Madrid, Valencia - what else? 7 days (8 nights) in Spain in September.

It depends on what you like to see and do on trips like this. I love Madrid, and I love Seville. 2 days would in either place would not be enough for me. But you're not me, so before I gave any decent advice, I'd need to know something about your interests, and why you are going on this trip.

Don't miss Toledo.

Highly recommend Segovia for a day and night or, if not, at least a daytrip from Madrid. If driving, a stop in Avila to walk the walls is fun. Enjoy!

Cuenca is the obvious stop by train between Madrid and Valencia. We spent three nights there at the Parador last November but 1-2 nights would be best...

We had 9 nights in Valencia and I could offer details if you like.....highly recommend going to the tiny nearby hamlet of Meliana for paella at one of two spectacular rice restaurants.

I will offer details if you like, and if you are interested in local food.

You have 7 days. You have allocated 2 days to Madrid. That leaves 5 days. There will be at least half a day traveling from Madrid to Valencia. That leaves 4-1/2 days in Valencia. You like walking, city atmosphere, good food, and nice views. Do you think you will run out of those things after 2 or 3 days in Valencia? If it was me, I would not add anything to the trip; just stay in Valencia. Especially since that appears to be the purpose of the trip- to visit Valencia.

Imagine you go to a restaurant to eat a steak because you love steak. But then someone tells you the lobster down the street is to die for. And someone else tells you the chicken piccata at another place is really great. So you go the first restaurant, eat a couple of bites of steak, then get in your car, go to the next restaurant, eat a couple of bites of lobster, then get in your car and go to the third restaurant and eat a couple of bites of chicken piccata. I would have just stayed in the first restaurant and enjoyed the steak.

Agree that there is plenty to keep you occupied in those two cities.
But if you do want to add a stop, do think about Cuenca,as it is right on the train line between the two; trains leave from Chamartin station, not Atocha. I took the IRYO a few months ago. We had a few nights in Madrid, where we'e been many times before, and then took the train (about an hour or so) to Cuenca. You could even just stopover in Cuenca for a few hours and then go one to Valencia, but you would have to find a luggage storage place which would probably not be difficult. You do need to take a taxi from the train station to the town of Cuenca. The station is an architectural showstopper.

I had been to Valencia a few times in the past but my partner had never been. We spent, I think, nine nights there, with a 5-days side trip to Denia.

There is a ton to see in Valencia. Two highlights are the San Nicola church, known as the "SIStine Chapel of Valencia" and that is understandable --it's glorious, with a great audio tour. One thing I remember is that I left my purse in a pew and did not realize it until I had left the church and walked on the street for a block or two. Of course I panicked, ran back, and my purse was just where I had left it. Miraculous!

I don't know if food is a big interest of yours but if it is, I can give yo some great ideas--for authentic paella and other rice dishes, and other Valencian fare. It's great eating city but you do have to be selective about where you go for paella and other rice dishes. We had five exceptional experiences with rice during our stay of about two weeks total along that coast. Just let me know and I will explain where and how....

Split your time between the two cities. If you are bored, which you probably won't be, take a day trip.

Thanks to all for your advice and suggestions! @ekscrunchy, yes, please share your suggestions on the food.

About the food in Valencia, are you interested in rice dishes and if so, are you ok with taking a short train ride from the Nord station, or a 20-minute taxi ride (about 18 euro) to a tiny hamlet outside the city, where two of the best rice restaurants in Spain are located? If so, I can give you full information.,

Most of the best rice restaurants are outside the center city, are open for lunch only, and you need to choose your dish when you reserve. Rice dishes are almost always served for two diners.

About the food in Valencia, are you interested in rice dishes and if so, are you ok with taking a short train ride from the Nord station, or a 20-minute taxi ride (about 18 euro) to a tiny hamlet outside the city, where two of the best rice restaurants in Spain are located? If so, I can give you full information.,

I'd certainly love the info - is it in horchata-famous Alboraya?

The tiny hamlet is Meliana, on the train line from Valencia Nord, a mile or so from he sea and surrounded by rice fields. I cannot convey how wonderful our two lunches here were, this past November.

The first was at NAPICOL (open daily, 13:30 to 17:30) the second was at CA PEPICA.

Ii am happy to offer much more info if you like. We took a taxi to both places, two afternoons in a row, and had meals at both that I will never forget. The food, plus the entire experience. The kindness of the staff. We saw no obvious tourists; Napicol has a menu only on a QR code but Ca Pepico has a written menu. We were met with exceptional kindness and the most incredible rice, and other dishes, at both. Do not confuse the latter with a touristy restaurant of similar name in the city. It is truly worth it to get OUT of Valencia for a superlative rice lunch. And I would not recommend the Albufuera, right south of the city, as I had a poor meal there about ten years ago.....I think that area had flood damage, too. More tourists go to that area, as it is more famous among foreign language guides and blogs...

https://www.napicol.com

https://www.capepico.com

We rented a car upon leaving Valencia for the first time and another restaurant that we will never forget is CASA SALVADOR, to the south of Valencia in Cullera...a block from the sea and on a lagoon filled birds and little boats...further from the center city but still accessible, although a more pricey ride, than the two in Meliana.
https://casasalvador.com/en/home/
WE had lunch at CASA SALVADOR on the way back to Valencia after spending five nights in Denia...a very lovely town where we noticed no North American tourists. Denia has one cult restaurant, among several great ones....the "cult" one is not expensive but has to be booked months ahead in season..it's named EL BARET DE MIGUEL, in case you visit Denia...Chef Miguel Ruiz claimed some fame after relinquishing his Michelin star.....very interesting spot in a lovely town easy to reach from Valencia....more info if you like..I am always happy to ramble on about food in Spain, where I am not, or in italy.

I can go on and on, if you want more info....I have a lot of photos and also the recipes with prices...

If you absolutely CANNOT get out of the city, and want to eat rice at dinner, the place to go would be LLISA NEGRA. This is a gorgeous restaurant and they serve rice, and fideua, at night, unlike most other pales that are not tourist traps. Again, staff were exceptional welcoming and the food was as fabulous as the place is beautiful.

If you are food lovers and have an interest in visiting the Mercado Central in Valencia, I have a few things to say about that as well.

Right now I will say that the place has changed drastically in recent years, and those changes are not all good, although there is some good eating at at least one restaurant inside that is on the agenda of many foreign tourists who visit the city...very good, but not essential;;BAR CENTRAL.

Thank you for this. And I would sure appreciate more information.

Thank you for the details!