Those of us who live in Madrid are lucky enough to be able to enjoy a host of opportunities within easy reach: restaurants, museums, exhibition halls, cinemas and theatres, large shopping centres, parks and streets and squares of great historical and artistic interest. But another of the advantages of this city is its privileged geographical location. From here you can travel just a few kilometres to get to know other towns and cities and enjoy a good trip. There is no need to drive for hours to discover medieval walls, centuries-old castles and palaces, churches and museums that house artistic gems, or to sample the wide range of gastronomic delights that are just a stone's throw from the capital.<\/p>\n
So, if you've already seen everything in Madrid, you're bored of the big city and you have some free time, we recommend you take a trip with your family, friends or on your own. Less than two hours away by car. Take pencil and paper and write down the following destinations that you can't miss. We've selected 13. We'll start with the places closest to the capital and work our way up from there by kilometres in distance.<\/p>\n
It is undoubtedly one of the must-visits from Madrid. Because of its proximity, only 30 km away, and because it has been a World Heritage City since 1998. It is very well communicated and can be reached from the capital by train, by intercity bus that goes straight to the city, or the quickest way, by car, which will take you no more than 30 minutes. If you plan your trip well, you will have time in less than a day to explore its more than 2,000 years of history through its streets and squares.<\/p>\n
The best known is its University<\/strong>, founded by Cardinal Cisneros in 1499, which can be visited and which today is attended by hundreds of students. As the distances are short, there is time to visit Cervantes' birthplace, the Corral de Comedias, the medieval walled enclosure, the Islamic fortress of Alcal\u00e1 la Vieja, the Magistral Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace, the Puerta de Madrid or the Palace of Laredo. Not forgetting that the city of Complutense has a very interesting Regional Archaeological Museum to visit. While we explore the historic and artistic heritage of Alcal\u00e1, we must make a stop along the way in the Calle Mayor and the surrounding area. Its delicious tapas and pinchos will give us the strength to continue our journey through this Cervantes city, which is less than an hour from Madrid.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n . Distance: 57.1 km<\/p>\n . Duration: 46 minutes<\/p>\n It is the closest city outside the Community of Madrid. We can take the opportunity to see Alcal\u00e1 de Henares and Guadalajara on the same day due to its proximity, only 28km away.<\/p>\n The capital of the Alcarria, although it is not an outstanding tourist reference point, is well worth getting to know its Renaissance legacy. Its towers located in what remains of the medieval wall, the Co-cathedral of Santa Mar\u00eda, the Palacio de la Cotilla with its Chinese Room decorated with the original wallpaper, the Byzantine-style Pantheon of the Countess of Vega del Pozo... are some of the monuments not to be missed. But the best known of Guadalajara is undoubtedly the Infantado Palace with its famous fa\u00e7ade carved in limestone in the shape of diamond points. When we have it in front of us it reminds us of the Casa de las Conchas in Salamanca. If you like art, this building is the best choice, its gothic courtyard of the Lions with Islamic influence is spectacular. The Al-Andalus style garden and the rest of the palace can be visited thanks to the fact that the local museum has been installed here. If you are accompanied by children, Guadalajara has a small municipal zoo, which, although it cannot be compared to the one in Madrid, can be interesting because it specialises in Iberian fauna. You will find it at the entrance to the city, across the bridge that crosses the river Henares.<\/p>\n . Distance: 48.1 km<\/p>\n . Duration: 51 minutes<\/p>\n It is one of the most beautiful villages in Madrid. It is famous for its garlic and aniseed, but Chinch\u00f3n is much more. Everything revolves around its square, of medieval origin and one of the best preserved in the region. But we can also visit its convents, church, castle and the old mansions that have now been converted into restaurants and bars full of tourists at weekends. Its typical balconies with green railings are the hallmark of this small town in Madrid. In a few hours we can finish our tour of Chinch\u00f3n and continue our getaway to another tourist spot in Madrid.<\/p>\n . Distance: 44 km<\/p>\n . Journey time: 43 minutes<\/p>\n This small town south of Madrid is our second destination. The excursion can start with a visit to the Royal Palace and its gardens, which are especially impressive in autumn for their colour. Other emblematic buildings to visit are the Casa del Labrador or the Museum of Royal Fal\u00faas. The latter is made up of a collection of pleasure boats belonging to the kings of Spain. You can see, for example, a golden gondola that belonged to Charles II or the fal\u00faas of Charles IV, Ferdinand VII or Alfonso XII. But we can also do a fun and refreshing activity if we do it in summer: canoeing on the Tagus River surrounded by hundred-year-old trees. An excursion very close to Madrid that won't take us more than half a day.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n . Distance: 72.3 km<\/p>\n . Duration: 58 minutes<\/p>\n This is an excursion that, despite being so close to Madrid, will take up the whole day due to the number of places to visit. It is important to wear comfortable shoes to be able to walk for hours through its cobbled and steep streets, sometimes turned into real labyrinths.<\/p>\n Toledo is known as the city of the three cultures because Christians, Jews and Muslims lived together for centuries. Thanks to this coexistence, they have left us an artistic and cultural legacy, with a marked Mudejar, Arab, Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance style that we can enjoy today. If you like art and history, don't miss a visit to the synagogues of Santa Mar\u00eda la Blanca and El Tr\u00e1nsito, the mosque of Cristo de La Luz, the cathedral of Santa Mar\u00eda, the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes or the church of Santo Tom\u00e9, where you can find one of the most representative paintings by El Greco, the Burial of the Lord of Orgaz.<\/em> A little further away from the old quarter is the Alc\u00e1zar, one of the most emblematic monuments of this city during the Spanish Civil War.<\/p>\n If you also like the art of goldsmithing, Toledo is known for its famous Damascene technique: an artistic process that consists of making jewels and other precious metals and inlaying them in steel. In the old town you will find artisans who offer exhibitions in their workshops, not to be missed!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n . Distance: 49 km<\/p>\n . Duration: one hour<\/p>\n This is another of the must-see excursions in the Madrid Region. It can be reached by car or by public transport. It is very well communicated with the suburban train that comes directly from Chamart\u00edn station, or by intercity bus.<\/p>\n The main visit takes us directly to the Royal Monastery at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama. Declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, it was built in the 16th century under the reign of Felipe II. It is a huge building that occupies an area of more than 35,000 square metres. Inside you can visit the Basilica, the Pantheon of the Kings (where you can find the tombs of the Habsburg and Bourbon dynasties), the Library, the Museum of Paintings, or the Palaces of the Habsburgs and the Bourbons. In addition, outside the Monastery, you can visit an architectural complex made up of a dozen buildings such as the Casita del Pr\u00edncipe, the Royal Barracks, the Hospital of San Carlos, the House of the Infantes and the Queen, the Third House of Trades, the House of the Duke of Medinaceli and the King's Coach Houses.<\/p>\n No less spectacular are the landscapes around San Lorenzo. We can take the opportunity to do some walking routes, such as climbing the chair of Felipe II, walking along the Calzada Romana de Zarzalejo, entering the Bosque de la Herrer\u00eda or climbing the Abantos mountain. Nature and Artistic Heritage united just a few kilometres from Madrid.<\/p>\n . Distance: 96.7 km<\/p>\n . Duration: 1hour 15 minutes<\/p>\n If you want to see the most famous aqueduct in Spain, you have to come to this city in Castile-Le\u00f3n. It also has one of the most important medieval complexes, together with its spectacular Gothic cathedral and its Alc\u00e1zar fortress, from which you can enjoy breathtaking views. Strolling through the old quarter is like taking a trip back in time, the Jewish quarter, the Playa Mayor, the Canonj\u00edas neighbourhood or the Plaza de San Mart\u00edn. Of course, when you plan your trip to Segovia, you must mark on the map the restaurants where they prepare the best Segovian suckling pig.<\/p>\n Segovia is a small city that can be visited in a morning. So after lunch you can take the car and drive to what is known as the Spanish Versailles.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n . Distance: 102km<\/p>\n . Duration: one hour 18 minutes<\/p>\n Impressive gardens and fountains decorated with mythological statues in marble and bronze. This is what you will find next to the neoclassical Royal Palace. It was the summer residence from the reign of Felipe V until Alfonso XIII. Around the palace we can take a stroll and contemplate other buildings such as the F\u00e1brica de Cristales, the Royal Collegiate Church, the Casa de los Infantes, the Stables or the Casa de los Oficios y Can\u00f3nigos.<\/p>\n . Distance: 112km<\/p>\n . Duration: one hour 25 minutes<\/p>\n The other Castilian-Leonese city near Madrid is \u00c1vila. A must-see for its medieval walls and towers, its cathedral and Gothic palaces and its Romanesque churches. You can visit part of the wall, but you have to pay \u20ac5 to do so. From the top there are impressive views of the city along the kilometre-long route. The squares of Mercado Chico and Mercado Grande are the meeting points for the people of Avila. Here you'll find a large number of bars and restaurants where you can sample some of the tapas that come free with your drink. And if you have a sweet tooth, don't forget to buy the typical yemas de \u00c1vila (egg yolks).<\/p>\n It is a city that is linked to the figure of Saint Teresa of Jesus. That is why visiting the Convent and the Museum that bear her name will bring us closer to this mystical writer and nun, whose relics are on display in this building for visitors.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n . Distance: 130.06 km<\/p>\n . Duration: 1.5 hours<\/p>\n In our calendar of routes we cannot forget the City of the Doncel, as Sig\u00fcenza is also known. With its medieval streets, its castle, now a Parador hotel, and its 12th century cathedral, we can take a trip back in time in less than 2 hours from Madrid.<\/p>\n The jewel of this city is its Doncel, a funerary statue located in the cathedral that stands out for its realistic carving. Made of alabaster, the Doncel is Mart\u00edn V\u00e1zquez de Arce, a 15th century aristocrat and military man. It is not normally open to visitors, except for guided tours.<\/p>\n . Distance: 139.5 km<\/p>\n . Duration: 1 hour 50 minutes<\/p>\n Another destination that is just a stone's throw from Madrid is Aranda del Duero. As the capital of the region of La Ribera, it is linked to wine culture. That is why it is a must to visit its underground cellars to taste its designation of origin wines. This town also preserves all the Castilian tradition and has architectural gems such as the Romanesque church of Santa Mar\u00eda la Real, the church of San Juan with its museum and the Casa de las Bolas.<\/p>\n Aranda del Duero has a railway museum in the old station where the railway used to run. There is a cycle track so that visitors can take part of the old route. There is also an exhibition of objects, tools, signals and tickets that were used years ago. A curious place if you are interested in the world of trains.<\/p>\n And then we come to the gastronomic part, because this Castile-Le\u00f3n city is known for its wine and lamb. As for the wine cellars, you can take a guided tour that lasts approximately 45 minutes. It is a 7 km route of galleries and tunnels, excavated between the 12th and 18th centuries under the old part of the city. Today 135 cellars remain, although there were many more. As an anecdote they will tell you during the visit that the cellars were built centuries ago under the plots of the houses and not in the streets, to avoid the noise and vibrations that the carts and people could produce as they passed and damage the wine that was in the vats. I leave you the telephone number of the Tourist Office because you have to book before: 947-510476<\/p>\n . Distance Cuenca: 168km \/Ciudad Encantada: 197km<\/p>\n . Duration: 1hour 44minutes\/ 2hours<\/p>\n And we arrive at the excursion that is the furthest from Madrid. So we will have to get up early so that we have time to visit both places. The quickest and most direct way is by car. Once past Taranc\u00f3n we will arrive at the Enchanted City, in the heart of the mountains of Cuenca. A unique landscape of limestone rocks that have formed curious figures such as boats, bears, turtles or whatever our imagination can come up with.<\/p>\n From here it is only 35 km to Cuenca. To contemplate its famous hanging houses from the Bridge of San Pablo is a spectacle. They are buildings built on the mountain in the 15th century and today they form the Spanish Museum of Abstract Art. We can continue our visit through the old part of the city; enter the cathedral of Santa Mar\u00eda and San Juli\u00e1n or stroll along Calle Alfonso VIII with its famous coloured buildings. If the weather is fine, we can stop at any of the terraces near the Plaza Mayor.<\/p>\n As you can see, there are many options for day trips close to Madrid. We have chosen these 13. Depending on your budget and free time, you can choose one or another, or combine several destinations. The important thing is to get out and see new places.<\/p>\n Have a good trip!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Los que vivimos en Madrid tenemos la suerte de poder disfrutar de un mont\u00f3n de oportunidades y al alcance de la mano: restaurantes, museos, salas de exposiciones, cines y teatros, grandes centros comerciales, parques o calles y plazas de gran inter\u00e9s hist\u00f3rico-art\u00edstico. Pero otra de las ventajas de esta ciudad es su privilegiada situaci\u00f3n geogr\u00e1fica. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":940,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-que-hacer-en-madrid","category-que-ver-en-madrid"],"yoast_head":"\nGUADALAJARA<\/h2>\n
CHINCH\u00d3N<\/h2>\n
ARANJUEZ<\/strong><\/h2>\n
TOLEDO<\/strong><\/h2>\n
SAN LORENZO DE EL ESCORIAL<\/strong><\/h2>\n
SEGOVIA <\/strong><\/h2>\n
LA GRANJA DE SAN ILDEFONSO<\/strong><\/h2>\n
AVILA<\/strong><\/h2>\n
SIG\u00dcENZA<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\u00a0<\/strong>ARANDA DEL DUERO<\/strong><\/h2>\n
ENCHANTED CITY AND CUENCA<\/strong><\/h2>\n