Day trips by train from Madrid: the back story

About Day trips by train from Madrid: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Madrid Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

You don’t need a car to leave Madrid for the day. Five of the great day trips, each a UNESCO World Heritage site, start from Atocha or Chamartín, on high-speed, regional or Cercanías trains.

Toledo

High-speed trains run from Madrid Puerta de Atocha to Toledo; book on renfe.com.

Segovia

High-speed trains from Chamartín reach Segovia’s high-speed station outside the town; buses connect to the aqueduct.

Book on the operators’ own websites, and check the timetable on the morning you travel.

El Escorial

Cercanías trains run to El Escorial; the monastery is a walk uphill from the station.

Ávila

Renfe trains run from Madrid to Ávila, whose walls are a short walk from the station.

Aranjuez

Cercanías trains from Atocha run to Aranjuez, for the palace and gardens.

Further afield

High-speed trains from Atocha run south to Andalusia and from Atocha and Chamartín east to Barcelona and Valencia, with Renfe, iryo and Ouigo; see our ULTIMATE Andalusia and ULTIMATE Barcelona guides.

Our advice: leave early, and pick one town per day.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Day trips by train from Madrid: the back story before you go.