Once inside the city, youll be transported back in time as you explore its narrow, winding streets. Make a quick stop there and visit two main attractions the ancient castle and the cathedral. Just some of them are Aranjuez, Cuenca, Albacete, and others. Cuenca: a small charming ancient city, perched atop a dramatic gorge. More Than 50 Vital Travel Tips For Barcelona: Dont Make These Mistakes! Alicante. Whether you want a relaxing drive along the coast or drive around the entire country of Spain, here are the 10 amazing options for a Spain road trip to pick from. Amarguillos traditional almond flavoured pastries. With its central location, diverse landscapes, and rich cultural heritage, it offers an abundance of breathtaking destinations just a short drive away. Admire its stunning architecture, and discover its rich cultural heritage. Arvalo is a small historic town famous for its Mudejar architecture and art giving it a special protected status in Spain and Salamanca is an ancient city with two cathedrals - the New one (it is actually called that) began construction in 1513! The majority of the region is set on a plateau with occasional barren hills. Getting There: Take the Renfe-operated AVE from Madrid, which lasts roughly two and a half hours. You can enjoy picnics and bird-watching in the peace and tranquility of the great outdoors. In the post linked above, you can see the public transport links to reach the vineyards, they involve either a train or the bus. Royal Palace of Aranjuez 8. The walk around the top of the walls was a really nice experience, but other than that, I didnt find a whole lot more that really stands out about the city. Toledo Cathedral A gothic masterpiece dating to the 13th century. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. You can also visit local wineries and sample some of Spains best wines, such as La Cabrera and Venturada. However, my highlight is a network of alleyways called El Tubo. Puente de San Martin a picturesque medieval bridge across the River Tagus. Years of erosion by the Rio Piedra have created some spectacular waterfalls that visitors can visit and wander around. Spain Road Trip with Bernabu Tour from US$197. El Escorial & The Valley of the Fallen 14. Whether you're looking to relax in the mountains off the Costa del Sol, navigate the narrow streets of Toledo or take a stroll down Barcelona's Las Ramblas, we can help you plan the perfect Spanish road trip for you. For history lovers, Toledo is a treasure trove. If you happen to be traveling in the summer, be sure to attend the Benicassim Festival. On your route across the north of Catalonia, you are spoilt for choice with the Garrotxa volcanic national park and the village of Santa Pau worth visiting, a detour into Andorra and towns like Besalu and Castellfollit de la Roca all great options before you arrive in Figueres. Yes, you read that right, no need to drive so you can sample as much as youd like (although driving is a bit easier). Thanks so much for this postvery useful for people who prefer the small towns and only have a couple days. As Spain's third-largest city, Valencia offers a wealth of things to see and do within easy reach from Madrid. After a visit to the city that shares its name with the Castile and Leon region, the trip ends with a drive through the Ribera del Duero wine region - hugely underrated relative to Rioja and the Portuguese Douro wine further down the same river valley. The only real way is driving. La Sierra de Madrid is a stunning mountain range that offers a scenic drive and a chance to immerse yourself in Spains natural beauty. Its medieval architecture, including a Roman arch unique for its triple arches and a castle, are a testament to its rich history. At the confluence of the Tagus and Tietar Rivers, the park is home to 280 . You'll drive primarily along one of Europe's major West-East highways, so you can expect a smooth journey. We'd love to see how you get on! Also, explore the magnificent Alczar, a stunning castle that offers breathtaking views of the city which was the residence of the kings of Spain. First the Plaza Mayor. Head back to Madrid for the last night of your trip and go out in true Spanish style with a flamenco dinner. You could be in the neighboring country in an hour and as you go there, you have to stop in Ciudad Rodrigo. Aljafera Palace an old Moorish palace with some lovely courtyards. Often overlooked in favour of trips to the Alps or even Sierra Nevada further south in Spain, the Pyrenees are an older mountain range with a lot of peaks over 3,000m above sea level. Take line C-8 or C-3 which depart every hour and the journey lasts approximately one hour. The best time to do a road trip from Madrid is during the spring and fall. The train guards dress up in traditional clothing and on your return to the city you get given a serving of strawberries. Road trip length: 11 days Total distance: 518 miles 2. So, pack your bags, hit the road, and get ready to explore the best that central Spain has to offer! Spains extensive network of highways, freeways and smaller roads make it easy for travellers to explore and let serendipity set the agenda for the day. This dish is usually made roasted and it refers to a very young lamb. ), but it's definitely one to keep in mind if you want to unwind and keep yourself away from the tourist traps around Spain. Of course, there is always a chance to make them longer than day trips and stay overnight in one of the authentic hotels along the road (I mention some of them in the article) as these places have a high concentration of medieval sights and unique historical monuments that you may want to explore in depth. Medina del Campo: It is just a short drive from Coca. Take the C3 line from Atocha or Nuevos Ministerios. Info USD Dollar. The road trip starts in the capital of Spain's Basque country - Bilbao. There are quite a few stops to make and foods to try. My other highlight is crossing the pedestrianised Roman Bridge. In some ways similar to tapas popular in the rest of Spain, pintxos are smaller bite-size snacks served in bars and charged by number or by plate. Those who take the time to venture beyond the roadside restaurants and service stations, however, will find that slowing down pays off. Cuenca is perhaps best known for its gravity-defying hanging houses, which sit perilously on the edge of a steep cliff. What makes the city particularly unique is its influence by each of the three major world religions. It would make sense that you might want to get to them as quickly as possible. Travel Tip: Keep in mind when booking your train ticket that Cuenca has two stations: Estacin de Cuenca-Fernando Zbel, served by high speed trains, and Estacin de Cuenca for everything else. You can visit sites such as the unique cathedral in Mejorada Del Campo or eat olives in Campo Real. The Castle was built by the Arabs in the 12th century as a defensive structure, but after the Reconquista, on the initiative of Cardinal Mendoza, it was converted into a residence for bishops. But is it worth it? Alcala de Henares is in zone B-3 which means a return ticket can be bought for less than 5. For those interested in history, La Sierra de Madrid is home to the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, an impressive Renaissance-style palace and monastery built by King Philip II in the 16th century. As well as the park you can visit the monastery itself and a small wine and chocolate museum with winemaking exhibits and information about the relationship between monks and winemaking as a commercial business to fund their way of life. A road trip from Madrid to Lisbon through Salamanca is a wonderful way to see two countries without spending too much time on driving and seeing some eminent highlights. Las Setas a modern architectural wonder. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Hop on a train in Madrid and you can be standing beneath the arches of Cordoba's Moorish-area Mezquita in two hours. Getting There: Take the high-speed AVE train from Madrid (operated by Renfe, Spain's national rail service) to get there in two and a half hours. If your timing is right you can enjoy the wine festival in March or the garlic festival in October. Argertine peso; As with most Spanish cities, there are plenty of churches to visit, and the main cathedral is pretty spectacular. Check out the tower of the Clerecia for some more great views. There is also an ancient castle in the Mudjar style embodying several architectural styles at once: Gothic, Renaissance, and Moorish style. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Most beautiful towns & cities along the Bay of Biscay. This makes it easy to plan a Spanish holiday that includes time enjoying Madrids museums,restaurants, and nightlife, followed by a few days at the beach. If you love the sun, beaches and perfect mountain hideaways overlooking the sea, Andalucia is the place for you. Well, stick with me here as it is totally possible to take day trips from Madrid to Seville, in fact, I have a whole post about it complete with a Seville in a day itinerary. Going on one of the road trips from Madrid is a must if you enjoy driving! This might not be so much of a Spanish road trip as a gentle breeze along the coast (and there will be a lot of breeze! As you travel in major cities such as Bilbao, San Sebastian and Pamplona, you will get to try the local pintxos tradition. Puebla de la Sierra is a nice little village with a very good restaurant and easy hiking routes. If you have time, a trip out to the shimmering Muslim palace-city of Medina Azahara is well worth the effort as well. La Granja Palace, a highlight of San Ildefonso, is a clear testament to the wealth and grandeur of the Spanish monarchy of the 18th century which led the worlds largest power with colonies around the world. After exploring the historic and religiously important city, the route goes back towards the coast and passes Pontevedra on the way to the pretty town of Vigo. Monasterio de Piedra: Just a short drive from Zaragoza, the Monasterio de Piedra is another breathtaking stop on your road trip. Puebla de la Sierra Another cute little village with a great restaurant in the main square. From Salamanca, you can check out other beautiful historic towns of Ledesma and Zamora before a stop in Valladolid - the assumed capital of the Castille and Leon province. Thanks for the nice comment, its just the kind of thing I was thinking. Travel Tip: Toledo is quite hilly, and its cobblestoned streets can complicate things even further. The first 230-km stretch toBurgosoffers a unique mosaic of experiences: from castles to Romanesque monuments and passes through villages like Seplveda, in the province of Segovia, accessible from exit 109 at Castillejo de Meslen. Segovia: If you dont stop in Segovia on a road trip to Salamanca (or on any other day trip from Madrid), then dont miss it on this drive. Once you arrive at the El Escorial train station, it is about a 15 20-minute walk uphill to get to Monastery of El Escorial. Two places in Salamanca stand out to me. Further back there is a massive Moorish influence on the city, which most represented the Alcazar of Seville, an amazing palace to visit and even a filming site for the Game of Thrones. You can take the direct short cut but you will miss out on a whole lot of stunning scenery, ocean-facing cliffs and spectacular locations for light houses - on the shoreline, on cliffs and even on their own islands. There is a bus option, but it takes a bit longer, or you can hire a car and drive yourself which will take around an hour and a half. The citys heart lies in the Plaza Nuestra Seora del Pilar. Im sorry to say though, wherever you eat it, it wont be as good as my mother-in-laws. The city is also home to the Alczar of Toledo. It was the capital city of the Visigoth Empire, Spanish Moors and later of Spain at some points during the course of history. The great thing is, all of them are accessible via public transport. But if you're brave enough, you can start wherever along the route you like as you it goes in a loop. Spain's Mediterranean coast is perfect for a Spanish road trip - just make sure you put sun screen on your left arm if you're driving - the sun gets hot! Travel Compositor in some cases conditions the use of the Service to the previous completion . This is due to the citys historical metalworking industry. Head on a Madrid road trip to discover Central Spain, an underexplored region with a rich past, lush forests, and few tourists to come across. One appealing stop is Alarcn, an enchanting village in the province of Cuenca with only 148 inhabitants and one of the best-preserved forts in Spain, originally constructed by Arab conquerors. This road trip is a perfect mix of culture and relaxation so if you want to blend the two, give it a go. The best way to see Avila is either by organised tour or driving yourself. It isamong the best-preserved in Europe. From Madrid, you'll travel south into Andalusia and arrive at Seville, a city renowned for its Gothic . Anyone who read Don Quijote in their high school Spanish class may remember how the titular character famously confused the giant windmills of Consuegra for monsters with flailing arms. Travel Tip: While the eponymous royal complex is obviously the big draw for most visitors to San Lorenzo de El Escorial, try and take some time to explore the rest of the charming town if you can. Also, be sure to check out my tips on flying with wine, as youll be wanting to take some back home with you! There are Roman roads in Astorga and Tarragona, Arab and Romanesque sites, and the landscapes described in Camilo Jos Celas Viaje a la Alcarria (Journey to the Alcarria), perhaps the most celebrated travelogue in Spanish. Getting to and from the region can be tough so you might have to adjust the route depending on where you're travelling from. You can drive south from Madrid for about an hour and youll get straight there. Salamanca: The last stop on this drive is the city of Salamanca which cannot be missed. In the morning you'll pick up your rental car and begin your epic road-trip. During these seasons, the weather is mild and it allows you to truly enjoy every stop. It is famous for its medieval castle, which was the site of the marriage of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand in 1469. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. Like the cotton plants that grow on the banks of the Guadalquivir, the village of Montoro also hugs the river, while the A-4 runs along its southern end. Take the exit and you can tour some of its olive-oil mills, snap some photos of the nearby Torre del Castillo de Villaverde (which has survived the centuries though the small town that it once protected has not), or simply stroll through the streets of this postcard-perfect Andalusian village. But what about further afield? Mayor, Royal Monastery of Santa Mara de Guadalupe, and Aquopolis Villanueva de la Caada. During your visit to Toledo, delight yourself with some local dishes such as Perdiz Estofada (Stewed Partridge) and Carcamusa (beef or pork stew). Embodying several architectural styles at once: Gothic, Renaissance, and its cobblestoned streets complicate... Your trip and go out in true Spanish style with a great in! Metalworking industry dress up in traditional clothing and on your return to 13th! 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