I'm planning a three week trip (May 2024), flying in and out of Madrid. I will be taking public transportation for a (looping) route starting at Madrid (7 nights), followed by Segovia (2 or 3 nights) and ending at Toledo (2 or 3 nights).
I had been to Andalusia, Barcelona, and the Basque Country. What other locations should I add to this route for the remaining days? Small villages/towns with easy nature walks/hikes would be great. Thanks in advance.
It's a little bit out of the way for your Madrid-Segovia-Toledo loop, but I recommend Zaragoza.
There are so many places one could visit. I’ll throw out Zamora, León. Burgos, Salamanca, Plasencia, Cáceres, Trujillo, and Mérida. They are all west or northwest of Madrid, accessible by train, and could easily be combined with Segovia and Toledo. Smaller towns on the western side of Madrid could include Astorga, Ponferrada, Puebla de Sanabria, or Lugo. Once you know the places you want to stay you can look for nearby walking and hiking areas.
On website that lists some walks is viasverdes. It shows walks along former railroad lines. Another highlights some walks in Madrid region.
Choices, choices.
Salamanca is great, but it is close to the Portuguese border and some distance from Madrid. If you go there, better to stay a night.
Toledo is special as well as Segovia and can easily be done on day trips from Madrid.
In Madrid, do the Prado and Royal Palace. Go to the Plaza Major.
On website that lists some walks is viasverdes. It shows walks along former railroad lines. Another highlights some walks in Madrid region.
Choices, choices.
Thanks for the suggestions, those links are very helpful. I'll add Salamanca and Cáceres to my route. Maybe Leon. From Madrid to Segovia, I'll stay at Cercedilla for a night or two for some walks.
Too many choices is indeed the problem, LOL.
It's a little bit out of the way for your Madrid-Segovia-Toledo loop, but I recommend Zaragoza.
Yes. And I can't come up with a good route loop at the east side of Madrid.
Salamanca is great, but it is close to the Portuguese border and some distance from Madrid. If you go there, better to stay a night.
I try to stay a minimum of two nights at a location.
Toledo is special as well as Segovia and can easily be done on day trips from Madrid.
I'll stay a couple of nights at each. Tour the cities early in the mornings and late in the afternoons to dodge the day trippers. Take day trips from them during mid days.
Check out Cuenca, too.
Cuenca is very worthwhile, especially if you are interested in the two modern-art museums as well as the old town on the hill and the hanging houses along the ravine, but there's a very significant difference in the travel time via high-speed train vs. regional train, and those high-speed trains can be quite expensive if you don't buy the tickets really early. Cuenca's on the fast line between Madrid and Valencia. The fast trains stop at a station outside of town, so you'd want to check on the bus schedule if you aren't prepared to hop in a taxi. I don't know for sure, but I suspect the buses don't run as often (if at all) on Sundays; service may be cut back to some degree on Saturdays as well.
Closer, cheaper and easier is the historic university town of Alcala de Henares, which is on a commuter line from Madrid with very frequent service. AdH is actually rather close to Madrid-Barajas airport, though there doesn't seem to be great transportation between the two.
Thanks for suggesting Cuenca.
With better public transportation connections, I will stick with a western Madrid loop: Madrid, Segovia, Salamanca, Plasencia, Caceres and Toledo. Adding day trips from these, three weeks seem barely enough.
That is true. Spain has endless interesting towns.
