AboutVíctor Díaz Expertise I live in Madrid,and travel frequently to Valencia. I have also travelled to many places all over spain, if haven't been there i'd try to help anyway providing my knowledge and links.
I enjoy trekking in the mountains, and know pyrinees, Picos de Europa and mountains in the center.
I will be in Madrid for a few weeks this June/July. We have our weekends planned w/ trips to other places (Barcelona/ Pamplona/ Seville & Granada). I really would like to take advantage and be able to take some day trips to closer places. The problem is every tour I have found leaves in the morning and I am not out of class until 2pm. Is there any good transportation to some of these closer places to leave around 2:30 and return late in the evening/night to get to class again in the morning?! Thanks! Im really looking for anything to do in the Madrid area and hoping to get to as many places as possible while still having class from 10:00-14:00! Thanks
Answer Hello Shannon
There are a few places near Madrid that can be visited in an afternoon, you won't miss to much time to get there with public transport
El Escorial, typical daytrip (half day trip) from Madrid, there are buses and also commuter train 'Cercanias' that links this town with Madrid in about 1hour (buses 661 and 664 from Moncloa, train line c8A)
You can visit the town and Monastery in one afternoon. http://www.sanlorenzoturismo.org/
By train you have to walk a bit uphill from the train station to the monastery or use a local bus.
Alcala de Henares
hosts an ancient university and the home of Cervantes, it's the 2nd or 3rd city of Madrid by population now, but it still have some interst in the historic center
There are also buses (223 from Avda America) and trains (several lines to Alcal de Henares, notice that A.H. Universidad is a new campus and has nothing of interest there, the old university building is in the center). http://www.ayto-alcaladehenares.es/homeenglish.asp?site_language=4
