My partner and I are planning to go to Madrid in March for a month. It is not our first time there so we know the “major” sights. I already have four day trips planned….Toledo, Segovia, Avila, Aranjuez and El Escorial. Can anyone suggest any places to visit in or near Madrid that might be out of the ordinary. Anything from neighborhoods to museums to restaurants.
Thank you.
You might consider these places:
- la Granja de San Ildefonso, a royal palace near Segovia, ( I liked it better than Aranjuez)
- the new Royal Arts Museum right by the Almudena Cathedral and Royal Palace in Madrid
- a daytrip to Consuegra to see the windmills and the castle
- if you like castles and medieval towns take a daytrip by train to Sigüenza
- Talavera de la Reina, famous for its pottery
There's also the historic university town of Alcala de Henares. It's accessible via frequent commuter trains.
Another option is Cuenca, with its perched houses along a ravine. The historic center is very atmospheric, and there are also a couple of small modern-art museums. Cuenca is on the fast rail line to Valencia. By buying the tickets early, you should be able to get a good fare. It would probably become quite an expensive day-trip if you made the decision on the spur of the moment. The fast trains stop at a station outside the town, so either a bus or taxi will be necessary. I suspect buses may not be very frequent on Sunday, so I'd take the trip on a weekday.
Toledo has enough sights to justify more than one day-trip. Avila has much less to see.
There is now a way to buy a ticket in advance for a tour of the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales, a richly-appointed convent in Madrid. In the past, it was extremely difficult for independent, English-speaking tourists to snag a spot on a tour; entry is still only by tour.
https://www.patrimonionacional.es/visita/monasterio-de-las-descalzas-reales
Thank you for your suggestions. There are so many places that have not been on my radar.
Patones de Arriba, Buitrago de Lozoya, Chinchón, Nuevo Baztán, Alcalá de Henares (I think it´s UNESCO World Heritage) and the castle in Manzanares el Real should be on your to-visit list, no doubt! I also like the beautiful (and vastly ignored by foreign visitors) towns in the nearby (also ignored) province of Guadalajara (Sigüenza, Brihuega, Pastrana, Atienza, Mondéjar...).
The castle and windmills at Consuegra don’t take more than a couple hours to see, less if you don’t go into the nicely restored castle, so if you decide to visit there consider also visiting nearby Campo de Criptana and its windmills. They are the ones mentioned in Cervantes’ Don Quixote. Then, as long as you’re in that area, Belmonte castle is nice to visit. You could then visit the already mentioned Chinchón on the way back to Madrid.
If you go to the Real Sitio de San Ildefonso it is best seen when the gardens are in bloom and the fountains are turned on. The palace and gardens are all there are to see there, but it’s only an hour from Madrid.
If you had a rental car and wanted to stay in a castle, then consider the Parador de Alarcón. There’s a nice walk that goes around the town, but there’s little to the town itself.
I always have a rental car so can’t speak to getting to any of the places using public transportation.
Have you done the Botin Experience at the restaurant. It includes a tour before they open, a choice of table, dinner with Wine, and a small gift. We booked from a link on their website. A fun, delicious Experience.
I am currently planning about 7 days in Madrid in February 2025. We are looking forward to 2 day trips: Toledo and Cordoba.
I don't see Cordoba on your list, but according to what I've been reading it is very doable on the high-speed train for a day trip and it looks amazing there!
Yes, Cordoba is a wonderful place to visit. The Mezquita is one of the most beautiful and interesting places you can visit.
Try to stay ivernight in Toledo, or leave after dinner. The city is magical in the evening when it is less crowded, and go to the Parador for a drink and enjoy the views of the city.
Cordoba is nearly 2 hours from Madrid by express train, and of course you have to get from your hotel to Atocha Station in Madrid. Cordoba is lovely; it's worth an overnight stay (or multiple nights). It's much more convenient to day trip to Cordoba from Seville, but if you aren't going to be in Seville...
Important: Fares to Cordoba vary with demand; tickets will be much cheaper if bought earlier. They can get very pricey with same-day purchase. Fares for tomorrow morning range from 76 to 94 euros one-way. Given how much of the day will be lost to traveling back and forth, I wouldn't want to spend that sort of price for a truncated day trip. You can save more than half by buying the ticket early.
