Other Day Trips from Madrid
If you would like to get to know Madrid's surroundings, here are the best excursions you can do from the Spanish capital.
View of the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral | ©Tom Anderson
In Madrid it is difficult to get bored, because when you want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the capital you have in its surroundings many places and experiences to discover. Maybe you are passing through the capital or maybe you live there and you feel like a getaway.
1. A day trip to Avila and Salamanca from Madrid
The scenery you will see walking 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 one day with this organized 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
- Tickets for the Cathedral of Avila and for the Cathedral of Salamanca
What this tour consists of
From Madrid to Salamanca is about two and a half hours by road and in the middle of both cities is located Avila; the total duration of the tour is approximately 11 hours. Will you have time to see both cities in this time? Yes, since 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 (maybe you will see Avila first or maybe you will go to Salamanca first).
Itinerary
In addition to the historic center 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 and neither is the pick up at your hotel in Madrid; once you book online your place for the tour you will be informed of the meeting point in Madrid (it will always be 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 (which are many).
2. One day tour to Segovia, Toledo and Avila from Madrid
This tour is one of the most complete and ambitious that you can do from Madrid. Seeing three cities in one day can be tiring; you may feel like going back to some of them to visit them more slowly, but the feeling you will have when you arrive in Madrid at the end of the day will be that you have seen wonderful places and that you have been immersed in a journey through time that will have been worth it.
With this tour to Segovia, Avila and Toledo you will leave early from Madrid (you will meet the tour guide at a meeting point fixed when you make your reservation) and you will be out for about 12 hours.
What is included in this tour
- The transfer in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle
- A picnic lunch
- A tasting of homemade marzipan
- Entrance to the Toledo Cathedral
- The services of a professional guide for the entire day
- Guided tours in each of the cities
What you will see on this tour
- Historic center of Segovia
- Aqueduct of Segovia
- Alcazar of Segovia
- Historic center of Avila
- Wall of Avila
- Historic center 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
Surely you have heard of the city of Toledo. It is one of the closest to Madrid and also one of the most visited, especially for its impressive Cathedral and the charm of its historic center. 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 heritage site and with fabulous gardens full of exotic flowers.
What you will see on this tour
- The historic center of Toledo
- The Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes
- 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 the transfer from the meeting point in Madrid at the time of booking, a guide in English and Spanish and the entrance fees to some of the points of interest included in the tour. You will have 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 many of the entrance fees to monuments are included and that you will have enough time to see Toledo and the Palace of Aranjuez in detail and without rushing.
4. Excursion to the Escorial Monastery and 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. 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 tour its fabulous gardens and have free time to stroll around the area. If you are interested in the history of the Spanish Civil War, you will enjoy the explanations of the guide next to the monument of the Valley of the Fallen, 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 mall
It's not all about sightseeing. In Madrid there are large shopping centers where you can shop in luxury boutiques and one of them is Las Rozas Village; a shopping center with outdoor spaces and set as if it were a village. In the Las Rozas Village shopping experience you can enjoy a day of shopping with the advice of an expert including the 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 center of Madrid (meeting point to be arranged after online booking) and accompany you to Las Rozas Village in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle. You will spend approximately five hours in this shopping mall and then return to Madrid.
What is included in the superior option
- A 50 euro gift card to spend in Las Rozas Village stores.
- A VIP discount card to shop at elite and designer brands
- A two-course lunch and coffee at one of the luxurious restaurants in the area
Why I like this tour
The best thing about this tour is that if you have never lived an experience like this you will love it because all the details are 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 Denomination of Origin. In the outskirts of Madrid there are prestigious wineries and with this organized tour with tasting and departure from the center of Madrid you will be able to visit them, taste wine and learn more about this tradition.
What is this tour about?
This tour is not only for wine lovers, although they will enjoy it more than anyone else; in the tour that passes through three different wineries around the capital you will also see fabulous landscapes of vineyards that will make you disconnect from the rush and stress of the center of Madrid.
The group of 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 how complete is the approach to the wine culture; from the production to the maturation and distribution through the tasting. All told by professional experts in a context of total disconnection.
7. Wine tour through the Ribera del Duero with a stop in Segovia
This wine tour goes a little further away from Madrid to get to know the Ribera del Duero area, where some of the best wines in the country are produced. An expert guide will take you to different wineries to taste wine and learn more about this tradition. Lunch is on your own.
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 like 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 propose is to make a day trip to Madrid. What is the point of this? Simple: Madrid is a city that envelops you in its routines and many of those who live in it do not know it at the tourist level. Doing this excursion means rediscovering the corners of the capital and its stories 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 Bernabeu Stadium
- Paseo de la Castellana
- Main Street
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 had the feeling that I had left Madrid and what I had been doing was just to get 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 also have the possibility to visit other towns near Madrid on your own. Many of them are small, relatively unknown and very authentic villages. Of course, it is best to rent a car to make this type of excursions as it will be the most practical and will allow you to visit several nearby villages in one day:
Excursions you can do on your own
- Alcalá de Henares: birthplace of Cervantes and World Heritage Site. You can get there by 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 and quality food.
- Manzanares el Real: one of the most beautiful areas of the Sierra de Guadarrama where the Mendoza Castle is located.
- 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 the Spanish geography.
Find out more about organized 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 architecture similar to Madrid.
What can I see in Aranjuez?
The Royal Palace of Aranjuez is a good example of monumental architecture, as well as its gardens and ponds next to the Tagus River as it passes through the city. Its casino is also well known in the area if you feel like a night out.
Where is the Costa del Sol?
The Costa del Sol is located in the south of Spain, and extends 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.