Driving from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid
 

Hi,

My boyfriend and I will be driving from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid in 10 days time. Unfortunately we will only have 4 days/5 nts. In addition to Santiago, I would also like to see Salamanca and Segovia. Any ideas for a stopover between Santiago and Salamanca. We will have a car and are open to all suggestions, e.g. places to visit, stay and/or eat.

Thank you,
Andrea

You might want to consider spending a day in Zamora. It's on the way and is on the Ruta de la Plata the route from Gijón and Sevilla. Benavente is also along the same route.

My (wife's) nephew drives Santiago-Madrid in about 6.5 hours. They drive very fast and there's an expressway. You shouldn't have any need for an overnight stop between Santiago & Salamanca.
If you overnight in Salamanca you should be able to make it to Segovia for lunch and to Madrid by late afternoon.

Andrea,
Although you don't need an overnight between Santiago and Salamanca, we have taken an overnight several times along the way, so as to be able to sightsee in Zamora (be sure to visit the Holy Week Museum and the tapestries at the Cathedral Museum) and take our time on the Road to Santiago pilgrimage trail. There are lots of possible detours on the pilgrims' route- to Castrillo de los Polvazares, Molinaseca, to Peñalba de Santiago deep in the Valley of Silence, the palloza settlement at Piornedo, O'Cebreiro, Astorga (building by Gaudí), Templars castle at Ponferrada and on and on.

If you have an interest in art and history, you may want to stop at a few of the above before Salamanca. I would spend 2 nights in Salamanca.

Dear all, thanks so much for the advice. I've only been to Barcelona, so all suggestions are very useful for this and future trips.

Maribel, I am definitely interested in art and history; the detours you've mentioned are perfect. I don't arrive in Santiago until late on Tuesday. We plan on spending Wednesday exploring the city before hitting the road later in the day. I was wondering if we should spend the night at Ponferrada or Benavente as Robert mentioned, since they are before Salamanca?

Additionally, any hotel and/or restaurant recommenations would really be appreciated.

Thanks!
Andrea

Hi Andrea,
I like Benavente as an overnight much better than industrial Pontferrada, and I've stayed happily at the Parador, but it costs 140 euros in September. Don't know your price range.

The Parador in Villafranca del Bierzo is nice but not historic (actually the rooms at the Parador Benavente are not in the castle tower section, so no history there). Parador Villafranca del Bierzo costs 110. By going only that far, it would give you more time in Santiago.
or there's a compromise btwn Villafranca and Benafvente in Astorga:
a cute little B&B, a converted 1850 windmill, just 4 km. from Astorga, with lots of peace and quiet, the Viejo Molino de Cela which only costs 75 with breakfast.
www.viejomolinocela.com

If you need Santiago lodging or restaurant recs, I'll be glad to post some here.

Hi Maribel,

Thanks so much! I was really getting overwhelmed by the number of interesting, beautiful places to visit in Spain - in only 4+ days.

We're still figuring out our budget, but I know it will have to include at least one parador along the way. Please do post your recommendations for Santiago and, if I'm not asking too much, any recommendations you have for Salamanca and Segovia/Avila.

Andrea

Hi labuscadora,
If you will kindly send me an email at www.maribelsguides.com, I can then send you the files I have on Santiago and Salamanca. I do have a file up on Segovia that you can download. Too lengthy to post the rest here, I'm afraid.

During the middle ages peregrinos stopped in Leon. It is still a great choice.The Parador is great

Hi Maribel,

I sent an email to the account on your website, did you receive it?
Andrea

Hi Andrea,
My webmaster didn't receive your email. Would you try sending it again to
[email protected]