# Cerca de Madrid

From Madrid the routes go out like a star. To the north-west, the Sierra de Guadarrama, Segovia and Ávila; to the north, the Sierra Norte and the Duratón; to the south, Aranjuez and Toledo beside the Tagus; to the east, Alcalá, Sigüenza and Cuenca, and to the west, Extremadura for two nights.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid/getaways

## Planes de un día
- [Photos in the Retiro, looms at work and flamenco](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid/itineraries/crystal-palace-looms-and-flamenco-madrid.md) (0 min en coche): A photographer session by the Palacio de Cristal, a rowing boat on the pond, the looms of the Real Fábrica de Tapices, Casa Alberto, the Prado's two free hours and flamenco with dinner.
- [Don Quixote, five wines and garlic prawns](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid/itineraries/escape-room-tasting-and-prawns.md) (0 min en coche): The escape room The Mystery of Don Quixote in Quevedo, La Fisna's Wednesday tasting in Lavapiés for six to eight and garlic prawns at La Casa del Abuelo.
- [A paella you made, a boat and the free Prado](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid/itineraries/paella-boat-and-free-prado.md) (0 min en coche): A paella class with market shopping and lunch, a rowing boat on the Retiro lake, the Prado's two free hours and an early dinner at Casa Alberto, in Las Letras.
- [Looms, the Prado and a tavern from 1827](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid/itineraries/rainy-day-madrid-tapestries-prado-tripe.md) (0 min en coche): A guided visit to the workshops of the Real Fábrica de Tapices with the weavers at their looms, the Prado Museum and a late lunch at Casa Alberto, a tavern dating from 1827.
- [A silver ring and the Corral de la Morería](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid/itineraries/silver-jewellery-and-flamenco.md) (0 min en coche): Vermouth at Casa Alberto, two and a half hours shaping a jewel from silver clay at El Puente Gallery and the second-sitting dinner at the Corral de la Morería, with flamenco at 21:30.
- [Backstage at the Real, the Palace and cocido](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid/itineraries/teatro-real-royal-palace-and-cocido.md) (0 min en coche): The technical tour of the Teatro Real stage, the Royal Palace across Plaza de Oriente and a cocido at Taberna La Bola, all within a five-minute walk.
- [Alcalá: university, Cervantes and Romans](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/alcala-de-henares/itineraries/university-cervantes-and-complutum-from-madrid.md) (35 min en coche): A guided visit to Cisneros' university, Calle Mayor to Cervantes' birthplace, a Cervantes-themed lunch at the Hostería and the Roman city of Complutum in the afternoon.
- [Aranjuez: palace, gardens and boat](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/aranjuez/itineraries/aranjuez-palace-gardens-and-tagus-boat-trip.md) (45 min en coche): The palace with a guide at 10:30, the Isla and Príncipe gardens, a market-garden lunch and a boat trip on the Tagus. You can arrive by Cercanías from Atocha.
- [Chinchón: square, winery and roast](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/chinchon/itineraries/chinchon-main-square-winery-tasting-and-wood-fired-roast.md) (45 min en coche): The Plaza Mayor before it fills up, a tasting of Madrid wines in an 1870 winery and a long lunch in a tavern with caves. 45 minutes from Madrid.
- [Abantos: climb through the pine forest and lunch in the mountains](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/san-lorenzo-de-el-escorial/itineraries/abantos-pine-forest-and-mountain-lunch.md) (50 min en coche): A mid-morning climb through the pine forest behind the monastery, lunch in a 1918 forestry house turned restaurant and a stroll round the Jardín de los Frailes.
- [El Escorial: the chestnut groves of La Herrería](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/san-lorenzo-de-el-escorial/itineraries/autumn-in-la-herreria-and-el-castanar.md) (50 min en coche): An 8.6 km route through ash groves, chestnut woods and fountains of the royal forest to Philip II's Chair, a Castilian roast at an inn from 1768 and the Jardín de los Frailes. 50 minutes from Madrid.
- [La Pedriza: El Tolmo and the castle](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/la-pedriza/itineraries/el-tolmo-and-manzanares-castle.md) (50 min en coche): Enter Canto Cochino before 10:30, climb the Autopista de La Pedriza to El Tolmo, have lunch in the square at Manzanares el Real and finish at the Mendoza castle.
- [El Escorial: monastery and Philip II's Chair](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/san-lorenzo-de-el-escorial/itineraries/escorial-monastery-and-philip-iis-chair.md) (50 min en coche): Philip II's monastery at opening time, a Castilian lunch two streets away and the view from Philip II's Chair in the afternoon light. 50 minutes from Madrid.
- [Patones: climbing and a slate village](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/sierra-norte/itineraries/intro-to-climbing-and-ponton.md) (1 h en coche): Four hours of beginner climbing on the Patones crags, lunch in the black-slate village and the old Pontón de la Oliva dam at sunset.
- [Navacerrada: guided snowshoeing and grill in Cercedilla](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/navacerrada-pass-and-cercedilla/itineraries/snowshoeing-at-the-pass-from-madrid.md) (1 h en coche): A morning snowshoeing through the National Park pinewoods with the pass's school, no experience needed, and a grill lunch at La Maya, in Cercedilla. It can be done by train.
- [Toledo: Jewish quarter in the morning and cathedral in the afternoon](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/toledo/itineraries/toledo-jewish-quarter-zip-line-and-cathedral.md) (1 h 5 en coche): On Sunday the cathedral opens at two and the Sephardic Museum is free in the morning: Jewish quarter and zip line before lunch, cathedral afterwards and the Mirador del Valle at sunset.
- [Valdesquí: a day on the slopes and spoon dishes at Cotos](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/navacerrada-pass-and-cercedilla/itineraries/skiing-at-valdesqui-and-judiones.md) (1 h 10 en coche): A day on the slopes at Valdesquí, Madrid's big resort, and a spoon-dish lunch at the Venta Marcelino, on the Cotos pass. An hour from Madrid by car or on bus 691 from Moncloa.
- [Rascafría: oaks and waterfall](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/lozoya-valley/itineraries/oak-woods-and-purgatorio-waterfall.md) (1 h 15 en coche): A half-day among oaks and Ávila cattle along the Aguilón river to the Purgatorio waterfall, mountain-village lunch on the edge of Rascafría and the Giner de los Ríos arboretum at dusk.
- [Peñalara: glacial lake and monastery](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/lozoya-valley/itineraries/penalara-laguna-grande-roast-lunch-in-rascafria-and-el-paular.md) (1 h 15 en coche): An easy route to the Peñalara glacial cirque before the visitor quota fills, a roast-house lunch in Rascafría and the El Paular charterhouse in the afternoon.
- [Segovia: Aqueduct, Alcázar and suckling pig](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/segovia/itineraries/segovia-aqueduct-mint-and-roast-suckling-pig-day-trip.md) (1 h 15 en coche): The Aqueduct before the groups, the Mint by the river, suckling pig at the Azoguejo and the afternoon for the cathedral and the Alcázar. Doable without a car, too.
- [Ávila: wall and Cuatro Postes](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/avila/itineraries/avila-city-walls-and-cuatro-postes-at-dusk.md) (1 h 26 en coche): You walk along the top of the city wall, see the cathedral built into it, eat El Barco beans, step into San Vicente and finish at the Cuatro Postes with the wall lit up.
- [Montejo Beech Forest and Buitrago](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/sierra-norte/itineraries/montejo-beech-forest-and-buitrago.md) (1 h 35 en coche): The guided trail through the Montejo Beech Forest first thing, with the pass collected in Montejo de la Sierra, the high wall of Buitrago and a roast inside the walled town.
- [Sigüenza: castle, Doncel and Castilian roast](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/siguenza/itineraries/siguenza-castle-doncel-and-roast-lunch.md) (1 h 35 en coche): You park by the castle and walk down: Parador courtyard, Santiago and the Casa del Doncel in the morning, a roast at midday and the cathedral with the Doncel's tomb in the afternoon.
- [Consuegra: castle, windmills and sunset on the hill](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/consuegra/itineraries/consuegra-castle-with-a-guide-windmills-and-pottery-workshop-lunch.md) (1 h 40 en coche): A guided visit to the Muela castle with the Bolero windmill, the Rucio mill from the inside, La Mancha lunch in a former pottery workshop, Plaza de España and sunset beside the windmills.
- [Duratón Gorges: canoe and San Frutos](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/duraton-gorges/itineraries/duraton-gorges-canoe-roast-lamb-and-san-frutos.md) (1 h 40 en coche): You paddle through the canyon between hundred-metre walls, eat lamb in Sepúlveda and climb to the San Frutos hermitage in the afternoon light.
- [Pedraza: village, roast and castle](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/pedraza/itineraries/pedraza-jail-roast-lamb-and-zuloaga-castle.md) (1 h 44 en coche): You enter by the only gate, visit its jail, stroll the Plaza Mayor, eat roast lamb from a wood-fired oven and finish at Zuloaga's castle in the afternoon light.
- [Cuenca: cathedral, Hanging Houses and San Pablo bridge](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/cuenca/itineraries/cuenca-hanging-houses-and-huecar-gorge.md) (1 h 50 en coche): Cuenca's old town on foot on a Sunday: the cathedral at opening time, two free museums, the San Pablo bridge facing the Hanging Houses and ajoarriero for lunch.
- [Almagro: theatre at the Corral and Calatrava castle](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/almagro/itineraries/almagro-corral-de-comedias-and-calatrava-la-nueva.md) (2 h en coche): The Corral de Comedias with the 13:00 dramatised visit, the square of green galleries, aubergines and pisto at the Parador and, in the afternoon, the castle-convent of Calatrava la Nueva.
- [Gredos: Laguna Grande and revolconas](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/sierra-de-gredos/itineraries/gredos-laguna-grande-and-lunch-in-hoyos-del-espino.md) (2 h en coche): A five-hour route from the Plataforma to the Laguna Grande, at the foot of the Gredos cirque, and a late lunch of revolconas and Ávila meat in Hoyos del Espino.
- [Carraovejas, castle and roast lamb](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/penafiel/itineraries/long-tasting-castle-and-roast-lamb.md) (2 h en coche): You leave the car at the hotel, taste four wines at Pago de Carraovejas, climb up to the wine castle, have lamb beside the Duratón and dine and sleep in a 1922 flour mill. Wednesday to Sunday.
- [Peñafiel: castle, lamb and winery](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/penafiel/itineraries/penafiel-castle-roast-lamb-and-winery.md) (2 h en coche): The ship-shaped castle and the Provincial Wine Museum in the morning, the Plaza del Coso, wood-fired roast lamb and a visit with tasting at a winery in the village.
- [Salamanca: the frog, the cathedrals and Bambú](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/salamanca/itineraries/university-cathedrals-and-tapas.md) (2 h 5 en coche): The University and its frog in the morning, the Plaza Mayor, tapas and grilled food at Bambú, the two cathedrals in the afternoon and the Roman Bridge before you head home.
- [Ciudad Encantada: 3 km among rocks and lunch in Cuenca](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/cuenca/itineraries/ciudad-encantada-and-lunch-in-cuenca-old-town.md) (2 h 20 en coche): In the morning, the 3 km circuit among the rocks of the Ciudad Encantada, with children or a dog. At midday, a tavern at the top of Cuenca and a stroll across the San Pablo bridge.

## Each radial road leads to a different kind of plan

Each radial motorway leads to a different kind of plan. The A-6 climbs to the Sierra de Guadarrama: via the M-505 to [El Escorial](/en/spain/community-of-madrid/san-lorenzo-de-el-escorial), via the M-601 to the Navacerrada pass and, via the AP-61, to [Segovia](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/segovia). The AP-6 and AP-51 continue to [Ávila](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/avila) and, via the N-502, to the [Sierra de Gredos](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/sierra-de-gredos). The M-607 leads to Manzanares el Real and [La Pedriza](/en/spain/community-of-madrid/la-pedriza). The A-1 goes towards the [Sierra Norte](/en/spain/community-of-madrid/sierra-norte), with Patones, Buitrago and the Hayedo de Montejo, and beyond towards the [Duratón Gorges](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/duraton-gorges). The A-2 passes [Alcalá de Henares](/en/spain/community-of-madrid/alcala-de-henares) on the way to [Sigüenza](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/siguenza); the A-3 leads to [Chinchón](/en/spain/community-of-madrid/chinchon) and, with the A-40, to [Cuenca](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/cuenca); the A-4, to [Aranjuez](/en/spain/community-of-madrid/aranjuez) and La Mancha; the A-42, to [Toledo](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/toledo), and the A-5, to Extremadura.

You can also get out well without a car. Cercanías reaches Aranjuez (C-3 from Atocha), Alcalá (C-2 or C-7) and Cercedilla (C-8), at the foot of the Navacerrada pass. Toledo is about 25 minutes by Avant from Atocha and Segovia-Guiomar 30 by AVE, with an urban bus to the Aqueduct; there is an AVE to Cuenca, a regional train to Sigüenza and an Alvia to [Salamanca](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/salamanca) from Chamartín, in 1 h 36. The sierra is reached by intercity bus: the 661 and 664 from Moncloa to El Escorial, the 691 to Navacerrada, Cotos and Valdesquí, the 724 from Plaza de Castilla to Manzanares el Real and the 337 from Conde de Casal to Chinchón.

## Alcalá, Aranjuez and El Escorial fit into a long morning

**Under an hour** are the plans that fit into a long morning: Alcalá de Henares, at 35 minutes, with Cisneros's university and Cervantes's house; Aranjuez and Chinchón, at 45, and El Escorial and La Pedriza, at 50. They are the only ones where the journey weighs less than the meal.

The bulk of the Sundays are **between one and one and a half hours**: climbing at Patones (60 minutes), Toledo (65), Valdesquí (70), Segovia and the Lozoya valley with Rascafría (75) and Ávila (86). Almost all have a direct train or bus.

**Between an hour and a half and two hours** the day gets tight: Sigüenza and the Hayedo de Montejo (95), Consuegra and the Duratón (100), Pedraza (104), Cuenca (110) and Peñafiel, Almagro and the Laguna Grande de Gredos (120). Several call for a night, and have one: [Cuenca and the Ciudad Encantada](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/cuenca/itineraries/cuenca-enchanted-city-one-night), [Sepúlveda and the canyon](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/duraton-gorges/itineraries/duraton-gorges-weekend-sepulveda), [Peñafiel with two wineries](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/penafiel/itineraries/penafiel-ribera-del-duero-wine-weekend) or [Gredos in two nights](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/sierra-de-gredos/itineraries/gredos-weekend-from-madrid-laguna-grande).

From **almost three hours** onwards, the trip is a weekend one: the [Lagunas de Ruidera](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/lagunas-de-ruidera/itineraries/ruidera-lagoons-waterfalls-one-night), [Monfragüe and its birds](/en/spain/extremadura/monfrague/itineraries/monfrague-birdwatching-weekend-from-madrid), [Guadalupe and the Villuercas](/en/spain/extremadura/guadalupe/itineraries/guadalupe-villuercas-weekend-from-madrid), [Albarracín](/en/spain/aragon/albarracin/itineraries/albarracin-rodeno-weekend-from-valencia), at three hours and a quarter, and [Sanabria lake](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/sanabria-lake/itineraries/sanabria-lake-weekend-from-zamora), at three and a half.

## Snow without a car? Valdesquí and Navacerrada

In winter the Guadarrama snow rules: a [ski day at Valdesquí](/en/spain/community-of-madrid/navacerrada-pass-and-cercedilla/itineraries/skiing-at-valdesqui-and-judiones) or a [morning snowshoeing at Navacerrada](/en/spain/community-of-madrid/navacerrada-pass-and-cercedilla/itineraries/snowshoeing-at-the-pass-from-madrid), both possible without a car, or the [snow weekend in Cercedilla](/en/spain/community-of-madrid/navacerrada-pass-and-cercedilla/itineraries/ski-and-snowshoeing-near-madrid-navacerrada). To the pass, by car, with chains. For grey days, the roast in [Sigüenza, from the castle to the Doncel](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/siguenza/itineraries/siguenza-castle-doncel-and-roast-lunch).

In spring, from the end of March to mid-April, the cherry trees blossom in the [Jerte Valley](/en/spain/extremadura/jerte-valley/itineraries/jerte-valley-cherry-blossom-weekend), almost three hours away; book weeks ahead. It is also the season for the gardens of Aranjuez, for [paddling the Duratón](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/duraton-gorges/itineraries/duraton-gorges-canoe-roast-lamb-and-san-frutos) and for the birds of Monfragüe.

In summer it is best to go up. The [Peñalara lake](/en/spain/community-of-madrid/lozoya-valley/itineraries/penalara-laguna-grande-roast-lunch-in-rascafria-and-el-paular) has an access quota and fills up early; the [Laguna Grande de Gredos](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/sierra-de-gredos/itineraries/gredos-laguna-grande-and-lunch-in-hoyos-del-espino) is a five-hour route for June and July. Toledo, Aranjuez, La Pedriza and Patones are not recommended in July and August.

Autumn is the best season around Madrid. In October and November there are the woods of [La Herrería and El Castañar](/en/spain/community-of-madrid/san-lorenzo-de-el-escorial/itineraries/autumn-in-la-herreria-and-el-castanar), the [oak woods of Rascafría to the Purgatorio waterfall](/en/spain/community-of-madrid/lozoya-valley/itineraries/oak-woods-and-purgatorio-waterfall) and the [Hayedo de Montejo](/en/spain/community-of-madrid/sierra-norte/itineraries/montejo-beech-forest-and-buitrago), with the pass collected in the village. Further off, the chestnut trees of [Hervás in the Otoño Mágico](/en/spain/extremadura/hervas-and-the-ambroz-valley/itineraries/autumn-hervas-ambroz-valley-from-madrid) and, from mid-September to mid-October, the [rut in Sanabria and the Sierra de la Culebra](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/sanabria-lake/itineraries/sanabria-culebra-red-deer-rut-weekend).

## Segovia by half-hour AVE

- **Without a car, in a day:** [Segovia on a Sunday](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/segovia/itineraries/segovia-aqueduct-mint-and-roast-suckling-pig-day-trip). A half-hour AVE, the Aqueduct before the groups, the Casa de Moneda, suckling pig in the Azoguejo and the Alcázar in the afternoon.
- **With one night:** [El Escorial, monastery and royal forest](/en/spain/community-of-madrid/san-lorenzo-de-el-escorial/itineraries/el-escorial-monastery-and-forest-weekend). 50 minutes away, to see the monastery at opening time, walk through La Herrería and climb Abantos without watching the clock.
- **With two nights:** [Mérida and Cáceres](/en/spain/extremadura/merida/itineraries/two-nights-with-caceres-from-madrid). About three hours forty-five along the A-5 on Friday evening, a whole day for the Roman city and monumental Cáceres on the way back on Sunday.