Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. If you choose not to take the strawberry train, other organised tours will take you to the town or you can also drive yourself. Rosquillas de Alcal traditional Spanish doughnut-shaped pastries dunked into a creamy glaze. The palace project (which was a residence of the monarchs) began as a Spanish response in the 17th century to the French Versailles. So, pack your bags, hit the road, and get ready to explore the best that central Spain has to offer! We have driven up and down and across Spain a lot of times over the past 15 years. From Tarragona, this trip goes inland towards Montblanc and all the way to La Seu d'Urgell in the Pyrenees via Solsona. Monasterio de Piedra Final thoughts on the best day trips from Madrid This might not be so much of a Spanish road trip as a gentle breeze along the coast (and there will be a lot of breeze! It will take around 45 minutes heading south from Madrid. Madrid is a world within a city, offering a thriving cultural atmosphere, great shopping and sightseeing, and unforgettable food. Cuenca: a small charming ancient city, perched atop a dramatic gorge. The towns rich history is reflected in churches like the 12th-century San Pedro and the 13th-century Convent of Santa Clara. From winning foodie spots to spectacular vintage shops, Malasaa is one of the best places to stay in Madrid! Alcal de Henares 15. Just wander and get lost among the amazing buildings. 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 town also has some wonderful large squares and impressive Mudejar architecture. The rest of the road trip follows the Costa Brava back down to Barcelona. Head back to Madrid for the last night of your trip and go out in true Spanish style with a flamenco dinner. Aranjuez 11. However, there are also plenty of tuk-tuk drivers who offer tours of the town and trips up to some wonderful viewpoints. 13. Getting There: Trains from Madrid get you to Cuenca in about an hour. Take line C-8 or C-3 which depart every hour and the journey lasts approximately one hour. A must for fans of eye-popping architecture, Avila is a road trip to remember. The site has also been carefully landscaped over many years by the monks that live in the monastery on site. If not, you should definitely plan one since this region is full of wonders! The city is home to one of the finest surviving Roman Aqueducts in the world, as well as an impenetrable castle and a stunning cathedral. A favourite stop is a nestled in the mountains by the sea: Nijar. Admire its stunning architecture, and discover its rich cultural heritage. Best Time to visit Madrid Madrid is a city with four lovely seasons, loveliest of which are spring and fall. 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. 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). Protos is my personal favourite. This dish is usually made roasted and it refers to a very young lamb. Getting There: Buses operated by Samar take 2 hours and 20 minutes to reach Consuegra from Madrid. To explore Spains rich history and culture, a day trip to Toledo from Madrid is a must. You can spend weeks travelling around the area and still not see dozens of amazing villages, secret beaches, mountain waterfalls or quirky museums. Take a boat tour of the parks lagoon or enjoy a picnic on the sandy shores. The local variety of castellano is incredibly pure and easy to understand. 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. 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. Those who take the time to venture beyond the roadside restaurants and service stations, however, will find that slowing down pays off. Segovia: As you continue on your journey towards Salamanca, make a stop in Segovia and visit the iconic Roman aqueduct 728 meters long. In some ways similar to tapas popular in the rest of Spain, pintxos are smaller bite-size snacks served in bars and charged by number or by plate. Alongside Madrid, it is one of my favourite plaza mayors in Spain. Compare that to the standard train, which takes about 3 and a half hours, or driving, which is about 2 and a half hours. Visitors can spend hours exploring the hallways and gardens, but my stand out memory was the catacombs. 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. The road trip starts in the capital of Spain's Basque country - Bilbao. Its medieval history can be seen throughout the city - the Spanish Monarchy even made Valladolid their home in the 17th century! Many don't associate Mallorca with a road trip, but the island has a huge amount to offer beside the beaches and clubs. 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. Alcala de Henares is in zone B-3 which means a return ticket can be bought for less than 5. The towns here, however, are worth a short detour as you make your way to the seashore, Win a holiday to Lake Comos most beautiful hotel, March horoscope 2023: Which signs can expect luck in travel this month, Can I go to Spain? Day 1 Madrid Itinerary: Get Acquainted + Major Sights. On this blog, her main goal is to inspire others to travel to under-the-radar places and discover the world while working remotely. The only real way is driving. 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. It dates back to the 1st century AD. Valley of the Fallen Monument 15. However, most visitors to the city take what is known as the Strawberry Train. This medieval castle offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. 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. Some of the towns worth visiting in La Sierra are Rascafria, Buitrago de Lozoya, Manzanares El Real, and Chinchon. You can also organise private tours that will take you to both sites with pick up and drop off. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. Getting There: Getting to Segovia from Madrid couldn't be easier. The monument itselfan impressive stone cross and basilicawas built by prisoners of the Spanish Civil War, and today serves as Franco's final resting place. 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 Monasterio de Piedra Natural Park is a large park and monastery a little over 2 hours outside of Madrid. Of course. Toledo is a medieval city located just 70 km from Madrid, the former capital of the country, and one of the most distinctive cities in Spain. The list below, organised by highway, includes a favourite town (followed by its province) for each one. 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. One key disclaimer is that while this one sits high on our list of bucket list trips, we haven't actually done the full trip - it's a long drive! Spain's buzzing second city has a whole host of cultural and historical gems to explore. 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. During the summer, the Madrid Mountains offer some excellent hiking opportunities and in a good Winter, there are even some pretty decent ski ports. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Welcome! Barcelona Source: vitalez / shutterstock Barcelona Although a fair hike, Barcelona can be easily reached in the space of a day trip from Madrid. It would be a good option if you want an overnight visit. 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 city walls are some of the best around from the outside and walking along the top. The end of the trip gets you to Pedraza back in the Segovia province before taking a short drive back to Madrid's airport. 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). LazyTrips is a trading name of Uncle Bob Media Ltd. Its magnificent Mudejar temples coexist together with spectacular modern buildings and its cathedral is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. Well, stick with me here as it is totally possible to take day trips from Madrid to Seville, in fact, I have a whole post about it complete with a Seville in a day itinerary. While Avila is a nice side trip from Madrid, if you allow a full day here, you may find yourself getting a little bored by the end, but it is certainly worth visiting. Pestana Holidays powered by Travel Compositor Sales & Support +351 215551041. Along the way, you'll get to experience the tapas culture of Andalusia. La Rioja is a postcard of a province, with rolling green hills, alpine mountains, limestone . 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. The C-2 Cercanas line runs from Atocha to Alcala de Henares. La Granja de San Ildefonso: It is just a short drive from Segovia. 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 drive will scale mountains with breathtaking views and take you to the mesmerising Mezquita cathedral in Cordoba and the unique Moorish Alhambra complex in Granada. 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