Life without your own car: the reality that many Madrileños live, especially those in the center of the city. That’s why being able to take a trip on public transport to forget about the capital, even if it’s only for a few hours, is a very appealing plan.
If we romanticize it, the commuter and intercity bus become nice, cheap and eco-friendly, considering that there is no rush and the last destination is not work. Now you can enjoy the views – if you head for the sierra you will probably cross the Pardo mountain – and enjoy the ride in company, because almost all of the ones on the list are at least an hour long.
1. Rascafría
The Sierra Norte lends itself to an impromptu getaway at almost any point. One of our favorite places to escape to is Rascafría, a small village in the mountains that enchants with its pure air, its undisturbed tranquility and its Verde landscape (or white, if you get caught in the snow). An essential visit to the village is the Royal Monastery of Santa María del Paular and a few meters away the finnish forest with lake and cabin included.
🚅 Directions: In the 194 bus from Plaza de Castilla.
2. Guadalajara
The transport network of Madrid takes you to other provinces, such as the neighboring Guadalajara. This city is seldom paid attention to, but it has an interesting heritage to get away from Madrid, such as the Infantado Palace or the tower of Alvar Fáñez de Minaya. This is a perfect weekend getaway that is only an hour’s drive from the center of the capital.
🚅 Directions: By suburban train, lines C-2 and C-8 to Guadalajara.
3. Toledo
Yes, yes, there is a public bus that stops in Toledo, the capital of Castilla-La Macha. Are you surprised? It also takes less than an hour to get there if you take the train that goes directly to the city and passes every half hour. There you can see the walls, the Alcazar and its imposing cathedral. Great place to eat well, if you also like gastronomic tourism.
🚅 Directions: at the bus VAC023 from Plaza Elíptica.
4. The lagoons of Puerto de Cotos
To get to Cotos by Cercanías you have to get off at Cercedilla and take the C-9 line. A round-trip ticket costs €17.40 without discount and must be booked up to 6 days in advance, even if you have a valid ticket for Zone C2.
Once we get off at the Cotos station, we head towards the Peñalara Natural Park, home to the highest peak of the Sierra de Guadarrama and a series of glacial lakes. There is hiking trails for all levels, but in order to enjoy the lagoons you will not have to go through complicated sections. From among two of the small lagoons stand out: the Laguna Grande de Peñalara and the Laguna de los Pájaros. The first, pictured above, is the most visited and has the most accessible route of about 6 kilometers round trip.
how to get there: suburbanline C-8 to Cercedilla and there the C-9 to Cotos.
5. El Escorial
Although it is one of the most obvious stops, rediscovering the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is always worth the trip because you can never get tired of admiring one of the most beautiful libraries in Madrid. It is also a good opportunity to discover the town of El Escorial, which has some gems from the 18th century, such as the Royal Coliseum of Charles III and the café of the theater itself, which is worthy of a film of Wes Anderson.
🚅 How to get there: suburban línea C-3a to the last stop: El Escorial.
6. Roman road of Cercedilla
The end of the stop of the line C-8 of Cercanías de Madrid leaves us in Cercedilla. From here we can continue along the Fuenfría Valley until we come across the roads, everything is indicated. In 2006 it was discovered that a large part of what was believed to be the Via XXIV or Antonine, which linked Emerita Augusta (Merida) and Caesar Augusta (Zaragoza), and which crosses the Guadarrama mountain range, is actually mixed with the Bourbon road that was built later.
King Philip V decided to rebuild his own pass over this Roman road in order to have better access to La Granja de San Ildefonso, his summer residence. Even so, some areas remain intact from the 1st century A.D., including the Roman bridge of Descalzo. A literal journey through history.
how to get there: suburban line C-8 to Cercedilla.
7. El Hornillo waterfall from Santa María de la Alameda
From Santa María de la Alameda, the last station on the C-3a line, you can reach the Hornillo waterfall, a beautiful 10-meter waterfall that can be easily seen from the Aceña bridge. There are also interesting routes, such as the circular route that runs between oaks, poplars and pines, with few slopes. On the Volver, you can see the Aceña reservoir and, if the day is clear and allows it, there are beautiful views of the Monastery of El Escorial and the Sierra de Gredos.
🚅 How to get there: suburbanline C-3a to Santa María de la Alameda.
8. Aranjuez
Another essential stop to visit the Community of Madrid is Aranjuez. Any time of the year is a good time to visit the Royal Site of Aranjuez, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but starting in September you can get there for free by train. The C-3 and C-3a commuter train lines leave just 20 minutes walk from the palace. Visit the Prince’s Garden, the Porcelain Cabinet, the Hall of Mirrors, with frescoes by Luca Giordiano, or the Real Cortijo will be like a dream of Marie Antoinette’s own.
how to get there: suburbanlines C-3 and C-3a to Aranjuez.
9. Alcalá de Henares
The history of Madrid is linked to that of Alcalá de Henares. It is a World Heritage Site, home of Cervantes, and of the Complutense University, although it is no longer based there, it was founded by Cardinal Cisneros in 1499 and was intended as a university city.
In addition to its historic center, the plateresque façade of the Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso is of great architectural value, as is the Patio de Santo Tomás de Villanueva, which is the one in the photo. Many relevant things in the same city, well worth a visit. In addition, there are three Renfe lines that reach here. There is no excuse.
how to get there: suburbanlines C-7, C-2 and C-8 to Alcalá de Henares.
10. Schmidt Road from Puerto de Navacerrada
One of the hiking trails that is almost obligatory for every Sunday walker in Madrid is the Schmidt Trail. It is located in Puerto Navacerrada, which can be reached by public transport, as the C-9 line stops here at the only two stops it makes.
This classic trail of the Guadarrama mountain range starts at the Escaparate ski slope, heads towards the Puerto de la Fuenfría and crosses the shady forest of the Siete Picos. It is a total of 16 kilometers long: if done in its entirety, it takes about three hours.
how to get there: suburbanline C-8 to Cercedilla and there line C-9 to Puerto de Navacerrada.