Learn how your comment data is processed. Pestana Holidays powered by Travel Compositor Sales & Support +351 215551041. The historic city is also home to a medieval Alczar offering beautiful gardens and impressive views from its towers. Cuenca is perhaps best known for its gravity-defying hanging houses, which sit perilously on the edge of a steep cliff. Hiring a car is really the best option for this day trip. Cuenca Cathedral Located in the main square surrounded by colourful houses, San Pablo Bridge You may be OK, but it made me feel very uneasy. 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! I would love to show you, but it is not allowed to take photos. A royal resort town, Aranjuez offers travelers something a little different making it one of the best side trips from Madrid. 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. If you have a car it is about 45 minutes to drive to Chinchn from Madrid. 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. Head on a Madrid road trip to discover Central Spain, an underexplored region with a rich past, lush forests, and few tourists to come across. Hornazo A local speciality which is an oven-baked meat pie, but a bit more like bread than pastry, usually stuffed with pork loin, spicy chorizo, and hard-boiled eggs. If you would like to read a more in-depth guide, check out my what to see in Zaragoza post to be fully inspired. Getting There: Take the Renfe-operated AVE from Madrid, which lasts roughly two and a half hours. One other thing to bear in mind, if you are travelling with teenagers, Chinchn is really close to the Warner Brothers Theme Park. The museum is a recreation of the artists home. There are few parts of the world which have so much to see in such a compact region both culturally and in nature. Our tip is to ignore the navigator which will send you inland along faster roads. I know, a lot of people prefer the southern region with its Moorish sights, flamenco, stunning beaches, whitewashed villages, milder winters,, Full Article Northern Coast of Spain Travel Guide Best Places to Visit, Things to See & DoContinue, While Barcelona and Valencia on their own have so much to offer that youd need to spend at least a few days in each city, Barcelona to Valencia drive is no less spectacular. 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. Valladolid: In the Middle Ages, Valladolid served as the residence of the Spanish and Castilian monarchs. The biggest draw in the town is the huge royal palace and expansive gardens. Anything in Rey de Patones an amazing restaurant, but be sure to check your bank balance first! If you want to base yourself in Barcelona, instead of going on a road trip, check out our 40 day trips from Barcelona for inspiration on where you can get to! The plan with this road trip is to go all the way round the Galician coastline starting from As Catedrais beach. Tours will often combine it with a visit to Segovia. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Of course. Day 3 Madrid Itinerary: Barrio de la Latina + A Day Trip to Toledo. There are also places to sample cava, Spains famous sparkling wine. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Toledo is famous as a blend of Christian, Muslim and Jewish religions and cultures. The great thing is, all of them are accessible via public transport. 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. 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. As youd expect, the town is home to the Cervantes Birthplace Museum where you can learn about the life and inspiration of the Spanish Shakespeare. Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. The Zaragoza Route is the most direct way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid, at a distance of 650 km. Its biggest is the impressive medieval city wall, but another main draw is the Convent of Santa Teresa, a magnificent religious structure built on the home where St. Teresa of vila was born. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Spain's buzzing second city has a whole host of cultural and historical gems to explore. 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. There are quite a few stops to make and foods to try. Spain Road Trip with Bernabu Tour from US$197. Drive Spain's Mediterranean coast The drive back to Bilbao airport is a little under 2 hours to get you back home! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. After that the road trip continues all the way to Port de Pollena before heading across the island to Cala Mesquida. Trains to El Escorial leave from Atocha or Chamartn station. If you plan to come to Madrid for 2 or 3 days only, then you will hardly have enough time to see the sights of the capital itself. The journey spans a distance of approximately 350 kilometers. We have driven up and down and across Spain a lot of times over the past 15 years. Check out the tower of the Clerecia for some more great views. Palma is the capital and often overlooked by visitors who go straight from airport to their preferred corner of the island. User or email address Password Remember me. About the destination: Madrid has a tempo of its own: The dry air of the Castilian plain crackles with its cosmopolitan crowds. Follow those secondary roads and you may come upon an artisans studio with rows of beautifully glazed ceramic pots, a centuries-old Romanesque chapel, or a field of sunflowers greeting you. 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. The local variety of castellano is incredibly pure and easy to understand. During your visit to Toledo, delight yourself with some local dishes such as Perdiz Estofada (Stewed Partridge) and Carcamusa (beef or pork stew). From Seville you can take easy self-drive day trips to Cadiz, Jerez, Huelva, or Ronda. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Want to experience an amazing Spain road trip but not sure where to go? Getting lost in Toledo's tightly-knotted streets is the best way to explore the city, particularly the narrow alleys around Plaza Santa Clara. 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). Take the C3 line from Atocha or Nuevos Ministerios. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Nevertheless, Zaragoza is among the interesting historical and cultural places in Spain. Valle de los Cados: A Controversial Monument, Seville: Andalusian Passion & Flamenco Flair, Valencia: A Colorful Mediterranean Metropolis, Cuenca: Hanging Houses & A Thriving Museum Scene. Scroll down to see more detail on each one. The town of Medina del Campo is another point of interest worth a stop. The large wooden structure fills a plaza and you can get on top of it for some fantastic views. Its medieval history can be seen throughout the city - the Spanish Monarchy even made Valladolid their home in the 17th century! Madrid is a vibrant, exciting city, and art and culture lovers will love the array of museums and art galleries. Exploring this region brings a mix of natural sights and beautiful historic Spanish cities. The main landmark for visitors to Aranjuez is the town's Royal Palace, a royal estate for the Spanish royal family since 1560. Segovia: If you dont stop in Segovia on a road trip to Salamanca (or on any other day trip from Madrid), then dont miss it on this drive. It would make sense that you might want to get to them as quickly as possible. Once you've crossed over the Sierra Nevada mountains, your trip continues to Granada, Costa del Sol, Seville and Cordoba. There is a tourist train which is a great way to get a concise history of Avila and see the main sites. First the Plaza Mayor. There are regular buses from Madrid to Salamanca, operated by Avanzabus. These have protected its residents for centuries. 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. Getting There: There is no direct public transport from Madrid to the valleyyou have to make a stop in San Lorenzo de El Escorial (see above for information on reaching the town from Madrid). On your route across the north of Catalonia, you are spoilt for choice with the Garrotxa volcanic national park and the village of Santa Pau worth visiting, a detour into Andorra and towns like Besalu and Castellfollit de la Roca all great options before you arrive in Figueres. It may be the world's most expensive spice, but it's one of the region's specialties. Aljafera Palace an old Moorish palace with some lovely courtyards. Where to Stay in Madrid. While I do love living in the city of Madrid, one of my favourite things to do is leave it behind for a day and explore further afield. Start by heading along the narrow cliff roads along the coast to Valdemossa and Soler - the two very popular destinations to the north of Palma. 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. The streets of the old Jewish Quarter Great food & great stories, you can really get into the history of Seville in this area. It is also easily reachable by public transport. 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. 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 Segovia Aqueduct dating back to 50AD, it is rumoured to have been built by the Devil. Embarking on a road trip from Madrid to Valencia is an excellent way to explore the diverse landscapes and cultural landmarks of this area. From El Escorial, take bus 660 to Valle de los Cados o Cruce Cuelgamuros. 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. If you would rather take public transport, you can get buses to various towns in the region from Valladolid which is reachable from Madrid by train or intercity bus. Albufera Natural Park: Located just south of Valencia, the Albufera Natural Park is a beautiful natural reserve that offers visitors a peaceful respite from the bustling city. It offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The wall encircles the historic center, outside of which there are seven Romanesque churches. Spanish travel restrictions explained, This destination is on track to become the most visited country in the world by 2025, The ultimate guide to planning an elopement, The 10 best places to visit in Europe in 2023, The Most Beautiful Villages of Spain association. I would not recommend this as an option. Best stops along Madrid to Valencia drive The top stops along the way from Madrid to Valencia (with short detours) are Parque Warner Madrid, Royal Palace of Aranjuez, and San Pablo Bridge. Those who take the time to venture beyond the roadside restaurants and service stations, however, will find that slowing down pays off. As well as the park you can visit the monastery itself and a small wine and chocolate museum with winemaking exhibits and information about the relationship between monks and winemaking as a commercial business to fund their way of life. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. It is only a short detour from Toledo where Martian-like mountains are located right next to the reservoir. There is a whole lot more to Spain's Catalonia region than Barcelona. The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial can get confusing as it is also known as the Monasterio del Escorial, is a large palace that dates back to the 16th century. Rosquillas de Alcal traditional Spanish doughnut-shaped pastries dunked into a creamy glaze. Of the countrys eight autovas, its modern toll-free highways, A-1 to A-6, extend out from the capital. 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. Just bear in mind, as with most of the high-speed train stations, Cuenca Train Station is located a fair way outside the city and will require a taxi ride that takes around 10 15 mins and costs in the region of 12. The tickets cost in the region of 100 each way, but If you can book tickets early, there is a good chance you can save up to 25%. Once you've navigated the tourists, a short drive down the coast takes you to Cala Agulla where the beaches are empty and the sun is just as hot for some relaxation. This is a place worth spending a couple of days in to explore its old historic centre, the surrounding mountains and the spectacular world-famous Guggenheim museum. Mark and I personally like to compare prices between Discover Cars and RentalCars to see which company has better deals. However, on my visit to Avila, once I had breached the city walls, I found it a little underwhelming. The room glows in red and gold with a magnificent chandelier hanging high above your head. 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. 1. It might have a reputation for its packed resorts, but Alicante is a pretty port in the shadow of Mount Benacantil, a rocky hill where Santa Barbara Castle sits. Spring lasts from March to May, though the last month may sometimes be much warmer than the first two. My other highlight is crossing the pedestrianised Roman Bridge. 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 main attractions of Valladolid are the 16th-century Cathedral, the National Sculpture Museum, and the Cervantes House. 1. 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. 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. Alongside Madrid, it is one of my favourite plaza mayors in Spain. If not, you should definitely plan one since this region is full of wonders! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The Alcazar of Segovia one of the few castles in Spain that has never been taken by force. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Another great option is the Huevos al Salmorrejo, these are eggs made with green asparagus, garlic, and parsley. This dish is usually made roasted and it refers to a very young lamb. In conclusion, what you have to remember is that all the day trips from Madrid by car allow you to visit local and rural Spain. Consider spending more time in the city in order to fully appreciate all it has to offer. But this is nearer the beginning of the rivers life. Along the way, you'll get to experience the tapas culture of Andalusia. Argertine peso; This blog post will explore the various destinations you can drive to and will help you plan the ultimate road trip experience from Madrid. But if you're brave enough, you can start wherever along the route you like as you it goes in a loop. 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. Other popular stops include Pl. 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. But what about further afield? Further back there is a massive Moorish influence on the city, which most represented the Alcazar of Seville, an amazing palace to visit and even a filming site for the Game of Thrones. You don't need to pick up your rental car until day 4. This route takes 7 hours to drive, not accounting for any stops or detours. 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. How to Travel From Madrid to Cordoba by Train, Bus, and Car, How to Travel from Madrid to Valladolid by Train, Bus, and Car, Madrid to Valencia by Train, Bus, Car, and Plane, The Most Popular Cities to Visit in Spain, How to Travel From Seville to Cordoba by Train, Bus, and Car, How to Travel From Porto to Madrid by Train, Bus, Car, and Plane. Optional Madrid Itinerary Addition: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. If you are looking for the perfect Toledo souvenirs then a sword would be the right choice. Thanks so much for this postvery useful for people who prefer the small towns and only have a couple days. Getting there: The AVE train from Madrid takes about an hour and 40 minutes. However, there are also plenty of tuk-tuk drivers who offer tours of the town and trips up to some wonderful viewpoints. Famous for Flamenco and the traditional Spanish pastime of bullfighting. There are three main wine subsections in Madrid, San Martin and Navalcarnero to the South East and Arganda, the largest, to the south-west. Other than the Hercules Tower, the main sight here is the light house. Hike through one of the best bird reserves in the country. Before we dive into the ideas, here's the complete list of the best road trip routes with key information. 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. If you do end up doing this one, please let us know! 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. I know what youre thinking, Seville? 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. The towns rich history is reflected in churches like the 12th-century San Pedro and the 13th-century Convent of Santa Clara. A-1 to A-6, extend out from the capital from Atocha or Ministerios... And across Spain a lot of times over the past 15 years dry..., Zaragoza is among the interesting historical and cultural landmarks of this area all of them accessible. 16Th-Century Cathedral, the main sites route is the light House all it has to offer not allowed take... Roadside restaurants and service stations, however, there are regular buses from Madrid have driven up and and! 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