Madrid Easy Overnight Trips
Aug 31st, 2006, 07:54 AM
#1
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Madrid Easy Overnight Trips
Hi all - I could really use some advice. A friend and I are going to Madrid for about 10 days at the beginning of November. My understanding from these posts is that 10 days may be too long. While I'd prefer not to stray too far from Madrid (I'd like to avoid addl. flights/long train rides over 3 hours) does anyone have any suggestions for destinations that we could do a night in each and maybe stay in some paradores?
Also, does anyone know of any festivals, special events, etc. in the area in early November that we need to be aware of and make sure to not miss?
Final question...What's the weather like in early November?
Sorry for all of the questions and thanks in advance for everyone's help.
Also, does anyone know of any festivals, special events, etc. in the area in early November that we need to be aware of and make sure to not miss?
Final question...What's the weather like in early November?
Sorry for all of the questions and thanks in advance for everyone's help.
Aug 31st, 2006, 02:11 PM
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I will second the suggestion to stay overnight in Toledo. It is a lovely, small city, visited by many on day trips. My experience was the city was totally captivating in the evening after all the tour buses were departed.
Segovia should not be missed but I only saw it on a day visit so can't speak as to the evening ambiance.
One tiny thought to leave; just in case you might be lured into that long train ride. Granada is six hours by train and the Alhambra is absolutely awesome. Just a thought. http://www.andalucia.com/cities/granada.htm
Segovia should not be missed but I only saw it on a day visit so can't speak as to the evening ambiance.
One tiny thought to leave; just in case you might be lured into that long train ride. Granada is six hours by train and the Alhambra is absolutely awesome. Just a thought. http://www.andalucia.com/cities/granada.htm
Sep 11th, 2006, 02:51 AM
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Book a night at the Alfonso XII in Sevilla - If you take the Altaria rather than AVE you can save about 30 Euro pp on the roundtrip.
Dep. Madrid: 10:05 Arr. Sevilla 13:15
Dep. Sevilla: 18:15 Arr. Madrid 21:41
Dep. Madrid: 10:05 Arr. Sevilla 13:15
Dep. Sevilla: 18:15 Arr. Madrid 21:41
Sep 27th, 2006, 11:29 AM
#12
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I've read that buses are a better bet for daytrips from Madrid to Segovia & Toledo. Can anyone comment? I'm going to Madrid next week and was planing on doing a couple of quick day (not staying over) side trips.
Sep 27th, 2006, 11:55 AM
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My list of day and overnight trips from Madrid and how best to do them:
By car only:
Aranjuez and Chinchón combo (very tricky to do by bus given few departures btw. the two)
Pedraza, Riaza, Allón (beautiful medieval "pink" stone towns), 1 1/2 hrs. from Barajas
Rascafría, Navacerrada, Monastery of El Paular in the Guadarrama mountains.
Sigüenza, about an hr. from Barajas.
By bus:
Segovia by La Sepulvedana, 1 hr. 15 min.
Cuenca by Auto Res Express, 2 hrs.
El Escorial by Herranz, about an hr.
Salamanca by Auto Res Express, 2 hrs.
By train:
Toledo, by new high speed, 30 min.
El Escorial by Cercanías C8-A from Chamartín, then Herranz city bus up the hill
Aranjuez by Cercanías C3 from Atocha
or from May-Oct. wkds. only by the 153 yr. old vintage steam train, El Tren de la Fresa, with guides and bowls of strawberries!
www.aranjuez.net
Alcalá de Henares by Cercanías C1 from Atocha
or by the similar Tren de Cervantes
www.alcalaturismo.com
Avila by Regional Express or Talgo from Chamartín, 1 hr. 20 min.
Sevilla by AVE from Atocha, 2 1/2 hrs.
Córdoba by AVE from Atocha, 1 hr. 40 min.
Hope this helps.
By car only:
Aranjuez and Chinchón combo (very tricky to do by bus given few departures btw. the two)
Pedraza, Riaza, Allón (beautiful medieval "pink" stone towns), 1 1/2 hrs. from Barajas
Rascafría, Navacerrada, Monastery of El Paular in the Guadarrama mountains.
Sigüenza, about an hr. from Barajas.
By bus:
Segovia by La Sepulvedana, 1 hr. 15 min.
Cuenca by Auto Res Express, 2 hrs.
El Escorial by Herranz, about an hr.
Salamanca by Auto Res Express, 2 hrs.
By train:
Toledo, by new high speed, 30 min.
El Escorial by Cercanías C8-A from Chamartín, then Herranz city bus up the hill
Aranjuez by Cercanías C3 from Atocha
or from May-Oct. wkds. only by the 153 yr. old vintage steam train, El Tren de la Fresa, with guides and bowls of strawberries!
www.aranjuez.net
Alcalá de Henares by Cercanías C1 from Atocha
or by the similar Tren de Cervantes
www.alcalaturismo.com
Avila by Regional Express or Talgo from Chamartín, 1 hr. 20 min.
Sevilla by AVE from Atocha, 2 1/2 hrs.
Córdoba by AVE from Atocha, 1 hr. 40 min.
Hope this helps.
Sep 27th, 2006, 12:35 PM
#15
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Forgot one for all the ceramics fans:
Talavera de la Reina, to shop, shop, shop for pottery less pricey than at my favorite Madrid store, Antigua Casa de Talavera.
by Auto Res bus, 1 hr. 45 min.
but much better by car, so that you can shop for equally beautiful ceramics at the Hermanos Escobar shop in neighboring Puente de Arzobispo (different color scheme) and for hand embroidered lace at Pedro Hilario Cano in nearby Lagartera and one fine meal in the gorgeous, baronnial dining room of the magnificent Parador in Oropesa.
Talavera de la Reina, to shop, shop, shop for pottery less pricey than at my favorite Madrid store, Antigua Casa de Talavera.
by Auto Res bus, 1 hr. 45 min.
but much better by car, so that you can shop for equally beautiful ceramics at the Hermanos Escobar shop in neighboring Puente de Arzobispo (different color scheme) and for hand embroidered lace at Pedro Hilario Cano in nearby Lagartera and one fine meal in the gorgeous, baronnial dining room of the magnificent Parador in Oropesa.
Sep 28th, 2006, 03:54 AM
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My choice for Lagartera needlework is Eufemio Lozano, the first shop on the right upon arriving.
The dining room in Oropesa is my choice as well. Recently there is a new restaurant in Lagartera, in a beautifully restored house of the XVIII century, in the town center: LLARES, www.llares.com, phone 925431157 (reservation mandatory). I was there last sunday, and it was excellent.
The dining room in Oropesa is my choice as well. Recently there is a new restaurant in Lagartera, in a beautifully restored house of the XVIII century, in the town center: LLARES, www.llares.com, phone 925431157 (reservation mandatory). I was there last sunday, and it was excellent.
Sep 28th, 2006, 05:24 AM
#17
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We did three day trips from Madrid this summer -- all without a car.
We did a trip to Escorial -- easy on our own.
We went by train to Alcala de Henares -- world heritage site -- which was very interesting. Loved the little Cervantes museum. There is a splendid old "outdoor" theatre called the Corral de Comedias to visit. Visited the splendid archeological museum and could have spent more time there. Had a wonderful lunch at the Parador (restaurant only), Hostaria del Estudiante, and old 16th Centurey studen refectory.
We also did a day trip by bus to Chinchon. This rustic little town seems rather lost in another age. We spent much of the morning in the big plaza sipping coffee and eating pastries while we watched the locals going about their business. The plaza which is half tumbling down and half restored is like a big circle of buildings all with two or three levels of balconies, and the entire plaza obviously also served as a bull ring. Had lunch at the Parador there also, which would also be a nice place to spend the night, but we took the bus back to Madrid in the late afternoon.
We did a trip to Escorial -- easy on our own.
We went by train to Alcala de Henares -- world heritage site -- which was very interesting. Loved the little Cervantes museum. There is a splendid old "outdoor" theatre called the Corral de Comedias to visit. Visited the splendid archeological museum and could have spent more time there. Had a wonderful lunch at the Parador (restaurant only), Hostaria del Estudiante, and old 16th Centurey studen refectory.
We also did a day trip by bus to Chinchon. This rustic little town seems rather lost in another age. We spent much of the morning in the big plaza sipping coffee and eating pastries while we watched the locals going about their business. The plaza which is half tumbling down and half restored is like a big circle of buildings all with two or three levels of balconies, and the entire plaza obviously also served as a bull ring. Had lunch at the Parador there also, which would also be a nice place to spend the night, but we took the bus back to Madrid in the late afternoon.
Sep 28th, 2006, 07:20 AM
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If you are interested in food, a visit to Segovia, Sepulveda and Pedraza is a must. You might check out my (very long) trip report on these places..from last May (2006). I will try to post it here...
