Day trip from Madrid
 

I'm going to be in Madrid for one week in April and would like to take a one or two day side trip while there. I've been to Alicante, Segovia, and Toledo before. I have three places in mind that would be accessible by train. (1.) It seems Barcelona would be easy to get to since it's only about a 2 1/2 train ride. (2.) I've also seen there is an over-night train to Lisbon, which is nice since most of the travel time is during sleeping hours. (3.) I would really like to go to Tangier, but I don't think I'll have enough time considering the train and ferry rides. Does anyone have any advice regarding these places, or any suggestions about other locations?

Hi

What about Seville or Granada? Andalusian Spain is quite different to the North. There is plenty of the Moorish atmosphere left there.

(1.) Yes, but surely not as a day trip.
(2.) If you cope or are happy to be tired the next day.
(3.) I doubt anyone would recommend the outlay in time and money
for a visit to Tangier.

Seville and Cordoba as part of a round trip or Cordoba certainly feasible as a day trip at 1hr. 42m. each way by train

Those towns nearer to Madrid worth a trip-Avila, Salamanca, Cuenca, Aranjuez.

Neither Barcelona, Lisbon nor Tangier are day trips from Madrid. The farther south I would go from Madrid as a daytrip is Cordova IF AND ONLY IF you can secure the AVE train nonstop (not a cheap proposition). I would had recommend Seville for minimum an overnight but you are going in April and that is the HIGHEST season ($$$, crowded) in Seville (Holy Week, Feria de Abril). My recommendation to you is either Salamanca or Cordova. Salamanca has one of the most beautiful plaza (square) in Spain as well as gorgeous architecture. Great walkable town. The caveat with Salamanca is the public transportation to get there is mostly by bus, which takes a bit longer. Just some thoughts.

As mentioned above, I suggest Avila or Cuenca. I love Salamanca , but it's 2.5 hrs by Express bus so I wouldn't do it as a day trip.

My ranking of the 'best' daytrips from Madrid:
1 Segovia
2 Toledo
3 Salamanca
4 Avila
5 Valladolid
6 El Escorial
7 Cuenca
8 Alcalá de Henares
9 Aranjuez

Will enthusiastically recommend all four day trips I did when I visited Madrid: Toledo, Segovia, El Escorial, and Aranjuez.

bachslunch,

Could you comment about what there is to see in Aranjuez? Also, did you get there driving or by public transport?
Thanks.

bookmarking

cruiseluv, I took the train from Madrid to Aranjuez. The thing to see there is the Royal Palace, which is large and most worthy, as are the adjacent gardens which are filled with plants and fountains. It's all a moderate-sized and pleasant walk from the train station. Well worth the visit, though if I had to prioritize, I'd put Toledo, Segovia, and El Escorial ahead of Aranjuez.

Thank you bachslunch, sounds like a nice alternative to those of us that have already done the other day trips.

Lisbon trip is not a bad idea. Train (TRENHOTEL Lusitania) travels at night, gives you full day in Lisbon and saves on 2 hotel nights. There are usually promotional fares for this train. Now mid week fare in March is from 84 euros R/T for Cama Turista, 210 - in Cama P & 300 - in Cama G.

Train sitting/bedding options are: Turista (Chair), Cama Turista (bed in 4 berth compartment), Cama Preferen (2 berth compartment), Cama G. Clase (2 berth compartment with shower & dinner included).

Also in Aranjuez is the interesting Royal Boat Museum. ( Museo de Falúas Reales). A stroll along the river is nice. The park is gorgeous certain times of year.

In season you will have the "tren de la fresa" to Aranjuez.

Thanks for all of the replies. I will be staying with a friend in Colmenar Viejo (north of Madrid), which I forgot to mention in my initial post, so the places mentioned that are north are a possibility. Does anyone know how easy it is to get to some of these places from Colmenar Viejo? Will I have to first go to Madrid, or do buses and trains go through Colmenar Viejo?

I'm also strongly considering Lisbon because I've never been to Portugal, and call me crazy, but I try to hit new countries when they're somewhat close. Since I have a free place to stay, saving costs on two nights hotel aren't really a consideration. Does anyone have advice on the overnight trains? I see where hkto listed the different seating options, but I'm not sure which are desirable. I would be traveling to Lisbon by myself.