Madrid day trips
 

My husband and I are spending 4 nights in Madrid in November. Trying to decide on one or two day trips - we will not have a car and will either take a bus tour or travel by train. Thinking about Avila & Salamanco, Avila and Segovia, Toledo. We have been to Barcelona twice. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Each of those places demands a whole day- Salamanca is a long long way off vs the others.

Having done em all Toledo would be my first recommendation- so so awesome. Avila if into Theresa and her religious sites - Segovia if into castles and aqueducts - Salamanca is superb but again a longish day trip by train or bus or car. For lots of info on Spanish trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com (check the Spain section of their free online European Planning & Rail Guide for more on each of those towns) and www.rciksteves.com.

Many folks will say with just 4 days in Madrid you should spend most of your time there but I disagree- 2 days for Madrid was enough for me - not the most old-world romantic city but the day trips are dazzling.

I've done Segovia and Toledo as day trips from Madrid. I took the bus to both, actually, not the train, as it was more convenient in terms of where it leaves you.

I've also done Escorial which was very interesting and is just outside Madrid, very easy to get to by commuter rail. You don't really need a whole day there as it's just that one site.

I didn't take any tours, just went on my own, but I know there are day trip bus tours, of course, to these places.

Segovia, Toledo, and Escorial, yes. Salamanca is too far and Avila is a drive-by for its walls.

I have done everything in that area.

My first choice would be El Escorial, it is real stunning.

The second choice would be Toledo, for a taste of Moorish architecture.

A bus or train ride through the beautiful countryside around Madrid is also quite rewarding.

And Madrid itsself is a beautiful city, full of wonders. Sadly, some Fodorites seem always to miss the attractions. And, more sadly, they are always so outspoken.

I think they probably prefer the marijuana clubs of Barcelona and the street dealers. We prefer cosmopolitan Madrid rather than a provincial port city.

Many people visit Toledo as a day trip from Madrid. I thought it worth 2 full days and 2 nights.

Now that there is a high-speed train to Salamanca, people are beginning to visit it as a day trip from Madrid. I thought it easily worth 2 full days + and 3 nights.

Many people visit Segovia as a day trip from Madrid. I thought it worth a full day and a night.

I also enjoyed Avila after day trippers leave, and was glad I spent a night there, but didn't think it required a FULL day.

I thought El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen a worthy day trip from Madrid.

And FWIW, I wish I'd given Madrid itself (not counting day trips) more than the 3.5 days I gave it.

It all depends on your interests....

Good luck!

I agree with what kja posted, as usual.

Except, I did think Avila deserved at least a full day. I went out of the center to see the Monestario de La Encarnation and Los Cuatros Postes and probably some other things that I don't recall offhand. I spent 2 nights there.

Leaving for Madrid in June !

@ joannyc -- I'm jealous! I'm sure I would have loved those places; unfortunately, I used public transportation for that trip, and as I recall, trying to fit them in simply did not work. :-( Even with just the walled city and areas I could easily reach outside, I happily spent about 18+ hours In Avila, and was very glad to see those walls lit at night and to stroll its ancient streets after day-trippers left.... :-) We are so fortunate to have had these travel moments!

Hi kja,

Yep, I am sure you would have enjoyed them. But, you are correct that in using public transportation, it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to reach them unless you took a cab and had them wait. That would cost a small fortune, I imagine.

I completely agree with you that the walls and sites of Avila were so beautiful lit up at night.... and, especially, after the daytrippers left. I remember sending an email to someone saying "this is going to be short because I need to go see the sites lit up at night"!

You are right, we are very, very lucky to be able to travel and see all the wonderful locations and sites that we do. I say that to my family and friends all the time.

The Valle de los Caídos/Valley of the Fallen could be interesting, but you should know what it is. Many have little idea of what this monument is apart from the traditional official presentation of being an homeage to "all" the fallen in the Civil War.

The Valley of the Fallen has always been controversial in Spain as it rightfully has been understood as a tribute to the Franco regime, and it was mostly built by republican war-prisoners. The past 10-15 years have seen a very increased politization of the matter, since the so called "pact of forgetting" after Franco's death in 1975 has been dissolved with the uncovering of more than 2000 mass graves throughout the country (more than 100 000 regime victims, all ages and both sexes, are still buried in the mass graves). Since 2007 the usual Francoist ralleys at the monument has been banned as a part of the wider Historical Memory Law/Ley de la Memória Histórica.

"The biggest Francoist monument of them all", Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/world/200...e-erased-spain

When I visited Madrid, I took 1 day trip to TOLEDO, and another day trip to SEGOVIA. EASY-PEAZY!

Both day trips were perfect & so easy to do from Madrid. I took the bus to Toledo & the train to Segovia.

Everything was easy to walk to & well worth the visit. Segovia was a beautiful sunny day when I went (In November) & a fun lunch in the square(which I don't remember the name) was perfect for people watching and regrouping before returning back to Madrid.

Just remember "Siesta" time when all the shops are closed in the town of Segovia...so if you would like to browse into any of the stores it is always a "hurdle" to shopping!!!

The aquaduct is amazing!
TrendGirl2

Aranjeuz is another easy day trip -closer to Madrid than all others mentioned - the Spanish Versailles - big palace in a small town -all re-habbed - I squeezed in on a day trip to Toledo but then the palace was closed for rehabbing.

El Escorial I love too - though did not trek to Franco's Valley of the Fallen where the despot who set Spain back centuries is still buried- he should have ended up like Mussolini - too bad.

I didn't go to that valley of the Fallen, either.

I don't like shopping in stores very much myself, but there is nothing unique about Segovia and shopping times that I know of--as to why shops would be closed there but not in other cities and towns in mid-day. In fact, due to tourism, they have a lot of outdoor street vendors there and they don't shut down ever that I know of, I got some very nice silver and stone earrings in Segovia at cheaper prices than in Madrid.

I think whether to go to the Valley of the Fallen is a very personal choice. I went as homage to all who suffered at the hands of Franco -- including, but not limited to, those whose forced labor built it -- and as a sign of solidarity with the many Spaniards who were there to spit on his grave. I'm glad I went. I leave it to others to make their own choices, for their own reasons.

Ah spitting on Franco's grave could be a key draw for me! Thanks for the insights.

I have visited Toledo, Segovia, Escorial, Chinchon,, Aranjuez, Salamanca,
Alcala de Henares ....all easily reached from Madrid.
I would recommend Toledo .
Salamanca is too beautiful to spend just a day.
Escorial would be my last choice.

As for Franco's grave...not for me.

@ PalenQ: To be clear, I didn't spit on Franco's grave. As someone who is not Spanish, that would have seemed presumptuous to me, so I found other ways to express my solidarity with those who did. But again, I think each of us needs to make choices that work for us as individuals.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions! I will certainly take all your recommendations into account as the trip gets closer.