Ultimate Southern Spain Road Trip: Madrid to Andalusia - 10 days. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. This is a four-day music event that attracts thousands of visitors each year. Located on the Ras Baixas highway in the Galician province of Ourense, Allariz sits on the Arnoia river and dates back to the prehistoric Castro culture; Romans and Goths later occupied it too. If you don't know it by name, you've definitely seen pictures of giant rocks and archways on the sandy beach before. A drive inland to Girona is optional before you make it down to the relaxation end of the journey with beach stops in Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar on the menu. Other popular stops include Europe Park, Cuenca Cathedral, and Castell de Xtiva. Salamanca 5. The Madrid-Levante high-speed railway network connects Madrid with the Mediterranean coast of the Levant Region. Ill be honest, they are no Alps, but they do offer a wonderful respite from the hectic pace of city life and in fact, many Madrileos own second homes in the area. The palace is characterized by luxury and rich decoration. Best stops along Madrid to Valencia drive The top stops along the way from Madrid to Valencia (with short detours) are Parque Warner Madrid, Royal Palace of Aranjuez, and San Pablo Bridge. Other popular stops include Pl. Day 3: Pick up Rental Car - Drive From Madrid to Laguardia - Wine Tour. Segovia: If you dont stop in Segovia on a road trip to Salamanca (or on any other day trip from Madrid), then dont miss it on this drive. You will see the world's finest architecture in Barcelona, La Mezquita in Cordoba, the Seville Cathedral and Granada's Alhambra fortress but have time to relax in Puerto Banus, lay on the beach in Nerja and roam the narrow streets of Andalucian white villages. We have driven up and down and across Spain a lot of times over the past 15 years. While highways A-1 to A-6 radiate out from Madrid, the last two highways in the system run along the countrys two coasts. Your email will not be provided to third parties. To enjoy Madrid's idyllic side complete with classic terraces and markets, La Latina is the place to be! Patones de Arriba my favourite village I have found so far. The trip continues along the north coast stopping off at Santander, Bilbao and San Sebastian before detouring off into the Pyrenees and the historic cities of Pamplona and Zaragoza. Aranda de Duero a nice little town in the area. Baslica de Nuestra Seora del Pilar Simply stunning from the outside and home to a dome that was painted by Goya and a tower you can get to the top of for wonderful views. Needless to say, sampling the winerys products should be limited to the cars passengers. A day trip? The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Ribera del Duero 12. Its biggest is the impressive medieval city wall, but another main draw is the Convent of Santa Teresa, a magnificent religious structure built on the home where St. Teresa of vila was born. The city is also home to the Alczar of Toledo. Marvel at Madrid's Royal Palace - the largest in Western Europe. War in Ukraine forced me change my life again. Pestana Holidays. It might have a reputation for its packed resorts, but Alicante is a pretty port in the shadow of Mount Benacantil, a rocky hill where Santa Barbara Castle sits. Take some time to explore the breathtaking cathedral and Alcazar, then head to Maria Luisa Park to row a boat along the lazy river in Plaza de Espaa when you need a breather. Linking Barcelona and Madrid, the two largest cities of Spain, the A-2 winds through Guadalajara, Soria, Zaragoza, and Lrida with a multitude of sights along the way. Perhaps no place encapsulates that image more than the regional capital, Seville, a colorful and vibrant destination that looks like a postcard come to life. I want to share the top 4 resources I personally use for planning a road trip in Spain: The best time to do a road trip from Madrid is during the spring and fall. The old castle keep now houses a parador that allows access to the buildings courtyard. You'll relax in the world famous Andalucian white villages of Mijas, Benahavis and Casares and mingle with new money in Puerto Banus' marina full of expensive supercars, people with too much plastic surgery and the world's biggest yachts. Protos is my personal favourite. At the confluence of the Tagus and Tietar Rivers, the park is home to 280 . If you are more into culture and love grandiose cathedrals, medieval fortresses and jaw dropping architecture, Andalucia is also a place for you. For each recommendation, I have also included information about how to get there. Patones De Arriba 6. There are many underground wine cellars to discover in the region, a wonderful mix of famous producers and small family affairs. The village also has deep historic and cultural roots at the Cave of the Seven Altars, visitors can see sacred art by Visigoths; portions of the Fernn Gonzlez castle date to the Moorish occupation in the 10th century; and the Romanesque church of the Virgen de la Pea was built in the 12th century. The biggest draw in the town is the huge royal palace and expansive gardens. Travel Tip: Due to its appearance on a recent season of Game of Thrones, Seville's Alcazar has become more popular than ever. Here are the top cities to add to your route: vila: Located just over an hours drive from Madrid as a midpoint between Madrid and Salamanca. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. However, on my visit to Avila, once I had breached the city walls, I found it a little underwhelming. My list will be a mixture of cities near Madrid that you can easily reach by public transport as well as things to do in surrounding towns and villages that you may need to hire a car for. On 146 hectares there are green gardens, 26 beautiful fountains, a French-style labyrinth, and a huge pond. In the post linked above, you can see the public transport links to reach the vineyards, they involve either a train or the bus. The walled city of Toledo is one of the most popular day-trip destinations from Madrid. One appealing stop is Alarcn, an enchanting village in the province of Cuenca with only 148 inhabitants and one of the best-preserved forts in Spain, originally constructed by Arab conquerors. Segovia 2. Getting There: There is no direct public transport from Madrid to the valleyyou have to make a stop in San Lorenzo de El Escorial (see above for information on reaching the town from Madrid). The rest of the road trip follows the Costa Brava back down to Barcelona. What I love about the city is it is super easy to get to by train and just the perfect size for a day trip. During these seasons, the weather is mild and it allows you to truly enjoy every stop. The Pyrenees are an amazing mountain range that is not high on many tourists' radars. Next. There are nearly 20 trains a day that go between Madrid and Avila, but they are not high-speed trains so take around 1 hour and 45 minutes. One thing that you will certainly notice on a Toledo day trip are the many shops that sell awesome swords. But if you are coming on a trip to Madrid for 5 days or longer, then you can create a more action-packed itinerary and see the surroundings after renting a car and going for a drive. Now, personally, I hate the sport of killing a bull and I dont feel it has a place in the modern world, but there is quite a history and prestige to it and, it is said that as a Matador if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. Toledo 2. Hop on a train in Madrid and you can be standing beneath the arches of Cordoba's Moorish-area Mezquita in two hours. Castille Leon - visit the heart of Spain, 7. Getting There: Trains from Madrid get you to Cuenca in about an hour. Make a quick stop there and visit two main attractions the ancient castle and the cathedral. People write songs,, Full Article More Than 50 Vital Travel Tips For Barcelona: Dont Make These Mistakes!Continue, Is Madrid worth visiting? If you love the sun, beaches and perfect mountain hideaways overlooking the sea, Andalucia is the place for you. During the summer, the Madrid Mountains offer some excellent hiking opportunities and in a good Winter, there are even some pretty decent ski ports. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". There you can try the famous wines mentioned above. Anyone who read Don Quijote in their high school Spanish class may remember how the titular character famously confused the giant windmills of Consuegra for monsters with flailing arms. Las Setas a modern architectural wonder. As with the Castille Leon trip, it's easy to start and finish in Madrid if that's where you can get easy flights to. Nevertheless, Zaragoza is among the interesting historical and cultural places in Spain. Segovia: As you continue on your journey towards Salamanca, make a stop in Segovia and visit the iconic Roman aqueduct 728 meters long. A huge cross in the mountains marks the site of this basilica that was built during the Franco regime. Aside from hiking, there are some fantastic little villages to be explored. Im back with another wine region. Suckling pig roasted in a traditional wood oven. Keep the sea to your right as you go and you're unlikely to go too far wrong. It is a nice stop on the way to Salamanca, or as mentioned previously, part of a multi-stop organised tour. The monastery is surrounded by stunning natural scenery, including a series of waterfalls and caves that are open to visitors. Just before or after the visit to Toledo, I also highly recommend you not to missBarrancas de Burujn nature reserve. It does not store any personal data. Don't leave without trying this delectable delicacy at a traditional spot like Restaurante Jos Mara. If you have time, a trip out to the shimmering Muslim palace-city of Medina Azahara is well worth the effort as well. The historic city is also home to a medieval Alczar offering beautiful gardens and impressive views from its towers. It takes just an hour (give or take a few minutes depending on the train you choose) for the high-speed train from Madrid to Cuenca to complete the journey. The Royal Alcazar A must see. La Rioja is a postcard of a province, with rolling green hills, alpine mountains . From winning foodie spots to spectacular vintage shops, Malasaa is one of the best places to stay in Madrid! The answer is all of the above, as well as the most important monument from the Spanish Renaissance. Whether you're looking to relax in the mountains off the Costa del Sol, navigate the narrow streets of Toledo or take a stroll down Barcelona's Las Ramblas, we can help you plan the perfect Spanish road trip for you. Alcala de Henares is in zone B-3 which means a return ticket can be bought for less than 5. From here you can head to the hanging houses, cross the river over the spine chilling St Paul Bridge and work your way down to the lower part of the city. The coffins are vertically lined up the walls with the names of the ex-monarchs. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. This trip covers a distance of approximately 503 kilometers in 150 minutes along the beautiful Spanish countryside with possible stops at Tarragona, Lleida, Zaragoza, and Guadalajara-Yebes. The journey spans a distance of approximately 220 kilometers. Summers are very hot and while driving is not a problem, getting out of the car and spending time outdoors can be a real challenge for some people when temperatures are high. Find day trips to take today or this coming weekend . Zaragoza is on the high-speed train route between Madrid and Barcelona meaning there are loads of departures from Atocha station throughout the day. Plaza de Toros one of the oldest in Spain. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. There are quite a few stops to make and foods to try. A favourite stop is a nestled in the mountains by the sea: Nijar. Argertine peso; Old stone houses and lush gardens line the banks of the Arnoia, as it makes its way through town. But this is nearer the beginning of the rivers life. Scroll down to see more detail on each one. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If you get out of the tourist areas, you will find local pintxo bars where the snacks are free as long as you keep buying the drinks! A perfect way to explore Spain is to drive around Andalucia. La Rioja wine country. Barcelona to Madrid drive. La SEO Cathedral an amazing mix of architectural styles throughout the years. Besides the citys iconic Roman aqueduct, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there is also an impressive cathedral, Alczar castle, the Jewish quarter, pretty central Plaza Mayor square with its 15th-century buildings, and more. Once you arrive at the El Escorial train station, it is about a 15 20-minute walk uphill to get to Monastery of El Escorial. El Escorial & The Valley of the Fallen, Final thoughts on the best day trips from Madrid, Best Travel Tripod Under $100 With Buying Tips, What to see in Zaragoza: 12 Unmissable Sites. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category `` Functional '' once had!, I also highly recommend you not to missBarrancas de Burujn nature reserve de... Town in the town is the best road trip from madrid Royal palace - the largest in Western Europe a! Cellars to discover in the category `` Necessary '' walled city of Toledo huge.! Two coasts driven up and down and across Spain a lot of times over the past 15 years is. A multi-stop organised Tour return ticket can be bought for less than 5 right as go. Park is home to a medieval Alczar offering beautiful gardens and impressive views its... 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