First the Plaza Mayor. . With its central location, diverse landscapes, and rich cultural heritage, it offers an abundance of breathtaking destinations just a short drive away. 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 In addition, just a few minutes on foot from the heart of town, it is possible to see the fascinating flysch phenomenon sheets of limestone and sandstone that appear to cut through the water at unlikely angles formed by the erosion of the sea. There is something for everybody in Bilbao with superb pintxos in street bars and michelin-starred restaurants, medieval streets and modern boulevards. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. I have been there a few times now and it is such a picturesque little village. From Barcelona, head south along the coast to Tarragona with a stop in Sitges and the option of relaxing in one of a few great beaches along the way. Other attractions include the serene Convento de Santa Teresa and beautiful Catedral del Salvador. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Salamanca 5. 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. It's hard to sum up El Escorial in just a few words. Once you set off, the best way to see the island is to drive all the way around. Bilbao 14. Hiring a car is really the best option for this day trip. As you approach Toledo, youll be greeted by the citys ancient walls. 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 the charming town of Coca is a true hidden gem in central Spain. On this 11-day self-drive adventure you'll visit not only the most historic cities in Spain, bust some of the most beautiful countryside in the Andalusia region. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It is famous for its medieval castle, which was the site of the marriage of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand in 1469. Visitors can spend hours exploring the hallways and gardens, but my stand out memory was the catacombs. If you do end up doing this one, please let us know! Make a reservation through their website online or through Instagram. Historic central Spain - Castilla-La Mancha, 10. If you love the sun, beaches and perfect mountain hideaways overlooking the sea, Andalucia is the place for you. If you want to take a day trip to Seville, the high-speed train is your only real option as it is a long drive. There is history, festivals, and of course delicious food to enjoy at each of the stops. Cuenca is perhaps best known for its gravity-defying hanging houses, which sit perilously on the edge of a steep cliff. Travel Tip: Foodies won't want to miss Valencia's massive Mercado Central, Europe's largest fresh food market and a verifiable gastronomic heaven. Use an aggregator rather than booking directly from a rental company as it gives you protection in case something goes wrong. Rosquillas de Alcal traditional Spanish doughnut-shaped pastries dunked into a creamy glaze. 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. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The Madrid-Levante high-speed railway network connects Madrid with the Mediterranean coast of the Levant Region. The streets of the old Jewish Quarter Great food & great stories, you can really get into the history of Seville in this area. Located on the Ras Baixas highway in the Galician province of Ourense, Allariz sits on the Arnoia river and dates back to the prehistoric Castro culture; Romans and Goths later occupied it too. Yes, you read that right, no need to drive so you can sample as much as youd like (although driving is a bit easier). But what about further afield? Valle de los Cados: A Controversial Monument, Seville: Andalusian Passion & Flamenco Flair, Valencia: A Colorful Mediterranean Metropolis, Cuenca: Hanging Houses & A Thriving Museum Scene. Stroll around the Gran Va, Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor 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. This is due to the citys historical metalworking industry. 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! Once you've crossed over the Sierra Nevada mountains, your trip continues to Granada, Costa del Sol, Seville and Cordoba. Royal Palace of Aranjuez 8. Amarguillos traditional almond flavoured pastries. You can check their prices & see for yourself: So, here is the list of my favorite 6 wonderful destinations that you must visit from Madrid on driving holidays in central Spain: In this article, you will find very useful information for my road trip options including things to see and wonderful cuisine to indulge in. 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. So, pack your bags, hit the road, and get ready to explore the best that central Spain has to offer! The Codornu Winery, for example, is located in Sant Sadurn d'Anoia, a small village in Alt Peneds (a province within Catalonia). You can spend weeks travelling around the area and still not see dozens of amazing villages, secret beaches, mountain waterfalls or quirky museums. Login to continue Create your account Register. La Rioja is a postcard of a province, with rolling green hills, alpine mountains . A day trip? I offer you the top 6 of beautiful destinations where you can go on a day trip from Madrid by car. On this blog, her main goal is to inspire others to travel to under-the-radar places and discover the world while working remotely. It would make sense that you might want to get to them as quickly as possible. I know what youre thinking, Seville? Aranda de Duero a nice little town in the area. Anything in Rey de Patones an amazing restaurant, but be sure to check your bank balance first! Depending on which train you take, the travel time is between 33 60 minutes. Madrid is a wonderful city full of life. The first stop is the La Rioja wine region, located in Basque Country about 3.5 hours north of Madrid. Definitely visit the Prado museum, walk around the Retiro Park and the . The road trip starts in the capital of Spain's Basque country - Bilbao. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. It offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. If the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal are calling you, the A-5 highway, which crosses the region of Extremadura to the Spanish-Portuguese border, has surprises like the town of Miajadas, in the province of Cceres, not far from Trujillo (famous as the birthplace of many of the men who explored and conquered the Americas). And the gardens offer a peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of the road. This medieval castle offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. One other thing to bear in mind, if you are travelling with teenagers, Chinchn is really close to the Warner Brothers Theme Park. From Seville you can take easy self-drive day trips to Cadiz, Jerez, Huelva, or Ronda. During these seasons, the weather is mild and it allows you to truly enjoy every stop. Anyone who read Don Quijote in their high school Spanish class may remember how the titular character famously confused the giant windmills of Consuegra for monsters with flailing arms. Once inside the city, youll be transported back in time as you explore its narrow, winding streets. 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. Alicante. That hotel room by the sea will still be there, even if you decide to see some of the sights along the way. There are plenty of sights to see along this highway: the walled citadel of Uruea, which promotes itself as the Villa del Libro (like an Iberian Hay-on-Wey, the city has an abundance of bookstores and literary events throughout the year); the picturesque towns of Ponferrada and El Bierzo, or Allariz, surrounded by hills covered in oaks. 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 is home to many small bars and restaurants, each specialising in a different type of tapas. Other popular stops include Europe Park, Cuenca Cathedral, and Castell de Xtiva. 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 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. 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. The main landmark for visitors to Aranjuez is the town's Royal Palace, a royal estate for the Spanish royal family since 1560. 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. The route even takes you behind one of the largest in the park. 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. You can also organise private tours that will take you to both sites with pick up and drop off. Madrid to Valladolid route is only 200 kilometers long but it is full of pretty and important sites. 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. La Rioja wine country. I spent almost 10 years in the US just to realize that I wanted to see more of the world and live in other countries. At first glance, it may seem boring. Get lost in the winding streets and old buildings of Jewish District. Getting There: Getting to Segovia from Madrid couldn't be easier. If you would like an in-depth look about how to get there, you can find it near the top of the post as well as some more tips about what to expect from the park. Argertine peso; There are few cities that offer as much as Barcelona so it's a perfect start to the Mediterranean coast trip. A world-known event where the main ingredient is a tomato-throwing festival. Anya is originally from Ukraine but in heart she is a citizen of the world. Miajadas boasts that it is the European Capital of the Tomato. 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. 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. Be sure to visit the 15th-century Palace of the Infantado, the citys stunning Gothic cathedral, and the Teatro Buero Vallejo, a modern theater with a striking design. 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. As you can imagine, this region is well known for hunting, so there is a huge variety of meats. The end of the trip gets you to Pedraza back in the Segovia province before taking a short drive back to Madrid's airport. After a day of exploring, the route heads west towards Salamanca via Arvalo. 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. After that the road trip continues all the way to Port de Pollena before heading across the island to Cala Mesquida. During these seasons, the weather is mild and it allows you to truly enjoy every stop. Or simply combine them together and have one long road trip in Spain with a departure point from Madrid! 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. Both Iberia and Air Europa offer direct service on this . 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. Getting There: Trains from Madrid get you to Cuenca in about an hour. In medieval times, Basque country spanned the mountain range, including parts of France on the other side. View from the Roman viewpoint of Montoro, Crdoba. Whether you're looking to relax in the mountains off the Costa del Sol, navigate the narrow streets of Toledo or take a stroll down Barcelona's Las Ramblas, we can help you plan the perfect Spanish road trip for you. For example being a native Californian, I would much rather know about Monterey or Carmel by the Sea than spend too many days in San Francisco especially as I love to hike and be in nature. Also, try some other kinds of rice like senyoret (with peeled seafood) or a banda (a very thin layer of rice with seafood). If you do drive to Patones de Arriba, be sure to leave time to go a little further up the road and check out El Atazar so you get some awesome views over the Atazar Reservoir (Madrids largest reservoir) and drive across the dam. Head back to Madrid for the last night of your trip and go out in true Spanish style with a flamenco dinner. While highways A-1 to A-6 radiate out from Madrid, the last two highways in the system run along the countrys two coasts. 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. Here are the top cities to add to your route: vila: Located just over an hours drive from Madrid as a midpoint between Madrid and Salamanca. There are regular buses from Madrid to Salamanca, operated by Avanzabus. And if you go on this drive through Segovia (which I highly recommend doing! These have protected its residents for centuries. Drive Spain's Mediterranean coast From Salamanca, you can check out other beautiful historic towns of Ledesma and Zamora before a stop in Valladolid - the assumed capital of the Castille and Leon province. 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%. The C-2 Cercanas line runs from Atocha to Alcala de Henares. Getting to and from the region can be tough so you might have to adjust the route depending on where you're travelling from. 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. 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. Puente de San Martin a picturesque medieval bridge across the River Tagus. Travel Tip: Due to the required stop in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, many travelers choose to combine the two into a single day trip from Madrid. 383 mi 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. One appealing stop is Alarcn, an enchanting village in the province of Cuenca with only 148 inhabitants and one of the best-preserved forts in Spain, originally constructed by Arab conquerors. 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. Of Jewish District exploring the hallways and gardens, but be sure to check your bank balance first some... Hiring a car is really the best option for this day trip from Madrid, the last night of trip! 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