Overnight from Madrid- Segovia or Salamanca?
 

We have a week at the end of February to travel and (based on flights from ATL and weather in Europe) we are thinking of renting an apt in Madrid for a week. The plan I'm considering would give us four days in Madrid, a day trip to Toledo, and then an overnight mid week to either Segovia or Salamanca. Which would be your preference? I understand Segovia is closer but there might be more to fill 2 days in Salamanca?

Segovia is lovely but rather small. We found an afternoon
sufficient. It takes about 1/2 hour to get to the train station
in Madrid, 1/2 hour on the train to Segovia ( a lot of tunnels), and the bus from the train station to town takes about 20 minutes.
There are buses from Madrid to Segovia - 75 minutes.
Salamanca is about 2 1/2 hours from Madrid, much bigger than Segovia.
Better choice for overnight IMO.

I'd choose Salamanca to spend 2 nights.

Do I understand that you have 5 days/nights in Madrid, and you'll go on a daytrip to Toledo for one of the 5 days? If so, with 4 days remaining for Madrid you may have time in these 4 days for a daytrip to Segovia. I generally recommend a bare minimum of 4 days for Madrid leaving time for 2 daytrips. So if you have 5 days you may have time to also visit Segovia. You could play it by ear at least....

Another vote for Salamanca.

thanks for the replies so far!

Cathy- yes, we would have 4 days in Madrid, plus a day for Toledo, plus 2 days for ? (with an overnight). But one of the Madrid days will be a morning arrival from the US so I'm not sure how much we'll get to (depends on how much sleep we get on the plane).

Salamanca is great. Told my progenitors to visit there after I had, and they're still thanking me for it.

I also vote for Salamanca, although I don't think you'd go wrong if you end up choosing Segovia.

You really can't go wrong with either. I had three days in each and was not bored. With an over night and two days you could get a nice visit in either of them (someone said half a day was enough for Segovia but I totally disagree with that).

Here's the link to my trip report and photos, maybe reading it and seeing the photos will help you decide

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...tral-spain.cfm

isabel-
I agree with you. I spent 2 nights in Segovia and don't see how 1/2 day would suffice....

I'll vote for Segovia (although in full disclosure I have not been to Salamanca). We found the town to be enchanting - especially in the evenings after all the day trippers have gone home. There probably isn't as much to "see" - but lots of atmosphere to soak up. We stayed at the Hotel Infanta Isabel which was central and very good.

#
CathyM on Aug 24, 10 at 7:06pm

isabel-
I agree with you. I spent 2 nights in Segovia and don't see how 1/2 day would suffice...."
I found spending a day at Prado and evening in Cava Baja much more interesting than " exploring " streets of Segovia.
We wanted to see the Aqueduct, walk around the town for couple of hours and take a look at the Catedrale .
Most of us are limited by time and we all have different priorities. Mine is not looking into every corner of a small town (however beautiful).
And, the horror of horrors, while in Segovia we did not even have the obligatory cochinillo .

thanks again everyone!

isabel- your trip report makes me want to go to Andalucia!