Central Spain

The Iberian plateau around Madrid, home to UNESCO-listed historic cities such as Toledo, Segovia and Salamanca. Use the capital as a base and explore by high-speed train.

This region covers four autonomous communities: Madrid, Castile and León, Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura, which together make up Spain's inland Meseta plateau. It borders Green Spain to the north, the northeast (Navarre, La Rioja and Aragón) to the northeast, the Mediterranean coast (Valencia) to the east, Andalusia to the south and Portugal to the west. Madrid is the capital and gateway, and its three great art museums (the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza), the Royal Palace and Retiro Park deserve at least 2–3 days. Several destinations nearby make easy day trips by high-speed train or bus: Toledo's old town, where three faiths once coexisted; Segovia, with its Roman aqueduct and fairy-tale castle; and Ávila, with its remarkably intact medieval walls. In Castile and León, Salamanca has its historic university and Plaza Mayor, while the Gothic cathedrals of Burgos and León are major stops on the Camino de Santiago (French Way). In La Mancha, Cuenca is known for its Hanging Houses, and the windmill hills of Consuegra are linked to Don Quixote. In Extremadura, the old town of Cáceres, the Roman Theatre of Mérida and Trujillo are less visited. A classic itinerary is 4 days in Madrid plus 3–4 days in the surrounding historic cities, then north to Salamanca, León and Burgos, or west into Extremadura, for about 10 days in all. Madrid has high-speed or express trains to Toledo, Segovia, Cuenca, Salamanca and León, with journey times of 30 minutes to 2 hours; rail service in Extremadura is slower, so driving is best there. Summer afternoons are scorching, so sightsee early or late in the day, and book tickets for popular attractions online in advance.

Destinations

Itineraries