I have an opportunity to spend a week in Salamanca in late Sept.( first visit)
Any suggestions for day trips would be appreciated.

Public transport or car; likes and dislikes?

Sorry,
Public transit only
Have been to Madrid several times, visited Segovia
Like all things Spanish.

You should rent a car. There are lots of day trips possible. I went to Aranuez and Escorial. Madrid is not too far. Salamanca has an interesting Art Nouveau museum, cathedral and fabulous plaza.

With public transport, you will be very limited. I drove the car up the Pena de Francia for a fabulous view and drove through Portugal to Porto and then Santiago de Compostella. Salamanca itself is good for about 3 days.

If there are day tours from Salamanca, I never investigated them, but they would be similar to what you can do from Madrid (about 3 hours by bus from Salamanca). I spent 3 1/2 weeks in Salamanca in August 2013 because I did a home exchange there.

Spanish food is great, by the way.

For further information on Salamanca, you might want to check my blog of the trip:

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...pain-2013.html

There are plenty of photos on the site as well. Look under the blog on the right hand side of the page and you will see them. I hope it gives you some ideas.

Zamora, just north of Salamanca would be a very nice day trip. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamora,_Spain

Thanks for the info.
Much appreciated

Avila - medieval walled city, 88 turrets.

Thanks, Russ

Day trips by public transport? Difficult to say the least.
Béjar by bus (@1.5hrs) is another location http://www.bejar.es/
Other place (then those given above) are difficult to get to if you do not want to drive.

Thanks, I was afraid that might be the case.

This small city is a little further afield, but would be another good day trip. Perhaps 50 miles. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciudad_Rodrigo

Another vote for Avila.

When I was there, I had a car and did not investigate bus/train possibilities. There are a lot of attractive places in the countryside but I doubt that bus/train would get you there. I did not, by the way, find driving stressful, but I do have a GPS for Europe that I take with me on home exchanges to reduce getting messed up driving.

Thanks again to all.
If I decide to stay a couple of nights , would Burgos be a place to go?

Yes, Burgos would make an interesting stop, with the Burgos Cathedral being one of the main attractions to the city. If driving, you can also make a stop in Valladolid, at the western end of the Ribera del Duero wine region, but then, Burgos is also part of this wine region. The problem is that two nights is hardly enough.

Burgos is one of my favs in Spain, and I did look at that for you but thought the train journey too long for a day trip. Overnight stay is a good idea. Robert seem to be under the impression you are driving.

Thanks, I wish I could drive...
I might take a train to Valladolid ,stay a day, continue to Burgos
- stay for a couple of days, return to Madrid from Burgos( for the flight home.)
Day trips to Avila and Zamora sound perfect.
Appreciate the suggestions....

I have visited Tordesillas twice from Salamanca by bus! The town is lovely and often overlooked! It's where the Treaty of Tordesillas was signed in 1494 between Spain and Portugal-dividing up the New World and the convent of Santa Clara where the queen,Juana La Loca lived out her days.I stayed at the Parador across the river Duero-few tourists but what a historic gem!
Easy bus ride!

Thanks, chapla

We where in Tordesillas this past November and I have to agree, it is an interesting destination and of important historic significance. Be sure to visit the Royal Convent of Santa Clara, a jewel of mudéjar art, called the “Alhambra of Castile”.

http://www.tordesillas.net/webs/inic...g&cont=1&id=11