Going to Madrid and Barcelona in March and I have one day to go somewhere for the day from Madrid. I have always found Cadiz an place of interest and thought of taking the train there. I know it's three hours each way. I'm also considering Salamanca, Segovia, Seville or Toledo. Which would you recommend? Thanks!

This mighty help...

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-barcelona.cfm

Salamanca is great, but it's not a day trip because there's no fast train out there.

Seville is also a haul for a day trip (and it's a major city so less easy to see and enjoy in a day because there's a LOT there).

Segovia is small, and it's really worthy of half a day en route elsewhere.

I'd choose Toledo - just 35 minutes away and walkable and fairly doable in a day.

Toledo, hands down!

Cadiz is interesting (especially the historic conection with Lord Nelson, and beautifully situated on the water), but not any more interesting than Toledo or Segovia, and way, way too far for a decent day trip.

Salamanca, with good food and a beautiful central plaza, is also just too far for a good day trip.

Seville, IMHO, needs at least two days and an evening. One day is not enough to really savor Seville and get the most out of it.

Segovia is lovely. The central plaza is very nice, the castle is pretty, beautiful views, easy day trip. Some people prefer it to Toledo.

Toledo, however, is a perfect, walled, hilltop city with unique history, gorgeous architecture, one of the most stunning cathedrals in Europe, fabulous art, great views and a charming lybrinth of pedestrian streets. It is lovely at night, but also a good day trip because it is close enough to Madrid that you do not use up much time getting there and it is small enough that one day is enough time to explore and get a lot out of the visit.

All the others are great but Toledo is exceptionally great - and an easy day trip timewise by train and cheap compared to rail fares to say Cadiz.

Toledo for sure - I've been to all the others.

I enjoyed Segovia a lot, as well as Toledo, so either one of those, it's up to you which speaks to you the most.

I would not do a day trip from Madrid to Seville unless there is no chance you will ever be in that area again (central Spain or southern Spain). If so, then it is certainly doable as the train is only 2.5 hours each way. I've done day trips like that when in a city to a place I really wanted to see but knew I was never going to stay in that city (usually I limit day trips to 2 hrs each way but have made special exceptions). That isn't really that bad, you have a lot of hours in a city if you don't mind getting back "home" around 8 pm or later. You'll have to take a taxi from Santa Justa to say, the cathedral which is pretty central, but that won't be a problem and won't cost that much.

Given the distances, Segovia and Toledo are the two that make most sense, and both are well worth seeing and make for easy day trips from Madrid. You'd have to be a bit selective with Toledo, as you won't have time to see all of its highlights.

I also liked the Segovia aqueduct.

The castle is not authentically a medieval castle, like it was renovated in the 19th century or something? Nevertheless pretty scenic.

Toledo without a doubt

Toledo it is! I love churches and medieval architecture in general. It seemed almost too good to be true that a place so close could be so great. Thanks for the responses!

Don't you dare skipping the Toledo Cathedral!

Yep, definitely Toledo. Have a great trip!

Cimbrone,

I also love churches and cathedrals and the Cathedral of Toledo is without doubt one of the most beautiful and dramatic anywhere. The first time I went, I know we spent four or five hours. The colorful alter is stunning, the choir is beautiful and there are also the galleries, the El Greco's and the treasury. However, the transparente leaves one absolutely speechless!

It is a hole in the ceiling/roof with 3-D sculpted figures that look as if they have fallen from the sky and are hanging over the edge looking down. I have seen people walk under, then look up and their mouths drop open as they try to take it in.

I promise, no matter what other cathedrals you have seen, this cathedral will blow you away!

If you can stay late and have dinner, Toledo takes on a mysterious atmosphere at night.

Hola

Yes hard to beat Toledo as a day trip choice. Apart from those already suggested you might consider Aranjuez or El Escorial - http://www.el-escorial.com

Oh wow! I saw a photo of el transparente online, sassafrass. Stunning. The monastery of San Juan de los Reyes also looks beautiful. I will definitely get there early and leave late so I have the whole day. Thanks again!

Yes, the monastery of San Juan de los Reyes is truly memorable. I urge you to give Toledo as much time as you can. And I agree that staying late is worth considering -- Toledo is, IMO, extraordinarily evocative once the sun sets and the daytrippers leave. Enjoy!

Toledo is a wonderful city. It is a gorgeous photo op at night. And there is much more to see than you can see in a day. I recommend at least one night stay there. I stayed 3 or 4 nights (would have to refer to my Itinerary to verify) but could have actually used another day. I did do a day trip to Consuegra while staying there.

The view of Toledo from the parador outside of town is pretty stunning, too.

Toledo-Any opportunity to view "live" his paintings View of Toledo and The Burial of Count Orgaz you take it. Also El Greco's house etc. and above.

Toledo all the way! It's a great beautiful city only about a 30 minute ride away. The El Greco museum is incredible and the whole place is accesible by walking, there's also a lot of really crazy history there, check out the castle.

I lived in Sevilla and its a 5.5 hour bus ride from Madrid, and that's not including getting from the airport the wait time to the bus and then getting off in Sevilla and to wherever you wanted to see. It's truly impossible for a day trip. Also, Cadiz is just a beach town south of Sevilla, its cute and I've been there a handful of times but not worth your only free day from Madrid and certainly not worth it over Toledo. Enjoy!

Again the cost of going to Seville, two hours each way by train from Madrid, could be dauntingly high - well for a day trip - perhaps 100 bucks just for train there and back. Toledo is very close to Madrid - take the train there in under an hour (slower train than the high-speed AVE to Seville- Toledo is much closer geograhpically than Seville.