Is this crazy? Thinking of doing 5 days in Madrid including 1 or 2 day trips, and doing the same in Rome. I'm not interested in hitting every museum or church. I found decent airfare Chicago > Madrid> Rome> Chicago. Any suggestions on day trips from either place?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
Nothing crazy about that. Personally, with just ten days I would stay either in Spain or Italy because of the distance between the two. But it would be two very different experiences. Spain has lot of Moorish (Muslim) influences especially south of Madrid while Rome is strictly Christian. Most guide books will have recommendations for day trips from both locations.
Posted by
OP
Chicago
2 posts
Thanks Frank. From what I've seen the flight is about 2.5 hours, and it would add minimal cost to my overall airfare costs. So I thought it may be worth a shot.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
You'll get a good sampling of each city, with 5 days in each. From Madrid, nice day trips include Toledo, Segovia, and El Escorial...from Rome, certainly Pompeii or Herculaneum.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
As I said earlier, there is nothing crazy about you suggested. You will lose nearly a day in the transition. We are just back from ten days in Spain over New Years. Into Madrid and home from Malaga. Miss the great, cheap wines and the tapas.
Posted by
Halifax
110 posts
From Rome, you could even day trip to Florence. It'd be a long day...but certainly worth it.
Posted by
Islip, NY, USA
10 posts
Hi Brian,
I think it sounds wonderful. I am flying into Madrid, my daughter lives there, and then we are flying from there to Rome and traveling north from there. I have never been to Rome but to Madrid many times. My favorite side trip is to Toledo. It is a short train ride on the AVE (fast train) out of the Atocha train station.