Day trips from Madrid
Madrid's advantage is being in the middle: within an hour you have World Heritage cities, mountains and medieval villages. These are the ones that genuinely fit in a day.
Under half an hour by train
Segovia and Toledo are 30 to 35 minutes away on high-speed rail, making them full-day trips without rushing. Segovia is walkable from where the connection drops you; Toledo demands more from your legs because of the hills. Both work well in six or seven hours.
Alcalá de Henares
Half an hour on the commuter line at an urban fare. A Renaissance university, an arcaded main street and a square to enjoy slowly. It's the cheapest and easiest of all these, and the one fewest people do.
Aranjuez
Forty minutes on the commuter line. A palace, enormous gardens beside the Tagus and a quiet old town. It works especially well in spring and autumn; in August the gardens give shade but the heat is heavy.
The mountains: Cercedilla
Just over an hour by commuter train, with trails at every level through pine forest. In summer it's the fastest way to drop ten degrees without leaving the region. In winter some sections ice over: check conditions before going.
Chinchón and Patones
These need a car. Chinchón has one of Spain's finest arcaded main squares and is about 50 minutes away. Patones de Arriba is a small slate village you can see in an hour, best combined with the Atazar reservoir.
Manzanares el Real and La Pedriza
Under an hour by car. A well-preserved castle and, above all, La Pedriza, with trails among granite formations and river pools. Access to La Pedriza has a vehicle quota and fills early on summer weekends.
How to choose
Without a car, stick to Segovia, Toledo, Alcalá, Aranjuez or Cercedilla, all easy by train. If you're going on a fine weekend, leave before nine: arriving at ten rather than twelve is the difference between strolling and queuing.
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