The following guide to day trips from Madrid is brought to you by Sydney from Alone and Abroad, an American living abroad! Read on for some her favorite Madrid day trips that can be reached on public transit.

It’s time for a confession: I am the ‘annoying study abroad kid’ who moved to Spain and then spends the rest of their lives looking for ways to bring it up in conversation. 

Today, I’m (indirectly) at it again with this quick guide to Madrid day trips! If you’re in the mood for castles that inspired Disney, mountain hiking, or ancient Roman cities, you’re in the right spot.

These are some of the best day trips from Madrid, Spain.

1. Toledo

For those men out there who can’t stop thinking about the Roman Empire, I have just the destination for you. 

No, it’s not Rome, but this city was founded by the Romans. 

Toledo is the #1 Madrid day trip in most guidebooks for a reason. Nearly every corner of the city looks like it could be a postcard. You can explore a 12th century cathedral, visit Roman baths, and zip line across the Tagus river, all before lunch.

For more detailed trip inspo, check out my list of 13 Unique & Fun Things to do in Toledo.

How to get to Toledo from Madrid: 

You’ve got several options for your Toledo day trip. 

Option 1 is to take the high speed train from Madrid’s Atocha station and arrive in Toledo in 30 minutes. 

Option 2 is to take the VAC-023 bus from the Plaza Eliptica station. Buses leave every half hour, and this trip takes an hour and a half.

And option 3 is to take a guided tour to Toledo.

2. Segovia

It’s fun fact time!

Did you know that Cinderella’s castle in Disneyland was based upon the Alcazar of Segovia? Or that the Roman Aqueduct in Segovia is the largest in Spain? Or that Spain’s first public library is located here? 

I could go on, but the point is that Segovia is a small town with history packed into every corner. 

How to get to Segovia from Madrid: 

Once again, you have three options:

You can take a bus from the Príncipe Pío station, which takes 65 minutes.

You could take a high speed train and get to Segovia in 30 minutes.

Or let someone else handle the logistics and book a guided tour. 

3. San Lorenzo de El Escorial

San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a small town nestled high in the Guadarrama mountains. It’s about an hour from Madrid, and the town is even briefly mentioned in the final chapter of Ernest Hemmingway’s The Sun Also Rises.

The main attraction is the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, a massive Renaissance era complex that includes a monastery, library, palace, gardens (with peacocks!) basilica, and even royal crypt.

As if any other reason to go was needed, for certain months of the year they offer free admission on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons.

How to get to San Lorenzo de El Escorial from Madrid: 

Again, there’s three options: a bus, a train, and a tour group.

Bus 664 leaves several times each day from Moncloa station and takes you straight to the El Escorial city center. The C3a Cercanías train has direct routes between Madrid’s Charmartín Station and El Escorial. Or, if you’d rather go with someone who can explain the historical significance of the monastery, book a guided group tour.

4. Manzanares El Real

If by some miracle all the castles in Madrid manage to bore you, then here’s a new one! Mendoza Castle is a six-storied Gothic castle, just a 40 minute bus ride away from Madrid. This day trip is one of my personal favorites because of how cinematic it is. It’s so easy to feel like the lead in a romance movie when you get to wander around the castle ramparts.

After medieval sightseeing, the area is also known for its hiking! La Pedriza is the rocky mountain above the town, where there are dozens of trails that take you all across the Sierra de Guadarrama.

How to get to Manzanares el Real from Madrid: 

Go to the Plaza Castilla station and hop on either bus 720 or 724.

5. Alcalá de Henares

Here’s another fun fact for you – Alcalá de Henares was the birthplace of Don Quixote writer, Cervantes. 

It’s also where you can find the oldest theater in Spain, the Corral de Comedias. 

If you’re looking for a town with nonstop sightseeing, then there are better Madrid day trip options. But if you’re hoping to take slow picturesque strolls down a historic Spanish town, Alcalá de Henares is the perfect place.

While there, make sure you don’t leave without seeing Laredo Palace, the Calle Mayor, the Cervantes Museum, and Alcalá University. 

How to get to Alcalá de Henares from Madrid: 

Take the C2 or C7 Cercanías train from Atocha and arrive in Alcalá de Henares 40 minutes later.

6. Salamanca

“Did you find the frog?” is the mandatory question for anyone who has ever visited the city. The University of Salamanca is the oldest in Spain, and hidden somewhere on the University’s facade of the is a tiny frog. Legend has it that students who are able to spot the frog – without any help! – will pass their exams. 

After you’ve found the frog and guaranteed academic success, here are some other Salamanca must-sees:

• Get lunch in the Plaza Mayor, widely considered to be the most beautiful in Spain. 
• Explore the New and Old Cathedral (they’re connected into just one building)
  • Fun fact: One of the Cathedral towers has a slight lean to it from an earthquake in Lisbon.
• Try Hornazo de Salamanca, a regional pastry similar to an empanada.
• Find the Casa de las Conchas, a public library that’s been decorated with thousands of shells.

How to get to Salamanca from Madrid: 

Go to the Chamartín Station and catch the 04909 train to Salamanca.

7. Ávila

Time for another UNESCO Heritage Site! (If it seems like there’s a lot of these, that’s because Spain has 49 World Heritage Sites, the 4th most in the world.)

The city walls of Ávila are some of the best-preserved medieval walls in Spain. You can climb to the top of the walls and see the entire city this way! Along the route, you’ll bump into the Ávila cathedral, which is fully attached to the city walls. It’s believed to be the first gothic cathedral built in Spain. 

Just don’t repeat my mistake and try to visit Ávila on a Sunday morning – everything will be closed!

How to get to Ávila from Madrid: 

Go to Madrid’s Charmartín train station and take either the Regional 7113 or the 17161. There are several every day, and the trip takes a little under 2 hours. 

As always, you can always skip the planning and opt for a guided trip instead. Since Ávila is a small town and relatively close to Salamanca, the two are often bundled together. 

8. Valencia

Valencia is a gorgeous coastal town known for three things: beaches, paella, and festivals! Every year they host La Tomatina, (the world’s biggest food fight) Las Fallas, (a city-wide parade that ends with the floats being set on fire) and World Paella Day.

It’s one of the oldest cities in Spain and some of Valencia’s original architecture is still standing. While there, you can visit the cathedral that claims to have the Holy Grail, tour the largest aquarium in Europe, and eat at the biggest produce market in Europe. Then end this perfect day by swimming in the sea!

How to get to Valencia from Madrid: 

I will never stop raving about the marvel that is Spain’s rail network. Although on the other side of the country, the high speed train between Madrid’s and Valencia takes only two hours. Every day, there are dozens of trains making the direct route between Charmartín and the Joaquín Sorolla station in Valencia.

9. Chinchón

Chinchón is where any introvert who needs a break from Madrid’s crowds should go. Chinchón is a quiet village, the kind where everything can be seen in an afternoon. But the best thing to do here is wander around the narrow picturesque streets and enjoy the change of pace from Madrid’s modern vibe. While wandering, be on the lookout for castle ruins, an aquamarine-colored Plaza Mayor, and an old clocktower. 

Not far from the Plaza mayor is a restaurant called Terraza Los Huertos, whose tinto de verano and huevos rotos I still think about years later. If you go to Chinchón, please do yourself a favor and get some cheap drinks and relax on their outdoor terrace. 

How to get to Chinchón from Madrid:  

Go to Conde de Casal and hop on bus 337 towards Chinchón. The ride takes a bit less than an hour. 

10. Aranjuez

This day trip from Madrid involves visiting yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Royal Palace of Aranjuez was modeled after Versailles, complete with its own hall of mirrors. This is actually where King Charles IV and Napoleon signed an alliance treaty against England. 

To me, the best part of visiting Aranjuez was taking a stroll in the palace gardens and befriending the occasional peacock. Some other fun things to do in Aranjuez include exploring the Bullfighting ring, shopping in the Mercadillo Vintage flea market, and taking a hot air balloon ride.

How to get to Aranjuez from Madrid: 

There’s two options to get to Aranjuez, and they both take 40 minutes: the 423 bus from Estación Sur Coach Station, and the C3 Cercanías train from Atocha Station. 

11. Cuenca

For our final Madrid day trip, we’re visiting the Cuenca. Any place nicknamed “The Enchanting City” is worth adding to the bucket list, right?

Cuenca, a historic walled town that dates back to the 12th century, was literally built into rocks.

The Hanging Houses of Cuenca are exactly what they sound like – houses hanging off the edge of a cliff. The entire cliff’s face used to be full of similar houses, but now there’s only three left. One is a royal residence, one is a restaurant, and another is an abstract art museum.

How to get to Cuenca from Madrid: 

There are dozens of direct trains between Madrid’s Charmartín Station and Cuenca. The speed (and price) of the train varies, but it usually takes one hour to reach Cuenca. 

Another option is to book a Cuenca guided tour (that makes a stop at a wine cellar!) 

Did we miss any of your favourite Day Trips from Madrid?

Let us know in the comments!