memorial. The drive back to Bilbao airport is a little under 2 hours to get you back home! Arvalo is a small historic town famous for its Mudejar architecture and art giving it a special protected status in Spain and Salamanca is an ancient city with two cathedrals - the New one (it is actually called that) began construction in 1513! View from the Roman viewpoint of Montoro, Crdoba. There is something for everybody in Bilbao with superb pintxos in street bars and michelin-starred restaurants, medieval streets and modern boulevards. Travel Tip: Stock up on saffron while in Consuegra. More Than 50 Vital Travel Tips For Barcelona: Dont Make These Mistakes! The perfect Andalucia road trip will take you on a loop including coastal destinations such as Nerja, Malaga, Marbella, Gibraltar and Cadiz before going inland to discover Ronda, Seville, Cordoba and Granada. Monfrage, one of Spain's 15 National Parks, is the world's largest and best-preserved patch of Mediterranean forest. And then if you get to the coast, use my other road trip itineraries and go on a drive between Valencia and Barcelona as well as Valencia to Malaga road trip, or simply plan one of many epic experiences in Spain! If you did want to plan your own itinerary, Id recommend reading this post that I have written for the website Winerist, it has all the details you need to know about reaching Madrids vineyards via public transport. Day 1 Madrid Itinerary: Get Acquainted + Major Sights. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. 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. On this road trip from Madrid to Zaragoza, you will explore the beauty and history of central Spain. A perfect way to explore Spain is to drive around Andalucia. As much as I love the city, there are so many things to do outside Madrid, and it is fun to explore. Travel Tip: Segovia is famous for its cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig). Keep the sea to your right as you go and you're unlikely to go too far wrong. 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! Head back to Madrid for the last night of your trip and go out in true Spanish style with a flamenco dinner. Its known for its Old Town, 12th-century city walls, and many other medieval constructions. Patones de Arriba my favourite village I have found so far. It is the pearl of the Spanish coast and one of the most visited cities not only in Spain but in Europe and the entire world. The answer is all of the above, as well as the most important monument from the Spanish Renaissance. For those interested in history, La Sierra de Madrid is home to the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, an impressive Renaissance-style palace and monastery built by King Philip II in the 16th century. Salamanca 7. Our tip is to ignore the navigator which will send you inland along faster roads. 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). 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. Along the way, you'll get to experience the tapas culture of Andalusia. Segovia: As you continue on your journey towards Salamanca, make a stop in Segovia and visit the iconic Roman aqueduct 728 meters long. Getting there: The AVE train from Madrid takes about an hour and 40 minutes. It takes a bit of effort to get there, but well worth it. A flamenco show in Triana- after all, this district in Seville is the birthplace of this emotional dance. As you approach Toledo, youll be greeted by the citys ancient walls. Madrid to La Sierra de Madrid Road Trip, Highlights of Madrid to La Sierra de Madrid Drive, Highlights of Madrid to Toledo Day Trip by Car, Highlights of Madrid to Salamanca Road Trip, Highlights of Madrid to Zaragoza Scenic Drive, More Inspiration for Travels Around Spain, 18 Most Beautiful Coastal Towns in Northern Spain to Add to Your Itinerary, Valencia in Winter Quick Guide: Weather, Christmas, Things to Do & Travel Tips. Are you ready for a road trip in the north of Spain? It may be the world's most expensive spice, but it's one of the region's specialties. Take the AVE train to get there in under half an hour. During these seasons, the weather is mild and it allows you to truly enjoy every stop. Youll see a different side of Spain on your escape to the seashore if you just slow down. Madrid Wine Tour 5. So this is it, my list of road trips from Madrid for now. Ive become a pretty good tour guide for the city after my multiple visits to Segovia. It wont be impossible, but it will be challenging to find vegan options in Guadalajara. This makes it easy to plan a Spanish holiday that includes time enjoying Madrids museums,restaurants, and nightlife, followed by a few days at the beach. 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. 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. The great thing is, all of them are accessible via public transport. Those who take the time to venture beyond the roadside restaurants and service stations, however, will find that slowing down pays off. You have to get the train back around 6pm so that only leaves you 4 hours to enjoy the city, which is not enough. It is famous for its medieval castle, which was the site of the marriage of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand in 1469. And if at this point youd love to stay in a unique location, then Monasterio de Piedra can be an excellent choice. Constructed in the 16th century under the orders of King Philip II, the sprawling complex is one of Spain's most fascinating destinations. Take a day to see the city and its surroundings - seafood here is amazing as it's a functioning port supplying much of the region and beyond. The Toledano are experts at crafting swords and stunning marzipan desserts. There are many underground wine cellars to discover in the region, a wonderful mix of famous producers and small family affairs. The Mediterranean autova, A-7, offers endless tempting detours as it makes its way from Algeciras in the south to Barcelona in the north: You can visit the donkeys of Mijas, explore the whitewashed towns of Granadas Costa Tropical, and take in the sea of plastic, in Almeria (a reference not to ocean pollution, but the miles of greenhouses where much of Spains produce is grown). It takes just an hour (give or take a few minutes depending on the train you choose) for the high-speed train from Madrid to Cuenca to complete the journey. 13. And the River Tormes ensure basic functionalities and security features of the parks lagoon enjoy. The Strawberry train take what is known as the Strawberry train family affairs mountains are located next! Pig ) nice best road trip from madrid from the city of Madrid Bilbao with superb pintxos in street bars michelin-starred. To Discover in the morning you & # x27 ; ll pick up your rental car and your... 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