Worldwide with Idalis

Due to Madrid’s central location, you have access to numerous cities, with a wide range of trains and buses. If you are visiting Madrid for an extended period or living here, consider taking a day trip outside of the city. I have been doing my share of day trips, and I am going to tell you the top 3 day trips, along with my overal rating. 

Segovia

Segovia is a must-visit destination for Disney lovers and is one of my favorite day trips from Madrid. Visiting the Alcázar de Segovia was the real reason we came, and it was magical. This medieval castle was the inspiration behind Disney’s snowwhite movie, and during the live adaptation, the cast visited this Castle. This took up most of our time before heading to the aquadepts, which is the other attraction people come to see. We didn’t buy any tickets in advance, but if you miss out on the castle, you may have a completely different experience. 

El Escorial

El Escorial is known for its Royal Monastery (San Lorenzo de El Escorial), which was the main reason we visited the city. We visited El Escorial during the fall season and loved how colorful it was, a sight not often seen in the city center of Madrid. This was more of a half-day trip to this UNESCO World Heritage Site. We spent a couple of hours on this site, as there is so much to see and so many different entrances. This trip was also the most affordable because you can easily use your Metro Card with no additional ticket, and the day we visited Monostray was free due to the holiday. Check out the free days or reduced tickets on their website. 

Toledo

Toledo is the most popular trip from Madrid as it is the largest of the three. What makes Toledo unique is that, for centuries, it was a place where Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities coexisted, and this legacy is still evident today. When visiting, be sure to see some of the churches and buildings that belonged to these groups. We visited the Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes, and we wish we had stayed longer. The downside to Toledo was that it was steep; walking was hard as everything was uphill or downhill. This trip had the most people, and you could see more signs of tourism compared to the other two.  

Any of these locations you choose to visit has so much culture and history that you will enjoy them all. If you’re staying in Madrid for a while, I highly recommend taking day trips in the region to learn more about the country and its surrounding area.