Segovia, a historic town just ½ hour-2 hours from Madrid (depending on your mode of transport), makes an easy and interesting day trip from the Spanish capital. It has lush green hills, iconic Roman and Moorish architecture, and myriad restaurants serving the local specialty of suckling pig… and best of all, it’s easily walkable in a day.
Via the fast train (or AVE), you can zip through tunnels to arrive just in time for second breakfast (because that’s a thing in Spain). Make your first stop the tourist information office to pick up a map and plan out your route over some pan con tomate and coffee. The whole Old Town is UNESCO World Heritage-listed, and the tourist map lists some 71 historic sites! On my visit, we decided to explore the most famous ones by foot…
El Aqueducto
Segovia’s iconic aqueduct is literally unmissable: it cuts through the centre of town right next to the tourist office. The 166 enormous arches date back to the 1st century AD, when the Romans constructed them without any mortar at all! Considering they tower up to 28 metres high, and the whole thing runs over 15 kilometres, it’s an engineering marvel – not to mention a strikingly beautiful sight.
La Catedral
From the aqueduct, a wander up the narrow cobbled streets leads to another Segovia icon: its sixteenth-century Gothic cathedral (La Catedral de Santa María de Segovia).
You can visit it for a few Euros, but we chose to just admire the façade and move on to the site we were really interested in…
El Alcázar
Slightly downhill from the cathedral is the Alcazar, perched on a cliff’s edge. This fortified castle is fascinating to explore – with turrets, intricate ceilings, suits of armour (some small enough to fit a child!), manicured Moorish gardens and stunning views over the russet town and verdant countryside. We even noticed the work of vandals who were around when our grandparents were just toddlers!
Pro tip: obey the signs in the armoury telling you not to touch the artefacts, unless you want to make everyone in the quiet castle jump when a loud recording announces “No touching” in several languages. (No, this wasn’t me, but it was hard not to laugh at the guy leaning on the cannon!)
More information: Alcázar website
Lunching like a local
There’s really only one option when in Segovia: roast suckling pig. While dozens of restaurants serve the local specialty, if you’re keen on having lunch at one of the most famous (right in the shadow of the aqueduct), head to Mesón de Candido. Tables are in hot demand, so book ahead (we popped in to reserve early in the morning, before heading off to explore the town).
Side note: if you’re vegetarian or not keen on having part of a piglet served up complete with a curly tail, options will be limited to say the least!
Strolling the streets
Aside from spending an hour or two in the Alcazar, we popped into a strange little puppet museum, peeked into a few shops and generally just soaked up the atmosphere of this charming town nestled among hills. Segovia’s well-preserved character really makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
The verdant surrounds and the stone and tile buildings make the town thoroughly picturesque.
Getting to Segovia
There are several easy ways to get to Segovia from nearby Madrid, with price being inversely proportional to the length of time required.
Fast train (AVE): These take about half an hour from Chamartín station (a metro ride north of Madrid’s centre) and cost around €13. Segovia’s train station is a little way from the town centre, so you’ll need to take a bus.
Bus: While the bus is a bit slower, taking about an hour, it’s also cheaper at just under €10 and has the advantage of more scenic views (compared to the AVE which spends some time in tunnels cutting through the mountains). The bus station in Segovia is also more centrally located than the train station. This was our chosen method of transport for a leisurely return journey.
Slow train: Got time to spare? Enjoy the journey as much as the destination? Regional trains clock in at a two hour journey, but are the cheapest option at just over €8, and like the bus, will give you plenty of time to enjoy the views.
Of course, hiring a car is another option, but the town is small enough to explore so you won’t need it once you’re there.
So there you have it – the top sights and a few tips for exploring the fairytale town of Segovia on a day trip from Madrid.
What’s the most magical town you’ve visited?