day trips from Madrid: 5 great ideas!

Front Door Marketing
May 8
4 min read

Updated: May 12

Since Madrid is located in the center of Spain, its location is privileged, making it easy to travel to several other cities in the country. With that in mind, today’s post will share some great day trip ideas from Madrid.

Before I tell you my suggestions for day trips from Madrid, I want to give you a few tips about this type of excursion, ok? I always say that for a day trip to be worthwhile, the travel time shouldn’t be too long, since you’ll want to have enough time to enjoy the city you’re visiting.

So, my advice is to choose destinations that are at most 2 hours and 30 minutes away from your base city. Oh, and another important tip: consider the size of the city you want to visit. If it’s a large urban center, it might be better to spend the night there to make the most of your time.

Day trip ideas from Madrid

Oh, one last tip about day trips: you won’t necessarily need a car to do them, ok? Spain has a good railway system and bus options for the destinations listed below. If you’re driving or want to rent a car, you’ll have more flexibility to leave and return at your convenience, without having to worry about train or bus schedules.

In some cases, it’s best to do the trip by car due to the travel time. Don’t worry, I’ll let you know the best way to get to each destination depending on where you’re going.

Salamanca

This is a university city (home to both a public and a private institution) with a rich cultural heritage. Salamanca is relatively small, with an area of about 39 km² and a population of around 144,000 people.

Distance from Madrid: It's located 215 km from Madrid, and the drive takes approximately 2 hours. If you opt for public transportation, the trip takes about 45 to 60 minutes longer. In this case, driving is the best option.

Best time to visit: You can visit the city year-round, but spring is when Salamanca truly shines. The mild temperatures make it easier to enjoy walking around and sightseeing.

Things to do: Visit the city’s two main squares, Plaza Mayor and Plaza Anaya; check out Monterrey Palace and the House of Shells (Casa de las Conchas); cross the Roman bridge over the Tormes River; explore both the Old and New Cathedrals; and stroll through the campus of the University of Salamanca.

Toledo

Without a doubt, the most popular destination for a day trip from Madrid! Just like Salamanca, Toledo is a small city with a population of a little over 80,000 people. Thanks to its size and proximity to Madrid, it’s the perfect choice for a quick and rewarding day trip.

Distance from Madrid: It is located south of Madrid, about 75 km away. If you go by car, the trip takes approximately 60 minutes. If you go by public transportation, it takes about 30 to 35 minutes. In this case, we recommend taking public transportation.

When to go: The city can be visited all year round, but I suggest avoiding national holidays, as the destination tends to be more crowded during these times.

What to do: Walk through the medieval town and visit the Puerta de Bisagra, the Primate Cathedral, the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, the Alcázar of Toledo, and the Synagogue of El Tránsito.

Segovia

Segovia was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and is known for its Roman aqueduct, which is over 2,000 years old and remarkably well preserved.

Distance from Madrid: It is located 95 km from the Spanish capital. If you go by public transportation, the trip will take approximately 55 minutes. If you choose to drive, it will take about 20 minutes longer.

When to go: Just like Toledo and Salamanca, Segovia can be visited year-round, but it’s especially charming in the spring.

What to do: Visit the Roman aqueduct, Segovia Cathedral, and the Royal Alcázar of Segovia; stroll through the narrow streets and admire the architecture of the houses.

Segovia doesn't have a huge number of attractions, so I recommend combining this day trip with the destination below, especially if you're traveling by car.

El Escorial

The main attraction in this destination is the El Escorial Monastery, which is actually a complex that includes a monastery, a church, and the Royal Palace.

Distance from Madrid: It’s located 45 km away, and if you're driving, it will take approximately 50 minutes to get there.

As I mentioned above, my tip is to combine this day trip from Madrid with Segovia. In that case, it’s best to go by car. You can make a stop at El Escorial first, and then continue on to Segovia.

Ávila

Lastly, to wrap up the list of day trips from Madrid, we have the city of Ávila.

Distance from Madrid: Ávila is 112 km away from the Spanish capital, and you can get there either by car or public transport.

What to do: The main attraction (and the city's postcard image) is its wall, which is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The coolest part is that you can actually walk on top of the wall!

These are my suggestions for day trips from Madrid! So, which one did you like the most? Personally, I’m a big fan of Toledo! If you’d like more suggestions to make the most of your trip to Spain, feel free to leave a question in the comments below. Kisses and see you on the next Eurotrip!