Madrid Trip Overview
From its royal riches to its timeless landscapes, this tour takes you on a journey through the heart of Spain.
The palace of Aranjuez unveils the lives of kings and queens, the Parque Natural de la Serranía de Cuenca enchants you with unearthly geological structures, and Valencia keeps you up a little too late with a mix of delicious restaurants and bohemian bars.
Join this trip from Madrid to Barcelona and discover the essential scenes of Spain.
Additional Info
Duration: 6 days
Starts: Madrid, Spain
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Madrid Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
From its royal riches to its timeless landscapes, this tour takes you on a journey through the heart of Spain.
The palace of Aranjuez unveils the lives of kings and queens, the Parque Natural de la Serranía de Cuenca enchants you with unearthly geological structures, and Valencia keeps you up a little too late with a mix of delicious restaurants and bohemian bars.
Join this trip from Madrid to Barcelona and discover the essential scenes of Spain.
Itinerary
Day 1: Madrid – Aranjuez – Cuenca
Stop At: Royal Palace of Aranjuez, Plaza De Las Parejas, 28300 Aranjuez Spain
You’ve heard the Concierto de Aranjuez. This morning, it’s time to travel from Madrid and discover its inspiration.
Aranjuez was the spring home for the Spanish royal family for 500 years and is a fairground for culture vultures, art-lovers, and history buffs. You can snap panorama photos of the huge palace, wander through the fountain-strewn gardens, and ponder over the ancient bull ring.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Pass By: Castile-La Mancha, Castile-La Mancha
You continue your journey through Castilla-La Mancha, the heart of Old Spain. This stunning region boasts gentle landscapes, lush nature, and unrivalled Manchego cheese. It’s also where Cervantes set the fictional journeys of Don Quijote in his novel that laid the foundation for modern European literature.
Stop At: Villarejo de Salvanes, Villarejo de Salvanes
Your next stop is Villarejo de Salvanés. This small town boasts an unusual castle and archaeological sites that pre-date the Romans.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Mina Romana de Lapis Specularis de La Mora Encantada, Cerro de la Mora Encantada, 16161 Torrejoncillo del Rey Spain
You travel the short distance to Torrejoncillo del Rey. Back in the 1950s, a resident from here sought treasure. They dug deep into a Roman well and uncovered a 2,000-year-old Lapis Specularis mine, the material the Romans used for windows. Tickets to go into the mine and discover its history are included in your tour.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Cuenca
Day 2: Cuenca – optional activities in Parque Natural de la Serrania de Cuenca
Stop At: Ciudad Encantada, Carretera CM-2104, Km 19, 16146 Valdecabras Spain
Today, you explore one of Castilla-La Mancha’s finest nature reserves – Parque Natural de la Serranía de Cuenca, a 73,000-hectare wildlife paradise.
Your first stop in the natural park is in the ‘Enchanted City’. This location boasts some of the strangest rock formations you’ll ever see. Wander around this magical landscape and spot mushroom-shaped stones and faces glaring at you from limestone.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Mirador de Una, 16146 Valdecabras Spain
You continue your journey through this landscape and stop at the stunning Mirador de Uña viewpoint.
After lunch, there are a variety of optional activities for you to choose from. Go kayaking, hiking, or visit more vibrant villages. Your guide will help you pick which one suits you best.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Cuenca.
Day 3: Cuenca – Fuentes – Villar del Humo – Utiel – Winery in Requena
Stop At: Fuentes, Fuentes, Province of Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha
You leave Cuenca behind and travel to Fuentes. At this stop, you get to stretch your legs and admire a few… dinosaurs. Yes, you read that right. This region is famous for palaeontology, and there are a few realistic life-sized models to help transport you to the land before time.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Villar del Humo, Villar del Humo, Province of Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha
From the Jurassic period, you travel a few thousand years to the Neolithic period in Villar del Humo. Here, you can study the details and symbols of ancient cave paintings on a visit included in the tour price.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Utiel, Utiel, Province of Valencia, Valencian Country
You stop at the tiny village of Utiel for a rustic lunch. This region is famous for seafood, pumpkin dishes, and the best oranges in the country – great nourishment for all that time travelling!
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Requena, Requena, Province of Valencia, Valencian Country
Later on, you travel to a winery in Requena for an included wine tasting which will invigorate your taste buds. The delicious beverage has been produced in this area since at least the 7th century BC, so you know it’s going to be delicious.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Valencia.
Day 4: Monastery of Santa Maria in El Puig – Valencia guided city walk
Stop At: Real Monasterio De Santa Maria Del Puig, Carrer lo Rat Penat, 1A Entrada por la rampa entre los dos Parkins, 46540 Puig Spain
Today, your journey takes you on a half day trip that combines monastic knowledge with fantastic nature spots.
In the morning, you can choose an optional visit to the Monastery of Santa Maria in El Puig. This large building combines cloisters with defensive structures and has been used as a temple, a school, and even a prison.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Parque Natural de la Albufera, El Saler, 46012, Valencia Spain
It’s now time to explore the rice paddies that gave birth to the paella in the Albufera Natural Park. Your visit here also gives you a chance to spot the unique flora and fauna around a large freshwater lagoon.
Duration: 2 hours
Pass By: Valencia, Valencia, Province of Valencia, Valencian Country
You arrive back in Valencia in the afternoon. Here you can join an optional guided tour of the city combined with a tasty tapas experience.
Use the evening to either enjoy the city’s famous nightlife or prepare for the next day of your adventure.
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Valencia.
Day 5: Valencia – Xativa – Los Charcos de Quesa
Stop At: Xativa, Xativa, Province of Valencia, Valencian Country
Xàtiva, the town of ‘a thousand fountains’ lies upon the slopes of Monte Vernissa. A castle crowns the hills, and the location is famous for ancient paper production, educational institutions, and the notorious House of Borgia. This morning, you travel here and have free time to delve deep into all this history and more.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Stop At: Los Charcos, Quesa Spain
In the afternoon, you embark on a journey to Los Charcos de Quesa. We hope you have packed your swimwear, because this scenic nature spot boasts natural pools and waterfalls for you to dip your toes in.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Valencia.
Day 6: Valencia – Sagunto – Peniscola – Sitges – Barcelona
Stop At: Sagunto, Sagunto, Province of Valencia, Valencian Country
Sagunto is your first destination this morning. You have time here to roam around a well-preserved Roman theatre, climb to the top of a 2,000-year-old castle complex, and explore the famous Jewish quarter.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Peniscola, Peniscola, Province of Castellon, Valencian Country
You leave the historic town of Sagunto and make your way to the seaside town of Peñiscola. This place is known as the ‘City in the Sea’ and boasts a castle built by the Knights Templar. It’s also the delightful location where you have your lunch today.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Sitges, Sitges, Catalonia
A little further along the Mediterranean coast, your journey takes you to Sitges. A happening cultural hotspot, a menagerie of modernist architecture, and a few fascinating museums make this a great preparation for the big city.
You arrive in Barcelona in the evening.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
