Most Madrid Tours or excursions include exploring the nearby towns and cities that are renowned for their Spanish heritage. Some recommended options for planning Madrid tours have been listed below:

Madrid Excursion to Avila

Visitors planning a Madrid tour should consider Avila. This beautiful city is located along the Los Cuatro Postes hills.

What to Expect in Avila

Avila is famous for its exotic views and historical buildings like the San Vicente Basilica. Some of the hilltop locations in Avila have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In fact, one these sites is now titled the as the ‘Heritage of Mankind’ since it has many ancient monuments in a surprisingly, well-preserved condition. The towers and the city walls found at this archaeological site are believed to have been built during the 11th century. Avila is also considered sacred by some of the Spanish people since it was the birthplace of Saint Teresa of Jesus. It is better to visit Avila on Fridays, since a local market is held on this day, near the Plaza del Mercado. To watch the scenic landscape, visitors need to exit the city’s southern gates and take a short, walking tour. This tour includes various hiking trails along the foothills and a visit to Convent Jimena Blazquez.

How to Reach Avila

Visitors in Madrid can easily rent a car and drive themselves to Avila. The distance is rather short, since Avila is located just about 11 km from the outskirts of Madrid. The other option is to take the local train that covers the journey in about 40 minutes. Another option is to use the local buses for reaching Avila.

Madrid Tour of Segovia

People in Madrid can explore Segovia through a daytime tour. Located along the foothills of the Guadarrama mountain range, Segovia boasts of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered the true picture of rural Spanish.

What to Expect in Segovia

Segovia is most popular for its Roman-era buildings. Some of these monuments are spread across an area of more than 10 miles. The Alcazar Fort was built during the 11th century and is considered the best specimen of medieval forts in Spain. Other attractions include:

• Aquaduct—an underground network of channels carrying water into Segovia that was built by the Romans
• La Cathedral—Segovia is a catholic city and this church is its most sacred place of worship. It was built during the early 16th century.

How to Reach Segovia

Segovia is located about 90 km from Madrid. Visitors can take a local train from Madrid or hire a cab. Local trains and buses also connect the two cities. Recently, a high-speed rail has been introduced, making the journey shorter. Most local trains traveling to Segovia depart from the Chamartin station in Madrid.