Other Day Trips from Madrid
If you would like to get to know the area around Madrid, here are the best excursions you can do from the capital of Spain
View of the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral | ©Tom Anderson
It's hard to get bored in Madrid, because when you want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the capital, there are plenty of places and experiences to discover in the surrounding area. Maybe you're passing through the capital or maybe you live there and fancy a getaway.
1. Day trip to Ávila and Salamanca from Madrid
The scenery you will see strolling through the streets of Madrid is totally different from that of these medieval cities; visiting them will seem like entering another world and you can do it in just one day with this organised tour of Avila and Salamanca that includes:
- Round trip transfer in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle.
- Tour of both cities (available in English and Spanish) with an expert guide
- Entrance tickets to Avila Cathedral and Salamanca Cathedral
What this tour consists of
From Madrid to Salamanca is about two and a half hours by road and in between the two cities lies Avila; the total duration of the tour is approximately 11 hours. Will you have time to see both cities in this time? Yes, as you will be accompanied by an expert guide who will take you around the two cities.
You will also have some free time in both cities to wander around at your leisure, but the length of this time will depend on the pace of the tour. The route of this guided tour can change order depending on the day (you might see Avila first or you might go to Salamanca first).
Itinerary
Apart from the historic centre of the two cities, some of the main monuments you will see in them are:
- The Plaza Mayor of Salamanca
- The New Cathedral of Salamanca
- The University of Salamanca
- The Basilica of San Vicente in Ávila
- The Walls of Avila
- The Cathedral of Avila
Please note that
Depending on the schedule, you will have free time in one or both cities. Lunch is not included in the tour, nor is pick-up from your hotel in Madrid; once you book your place on the tour online you will be informed of the meeting point in Madrid (always a central location) and how to get there from your hotel.
Why I like this tour
The best thing about this tour is the convenience of visiting both cities and the fact that you will have a guide at your disposal during the whole tour to tell you all the secrets of Avila and Salamanca (and there are many of them).
2. One day tour to Segovia, Toledo and Avila from Madrid
This is one of the most complete and ambitious tours you can do from Madrid. Seeing three cities in one day can be tiring; you may feel like going back to one of them for a more leisurely tour, but the feeling you'll get when you get back to Madrid at the end of the day will be that you've seen some wonderful sights and that you've immersed yourself in a journey through time that will have been well worth it.
With this tour to Segovia, Avila and Toledo you'll leave early from Madrid (you'll meet your tour guide at a meeting point when you book) and be gone for about 12 hours.
What this tour includes
- The transfer in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle
- A picnic lunch
- A tasting of homemade marzipan
- Entrance to Toledo Cathedral
- The services of a professional guide for the whole day
- The guided tours in each of the cities
What you will see on this tour
- Historic centre of Segovia
- Aqueduct of Segovia
- Alcazar of Segovia
- Historic centre of Ávila
- Avila City Wall
- Historic Centre of Toledo
- Primate Cathedral of Toledo
Why I like this tour
The best thing about this tour is the value for money: visiting the three cities on your own with guided tours, lunch, etc. would be much more expensive and very difficult to do in one day.
3. One day tour to Toledo and Aranjuez Palace from Madrid
You have probably heard of the city of Toledo. It is one of the closest cities to Madrid and also one of the most visited, especially for its impressive Cathedral and the charm of its historic centre. With this excursion to Toledo you will have time to get to know it in depth and you will also visit the Palace of Aranjuez (near Madrid), declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and with fabulous gardens full of exotic flowers.
What you will see on this tour
- The historic centre of Toledo
- San Juan de los Reyes Monastery
- The Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca
- The Church of Santo Tome and its famous painting by El Greco
- The Cathedral of Toledo
- The Royal Palace of Aranjuez
The tour includes transfer from the meeting point in Madrid at the time of booking, a guide in English and Spanish and entrance fees to some of the points of interest included in the tour. You will need to bring your own food or money to eat at one of the restaurants you will find during the tour.
Why I like this tour
The best thing about this option is that it includes many of the entrance fees to monuments and you will have enough time to see Toledo and the Aranjuez Palace in detail and without rushing.
4. Excursion to El Escorial Monastery and the Valley of the Fallen
You don't have to go far from Madrid to go sightseeing in the surrounding area. Many of the towns surrounding the capital have important points of interest for tourists and locals alike. A good example is El Escorial, from where you can take a seven-hour tour of the Escorial Monastery and the Valley of the Fallen with a professional guide included.
What you will see on this tour
The Monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and, in addition to learning about the Renaissance era in which it was built, during the visit you can walk around its fabulous gardens and have free time to stroll around the area. If you're interested in the history of the Spanish Civil War, you'll enjoy the guide's explanations next to the Valley of the Fallen monument, which commemorates the victors of the war.
Why I like this tour
The best thing about this tour to the Escorial Monastery and the Valley of the Fallen is that, without being an exhausting excursion, you will learn much more about the history of Madrid and its surroundings thanks to the advice of a specialized guide.
5. Guided shopping tour of Las Rozas Village shopping centre
It's not all about sightseeing. In Madrid there are large shopping centres where you can shop in luxury boutiques and one of them is Las Rozas Village; a shopping centre with open-air spaces and a village-like atmosphere. On the Las Rozas Village shopping experience you can enjoy a day of shopping with expert advice including transfer to and from Madrid.
What this excursion consists of
The final price of this excursion will depend on the extras you add. A host will pick you up in the centre of Madrid (meeting point to be arranged after online booking) and accompany you to Las Rozas Village in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. You'll spend approximately five hours at this shopping centre and then return to Madrid.
What's included in the superior option
- A 50 Euro gift card to spend in Las Rozas Village shops.
- A VIP discount card to shop at elite and designer labels
- A two-course lunch and coffee at one of the luxury restaurants in the area
Why I like this tour
The best thing about this tour is that if you've never had an experience like this before, you'll love it because every detail is taken care of. In Las Rozas Village you can not only buy clothes from more than 100 boutiques and top brands, but also gifts and decorative items from top designers.
6. Wine tour of three wineries in the outskirts of Madrid
Wine is a tradition in Spain and the Community of Madrid in particular has a wine classified as Denominación de Origen. On the outskirts of Madrid there are prestigious wineries and with this organised tour with tasting and departure from the centre of Madrid you will be able to visit them, taste wine and learn more about this tradition.
What this tour consists of
This tour is not just for wine lovers, although they will enjoy it more than anyone else; on the route that passes through three different wineries on the outskirts of the capital you will also see fabulous vineyard landscapes that will make you disconnect from the rush and stress of the centre of Madrid.
The group size for this tour is between 8 and 19 people; this way the expert guide can clearly explain all the ins and outs of the wine tradition in Spain.
Why I like this tour
The best thing about this tour is the completeness of the approach to wine culture; from production to maturation and distribution to tasting. All told by professional experts in a context of total disconnection.
7. Wine tour through the Ribera del Duero with stop in Segovia
This wine tour takes you a little further away from Madrid to discover the Ribera del Duero area, where some of the country's best wines are produced. An expert guide will take you to different wineries to taste wine and learn more about this tradition. Lunch is at your own expense.
Itinerary
- Ribera del Duero
- Aranda del Duero
- Sotillo de la Ribera
- Roa
- Curiel de Duero
- Segovia
Why I like this tour
The best thing about this tour is that you can enjoy wonderful landscapes along the way and that it is designed to avoid crowds and take a break from the hustle and bustle of Madrid. In addition, in areas such as Segovia you will also have free time to enjoy the city.
8. Sightseeing tour of Madrid with entrance to the Royal Palace
You read that right, one of the plans I suggest is to take a day trip to Madrid. What's the point of this? Simple: Madrid is a city that envelops you in its routines and many of the people who live there don't know it as a tourist destination. Doing this excursion means rediscovering the corners of the capital and its history, highlighting the visit to the Royal Palace. '
Itinerary
- Plaza de Oriente
- Paseo del Prado
- Toledo Gate
- Almudena Cathedral
- Puerta del Sol
- Plaza Mayor
- Gran Vía
- Prado Museum
- Cibeles
- Puerta de Alcalá
- Las Ventas Bullring
- Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
- Paseo de la Castellana
- Calle Mayor
Why I like this tour
The best thing is that you will rediscover the city and for a while you will look at it with different eyes. When I did the tour I felt like I had just left Madrid and what I had been doing was just getting to know it better; if you live or work in the city you have to do an excursion like this sometime.
9. Other trips that you can do on your own from Madrid
If these options are not enough for you, you can also visit other towns near Madrid on your own. Many of them are small, relatively unknown and very authentic villages. However, it is best to hire a car for this type of excursion, as it is the most practical option and will allow you to visit several nearby villages in a single day:
Excursions you can do on your own
- Alcalá de Henares: birthplace of Cervantes and World Heritage Site. You can get there by local train.
- Buitrago de Lozoya: a medieval village on the outskirts of Madrid with a spectacular wall.
- La Granja de San Ildefonso: a palace with large French gardens dotted with fountains and natural labyrinths.
- Chinchón: a small town with cobbled streets and a charming square. Ideal for cheap, quality food.
- Manzanares el Real: one of the most beautiful areas of the Sierra de Guadarrama, home to the Mendoza Castle.
- Rascafría: ideal option to spend a day in the mountains surrounded by nature. On the way you can visit the monastery in the area, one of the most beautiful in Spain.
Find out more about organised excursions
If you want to know more about the excursions to Toledo and Segovia, I have written a practical guide with all the details of each of them: Segovia Day Trips from Madrid y Toledo Day Trips from Madrid.
Frequently asked questions
What other places near Madrid should I visit?
The Ribera del Duero is a perfect excursion from Madrid as you can tour its wineries and enjoy some of the best food Spain has to offer. Salamanca is also an interesting option as it is a lively city with similar architecture to Madrid.
What can I see in Aranjuez?
The Royal Palace of Aranjuez is a fine example of monumental architecture, as are its gardens and ponds beside the Tagus River as it passes through the city. Its casino is also well known in the area if you fancy a night out.
Where is the Costa del Sol?
The Costa del Sol is located in the south of Spain, and stretches along the province of Malaga. It is known for its high temperatures and warm water, with beaches such as Maro Beach, Nerja and Artola Beach.