Madrid sits in the middle of Spain, and some of the country’s finest historic cities are less than an hour away. Fast trains make it easy to see one in a day and be back in time for dinner – which, in Madrid, means 9 pm.
Toledo
Getting there: high-speed trains from Atocha take about 33 minutes. The station is below the old town: take a bus or walk up (there are escalators on the way).
The “city of three cultures” rises on a rocky hill wrapped by the Tagus. Walk the lanes to the great Gothic Cathedral, see El Greco’s *Burial of the Count of Orgaz* in the church of Santo Tomé, and visit the old synagogues and the monastery of San Juan de los Reyes. For the classic view, go to the Mirador del Valle across the river. Try the marzipan before you leave.
Segovia
Getting there: high-speed trains from Chamartín take about 30 minutes to Segovia-Guiomar station, then a city bus to the aqueduct; buses from Moncloa are slower but arrive in the centre.
The Roman aqueduct, almost 2,000 years old and built without mortar, crosses the city in a line of granite arches. From there, walk up to the late-Gothic Cathedral and the Alcázar, a castle on a rock at the end of the town. Segovia is famous for roast suckling pig.
Tours and activities in Madrid
El Escorial
Getting there: Cercanías trains (line C3) from Atocha, Sol or Chamartín take about an hour.
The Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, built for Philip II in the 16th century, is a vast granite complex at the foot of the mountains: palace, basilica, royal pantheon and a magnificent library. Usually closed on Mondays.
Ávila
Getting there: trains from Chamartín take about 1.5 hours.
Ávila is ringed by some of the best-preserved medieval walls in Europe – about 2.5 km long, with more than 80 towers. You can walk along parts of the top. It is also the city of Saint Teresa; try the sweet yemas named after her.
Aranjuez
Getting there: Cercanías trains (line C3) from Atocha take about 45 minutes.
A royal town by the Tagus, with a Royal Palace and wide gardens that inspired Rodrigo’s *Concierto de Aranjuez*. A gentle day, good with children; in spring try the local strawberries. The palace usually closes on Mondays.
Tips for day trips
- Book trains ahead at weekends and holidays.
- Start early: the old towns are calmer in the morning.
- Wear good shoes: Toledo and Segovia are steep and cobbled.
Back in the city, the Royal Palace and the Prado Museum complete the story of the Spanish kings. Plan the rest of your stay with Madrid in 3 days, and check our Madrid travel tips for the main train stations.
