Six Best Day Trips from Madrid

By <a href="#author-bio">Kirsten McCroskrie</a>
By Kirsten McCroskrie
Published: July 18, 2024

You’ve marveled at Picasso’s Guernica, people-watched on the Plaza Mayor, and meandered through Retiro Park... but what to do next? Although Madrid certainly has no shortage of attractions, it wouldn’t hurt to head a little further afield now, would it? If you’re lucky enough to be spending several days in Spain’s buzzing capital, it’s worth taking a day out of the city bustle to tick another place off your Spanish bucket list. From beguiling pueblos to historic cities, take a look at our top picks for the best day trips from Madrid including...

  • Toledo
  • Consuegra
  • Segovia
  • Ávila
  • Cuenca
  • Alcalá de Henares

Toledo

Spain’s former capital is one of the most popular day trips from Madrid - and for good reason. Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities thrived here for years and today you can explore the vestiges of these religions in the many well-preserved synagogues, mosques, and churches throughout this petite city. Be sure to walk up to the Alcázar; this imposing Moorish fortress is the city’s most iconic building with origins that date back to Roman times. If you venture inside you’ll find a fascinating military museum. Its exhibitions will give you a good overview of Spain’s (at times turbulent) history. How to get to Toledo: One of the best ways to get to know Toledo is with a guided tour. Luckily, with a Go Madrid pass, you can book onto the Toledo experience tour. They will transport you to and from Madrid and the experience includes both a walking tour and enough free time for you to lose yourself in the city’s winding streets. Image of Cityscape, Urban, Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, Landscape, River, Water,

Consuegra

Literature enthusiasts should not miss the opportunity to take a trip out of the city to the rural surrounds of Consuegra, home to the famous Don Quixote windmills. The windmills are an iconic part of the famous Spanish novel and now an important symbol for Spain’s literary heritage and culture. Once you’ve milled (sorry, not sorry) around them, you can walk over to the nearby Moorish castle and take in the views of the surrounding plains. The town of Consuegra itself is a traditional and pretty Spanish pueblo complete with whitewash buildings and ornate churches. How to get to Consuegra: The bus company SAMAR runs several buses daily from Madrid-Estacion Sur to Consuegra that take just over two hours. You can check out the timetable on their website. Image of Outdoors, Windmill,

Segovia

Set against a backdrop of the Sierra de Guadarrama, this UNESCO world heritage city is another popular choice for Madrid day-trippers. Although the nature surrounding Segovia adds to the city’s charm, it’s the architecture that steals the show. It’s famous for its ginormous Roman aqueduct and for the Disney-esque Alcázar fortress that sits on a rocky crag above the city. Next on your list has to be the city’s impressive Gothic cathedral - one of the last of its kind constructed in Spain. Beyond the historical sights, the city has an artistic flair. Be sure to visit the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Esteban Vicente - housed in a spectacular 15th-century palace, the museum holds a collection donated by Esteban Vicente, the only Spanish member of the first generation of the New York School of Abstract Expressionism in America. How to get to Segovia: Explore Segovia on a guided tour, bookable with your Go Madrid pass. It includes transport to and from Segovia, a guided tour and of course, free time to explore this small city for yourself. Image of Landmark, Aqueduct of Segovia,

Ávila

Eight gates, 88 watchtowers, and some 2500 turrets make up the walls of the heritage city of Ávila. This impressive structure is just the start of what makes this small city a fascinating day trip from Madrid. It’s an important pilgrimage site for Christians due to the town being the home of Santa Teresa de Ávila, one of Spain’s patron saints. As such, it is claimed that Ávila has the highest number of Romanesque and Gothic churches per capita in Spain. How to get to Ávila: Catch a train from Chamartin or Príncipe Pío stations, which takes just over an hour and a half. Image of Castle, Fortress, Nature, Outdoors, Scenery,

Cuenca

It’s worth the journey from Madrid to see the famous casas colgadas (hanging houses) of Cuenca. Due to the town running out of places to build, houses started to be developed to sit perilously on its cliff edges and look out onto the river below. Along with enjoying the dramatic views of these iconic houses from the outside, two have been converted into modern art galleries - so head inside to get your culture fix. How to get to Cuenca: Cuenca is a high-speed train ride from Madrid Atocha station. Image of Bear, Landmark,

Alcalá de Henares

Spanish novelist Miguel de Cervantes is very much celebrated in his birthplace of Alcalá de Henares. Along with visiting the Cervantes House Museum, be sure to take a look at his statue on Cervantes Plaza, a Renaissance-era Spanish square home to the Corral de Comedias - one of the oldest theatres in Europe. Once you’re cultured out, drop by one the many tapas bars around the town center (our favorites include Indalo and La Taberna de Rusty). Many of the bars in this area adhere to the rather lovely Spanish tradition of free tapas with your drink (which, if you’ve spent a few days in Madrid, you’ll realize it isn’t always customary, so make the most of it while you’re here!). How to get to Alcalá de Henares: Take Madrid’s commuter Cercanias train (Line 2 or Line 7) from Atocha Station to Alcalá de Henares train station. Trains run throughout the day. Image of City, Grass, Urban, Neighborhood, Housing, Car, Whether you’re looking to stay in Madrid or venture a bit further afield, a Go Madrid pass is the best way to fit in all the things you want to see while saving you an average of 44% compared to buying at the gate.

Kirsten McCroskrie
Kirsten McCroskrie
Content Lead

Kirsten is a Scottish-born and London-based travel writer and copywriter, who’s always planning her next sunny escape. Her passion for solo travel has seen her teaching English in rural Spain, taking a gap year to party in Berlin, and living on the road in South America. As well as Go City, Kirsten has written for Skyscanner, KAYAK, Trainline, Culture Trip, and momondo.

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Madrid skyline.
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Free Things to do in Madrid

Madrid isn’t exactly renowned as a budget holiday spot, but that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to have fun once you’re there. In fact, there are stacks of free things you can do in Madrid, from visiting world-class museums and royal palaces to browsing flea markets, picnicking in the parks, and simply enjoying the city’s elegant architecture. Check out our selection of the best free things to do in Madrid, including: Plaza Mayor Cibeles Palace Retiro Park Prado and Reina Sofia museums Almudena Cathedral El Rastro flea market Gran Via Temple of Debod Plaza Mayor A stroll around this most elegant of Madrid plazas is essential and, crucially, will cost you absolutely nada. Plaza Mayor is the city’s beating heart, a grand square that’s accessed via nine monumental arches. Grab a selfie by the extremely photogenic Arco de los Cuchilleros then take in the intricate mythological murals that adorn the Casa de la Panadería and say hola to King Philip III sitting astride his trusty steed (albeit in statue form). Pro tip: there’s no better way to people-watch in Madrid than by grabbing a cone of hot, sugary churros with chocolate dipping sauce and finding a seat beneath one of the plaza’s ornate towering lamp posts. Enjoy! Cibeles Palace The crowning glory of the already magnificent Plaza de Cibeles, Cibeles Palace is a glorious architectural confection complete with Neoplateresque facade and great wedding-cake turrets. There’s no charge for admiring its extraordinary exterior, taking a peek inside and filling your Insta feed with #humblebrag snaps galore but, if your budget will stretch to it, it’s worth paying the €3 fee to ascend the tower for 360-degree city views that take in the 11-kilometer-long Calle Alcalá, the Colon Towers and, of course, Plaza de Cibeles itself, with its iconic marble fountain depicting the goddess Cybele on a lion-drawn chariot. Retiro Park There’s more than enough free eye candy in Retiro Park to fill a day’s sightseeing (or more). Don’t-miss landmarks include the glass-and-cast-iron masterpiece that is the Crystal Palace, once a hothouse showcasing local flora and fauna; now an exhibition space for the Reina Sofia Museum. Feast your eyes on the Fountain of the Fallen Angel, a monumental sculpture depicting Lucifer’s fall from grace, stop to smell the roses in the formal gardens, and marvel at the epic Monument to Alfonso XII from a prime position on the tranquil boating lake. See it all on a guided bike tour or take it easy – a lazy picnic of Spanish cheeses, cured meats and still-warm bread, scoffed on the lawns by the kitschy Fisherman’s House, is just about as good as life gets. Free Museums Madrid has more world-class art museums than you can shake a paintbrush at. Chief among these are the Prado and Reina Sofia which, between them, cover the history of (mostly) Spanish and European art from the 12th Century to the present day. We’re talking masterpieces by the likes of Picasso, El Greco, Goya, Velázquez, Dalí, Miró, Bosch, Raphael and van Dyck, to name just a few. You’ll find some of their best-known works here. Hit up Reina Sofia for a close-up look at Picasso’s Guernica, one of the most powerful anti-war statements ever committed to canvas, and head over to the Prado for Velázquez’ illusory Las Meninas, Bosch’s enigmatic Garden of Earthly Delights triptych and other bucket-list pieces. Entry to the both museums is free during the last two hours of opening. Reina Sofia is completely free to enter on Sundays and holidays. You can also save money on guided tours at both (and access to many other Madrid attractions) with a Madrid pass from Go City. El Rastro Market The picturesque old neighborhood of La Latina is worth a visit any day of the week (top tip for foodies: it’s where you’ll find some of the best tapas in town), but Sundays are particularly enjoyable thanks to the vast El Rastro, Spain’s biggest open-air flea market. It’s great fun just browsing the hundreds of stalls in the streets and lanes around Calle de la Ribera de Curtidores, all piled high with antiques, retro fashions, kitsch kitchenware, vintage vinyl records and, well, pretty much anything else you can think of. It’s free to look, and free to take Insta-worthy snaps galore. But bring your best haggling game, too: there’s no way you’re walking out of here without being tempted by a phrenological head, old street map, Spanish Civil War medal, or some such other souvenir curio... Gran Vía Sticking with the shopping theme, the Gran Vía is Madrid’s most famous shopping boulevard, a long, elegant stretch of capitalist excess with hundreds of stores, malls, bars and restaurants in which to splash the cash. But resist the lure of Mango and Massimo Dutti and there’s plenty of gratis fun to be had here, by simply admiring the eclectic architecture and soaking up the lively atmosphere. Look out for the landmark Metropolis building, topped with its gilded cupola and winged goddess, snap a selfie beneath the Capitol building’s old-school Schweppes sign and – oh, go on then – treat yourself to a refreshing Seville orange sorbet from one of the many fine gelato joints. Almudena Cathedral This glorious 19th-century confection at the bottom of Calle Mayor (and right next door to the Royal Palace) is free to enter. The neo-gothic interior’s clean lines, vivid stained glass windows and, yes, even pop-art decor, set it apart from other European cathedrals of this era, lending a strikingly modern look that surprises and delights in equal measure. Look out for statues of contemporary artists, painted icons by Spanish legend Kiko Argüello and a neo-romanesque crypt that houses the mortal remains of several Spanish royals and other dignitaries. There’s a €7 fee to enter the cathedral museum, which contains effigies of the city’s patron saints. Temple of Debod Last but by no means least, you simply must enjoy a sunset from the atmospheric environs of the Temple of Debod in Oeste Park. Dating from the 2nd Century BC, this sacred Egyptian shrine found its way to Madrid in 1968 and has been a favorite with locals, tourists and hopeless romantics ever since. Comprising of a small temple and several stone arches, set over tranquil pools amid beautiful gardens, the temple is pretty special at any time of day or night, but rarely more so than at sundown, when the whole place seems to glow a fiery orange. Cost of this unforgettable Madrid experience? Precisely zero Euros. Heavenly. Save on things to do in Madrid Save on admission to Madrid attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Madrid's Plaza Mayor at sunrise.
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3 Days in Madrid

There’s no shortage of attractions and activities to keep you entertained in Madrid, the thriving capital – and beating heart – of Spain. Think elegant boulevards crammed with eye-candy architecture, exquisitely manicured parks and gardens, museums filled with some of the planet’s finest art, and (whisper it) delectably decadent churros con chocolate. Three days is a decent amount of time in which to take in a handful of the major landmarks, soak up the city’s sophisticated vibe and, of course, to stuff your face with as much Spanish tapas as you humanly can. First-time visitors to Madrid often fall foul of the old ‘kid in a candy store’ approach, frenziedly attempting to see as many of the city’s big-ticket attractions as possible. But, like the sugar-stuffed child’s inevitable crash, whirlwind sightseeing is all but guaranteed to leave you feeling unsatisfied and burned out. Our guide to spending three days in Madrid takes a more leisurely approach, ticking off several of the must-sees but, more importantly, allowing plenty of time to relax and watch the world go by, too. Read on to find out how to make the most of Madrid. Day 1: Breakfast... and a Few Big-Hitters Make like the Madrileños: this is a city that wakes late and parties late, so breakfast before around 9AM and you’ll likely be doing so alone. Instead, enjoy a long lie-in then mosey on down to one of Plaza Mayor’s traditional Spanish breakfast joints, where a fiesta of flavors awaits the intrepid gourmand. Tuck into classic tostado con tomate y jamón (that’s toast with ham and tomato to you) or hearty Spanish tortilla, washed down with café con leche, the discerning locals’ coffee drink of choice. In fact, locals often opt for sweet over savory at breakfast, which is where such sugary delights as churros con chocolate, lemony magdalena cupcakes and honey-drenched torrijas (Spanish-style French toast) come in. Beautifully elegant and ornate, Plaza Mayor is as good a place to start your day’s sightseeing as any. After an essential spot of people-watching over breakfast, check out the medieval-style murals that decorate the huge baroque facade of Casa de la Panadería, then trot over for a selfie by the bronze statue of King Philip III astride his royal stallion. From here it’s a short stroll down Calle Mayor to your next stop: Almudena Cathedral (try not to be distracted by the foodie mecca that is the Mercado de San Miguel along the way – you’ve just had breakfast, you animal!). A fine photo opportunity awaits at the bottom of the road, where the cathedral’s baroque dome and bell towers loom over the city’s 9th-century Moorish walls. Pay your respects to the many royals interred inside before hopping next door to the palace. A guided tour is a great way to get a flavor of this stately confection’s highlights, among them a fairytale central staircase, an awesome Giaquinto ceiling fresco (plus loads more priceless art from the likes of Velázquez, Goya and Caravaggio), a royal armory, and an opulent throne room. Afterwards, stick around to relax in the ornate, statue-filled gardens. Take in the English-style Campo del Moro with its monumental neoclassical fountains, stroll maze-like avenues flanked by box hedges, magnolia trees and lofty cypresses, and enjoy panoramic palace views from the Sabatini Gardens. And take your time! After all, you’ve got all day: dinner isn’t eaten until 9 or 10PM in Madrid! Day 2: The Art of Relaxation You could easily fill a three-day trip to Madrid with world-class art alone. But if you have to pick only one museum, let it be the Prado. It is, after all, indisputably one of the best in the world. Here’s where you can ogle legendary masterpieces by the likes of Goya, Titian, Bosch, Rubens, Velázquez, Van Dyck, Rembrandt and more. Whatever you do, don’t miss Hieronymus Bosch’s hallucinatory triptych altarpiece The Garden of Earthly Delights or Goya’s The Third of May 1808, a brutal meditation on the horrors of war. You can enjoy a leisurely look around under your own steam, or take a guided tour of the collection’s highlights. Feeling suitably cultured, amble over to Retiro Park for 350 acres of lush greenery, meticulously manicured gardens, majestic fountains, opulent palaces, and more monuments, statues and sculptures than you could shake a very big stick at. Again, the key here is to be selective – there’s no way you’re going to see it all, so don’t wear yourself out trying. Instead, find a shady spot in one of the many gorgeous groves and plan your sightseeing over an antipasti picnic of Spanish salamis, breads and cheeses. However, if you simply must ‘see it all’, the best way to do so is on a segway or bicycle tour, which all but guarantee sightings of most of the park’s essential attractions, among them the boating lake, the beautiful iron-and-glass cupola of the Crystal Palace, the neoclassical confection that is the Velázquez Palace, and the Paradise Lost-inspired Fountain of the Fallen Angel. You’ll have worked up an appetite by now for sure. Prime time, in other words, to hit up some of the city’s best tapas joints for a feast of cured meats, spicy patatas bravas, moreish meatballs, stuffed peppers and garlicky grilled prawns. You’ll find authentic restaurants just about everywhere in Madrid, but the selection along Calle de la Cava Baja in the atmospheric La Latina neighborhood is particularly celebrated. DAY 3: La Latina, Gran Via, and the Temple of Debod Last night’s tapas is sure to have whetted your appetite for more of La Latina, an Instagram addict’s paradise of cobbled lanes, hidden alleyways and brightly painted window shutters. This lively and picturesque neighborhood is just made for aimless wandering, pausing to snap hidden squares and medieval churches and, of course, to refuel regularly with churros con chocolate along the way. Take time out to chill on the lush terraces of Vistillas Gardens and soak up views of the Casa de Campo and shimmering Manzanares river. Here on the weekend? Don’t miss the sensory Sunday saturnalia that is El Rastro, the largest open-air flea market in Spain, and the kind of place you can have hours of fun browsing. Don’t forget to bring cash and your best haggling game if you want to secure that coveted Julio Iglesias vinyl box set! Speaking of shopping, you’ll want to pick up a few souvenirs of your trip, and where better to do so than along Gran Via, Madrid’s legendary (and massive) shopping boulevard. Or – if you have particularly deep pockets – in the boutiques of Calle Serrano, home of Gucci, Chanel, Miu Miu, Manolo Blahnik and dozens more wallet-sapping designer emporia. Having scratched that itch (and given your bank manager a coronary), head up to Oeste Park, where the Temple of Debod is one of the best sunset spots in town. Somewhat incongruous in the modern city, this ancient Egyptian shrine was donated to Spain by the Egyptian state in the 1960s and has become something of a favorite with locals, thanks to its graceful stone arches and tranquil pools. Dinner back down the hill on the elegant Plaza de España is the perfect climax to your three-day Madrid adventure. Save on things to do in Madrid Save on admission to Madrid attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Madrid's skyline at sunset, including the Almudena Cathedral and Royal Palace
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Things to do at Night in Madrid

The streets of Madrid come alive with lively tapas bars, flamenco shows and bustling markets at night. Iconic buildings and monuments including the Almudena Cathedral, Teatro Real and Temple of Debod are atmospherically lit, and young madrileños party the night away in Malasaña and La Latina. Read on for our guide to all the best things to do at night in Madrid…
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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