Where can I go near Madrid. What to see near Madrid

How they joke locals Wherever you go from Madrid, sooner or later you will stumble upon a royal residence or an old village. But seriously, nine cities from the list are located around the Spanish capital at once world heritage UNESCO - Alcala de Henares, Toledo, Segovia, Cuenca, Avila, Cordoba, Salamanca, Escorial and Aranjuez.

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Once the Escorial was the autumn residence of the Spanish monarchs and the entire court. Philip II ordered to build here luxury palace with a huge library and basilica. Here he laid the family vault, in which he buried his parents, Charles V and Isabella of Portugal. In Escorial, you can visit numerous chapels, sit in cool courtyards, and most importantly, enjoy an impressive collection of paintings by Titian, Bosch and El Greco. You can complete your walk through the once royal palace with a visit to the library, which is second only to the Vatican in size.

Aranjuez: garden city

Aranjuez is famous not only for the spring residence of the king, but also for its strawberries, which are considered a symbol of the city. However, other fruits and vegetables are also grown here, which are supplied to the best restaurants capital Cities. In the sweltering summer heat, it is pleasant to stroll through the local parks and gardens - the King, the Prince and the Island. You can complete your acquaintance with the city by the Church of the Ascension of Our Lady, the main value of which is the work of the same name by Goya. See old City in all its glory and will help not to miss anything

Segovia: from a Roman aqueduct to a medieval fortress

The two most famous buildings of Segovia are the Roman aqueduct that runs through the entire city, and the Alcazar fortress, in different time used for defense, as well as a royal residence, school and even a prison. By the way, it was the Alcazar that became the prototype of Cinderella's castle in Disneyland Paris. The Cathedral, around which the entire cultural life of the city is concentrated, deserves special attention. The road from Madrid to Segovia takes about an hour and a half. The most convenient way to get to the city is on a comfortable

Pedraza: the place where time stood still

@denaturapedraza

This small village, according to the locals, is a "time capsule". Since its foundation in the 13th century, it has not changed much and has not gone beyond the walls of the fortress. The only way to get inside is through the main gate. Because of the medieval surroundings, Pedraza is a favorite place for filmmakers and honeymooners.

The heart of medieval education in Salamanca

The University of Salamanca is one of the oldest in all of Europe, it opened in 1218. The whole city seems to be saturated with the spirit of cheerful student life. Passing by the university building, imagine yourself a student running for an exam and try to find a frog on the facade. According to legend, it brings good luck. The objects of the mystical "heritage" of Salamanca also deserve attention, in particular, the cave, where allegedly Satan himself taught simple estimated black magic. The House of the Dead is also famous, in which the entire family living there was killed in the 19th century. All subsequent tenants also died under mysterious circumstances.

Over the abyss in Cuenca

The small town of Cuenca is located in a picturesque place between two rivers. Its old part seems to hang over the abyss. Walking along the streets of a medieval city, it is easy to see that Cuenca was built up without a specific plan, and the houses seemed to be sculpted as God would put it on your soul. There are not so many tourists here as in the same Toledo, and the medieval spirit, according to many travelers, is more “sincere” and “live”. You can get around the whole of Cuenca in a couple of hours, but be prepared for constant ups and downs.

Mountain fortress of Avila

Avila is the highest residential point in all of Spain, as a result of which the city invariably welcomes tourists with coolness - both in winter and in summer. The main local attraction is considered to be a powerful fortress, which was built in the XI-XIV centuries to protect the territory from the invasions of the Moors. In Avila, according to legend, Teresa of Avila, the patron saint of the whole country, was born. Near the city is the monastery of Encarnacion, where Teresa took the tonsure, and on the site of her house in Avila is the monastery of Saint Teresa with a museum in her honor.

Continuing the theme of planning independent travel, and today I wanted to go to Spain. In general, I was in Barcelona, ​​but everyone knows that Barcelona is not quite Spain in spirit, it is Catalonia! And Spain is a big country, so bright, and so different. I hope no one even thinks of getting to know all of Spain in one trip. Because it seems to me that trying to see all of Spain in one trip is like embracing the immensity, it is absolutely impossible, unless your trip will last at least a few months. I propose to get acquainted with the country gradually, paying attention to one or another region. And start from the heart - Madrid.

1. Why is it worth going to Madrid?

Oh Spain! How much in this sound… Bright colorful mosaic, one of the most memorable details of which is its capital. Madrid is a real city of kings, a city of luxurious palaces and world famous museums. There are many white architectural structures in the city, which is why Madrid gives the impression of a city of light and grace. Madrid is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe. Do you still doubt that it is worth seeing with your own eyes?

2. What is the best way to get to it?

Better, easier, faster and more convenient, of course, by plane. If only because there are more than 4,000 km between Moscow and Madrid, and the westernmost point in Europe, which can be reached from Russia by train, is Paris. Therefore, we choose air travel. daily from the capital Russian Federation more than 10 flights go to the capital of the Kingdom of Spain, even more in summer. Direct flights from Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo are operated by Iberia, Air Europe, Aeroflot, S7 Airlines and Transaero. There are plenty to choose from. Flight time is about 5 hours, plus or minus 10 minutes. Also, please never forget that with numerous European low-cost airlines you can fly almost anywhere and for less money, albeit with a transfer. Madrid is no exception, Airberlin, Nici, Airbaltic and other budget airlines are ready to take you there. Looking for cheap ones here:

3. Hotels in Madrid

We will not take into account the possibility of registering a Madrid citizen (couchsurfing) in an apartment, we will also take into account the possibility of renting an apartment another time. Let's talk about hotels in Madrid. Let's start with the fact that there are thousands of them. That is, very, very much. Unfortunately, it cannot be said that there are many cheap accommodation options in Madrid compared to other European tourist centers (more specifically about prices at the end of the post), but they are still there, while they are distinguished by comfort and a special taste in design.

4. Where to go from Madrid?

Of course, in Toledo! You have probably heard this name, even if you had little interest in Spain at all. Toledo is a relatively small city 70 km from Madrid, the capital of the province and the center of the Spanish Archbishopric. The city is almost two thousand years old and its history Center fully included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Toledo is one of the most visited cities in Spain. Madrid and Toledo are connected by high-speed rail and motorways.

To Salamanca. Salamanca is a city 200 km from the capital. Also large tourist centre. The city has been known since the 3rd century BC; some ancient Roman buildings have been preserved in it, including a bridge over the Tormes River. The historic center of the city is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

And to Segovia. Another Spanish city-museum, as well as Toledo and Salamanca, is under the protection of UNESCO. The most famous landmark of the city is the Roman aqueduct, towering over the city, its length is 728 meters, its height is 28. There are about 90 km between Madrid and Salamanca.

4. How much will the trip cost?

In the end, as always, let's try to figure out what the approximate budget of an independent trip to Madrid could be, more precisely, we will analyze the possible costs of such a trip. So,

- air tickets - from 9,000 rubles
Moscow-Madrid-Moscow, economy class.
– a night in a hotel in Madrid - from 2,000 rubles / night
double price standard room in a *** hotel in the city center.
— night in a hotel in Madrid min - from 1,100 rubles/night
the minimum price of a double room in a hotel of any type in the relative accessibility of the center (on foot / public transport).
– consular fee - 35 euros from the application
- ticket to the Prado Museum - 14 euros
– a bottle of Spanish olive oil – from 5 euros
– candied violets from Canalejas Square – from 120 euros per kg

Other posts from the series "Where to go on your own?":

I also suggest that you familiarize yourself with the information about.

Where to go from Madrid? A logical question that arises among travelers exploring Spain. In relative proximity to Madrid there are cities such as Toledo or Segovia, which have a unique historical heritage. These cities are littered with sights, so while in Madrid, it makes sense to set aside a few days for nearby cities. And which cities deserve the attention of tourists, we will tell today. We offer you the top 5 cities in Spain that you can visit from Madrid for one day.

Segovia is so rich in attractions that in 1985 the entire city was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Segovia is located in Castile and León less than 100 km from Madrid. The most iconic sights of Segovia are considered to be the triple aqueduct - the Segovia Cathedral - the Alcazar Palace. The Segovia Aqueduct is 728 meters long. At times ancient rome(namely, this monument has been preserved since those times) the aqueduct had an applied meaning - it was the above-ground part of the water supply. The unique feature of the Segovia aqueduct is that it is completely made without a connecting mortar, the granite slabs are held by their own weight. This is real engineering marvel. The Cathedral of Segovia is striking in its scale. It is believed that this is the last big gothic cathedral which was built in Europe. The cathedral stands on a hill, so its form towering over the city can be seen from anywhere in Segovia.

The Alcazar of Segovia is a real fortress, towering on the hill of the city. Once upon a time, the alcazar was considered a royal residence, which is why today, when a museum is opened here, portraits of all the kings of Castile are exhibited in the alcazar. More than 10 halls are open for viewing in the alcazar, the most impressive of which are considered to be the hall with Venetian stained-glass windows, the throne room, royal hall and a chapel. It exhibits pieces of furniture and interiors of royal families. In addition to this world-famous trio of Segovia sights, the city has preserved many medieval churches and interesting museums, such as the Segovia Museum, the Cathedral Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Royal Mint.

You can get to Segovia from Madrid in just half an hour by train. True, myself Train Station Segovia is located 5 km from the city, so to get directly to the center, you will have to use the city bus or taxi. There is another option - to come from Madrid to Segovia by bus, which stops right at the aqueduct, but it will take a little longer. You can visit Segovia with

Son of Groucho/flickr

2.Toledo

Toledo in Spain is a kind of fortified city in which medieval sights have been preserved virtually intact. Until today, walls, 8 gates and 2 bridges have remained from the fortress. The entire city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The sights of Toledo include the cathedral and the ancient alcazar, castles, mosques, monasteries and churches. The city is relatively compact, so the best thing a tourist can do is get around the city on foot, especially since there is a new Toledo landmark lurking around every corner.

The Cathedral of Toledo is considered the main Catholic cathedral in Spain. It is made in the traditional Spanish Gothic style, but not only the external decoration of the cathedral can amaze. Inside the cathedral there are many art objects, incl. paintings by El Greco and Titian. The Alcazar in Toledo was built in the 15th century and was the royal residence. The Alcazar is located on a hill in the center of the city, so its outlines are visible from anywhere in Toledo. Most of the churches and monasteries of the city were built in the Gothic style, but there are also instances in the Baroque or, for example, in the Mudéjar style. There are several interesting museums among the attractions of Toledo, for example, the Sephardi Museum or the El Greco Museum.

Salamanca is a wonderful city in the west of Spain near the border with Portugal. Why is he so amazing? His Old city has many heritage sites that have survived to this day, which were included in the UNESCO list in 1988. Unlike the gothic Segovia and Toledo, Salamanca is filled with bright, conspicuous forms of Churrigueresco (Late Baroque Spanish style of architecture), Renaissance and Art Nouveau. It is because of these combinations that the festive spirit always reigns in the city. Many churches, cathedrals and monasteries have been preserved in Salamanca, but, of course, the Plaza Mayor, the old and new cathedrals and the town hall.

The heart of the city - Plaza Mayor - is a square area at the base, surrounded by numerous pompous buildings in the Baroque style. A little to the left is the so-called university quarter, and not far from there are the old and new cathedrals, opposite which is the Palacio de Anaya. Several more palaces are located in the vicinity of Salamanca. These are Casa Abraca and Casa de las Conchas, the latter lavishly decorated with shell-shaped details on the façade. Salamanca is considered a city of youth and science, because an entire university campus has been built here. By the way, many foreigners come here to learn Spanish. Salamanca is located 200 km from Madrid. You can get here by high-speed train in just an hour and a half.

Avila is another famous historical center along with Toledo and Segovia. The walled city is located just over 100 km from Madrid. Among the most popular sights of Avila among tourists, one can single out the fortress wall, erected in the 11th century and well preserved to this day, and the 18th century Avila Cathedral in a magnificent baroque style. Fans of art will be interested to know that El Greco's works are kept in the cathedral.

Located on the territory of Avila and several significant monasteries, incl. the famous monastery of Encarnacion. Of interest is the second largest cathedral in the city - the Basilica of Saint-Vincent. The city is relatively small, so it is quite possible to get around on foot. By the way, Avila is quite high on a hill, so the weather here can be unpredictable, take care of warm clothes. You can get to Avila from Madrid in an hour and a half.

Jose Luis Cernadas Iglesias/flickr

Escorial attracts many tourists, first of all, with the opportunity to visit the famous 16th century palace of San Lorenzo del Escorial. This huge architectural complex consists of the chambers of King Philip II, a museum, a monastery and a cathedral, a library, a pantheon and a Bourbon castle. There are so many objects that you will need a whole day to see them. Each site is worth a visit. For example, the museum has a rich collection of paintings by Bosch, Titian, El Greco. In the cathedral, which has a Greek cross at the base, there are 45 (!) altars. The Pantheon contains the tombs of all the kings of Spain. And in the Bourbon Palace you can see the personal royal collection of exquisite tapestries. Needless to say, the interiors of the premises amaze with their splendor and pomposity. Deserves attention and the park, spread out near the palace, is made landscape design parka in elegant French style.

Victor Rivera/flickr

When asked where to go from Madrid, as you can see, there are a lot of answers, depending on your preferences. Whether you want to see a one-of-a-kind aqueduct or a walled city, or, on the contrary, a lush Baroque city, or a castle at the foot of a mountain, in any case, the choice is yours. The cities close to Madrid really deserve the attention of tourists, their inspection helps to better understand the culture and architecture of Spain, that's for sure. You can find out more about the availability and cost of living in Madrid hotels for specific dates on the booking site Booking.com–> .

Practical and eventful travels for you!

Near Madrid there are many small, but very beautiful, which are definitely worth seeing if you come to the capital of Spain, but you think that it can no longer surprise you with anything. You can get to these towns from 1 to 2 hours, but it's definitely worth seeing their sights! Photos and the routes themselves in the article

Not far from Madrid, there are many small towns worth visiting. In each of them, there is a unique set of attractions and picturesque corners. Therefore, we have decided to present you with four of the best day trips from Madrid that you simply cannot miss:

Segovia

This perfect place to return to ancient times and live in a fairy tale. It's picturesque medieval city, just a 30-minute drive from Madrid. Segovia is famous for its historic Roman aqueduct and also boasts an impressive castle and cathedral. It is believed that the Alcazar of Segovia was one of several castles that inspired Walt Disney. Stroll the romantic alleys, enjoy a glass of Tinto wine in the lively Plaza Mayor, be sure to try Segovia's most famous dish, Cochinillo, roasted suckling pig. And of course, we recommend climbing to the top of the Alcazar in order to contemplate the panorama of the city.

Travel time: 30 minutes.

How to get there: Take the AVE high speed train from Chamartín station in Madrid

Train ticket price: approximately 12.70 euros.

You can get to the Aqueduct by bus number 11

Segovia, Madrid

Avila

Known historical city near Madrid, best known for its ancient medieval walls surrounding the city. From these walls you can admire beautiful view to the colorful village below. Although the sights are clearly limited in this town, you can stroll through the old-fashioned quarters and quiet alleys, they are ideal for being alone with your thoughts. Avila takes charm small town and takes it to a whole new level.

Travel time: 1 hour 30 minutes by train

How to get there: take the train from the Chamartín station in Madrid

A faster way to get to Ávila is to rent a car, use for example Easy Terra

Train ticket price: about 4.12 euros (one way)

Avila, Spain

Alcala de Henares

This is not just an average Spanish town, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the writer Miguel de Cervantes was born and baptized here. You can find many honors to the creator of Don Quixote in the streets and squares of the city. Alcala de Henares is also home to one of the oldest universities in the world and it was here that Christopher Columbus had his first meeting with Catholic monks to get funding for his first voyage to the shores of America. Be sure to visit the city's many tapas bars and the Cervantes Medieval Festival (in autumn).

Travel time: 45 minutes

How to get there: take the suburban train C2 and C7 from the stations Atocha, Chamartín or Nuevos Ministerios

Train ticket price: 3-4 euros

Alcala de Henares, Spain

San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Just an hour northwest of Madrid in the Sierra de Guadarrama, lies a gigantic royal complex in the small, unspoilt town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Royal Palace, a monastery, a school, a church and a royal pantheon (in which most of the Spanish kings of past centuries are buried) was built in the 16th century by Philip II. Just a few minutes drive is the Valley of the Fallen, the monument was erected by order of F. Franco, in honor of those who died in civil war in Spain (the dictator himself is buried there). This royal complex is filled with fascinating history and is well worth a visit.

Travel time: 1 hour by bus

How to get there: Take bus 661 or 664 from Madrid's Intercambiador de Moncloa motorway.

Bus ticket price: 4.20 EUR (one way)

Entrance to the palace: 10 euro

Madrid (Madrid) is located in the center of Spain, and therefore it is convenient to travel around the country in all directions from here. In the vicinity of Madrid there are many interesting places, however, as in the more remote regions of Spain. All this provides almost limitless scope for imagination and creates all the necessary prerequisites for organizing a huge variety of independent travel routes in Spain. But first things first. The question of where to stay in Madrid itself is discussed in detail. Therefore, further we will focus on the routes. So, where to go from Madrid?

Outskirts of Madrid

You can start your acquaintance with the surroundings of Madrid, without further ado, from the UNESCO World Heritage List: the monastery in Escorial (El Escorial), the Roman aqueduct in Segovia (Segovia), the university campus and the birthplace of Miguel Cervantes Alcala de Henares (Alcalá de Henares) , the royal palace in Aranjuez (Aranjuez), Avila (Ávila), Cuenca (Cuenca), Toledo (Toledo). All these points are easily accessible. railways. Escorial, Alcala de Henares and Aranjuez go suburban trains(see www.ctm-madrid.es), and in Toledo, Cuenca, Ávila and Segovia, high-speed and regional trains Renfe (see www.renfe.com). You can also resort to bus routes.

For the first acquaintance in all the cities listed, it makes sense to make day trips. However, if we talk about Toledo, then we would still recommend staying in this city for two or three days - it's worth it. Moreover, during the day the streets of Toledo are flooded with tourists, but in the evenings it is much more pleasant to walk here (see Toledo hotels).

From Toledo, you can also go to other interesting places, for example, look at the windmills in Consuegra. It takes about 50 minutes to get to Consuegra by bus (see www.samar.es). Consuegra is also accessible from Madrid, but the journey is longer - about 2.5 hours (see www.aisa-grupo.com and www.samar.es). Getting from Toledo is definitely more convenient. If you go by car, you can also capture the town of Campo de Criptana, where you can also find beautiful views to windmills. On the public transport to go to Campo de Criptana from Madrid or Toledo, to put it mildly, is not very convenient - it is long and there are few routes during the day (this applies equally to buses and trains).

In addition to these, there are many less obvious destinations for short trips from Madrid. For example, Chinchon and Colmenar de Oreja. Both towns can be covered in one day, and you can get to them by shuttle bus No. 337 from the Conde de Casal station (bus timetables) - the journey will take no more than an hour. This is a slightly hyped tourist destination, and therefore, unlike the places on the UNESCO list, it is much calmer and not crowded here. There are other variants from the same opera. For example, Guadalajara (Guadalajara), which can complement a trip to Alcala de Henares. You can also get to Alcala by train or by bus. In the same direction, but a little further (about an hour and a half by train), is the interesting medieval town of Sigüenza. You can also devote half a day to a day to it. In general, the list can be continued almost indefinitely.

From Madrid to Spain

Due to its location, Madrid is quite convenient to combine with other cities in Spain. From Madrid you can go to the northeast - to Zaragosa (Zaragosa) and Barcelona (Barcelona), and to the south - to Cordoba (Córdoba) and Seville (Sevilla), and in other directions - to Salamanca (Salamanca), Valencia (Valencia). ), Bilbao. All this - big cities, which are conveniently accessible both by land transport and by plane (in some cases). In the vicinity of each of the listed points there is a lot to see and where to go next.

It is hardly possible here to cover all possible options for independent travel routes from Madrid. A lot will depend on your own interests and preferences. Let's say, if there is a desire to combine cultural trips with beach holiday, then first of all you should pay attention to the surroundings of Cadiz (Cádiz), Malaga, Alicante (Alicante), Valencia (Valencia) or Barcelona. To get in touch with the Arab period of Spanish history, head to Seville, Granada or Córdoba. If you are interested in castles and monasteries, then from Madrid you can go somewhere in the area of ​​Burgos (Burgos) or Valladolid (Valladolid). In general, there are a lot of possibilities. We hope that the above information will help you decide on the directions for further research.