Day Trips From Madrid

Lake at Aranjuez

Staying in any city for more than a few days can be feet achingly tiring, the chance of seeing a bit of greenery and open space out of the city is an attractive option. It also allows you to discover more of the region your staying in and adds an additional authentic experience to your stay, wherever you are. Madrid is located in the very centre of Spain on the Castilian plateau, it is in the region of the Comunidad de Madrid which is one of the seventeen autonomous regions of Spain. Madrid is is connected by several train stations, Atocha in the south of the city and Chamartín in the north. From these stations it is possible to take the the local train service (Cercanias) to a number of destinations, see the Renfe (Spanish train service) website for timetables http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/index.html. Here's a selection of the best day trips from Madrid.

Toledo's Alcantara bridge

Toledo

View of Toledo

Toledo is a UNESCO World Heritage site, the old Toledo is made of of labyrinthine medieval streets and is encircled by the river Tagus on three sides. In the summer months, Toledo can be busy with tourists especially at the weekends, however it makes for a great day trip as it only 35mins on the train from Madrid. The must sees while your there are the Cathedral and the Alcázar of Toledo, a castle which is now a museum.


Aranjuez 
Not far from Toledo is Aranjuez, which used to be the place where the Spanish royalty spent there summers. It is renown for it beautiful gardens which are a popular setting for wedding photos. Like Toledo it can be busy with tourists who come to admire the Royal palace and gardens. It is truly a magical and beautiful place to visit and to just wander. Travel time from Madrid is approximately 45 minutes.

Gardens at Aranjuez

El Escorial 

Library at El Escorial 

North-west of Madrid is the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. It is the location of  a rather austere monastery built by Felipe II and finished in 1584 after twenty years of construction. The huge granite building is an awe-inspiring site from the outside and its interior is decorated with frescoes and paintings by Velázquez, Titian and El Greco among others. El Escorial is a real step back in time, Felipe II's bedroom has been preserved in the same condition as when he died in 1598. El Escorial can be reached by bus from Moncloa bus station (bus 661) or from Atocha or Chamartín train stations, the journey takes about an hour.

El Escorial

Alcala de Henares

Palacio de Laredo

Famous as the birthplace of Cervantes, Alcala de Henares is a medieval university town 35 km North-east of  from Madrid. The old town has been largely preserved and it is made up of winding cobbled streets. The centre has also been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is famous for its population of white storks that nest on top of many of the historial buildings, they have themselves become quite a tourist attraction. A must see is the Palacio de Laredo which is an eye-catching building due to its mix of architectural styles (Gothic, Mudejar and Arabesque). Alcala is well connected to Madrid and has become a commuter town as its on 25minutes journey by train.

Alcala de Henares Plaza Cervantes

Segovia

Segovia is situated to the north-west of Madrid in the region of Castile y Leon. Segovia is an enchanting city famous for the Roman aqueduct that was built c. AD 50. Segovia has be declared a world heritage site by UNESCO and has a abundance of historical buildings of civic and religious relevance. Some must sees include the 16th century Gothic Cathedral in the Plaza Mayor and the Alcázar de Segovia, which is a 14th century fortress of Roman origin. To see something more modern, the Contemporary Art Museum houses the work by the Abstract Expresssionist Esteban Vincente in a Renaissance style palace. Train journey from Madrid is about 30 minutes. 

Alcázar Segovia

Aqueduct Segovia