Before I am to leave soon for my visit to the capital, as I mentioned before, I will be traveling to some of the "outside" towns in central-spain by train in quick trips............
Here are some places I think I may or may not visit:

.
Aranjuez
Cuenca
San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Segovia
Avila
Toledo
Salamanca
.
.
What else could (should) I add to my list? What are your recommendations? Albacete perhaps?
Any town or place which is easily accessed to by train.....within 2 hours or so (thus I can go there and return back to Madrid on the same day.)

.
Thanks

All except Cuenca and Salamanca are under 2 hours; I think both of these are awesome but too far for day trips (IMHO 5 hours of to and back train travel in one day is too much).

Consider going to Segovia by bus from Estacion de Autobuses Sur (line 1 metro Menendez Pelayo). We went by train and had to take 2 buses to the old city. If we go this year, we'll take the bus.

Valle de los Caidos is interesting and I have heard great things about La Granja de San Ildefonso. Both are accessed by bus.


Here are the Renfe links to the towns you asked about:

Aranjuez (link won't show correctly)
http://horarios.renfe.es/hir/hjhir030.jsp?&O=MADRI&D=60200&MON='EURO'&ID=s

Cuenca

San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Segovia

Avila

Toledo

Salamanca

I agree with Paul (I've been doing that a lot lately )

I have not been to Salamanca or Cuenca, but have been to all the rest. My top two choices would be Toledo and El Escorial. In fact, they are the only two on the list I have been to multiple times. I think they are must-sees. I would also put Segovia quite high on the list.

I was in Avila on a Monday so a lot was closed.
I was rather disappointed with Aranjuez. But I think that may have been my fault rather than the city's. Long story.

Anne

I too agree with Paul!

You can see El Escorial and Segovia on the same daytrip. Avila on the way to Salamanca. Be sure to overnight in Salamanca because it is an awesome city, and a lot of fun at night. You may want to go to Leon, in the heart of Castilla.

One of our members, Payno, has lots of ideas about places close to Madrid, and he strongly recommended Alcala de Henares to me, another university town. I certainly will go there in December.

I can't wait to hear what you decide and the places you finally decided.

Have a safe and fun trip!

If you dont have your own transport and, therefore, wont be doing pueblos, then you can easily do Cuenca in a day.

We went for a day trip by train too. The journey is really pretty (that flat rust/brown/orange bits of green landscape, that i personnally love about spain).

The historical part is quite small, but it is a fun town. We didnt go to the Ciudad Encantada, which is impressive i believe, natural rock formations that look like animals, etc. But i'm not sure how well comunicado it is with Cuenca itself. maybe someone else knows??

I agree with the suggestion that you do Avila on the way to Salamanca and that you stay longer in Salamanca than a day. there is loads to see and do and the nightlife is great. also, you may be able to go to some pueblos from there (La Alberca, Bejar, etc).

Do try and go to Valle de los Caidos, its amazing and i think its good to see other, more modern aspects of Spanish history.

Dont forget Alcala de Henares, its very pretty and only cercania ride away. We did the walking tour, ask at the tourist kiosko in the main square. It was very informative and i think we covered the most interesting sites.

Lastly, food is also an important tourist attraction! try local dishes (as well as local restaurants), as many of these towns have their own specialities!

hope these suggestions are useful to you and...

have fun! maybe i'll go touristing this weekend, you've inspired me!

I've heard that Chinch�n is very interesting also.


My hometown (San Diego, CA) is named after Diego, a saint from Acal� de Henares. I visited a factory there as part of a field trip, and spent some time in city itself.

Thank you all for the advice, and Paulandirene
for the links to RENFE........

.
All good suggestions which I will consider......however, I prefer to stay in one location rather than stay a day or two in a different town.......like QuePasa's quote says, I will be back to see what I missed the first time.

I dont mind a "5 hour to & back" train ride.....
for example, me being in Southern California, many times I will go up north to Santa Barbara or east to Palm Springs.......both are around 2 to 3 1/2 hour car drives.....if you go in the morning and come back in the evening.....it can be quite painless.....and certainly it will be in a train as opposed to a car.

Thanks again.