Borders Of Adventure

Leading Culture and Adventure Travel Blog by Becki Enright. Looking at the world with a different angle to change perceptions of misunderstood places, for the best in travel.

People sit at cafe tables in Seville's Plaza del Pan, surrounded by colourful buildings and tiled architecture and an ornate street lamp.

Cultural Travel, Spain

Cultural City-Hopping Spain Trips From Madrid by Train

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A capital city in the centre of the country, the places to go in Spain on easy trips from Madrid by train are vast. This selection of the best spots has you covered.

More than just a big city trip deserving of your attention, Madrid is also the epicentre for wider Spain travel. A capital city that sits in the middle of the country, it’s the optimal starting point to journey in any direction and explore one or more of Spain’s 17 regions.

Spain is the second biggest country in Western Europe after France. Still, its accessibility via the Renfe ‘Spanish High Speed’ AVE train network makes navigating different parts of the country and getting anywhere from Madrid by train easy.

With the trains reaching speeds of up to 350 km per hour, you can travel from Santander on the north coast to Malaga in the south in 8 hours or western Salamanca to eastern Castellón de la Plana in 6. Madrid Atocha is the most common station change – the hub of the high-speed tracks.

Beyond Madrid, planning a myriad of Spain trips ultimately comes down to what city to choose, also factoring in travel time and ticket budget. To help you shortlist, I have gathered a selection of my personal highlights, the most searched for city trips by train from Madrid on the Renfe rail site, and the most remarkable places to go in Spain that set the stage of Spanish culture, history and landscape.

I can’t wait to get back on the (rail) road when we can travel again and head south to explore new ground. 

The spires and domes of Almudena Cathedral and the Royal Palace rise above the green trees and white buildings of the Madrid skyline.

Remarkable Places to Go in Spain – Spain Trips From Madrid by Train

Tips for Planning Spain Trips

When to Go

The best time for this trip, based on optimal weather conditions, are the shoulder ends of May-October, based on all the average forecasts for Madrid, San Sebastian, Girona, Zaragoza, Barcelona, Valencia, Cordoba, Seville, Granada and Malaga.

READ MORE: Travel in Spain by Train: AVE Guide

Travelling from Madrid by Train

  • All train tickets for the AVE rail network have to be pre-booked since you can’t turn up on the day and book at the station. You can show tickets electronically via a smartphone. There are nine classes, of which Turista (a second class option with 2 x 2 seating rows) and the more spacious Turista Plus (with 2 x 1 seating rows) are the most common and cost-effective.
  • If you are booking a multi-stop trip, consider getting a ‘Spain Pass’. This means you can travel using just one ticket for the AVE and other long-distance trains. You must reserve a seat before every trip, as limited space is assigned for Spain Pass holders.

Madrid City Sightseeing

Train Stations: Madrid’s main train station is Madrid Atocha (Madrid Puerta de Atocha). It is also the largest railway station in the city, the central station for the high-speed AVE trains and home to a large botanical garden – a tropical greenhouse in the capital.

Is Madrid worth visiting? The dishevelled elegance of the capital jostles with the touristic and coastal Barcelona for visitor attention; still, I don’t think it should be bypassed, especially if you thrive in the momentum of big city life.

You need ample time (three to four days) to explore the remaining threads of medieval history, the Renaissance Habsburg to the 19th-century neoclassical architectural styles, the art museums, markets, and a mix of grungy and bohemian neighbourhoods. Madrid is a heady mix of grandiose sites and local subcultures, fuelled by a buzzing tapas bar culture, day and night. A walkable city, the best way to get around Madrid is by metro.

Highlights of Madrid

Madrid’s Royal Palace (Palacio Real de Madrid) is the largest in Europe, with over 3,000 rooms. Daily tours take you through the highlights, including the Main Staircase and the Royal Gallery. A stroll in the adjacent Sabatini Gardens provides green-set views of the palace, and the public viewing Changing of the Guard takes place every Wednesday and Saturday.

Plaza Mayor square is outlined by the pretty arched porticos of its marketplace past – once the heart of Old Madrid when it first became a capital during the reign of the Habsburg King Phillip III. Today’s bustling square is the Puerta del Sol, whose semi-circular thoroughfare is the junction for some of Madrid’s busiest streets. It was once the site of an old city gate and the starting point for all the major roads in Spain.

People walk through the sunlit Puerta del Sol plaza in Madrid, past grand buildings and the glass igloo metro entrance.

The Temple of Debod is a 2nd-century Egyptian temple set within the elevated Cuartel de la Montaña Park and the prime spot for watching Madrid’s sunset. The Egyptian government gifted the temple to save it from being submerged in the construction of the Aswan Dam.

The ancient golden stone Temple of Debod in Madrid features ornate columns and white stone steps.

The 19th century El Retiro Park (Parque de El Retiro) is the city’s most beautiful and famous park, with a boating lake, monuments and botanical gardens. It’s also close to the Atocha train station. The striking white crown-like spired Cybele Palace (Palacio de Cibeles) stands at one end of the park’s exterior.

Art enthusiasts could spend their entire time engrossed in the city’s 50 museums, of which around half are art galleries. If you choose just one, then The Prado Museum (Museo Nacional del Prado) is the most world-renowned and locally famed. I took a guided tour of El Prado for an introduction to this treasure chest of European masterpieces spanning the 12th to the 20th centuries.

I spent most of my time scratching the surface of Madrid’s neighbourhoods. It’s personally how I like to understand the intricacies of a city. Malasaña and Chueca are the trendy, stylish and boho areas, Lavapiés is the edgy, street art-filled multicultural neighbourhood, and La Latina is the centre of the Tapas bar culture. Barrio de las Letras (the Literary Quarter) is a compact artist hub where writers from the Spanish Golden Age once resided. Los Austrias is the historic neighbourhood where you’ll find Plaza Mayor and San Miguel Market.

Short on time or looking for a different form of sightseeing? Excitedly tour Madrid in a nostalgic SEAT 600 or venture to the city’s highlights on the hop-on-hop-off bus.

People sitting outside, standing and walking down a street in a neighbourhood in Madrid lined with buildings in pastel and butter yellow colours.

Pedestrians walk down a cobblestone Malasaña street in Madrid lined with balconied buildings and graffiti.

Places to Go in Spain From Madrid by Train

Madrid to San Sebastian

Aerial view of the crescent-shaped La Concha Bay in San Sebastian, Spain, with Santa Clara Island and sandy beaches.

A visit to the northern Spanish coastal city of San Sebastian (Donostia) lands you in a very distinct region of Spain. A gastronomically acclaimed city, awash with Old Town architecture from Baroque basilicas to Belle Époque buildings, filled with music, the arts and home of Balenciaga, and the root of some of the oldest traditions and language in Europe from the Basque heritage.

People walk through San Sebastian’s Constitution Square, surrounded by balconied buildings with yellow trim.

A city surrounded by sea that once drew in royals and aristocrats for summer holidays, you can factor in beach strolls, surf lessons, and stand-up paddleboarding with the city’s creative pillars that made San Sebastian a European Capital of Culture. I viewed the city from the heights of Igueldo mountain, explored the grounds by bike on the city’s 30 km of dedicated biking paths, and made sure to find time to go Pintxos bar-hopping. 

READ MORE:

Things to Do in San Sebastian – From Conflict to Capital of Culture.

The Best Pintxos in San Sebastian – The Miniature Food Culture.

A wide stretch of yellow sand coastline in Spain strewn with rocks, backed by modern city buildings and low hills.

Madrid to Oviedo

People sit at cafe tables outside a yellow building in Oviedo, Spain, featuring blue trim and floral balconies.

Colourful, monumental, beautiful Oviedo – it’s been the capital of Asturias since the 8th century, yet this stately city of northern Spain is lesser-known. Give yourself a day or two to wander the historic city, with its pretty plazas and colourful tile-stoned streets, and get lost within this architectural wonderland of northern Spain. The central gothic Cathedral is a masterpiece, and the pre-Romanesque treasures just a 3-kilometre walk from the city centre is part of the collection of the rare Medieval architecture style from the days of the Asturian monarchy.

Oviedo is famous for its sidra (cider) and statues. The entire city is full of statues and sculptures, turning Oviedo into an open-air museum with over 100 works of art in its streets, squares and parks. And the cider is a core part of Asturian cultural heritage, alongside its gastronomic treasures, including over 40 artisan cheeses, so don’t leave without a visit to a Sidrería for some tasty dishes and Asturian cider drinking – poured in a unique way. 

READ MORE:

Things to do in Oviedo – The Monumental Capital of Asturias.

The black Culis Monumentalibus bum and legs statue stands on a pedestrian street in Oviedo, Spain, lined with shops and cafes.

Madrid to León

People walk past a large black "LEÓN" sign in front of the ornate golden stone Gothic León Cathedral in Spain.

Leon is a grand city whose phenomenal architectural sites preserve centuries of rich history and cultural heritage that made the city prominent and powerful. From a Roman encampment to an ancient kingdom capital in the Middle Ages, a city on the Pilgrim’s Road to Santiago de Compostela, and a site for Gaudí’s work outside Barcelona, León’s legacy is monumental – and a city that many do not know beyond its Camino status.
 
Don’t miss the Gothic masterpiece of León’s 13th-century Cathedral – the first building in Spain to be declared a national monument in 1844. Its interior dazzles with 1,800 square meters of stained glass, giving it the name ‘The House of Light.’
 
READ MORE: Things to do in León – Tracing Empire, Kingdom and Camino
 
The brown stone Casa Botines in León, Spain, features Neo-Gothic architecture with corner turrets and a pointed roof.

Madrid to Girona

Colourful orange hue houses line the Onyar River in Girona, Spain, with the Girona Cathedral tower rising in the background.

Barcelona steals the limelight for those planning to visit Spain’s north-eastern Catalonia, but consider the neighbouring city of Girona takes you on a journey spanning over 2,000 years. The secluded beaches of the Costa Brava are just 30 minutes away. You can find Girona’s medieval history in the historical centre Old Quarter (Barri Vell) and its Roman in the 1st-century BC Força Vella Fortress – you can walk along some of the remaining parts. Take a walking tour to find the Game of Thrones filming locations to immerse yourself in it all. 

Other city highlights include the Cathedral with a Romanesque tower and baroque façade, built between the 11th and 18th centuries, getting lost in the labyrinth of narrow lanes and alleys of the Jewish Quarter, and the magnificent Islamic-modelled architecture of the Arab Baths, built by Christians in 1194. The red iron Peixateries Velles Bridge from 1827 is a famed postcard picture viewpoint in the city.

READ MORE:

Things to Do in Girona – Inside the Historical Secret of Spain.

Pedestrians walk down a narrow Girona street in Spain lined with stone buildings and balcony hanging Catalonia flags.

Madrid to Zaragoza

Elevated view of the ornate blue and yellow tiled domes and stone towers of Zaragoza's Basilica above the Ebro River and city skyline.

Anchored between Madrid and Barcelona, the Aragon region’s capital in North-Eastern Spain is a compact city that could work as a day trip. Zaragoza is where an artful urban boldness mixes with the graceful ancient.

The 11th-century medieval Islamic Ajafería Palace is the most symbolic site to visit. Zaragoza’s UNESCO World Heritage status comes from this display of Mudéjar art native to Aragon – a blend of Islamic and Christian elements when the two faiths coexisted after the Christian Reconquista. Beyond the palatial centre of Zaragoza, best viewed from the heights of the Roman Catholic Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, you will soon see that street art paves the way for the city’s other persona.

Two people sitting behind a row of intricate scalloped Moorish arches and slender stone columns in the interior of the Aljafería Palace in Zaragoza.

The colossal building murals are part of an annual urban regeneration drive, bringing an artistic new life to forgotten neighbourhoods. Consider hiring a local guide for insider knowledge. In Goya’s home, with a dedicated museum of his works to boot, it’s no wonder that art plays a central role in the city’s persona. Ultra-modern architecture like the Alma del Ebro sculpture (The Soul of the Ebro) at the Zaragoza Expo Zone continues the decorative trend.

READ MORE:

Things to do in Zaragoza, Spain – World Heritage, Legacy and Urban Revival

A large mural of a woman's profile on a white apartment building overlooking a small plaza with a tree in Zaragoza.

Madrid to Barcelona

People walk beneath the ornate Gothic Pont del Bisbe bridge in the narrow stone streets of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter.

One of the most popular long-distance trips from Madrid by train is to Barcelona, the coastal capital of the Catalonia region. I’ve visited the city twice, choosing new major sites to peruse without rushing, savouring long boulevard-strewn walks, Barcelona bike tours and beach days, and spending long evenings sipping jugs of sangria in a local neighbourhood square. Coupled with Madrid, you’ll need some big city steam.

A stroll on the kilometre-long Las Ramblas is a rite of passage, and Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces take centre stage, most notably the Sagrada Familia, the egg-white curves of Casa Mila, the mosaic wonders of Casa Batlló and Park Güell. The Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic) combines an incredible maze of narrow streets, medieval squares and striking gothic façades. Shop local produce from seafood to jamón ibérico and cheese at the market institution that is La Boqueria and catch a local bus to one stretch of La Barceloneta – the long yellow sand stretch and promenade of Barcelona’s city beach.

The wavy stone facade and wrought iron balconies of Casa Milà in Barcelona, as seen from the street.

People sit at umbrella cafe tables in a narrow Barcelona plaza surrounded by tall stone buildings and string lights.

People gather near the L'Estel ferit sculpture of four stacked rusted cubes on the sandy Barceloneta Beach in Spain.

Madrid to Valencia

The UNESCO World Heritage city of Valencia is one of Spain’s oldest, a trip that combines a heritage of 2,000 years with a Mediterranean climate and fine-powered sand beaches.

Valencia is a city full of accolades. Start in the Old Town’s cobblestoned labyrinth (Ciutat Vella). The historically layered Roman, Gothic, and Baroque Cathedral protects the Holy Chalice and the Silk Exchange (La Lonja) World Heritage Site displays why it is one of the most famous civil gothic monuments in Europe. The 1000-year-old neighbourhood of Barrio del Carmen, whose Muslim and Christian walls whose gates still stand, preserves some of the city’s iconic medieval structures like the Serrano and Quart Towers.

For food and nature, the Central Market in Valencia, with its 1200 food stalls, is the largest market with fresh produce in Europe. The wetland oasis of L’Albufera National Park is where the famed culinary paella was invented. Valencia’s port area trio of museums, known as the City of Arts, connects to the Turia Gardens. This city park’s extensive network of tree-lined footpaths, lakeside recreation spots and 18 bridges in different architectural styles makes it one of Spain’s largest urban parks. 

Madrid to Córdoba

A trilogy of cultures from its founding as a Roman city to Arab conquest and Christian rule, the golden stoned Córdoba is an ancient architectural marvel. In preserving this legacy, Cordoba holds the title of the first city to have four UNESCO World Heritage Sites – more than any other city in the world.

Visit the Mosque-Cathedral, La Mezquita – the most famed of the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites as a distinguished monument of Islamic architecture, alongside the notable Historic Centre and Jewish Quarter surrounding it. Also included are the excavated ruins of the Caliphate city palace at the foot of the Sierra Morena Mountains, which ruler Abd-al Rahman III had constructed in 929 AD to display his Kingdom’s power. The beautiful domestic courtyards symbolic of Córdoba and its acclaimed Festival of the Patios, which open the private community spaces for public viewing, are a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity site.

Other interest sites include touring the fortress turned Royal residence, Alcazar de Los Reyes Cristianos and the 1st century BC Roman Bridge over the Guadalquivir River. The former Moorish Calahorra Tower at the end is today a museum detailing the city’s long history of conquest and achievement.

Madrid to Seville

People row a small boat on a canal in front of the ornate Plaza de España in Seville, Spain, in a golden glow at sundown.

From bustling Madrid to the charming, flamenco dancing famed Seville, this city is where the colourful, artistic streets converge with the delicate, classical architecture of the open squares and boulevards. As Andalusia’s capital, and another of the most popular trips from Madrid by train, it will most likely be your introduction to the region too.

The Cathedral is a city centrepiece as is the exquisite Plaza de España is a plaza in the Parque de María Luisa. A mix of Islamic and Renaissance designs, this 1928 masterpiece is a symbol of the city known for its grandeur of tiled fountains, opulent bridges and lush gardens. Dedicate at least half a day to exploring the vast landscapes and vivid detail of the stunning Mudéjar architecture of the Real Alcázar of Seville, a 14th-century royal palace built by Muslim Kings.

Tourists in the Alcázar of Seville courtyard with two-tiered ornate Mudéjar arches, a narrow reflecting pool, and orange trees.

People sit at cafe tables in Seville's Plaza del Pan, surrounded by colourful buildings and tiled architecture and an ornate street lamp.

Seville is not without its modern architectural additions. Occupying one of Seville’s squares, the city’s Metropol Parasol (more affectionately known as ‘the mushrooms’) is the largest wooden structure in Europe, whose curling walkways up to 26 metres high provide a new panoramic view of the city. Designed by German architect Jürgen Mayer, it has been controversial since its completion in 2011.

People walking upon the massive, ivory-coloured waffle-grid Metropol Parasol structure, backed by the Seville skyline.

Madrid to Granada

Granada’s icon is the fortified Arab citadel of the Alhambra, perched defiantly in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. An opulent tiered, tiled and terraced complex of palaces, courtyards and gardens, it is preserved as one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture on the continent.

Catholic architecture takes centre stage in the Historical Centre of Granada city, including the Renaissance masterpieces of the Cathedral of Granada and the Monasterio de San Jerónimo, alongside the baroque Basilica San Juan de Dios and the Capilla Real (Royal Chapel) mausoleum of the last Catholic Monarchs. Admire the cave houses of Sacromonte and join the buzz at Campo del Prínicpe Square in the Jewish neighbourhood of Realejo-San Matias, and indulge in the tradition of free tapas in Granada, for which a complimentary morsel is given with every drink ordered.

Adjacent to Centro Granada, spend time getting lost in the streets of Albaicin, granted UNESCO World Heritage status for its traditional Moorish architecture and courtyards and kicking back in the hum of the atmospheric Arabic teahouses.

Madrid to Malaga

Ariel view of Malaga's golden castle ruins perched on a hilltop in the middle of a valley of white and yellow buildings.

The fashionable city of Malaga on the golden sand southern coastline of the Costa del Sol is one of the world’s oldest cities. Its pre-historic 3,000 years of history go back to its founding by the eastern Mediterranean Phoenicians in the 7th-century BC. Today, Malaga is best known as the birthplace of the revered artist Pablo Picasso.

History stands at the base of Gibralfaro hill with the preserved palace structure of Alcazaba of Málaga, a Muslim monument partially constructed in 1057 using stone materials from the 1st century AD Roman Theatre that stands in front of it. The hilltop Castillo de Gibralfaro Castle was built to protect the Alcazaba, captured in 1487 by the Catholic Monarchs during the Reconquista that drove out the Moors and used as a residence by the King. Visitors also come here for the sweeping views over the city. Monuments from the Christian era of Malaga include monasteries and basilicas and the commanding Renaissance allure of the Malaga Cathedral (Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación).

Art enthusiasts can follow Picasso’s trail at number 15 Plaza de la Merced – the building where he was born in 1881 – before heading to the 16th-century Renaissance beauty of Buenavista Palace, home to the Museo Picasso Málaga (Malaga Picasso Museum). Break up a tour of Malaga’s highlights with a trip to one of the 15 city beaches.

Elevated view of the Málaga harbor, featuring a long white pergola, palm-lined park, and coastal city skyline.

Disclaimer: This article was created in collaboration with the Tourism Office of Spain. Borders of Adventure maintains full editorial control of the content published on this site. Photos of Malaga by former local David Brennan. 

About Becki

Becki Enright is a British Travel Press Award-winning writer whose work focuses on changing perceptions about misunderstood aspects of destinations. Her writing combines storytelling with insight into the social, historical, political and economic factors that shape the country or place in relation to tourism. Becki has appeared live on Sky News and CNN and has contributed to high profile media including National Geographic, Time.com, Guardian online, New York Times, Grazia and Buzzfeed.

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