Cities you can visit on a day-trip from Madrid

Madrid is situated in the approximate centre of Spain, making it a convenient hub for travellers wanting to see as much of the country as possible. For international students, studying in Madrid offers students not only the opportunity to live in the capital city which is filled with easy transportation, amenities and cultural activities and events to explore, but also the priviledge of being well connected to the rest of the country. While not all of the train routes are as cheap as in other European countries, most of the day trips out of Madrid (cities within 2 hours by train) are around 20 euros round trip.

Another important note is that being a student in Europe can give some great travel benefits! For example, if you have a student transit card for Madrid, you can use this card on the bus to Toledo as well as within the Comunidad de Madrid. If you are just in the city as a tourist, bus tickets are around 22 euros round trip.

There are so many places to visit that are close to Madrid. Personally I visited 3 cities I would consider close enough for a daytrip. The first being Toledo, a city in Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain known for its wide variety in architectural styles and history. The city was settled in the pre-Roman era in Spain and therefore holds the history of Arab, Jewish and Christian groups that have lived in the city for centuries. Toledo was such as fascinating city that I visited it twice during my time in Madrid – and there was still more to discover! If you wish to learn more about Toledo, click here.

The next city I visited for a day trip was Segovia. Famous for its aqueduct, Segovia is in Castilla y León region of Spain, just northwest of Madrid. Other popular monuments include the Alcázar de Segovia and the Catedral de Segovia. All of these monuments are easily walkable within the city, which makes sightseeing easy. More about Segovia can be found here.

Last but not least, Ávila‎. This city is also in the Castilla y León region, slightly further from Madrid (only about 20 km difference, but train routes are more direct to Segovia). Ávila‎ is known for its medieval city walls which still enclose the old city. Additionally, Ávila‎ is the highest provincial capital in Spain, sitting 1132 m above sea level. It is also known for its numerous Catholic Churches, mainly in the Romanesque and Gothic styles and for being the birthplace of St. Teresa of Ávila. You can read more about Ávila here.

Other popular destinations near Madrid that I was not able to visit include: Cuenca in Castilla-La Mancha, El Escorial in the Comunidad de Madrid, Aranjuez also in the Comunidad de Madrid, and Salamanca in Castilla y León. Let me know your favourites in the comments!