Zaragoza is on the high-speed train route between Madrid and Barcelona meaning there are loads of departures from Atocha station throughout the day. Of course, you must try the authentic Valencian Paella (rabbit and vegetable paella) once in Valencia city. The best way to see Avila is either by organised tour or driving yourself. Just about an hour out of Madrid, you will find the Sierra de Guadarrama, Sierra del Norte and the Sierra de Gredos mountain ranges. Trains to El Escorial leave from Atocha or Chamartn station. Im lucky to have visited the city on numerous occasions as my wifes family have a place in the Sierra de Francia mountains, one of my favourite places in Spain. Year-round, restaurants serve dishes like tomato soup and jams made from the four varieties of tomatoes commonly grown here. Suckling pig roasted in a traditional wood oven. 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. It does seem like a lot, but it is certainly a city worth visiting to really enjoy some of the southern Spanish cultures. It is a fantastic destination for a laid-back yet surprising trip, Full Article Valencia in Winter Quick Guide: Weather, Christmas, Things to Do & Travel TipsContinue, Barcelona is a special city. If you choose not to take the strawberry train, other organised tours will take you to the town or you can also drive yourself. 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 cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". It takes a little under 3 hours each way, but with regular departures throughout the day from Madrids Atocha Station, there is plenty of time to see the city highlights and be back in Madrid by bedtime. Pestana Holidays. Its medieval history can be seen throughout the city - the Spanish Monarchy even made Valladolid their home in the 17th century! 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. Top rated road trips in Madrid Spain 7-Day Spain Road Trip from Madrid to Toledo Starts in Madrid Ends in Madrid Duration 7 days & 6 nights Available All Year 24/7 customer support From 8 USD Spain Cheap 10-Day Spain Road Trip Vacation from Madrid to Zaragoza, Barcelona & Valencia Starts in Madrid Ends in Madrid Duration 10 days & 9 nights Getting there: Media Distancia trains from Madrid take about an hour and a half. If you are looking for the perfect Toledo souvenirs then a sword would be the right choice. However, my best recommendation when visiting vineyards while tight on time is enjoying one of the day tours from Madrid and let someone else do the thinking. Cross Stone Bridge cross the old river bridge and look back across the Ebro for great views of the Basilica. Yet, get your appetite ready for Valladolid, as food options there are endless. Book the best day trips from Madrid, Spain directly on Tripadvisor and take the stress out of planning. Honest Answers About the Spanish Capital, Northern Coast of Spain Travel Guide Best Places to Visit, Things to See & Do, 20 Coolest Stops to Make On Barcelona to Valencia Drive. User or email address Password Remember me. If you have time, a trip out to the shimmering Muslim palace-city of Medina Azahara is well worth the effort as well. The biggest draw in the town is the huge royal palace and expansive gardens. Stroll around the Gran Va, Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor Barcelona and Madrid are likely to be the best hubs for getting in and out of Spain and the route cycles down through Valencia to an Andalucian tour before heading back north from Cordoba. It is a university town that is most famous for being the birthplace of Cervantes, the author of Spains most famous literary work, Don Quixote. The palace project (which was a residence of the monarchs) began as a Spanish response in the 17th century to the French Versailles. Medinaceli: Located about halfway between Madrid and Zaragoza, the charming village of Medinaceli, forged by different cultures, is a must-see stop on your road trip. Welcome! In around 2.5 hours, you can travel from Madrid to the Costa Blanca. 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. Pestana Holidays powered by Travel Compositor Sales & Support +351 215551041. My other highlight is crossing the pedestrianised Roman Bridge. Quick Barcelona to Madrid drive itinerary Distance - 955.7 km (593.8 miles) Time - 7 days Day 1 - Barcelona to Tarragona: 99.6 km (61.8 miles) Day 2 - Tarragona to Valencia: 259 km (160.9 miles) Day 3 - Valencia Day 4 - Valencia to Albacete: 185 km (114.9 miles) Day 5 - Albacete to Cuenca: 160 km (99.4 miles) Day 6 - Cuenca to Toledo: 179 km (111.2 miles) There are few parts of the world which have so much to see in such a compact region both culturally and in nature. Another popular day trip from Madrid is Toledo, the old capital of Spain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. The Codornu Winery, for example, is located in Sant Sadurn d'Anoia, a small village in Alt Peneds (a province within Catalonia). Avila 9. S-F / shutterstock.com Day 2: Madrid. However, on my visit to Avila, once I had breached the city walls, I found it a little underwhelming. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. She is working online and thats why has an opportunity to travel a lot and live in different countries. There are regular buses from Madrid to Salamanca, operated by Avanzabus. At the confluence of the Tagus and Tietar Rivers, the park is home to 280 . Road trip length: 11 days Total distance: 518 miles 2. You could easily spend a whole day exploring the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, and Valencia's charming old townwith remnants from the Romans, Visigoths, and Moorsprovides a pleasant contrast. 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. Chinchn 13. If you don't know it by name, you've definitely seen pictures of giant rocks and archways on the sandy beach before. If you want to just relax and enjoy the day, then tours with pick up and drop off are available and offer good value. Visitors can spend hours exploring the hallways and gardens, but my stand out memory was the catacombs. But what about further afield? Road Trip Through Central Spain at a Glance Day 1: Arrive Madrid Day 2: Madrid Day 3: Madrid to Toledo Day 4: Toledo Day 5: Don Quixote Countryside Day 6: Hike through the Tablas de Daimiel For the biggest selection of cars and the most competitive rate in any season, I recommend you look for a car rental at Madrid Airport. Salamanca boasts a rich academic heritageits university is one of the oldest in Europe. The end of the trip gets you to Pedraza back in the Segovia province before taking a short drive back to Madrid's airport. Also allegedly one of the major inspirations for Walt Disneys castle. Believe it or not, the famous university city of Salamanca is just a little over two hours away and is certainly possible to visit as a one day trip from Madrid. While the massive white structures are certainly the town's biggest draw, the Moorish castle should not be overlooked, either. Salamanca 7. 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. About the destination: Madrid has a tempo of its own: The dry air of the Castilian plain crackles with its cosmopolitan crowds. Coca: Located about halfway between Segovia and Valladolid and a bit away from the main road. Many don't associate Mallorca with a road trip, but the island has a huge amount to offer beside the beaches and clubs. Although this trip is only 5 days long, you'll spend a few of these driving along small coastal roads. 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. 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. Las Setas a modern architectural wonder. 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. After exploring central Spain with stops in Toledo and surrounding towns and a tour of Madrid, the drive continues into Spain's Duero valley, Valladolid and on to Galicia's Vigo, Santiago de Compostela and A Coruna while taking in breathtaking views of ocean-facing cliffs and huge waves. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. A day trip? Madrid has plenty more cultural attractions and activities that you could spend the day exploring, but so do the surrounding parts of Spain. Day 3: Pick up Rental Car - Drive From Madrid to La Rioja. Most beautiful towns & cities along the Bay of Biscay. If you have a car it is about 45 minutes to drive to Chinchn from Madrid. Is Madrid Worth Visiting? 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. But this is not about that, this is about Salamanca. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. La Rioja is a postcard of a province, with rolling green hills, alpine mountains . These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Two places in Salamanca stand out to me. And if you go on this drive through Segovia (which I highly recommend doing! Bus 664 or 661 from Moncloa also get you there in about the same amount of time. Head back to Madrid for the last night of your trip and go out in true Spanish style with a flamenco dinner. 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 train takes around 30 mins from Madrid to Segovia. 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. If you're going on a road trip from Madrid to Barcelona, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with Salou, Zaragoza, Sitges, Tarragona, Alcala De Henares, Soria, Lleida, and Reus and top places to visit like Castle Calatravo and Hotel Guadalope, or the ever-popular Ciudad del Motor de Aragn. Benicassim: Known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant music scene, Benicassim is a popular destination for young travelers. Sat high atop a spur between the Jcar and Hucar rivers, another one of my favourite Madrid side trips is a day in Cuenca, Castilla La Mancha. Madrid is a vibrant, exciting city, and art and culture lovers will love the array of museums and art galleries. The city actually has a lot to offer so it's great to spend the first or last night here depending on your flight times. Flying in and out of Palma means that's a great place to start and finish your trip. This gives you the most flexibility to see as much as possible in a day. 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. They are the municipal Cercanas Renfe lines which mean there are a lot of stops, but they are also cheap. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Your email address will not be published. Argertine peso; 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). 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