Best Weekend Trips in Spain (From Madrid)?

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Juna

I expect you've already "done" El Escorial and the Valley of
the Fallen.

But how about nearby Avila - with its medieval walls, Gothic
cathedral and birthplace of Santa Teresa?

Or Segovia - famous for its alcazar (castle) and Roman
aqueduct.

Both are fairly close to Madrid.

You could even take a high-speed train from Madrid right
down south to Seville and be there in a few hours!

For travel, check out English sections of the following
websites, which give time-tables, prices and online
booking for Spain's national coach and rail networks:

http://www.alsa.es

http://www.renfe.es

As far as hotel accommodation goes. If you're after cheap
and cheerful, try hostels (hostelbookers.com). If you want
something special, take a look at Spain's parador hotels.

abuela Nany

Besides the ones Juna has suggested...There is the
"Real Sitio de Aranjuez" with its beautiful palace and gardens are well worth a visit (I've been there twice, and wouldn't mind returning). As is the Casa del Labrador (You'll need a previous appointment to visit that, you can get it at the same time you get the tickets to enter the palace. You can do that trip in a day.
With the AVE (high speed train) you could take a trip to the andalusian cities of CÃ³rdoba and/or Seville... Both cities are magnificent and worth a full weekend visit. Granada and La Alhambra are also worth a weekend, but the connections are not as good. Check RENFE's website for trains
Heading northwest of Madrid you have Salamanca, a town of great beauty and history... The university is one of the first created in Spain and there are buildings and monuments going back to medieval times...
If you head southeast of Madrid you will find Cuenca, famous for its "casas colgantes" a series of houses that seem literally to "hang from a cliff".
Another day trip could be AlcalÃ¡ de Henares, which is just east of Madrid on the road to Zaragoza (also easy to reach by local train). It also has beautiful university buildings, a cathedral and old areas of the town worth a visit.
If you don't mind traveling north by bus (La Continental) you have Burgos. Also worth a full weekend, it has one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in Spain. (And some of the best cooking, especially if you like lamb!)
There are many smaller towns worth a day trip such as Talavera de la Reina west of Toledo.
Manzanares el Real (it has a lovely XVth. century castle and is near el Embalse de Santillana, on whose shores you can find an enormous amount of storks!) nice for a sunday walk around the town and lunch in one of the local restaurants, It's on the road to Navacerrada (also a good place to visit when the skiing season starts)! Easy to reach by bus from in front of the Kio towers (I've forgotten the buses number, sorry!).

In Madrid you have so many possibilites: monuments, museums, the opera, theaters (to help perfect your spanish!),! Then there is El Palacio Real, with the Cathedral of La Almudena next to it, and the beautiful gardens behind it.I
hope you find time to enjoy everything worth seeing ...
Anyway...I hope you have a wonderful stay...
:-)
I nearly forgot La Granja de San Ildefonso (near Segovia) It has a magnificent XVIIIth century palace and gardens worth a visit in themselves) Go there on a sunny day!.
And as to hotels, you have several websites with loads of offers... Try www.discount-hotels.es

Evan W

I lived in Alicante Spain for about six months. There is some great history there along with an incredible fort that is on top of a mountain. This city is not the largest but is one of the most popular tourist destinations during the summer. The best mode of travel from Madrid would be by train, it is cheap and only 3 hours or so. If you are going anywhere near Costa del Sol this is a perfect stop on your journey. And if you go there, the night life is incredible on the weekends. The port stays open until sunrise and the locals are extremely friendly.

anguspm

Ok from Madrid by bus or Cercanias

Segovia
Chinchon,
El escorial,

by Regional Train o bus:

Burgos
Plasencia
Caceres
Valladolid
Salamanca, great student center, two universities (worlds 1st)
Zaragoza

By Ave:

Cordoba,
Zaragoza
Sevilla
Malaga: from 21st dec
Valladolid: from 22nd Dec
Barcelona: from 20 Dec

Long-ish bus ride:

Granada & Valencia

My advice is to read up on each of the cities and make your choice as to your preferences. Afterwards search "Hostals+city" and youÂ´ll find clean but cheap and simple accomodation. start researching as you may luck in and be able to see some of the local festivals. For example Pilar in Zaragoza or Semana santa in Valladolid.

Probably a little tounge in cheek but the following is a weekend in itself:

"Calimocho"

For the closer activities and the bus, train and cercanias info from Madrid check out the source listed.

MissyG

I see everyone else has already given you great suggestions, but you can also do a quick trip to Lisbon. You can take an overnight train (pay for the bunk, it's worth it) and arrive as you wake in the morning. It's a great little trip and there is so much to see and do.

carmen m

San Sebastian in beautiful..

sme

Segovia, Sevilla. We took the train, but its been a while and I dont remember the details.
You're so lucky- I want to be back in Spain :)

Ana

If you are in Madrid you must see Avila and Segovia.
I recommend you see the walls in Avila they were built in SXI
its an ancient city is quiet and you can eat very well... You have to taste the Yemas de Santa Teresa.
And of course you have to go to Segovia and see the marvelous Acueducto.... i dont know where u come from... but theres nothing in world can compare to the walls and the acueducto.... Are fantastic!!

In avila and segovia you can walk, are small cities, anyway if u need more info about avila email me. I was born in avila and i know the city like ma hand.

Rachel

I spent the last year studying in Madrid and have just returned to the US. There are tons of great weekend trips.

1.Sevilla - La Ghiralda, El Alcazar. You can take a bus from Avenidas de Americas station in Madrid. I think the roundtrip costs about 30 Euros. Sevilla is one of the prettiest places I went to in Spain.

2.Granada- La Alhambra. This place is amazing. You can also take a bus here from Madrid. You spend an entire day in La Alhambra but there isn't a lot of other things in Granada to see. It was still a nice trip.

3. Lisbon, Portugal - You can take a bus here as well but it's a pretty long trip. It's a beautiful city with a lot to see.

There are also plenty of day trips

1. Alcala he Henares - Where Cervantes was born and many other things happened. There is a gret big plaza dedicated to Cervantes. Also there is a University building that dates back to the 1400's

2. Salamanca - They have a huge university which is really beautiful.

3. Segovia - The roman aquaducts, el alcazar, and the cathedral are really pretty and totally worth going to.

If you want to plan any trips go to funiversal.com They have an office in Madrid (there are directions and a phone number on the website). They are all Americans that work there so they all speak English and Spanish. They really helped us out a lot and can find you great trips for low costs. Have fun!!!

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