Day trips from Madrid

Consider day trips from Madrid as a great way to experience Spain more in depth. We have many great places to visit like ancient aqueduct of Segovia and the former capital Toledo. We also have some of the best wines in Spain only thirty five minutes from the city. If you love the outdoors the Navacerrada mountains are also just a short drive away. Here I have highlighted some of our favorite day trips from Madrid. Each experience can be customize to meet your individual needs.

Toledo Day Trip

The city of Toledo is a Spanish monument to history and cultural diversity having its origins as a Roman settlement founded in 190BC. Known as the “city of three cultures” because the Christians, Arabs and Jews lived side by side for centuries. The cultural diversity of Toledo is reflected in its architecture with synagogues, churches, and Mosques that fill the historic center and has played a key role in the evolution of Spanish history over the las two thousand years.

This day trip from Madrid will take you back in time giving you an essential perspective on Castilian culture and history. Your guide will begin by taking you for a panoramic view of the city, From there you will enter the labyrinth of ancient streets discovering the Cathedral, Santa María la Blanca and El Tránsito, and Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes along the way. Your guide will pick you up at your hotel and accompany you for the entire day. Of course we will make time for lunch so you can experience the local traditional cuisine.

This day trip can be customized to meet your individual artistic, religious and architectural interests. You will make the 30 minute journey to Toledo by train but we can make arrangements for private chauffeured transport upon request.

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Segovia and La Granja Day Trip

On this independent excursion you will leave early morning from your hotel and take the pass over the mountains to the Summer Palace La Granja in San Ildefonso just on the north side of the Guadarramma mountains in the middle of the forest. There you can visit the palace and walk the gardens filled with 18th century fountains. From there your driver will take you to Segovia, where you stop at the Iglesia de La Vera Cruz, below the Alcazar for the best view of this fairytale castle which was inspiration for Cinderella’s Castle. I suggest a visit inside the Alcazar and then walk just a few meters to have some lunch. After lunch carry on to the Cathedral, the jewish quarter, and through the main plaza and over to the aqueduct. Segovia is most famous for its Roman aqueduct in Azoguejo square. The 2000 year old monument serves as the main entrance to the historic quarter of Segovia. This engineering gem carried water to the elevated city from some 15 Km away, its 163 arches and its height of some twenty-nine meters at its highest point, are supported by blocks of stone from the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains without plaster or mortar. There at the base of the aqueduct your driver will pick you up and return you to your hotel, approx. a 90 minute drive. This tour can be with a guide but the driver speaks english and knows the area very well.

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Madrid Vineyard Visit

Just 35 minutes from Madrid center you will visit a winery and vineyard set on a thousand year old estate. The 1000 acre estate is an area of outstanding beauty and is a perfect location for creating these extraordinary wines. These vineyards are one of the most meticulously managed bodegas in Spain, if not Europe and has one of the most impressive cellers ever to have been built in Spain. You will visit the vineyards and tour the grounds in 4×4, see the bottle room and production area. Of course the visit would not be compete without a full tasting. First directly from the barrels tasting of young wines in the process and a second tasting of the final product. The wine is created from Cabernet Sauvignon, Negral, Petit Verdot and Syrah grapes selected from the 2005 season, aged for more than 30 months in French oak barrels. A wine with complex aromas and a unique personality, it is elegant and balanced. The owners are incredibly selective of their vintage and took 17 years to release their first!

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Client Testimonials

I hadn’t been to Madrid since the late 1980s and I only had 72 hours to get re-acquainted with the city. A friend recommended I hire Ron Otto for a tailored tour of Madrid. Ron’s knowledge of the city – not based on tour books and guides, but on years of experience living in the city and doing events there – allowed me to see Madrid from the eyes of an insider. No long lines, quick access to great views on rooftops in the heart of the city, entrance to small churches off the beaten path, a sense of history and the vibrancy of Madrid now. Working with Ron made my trip memorable and easy and ensured I’ll be back for more!

Kevin M. O’Connor, New York
New York
Ron’s ability to organize my family’s 2-week trip to Spain was truly amazing – considering it was initially based on a few phone calls and emails. His attention to detail, day trip suggestions, accommodation resources and overall “hand holding” though the planning process and actual trip was second to none. He truly put together a “trip of a lifetime” and I’m so thankful to have worked with him

Karen Mattson
General Manager at Great Lakes Cylinders, LLC
My family and I spent two weeks in Spain and Ron planned everything. The tours, guides, dinners, accommodations and meals were all amazing. Ron does his research, has great connections and goes out if his way for his clients. Several friends have used him as well and they have nothing but wonderful things to say!

Kevin Van Eekeren
Founder & CEO Crave It
Ron was invaluable in bringing amazing ideas and connections to the table for our Travel Channel special featuring the best experiences in Spain. He had great creative suggestions, excellent relationships on the ground with vendors, and the tenacity to help us make even the impossible happen. I enjoyed working with him thoroughly and hope to have the opportunity to do it again.

Corinna Robbins
Co-Executive Producer at High Noon Entertainment
When is a train station not just any train station? When is a ceramic tile not just any ceramic tile? When is a landscape not just any landscape? These are the type of questions you ask when you travel Spain as seen through Ron Otto’s eyes – exploring ‘the best’ through the eyes of an ‘artist’. His unique perspective made my memories of Spain truly unforgettable.

Ken Cassillo
London, UK
Ron put together the best family trip we have ever had. We had sixteen people of all ages, need and wants and Ron was able to satisfy each and every one of us. From the spectacular tours to the truly uniques customer service, Ron was able to plan a wonderful vacation for my family.

David Van Eekeren
President at Land O'Frost
Ron is an absolute asset to know! His expertise and efficiency is exceptional and truly value his recent assistance with the planning and logistics of our VIP’s Madrid trip, it was a huge success.

Ron is a diamond to work with, personable and really understood the requirements. I would have no hesitation to recommend Ron’s services to any organisation.

Cinzia Delegate
Executive Assistant & Sales Support, American Express
I’m just back from a four day break in Barcelona. Ron masterminded the whole trip, overseeing everything from the fantastic hotel (where his contacts helped us get an upgrade) to a bunch of delicious restaurants. I’ve been to Barcelona a number of times before so I know it pretty well, but Ron recommended and arranged trips to places only the real expert would even know about let alone have ready access to. And he did it all with minimum fuss and maximum efficiency. Next time I go anywhere in Spain, Ron will be the first person I call.

Oliver Rawlins
Group Director of Communications, Guardian Media Group
Ron did an outstanding job in helping to plan and execute our month long vacation for 11 people (5 adults and 6 children). He was thorough and prompt with information while always being responsive to our requests with a great attitude. Ron understood our travel needs very well and worked hard to ensure that all of the various details were addressed, either by us or those with whom we interacted. Ron was an invaluable resource for us in communicating with people and identifying local items of interest and necessity. Ron helped us find: a house to rent, a day camp, restaurants in over 15 towns, an emergency dentist and doctor, children’s activities, tickets to events, and directions. Ron was a trustworthy and reliable liason who had our best interests in the forefront. I look forward to working with Ron again in the future!

Ileen Jacobs
Ron assisted my company on a large-scale TV production shoot throughout Spain and Morocco. Ron is a class act as a person and his service and skills are top caliber. He faced insane requests and time constraints and never failed to deliver quality.

Patrick Jager
SVP, Development and Programming at High Noon Entertainment