Madrid, the capital of Spain, is an upbeat, lively city rich in culture, history, and natural beauty. While there is plenty to do in the city itself, we found several of the day trips from Madrid to be equally as mesmerising.
From charming medieval towns to natural parks and beautiful beaches, Madrid is a perfect base for exploring some of the most beautiful destinations in Spain. In fact, there are a surprising number of fascinating cities near Madrid.
While we explored many Madrid day trips, some were longer weekend trips from Madrid. Below we highlight our ten favourites, including things to do, unique attractions, and the distance from the capital city.
Madrid day trips
I would love to say that our ten recommended day trips from Madrid are listed below in no particular order. But in reality, my favourites all come first. We had our own vehicle as it was part of our long-term home exchange in Palamós.
Segovia
(Distance from Madrid: 90km)
Segovia is one of my favourite places in Spain, and while it tops my list of the best day trips from Madrid, I secretly wish I had spent the night.
This charming medieval city is probably best known for its impressive Roman Aqueduct, which dates back to the 1st century AD, but that is only one of several amazing things to see and do here. Once in the old city, it was as if there was something amazing around every corner.
Segovia’s cathedral is one of the most magnificent we have seen. The alcázar is a classic fairytale castle that may have been the inspiration for Disney’s Cinderella castle. And I enjoyed the tasty local specialty of cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig). We found it as good as its reputation suggests.
There are several great day-trip tour options from Madrid, but the top-rated one hits the highlights of both Segovia and Toledo in a day. It’s perfect if you have limited time and want to see both cities. Reserve your Segovia and Toledo Tour, Alcazar, and Cathedral here.
Salamanca
(Distance from Madrid: 220km)
Salamanca is a beautiful university town located in the northwest of Spain. The town is known for its striking golden buildings built from sandstone.
You’ll want to spend most of your time exploring the old town, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, visiting the University of Salamanca, founded in the 12th century, and admiring the stunning late Gothic and Baroque architecture of the Cathedral of Salamanca.
When in Salamanca, try the local jamón ibérico, visit the Casa Lis Museum of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, and stroll along the Tormes River.
Toledo day trip from Madrid
(Distance from Madrid: 70km)
What struck me most about Toledo is its history, for it was here the Christians, Jews, and Muslims lived side by side in harmony, co-existing peacefully.
We spent the majority of time in Toledo in the Old Jewish Quarter, guided by a local expert who brought it to life, revealing hidden gems. Book a private Toledo guide now.
We explored the Sephardic museum in the El Tránsito Synagogue, Santa Maria la Blanca Sinagoga, Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, Church of Santo Tomé (Home to El Greco’s “The Burial of Count Orgaz”), and El Greco Museum.
The Jewish Quarter is only one of several amazing things to do on any Toledo day trip from Madrid. We also visited the breathtaking cathedral built between 1226 and 1493 and the Alcázar, a historic fortress that served as a palace under Christian rule and now houses the Army museum.
If you prefer a tour to a private guide like we had, we recommend this popular day trip from Madrid to Toledo. Not only does it hit all the highlights with both a panoramic bus tour of the city and a guided walking tour, but it also includes transportation from Madrid. Reserve your day tour to Toledo here.
Ávila
(Distance from Madrid: 115km)
Ávila is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most well-preserved medieval cities in Spain. The city is surrounded by a beautiful stone wall that was built in the 11th century. Visitors can walk along the top of the wall for breathtaking views of the city.
Other highlights of Ávila include the impressive Cathedral of Ávila and the Monastery of Santo Tomás. Unique things to do in Ávila include trying the local dessert, yemas de Ávila, and visiting the Museum of Oriental Art.
If you want to get here, don’t have a car, and have limited time, check out these two options that visit multiple cities:
- Avila and Segovia day trip with tickets to monuments (a 9-hour tour that hits the highlights of both cities). Reserve your two-city tour here.
- Toledo & Segovia with optional Ávila Tour (an 11-13 hour tour that keeps you busy but is a great option if you are really short on time). Reserve your three-city tour here.
Aranjuez
(Distance from Madrid: 50km)
Aranjuez is a beautiful town located on the banks of the Tagus River near its confluence with the Jarama River.
The town is known for its stunning Royal Palace of Aranjuez. It was built in the 16th century and is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Visitors can explore the palace and gardens. They are part of the Aranjuez cultural landscape that earned UNESCO World Heritage status, and take a stroll through the charming streets of the town.
Other things to do in Aranjuez include taking a boat ride on the River Tagus and trying the local dish, espárragos de Aranjuez (asparagus).
El Escorial
(Distance from Madrid: 50km)
El Escorial is known for its stunning monastery, which was built in the 16th century. The monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to a museum, a library, and a basilica. Exploring the monastery and its beautiful gardens is definitely the highlight here, but you also want to stop and see the nearby Valle de los Caídos, a memorial to the victims of the Spanish Civil War.
Hiking in the nearby Sierra de Guadarrama was another favourite thing to do here. And be sure to check and see if there are any interesting cultural events or exhibitions at the Casa de la Cultura.
Take a tour from Madrid to El Escorial Monastery and the Basilica of the Valley of the Fallen.
Cuenca
(Distance from Madrid: 175km)
Cuenca, located in the heart of the La Mancha region, is famous for hanging houses, which are perched on a cliff overlooking the Huécar River, and are a bit scary to look at.
The old town of Cuenca is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While here, visit the Cathedral of Cuenca and the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art.
Before you leave, be sure to sample the local Manchego cheese and, if you are feeling energetic, have a hike in the nearby Serranía de Cuenca Natural Park.
Take a private tour from Madrid to tour the town of Cuenca.
Consuegra Windmills as an add-on to a Toledo or Cuenca day trip from Madrid
(Distance from Madrid: 135km)
If you want to combine your day trip from Madrid to either Toledo or Cuenca with a unique attraction, a visit to the Consuegra Windmills. Located on a hill overlooking the town of Consuegra, the windmills date back to the 16th century.
Explore the windmills and learn about their history and importance in the region. If you still have time, try the local wine, visit the Castle of Consuegra, and enjoy the views from the Mirador de la Mancha viewpoint.
Chinchón
(Distance from Madrid: 55km)
Chinchón is a picturesque town located in the southeast of the Madrid region. The town is known for its beautiful Plaza Mayor, which is surrounded by traditional Spanish houses with colourful wooden balconies.
Explore the town’s narrow streets, visit the Castle of Chinchón, and try the local dish, gazpacho manchego. And, depending on your view of it and when you visit, you can watch a bullfight at the Plaza de Toros. For us, I stayed away from bullfighting.
Alcalá de Henares
(Distance from Madrid: 40km)
Alcalá de Henares is a historic town located to the northeast of Madrid and one which we didn’t visit.
The town is known for being the birthplace of the famous writer Miguel de Cervantes, and visitors can explore the Cervantes Birthplace Museum to learn more about his life and work. But it is the University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares that earned UNESCO World Heritage status and the beautiful Capilla del Oidor.
Reserve your place on this day trip from Madrid to Alcalá de Henares and the Cervantes Museum.
Tips for successful day trips from Madrid
- Take a look at the map and see if you pass through or near any other amazing places on your way to whichever Madrid day trip option you choose.
- Getting an early start often avoids crowds, allowing you more time to explore. Don’t forget to calculate travel and activity time in your plan to make the most of your day trip from Madrid.
- Or, make it easier for yourself and opt for guided day trips to ensure you cover the must-see attractions and gain valuable insights from local experts. Personally, we love getting private guides, as that gives us more input into the schedule for the day, often including on-the-spot spontaneity.
- Carry essentials like water, snacks, a camera, and comfortable walking shoes to stay energized and ready to explore.
- Remember to enjoy the many things to do in the Spanish capital. Take time to explore Madrid.
- Engage with locals, try local cuisine (we gave you lots of suggestions above), and immerse yourself in the culture of each destination.
- If you have the time, convert some of the days above to weekend trips from Madrid. Or, if you have more time, take a road trip down the centre of the country. We loved ours!
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Which is your favourite day trip from Madrid?
Photo Credits:
All photos on this page are either shot by our team and watermarked as such or stock images from Depositphotos.
San Miguel Barbi
Good to know that when you run out of awe-inspiring things to do in Madrid that there’s Day Trips that are awesome too. Muchas gracias for the info!
Jenn | By Land and Sea
What beautiful spots! I visited Toledo years ago and enjoyed it. I would love to get to some of these other towns too.
Taylor
I’ve done more than half of these day trips as I studied abroad in Madrid during college. Segovia was my favorite, followed by Salamaca!
Alex+J.+Cavanaugh
Such architecture! I want to visit them all,
Caroline
It makes sense when you remember that Spain has a Royal family but I didn’t appreciate that there would be many castles all day trips from Madrid! These are great places to visit, I haven’t heard of a couple like Consuegra windmills (that photo looks like a painting!) and Chinchon. I imagine since these towns are just outside of Madrid, it will feel less hectic and “touristy” which I would love to experience for myself!
Samantha
So happy I found this post in the midst of planning a trip to Madrid. SAVING!!!
Melissa
Had no idea you could do so many different day trips from Madrid!
Liza
Wow! I had no idea that there were so many beautiful places surrounding Madrid. I’ll be taking a trip to Spain over the summer so will have to check out some of these ideas 🙂
Sonia
The wide variety of day trips from Madrid looks amazing. Despite spending quite a bit of time in Madrid, we haven’t explored the surrounding areas sufficiently.
Linda (LD Holland)
We have visited Madrid a few times but always spent our time in the city. I can see we need a longer visit and should plan several of these great day trips. We have not seen any of these spots on any of our Spain travels! We might consider travelling by train. But having our own car might give us more flexibility. Some great reasons to plan a return trip to Madrid
Josy A
Fabulous! I love the variety of these day trips, Spain has such interesting history with such varied architecture. I LOVE the look of the windmills and that gorgeous plaza in Chinchón.