Explore the Monumental Cities and Unspoilt Landscapes ofMadrid and Inland Spain
Our self-drive touring holidays in Madrid & Inland Spain combine magnificent heritage, dramatic landscapes, monumental cities and world-class food and wine, giving you the freedom to discover Spain's historic heart at your own pace.
From the walls of Ávila and the Roman aqueduct of Segovia to Burgos Cathedral, the Sierra de Gredos and the Vía de Plata to the vast plains of the Meseta, everything here is on a grand scale indeed whilst retaining an authenticity and warmth hard to find elsewhere. Every journey reveals centuries of history and some of Spain's most spectacular inland scenery.
No visit is complete without exploring Madrid, Spain´s vibrant capital. From its countless monuments and its renowned museums, art galleries and theatres to its varied offer of good restaurants, lively bars and night clubs, you will definitely get amazed by its infinite charms.
Easy to Reach from the UK
Inland Spain is served by direct flights to Madrid from most UK airports (lots of intercontinental flights also available) with good train connections onwards to the main cities en route. Otherwise you can fly to Bilbao, Santander and Asturias in Northern Spain and Sevilla, Málaga or Jerez in Andalucía.
For Castilla y León it’s possible to ferry into Bilbao or Santander and take a circular tour.
Why Travel With Us?
- Independent self-drive holidays with expert planning and local support.
- Bespoke itineraries created by Spain travel specialists.
- Delightful hand-picked hotels to suit every taste and budget.
- Fly to Spain and we’ll include a car or bring your own vehicle and we’ll build in the ferry.
Our Most Popular Touring Holidays in Madrid and Inland Spain
Browse a selection of our most popular touring holidays in Madrid and Inland Spain. Every itinerary can be tailored to your interests, so speak with our travel experts to plan your perfect journey. We'll adapt the route to suit your travel plans, requirements and pace. Aside from the heritage sites and mountain ranges, the region is renowned for birdwatching, its acclaimed wines, from established classics to exciting emerging producers, and its hearty regional cuisine.
Our Madrid and Inland Spain self-drive tours are focused on Castilla y León and Extremadura. The itineraries combine areas of outstanding natural beauty, such as the Sierra de Gredos and El Bierzo, with some of Spain's finest historic cities, including Madrid, Burgos, León, Salamanca, Ávila, Segovia, Cáceres and Trujillo. Our Via de Plata tour also takes in Asturias before continuing south to Seville and can be extended or customised to suit your travel plans. If flying into the north, we can easily add a stop at the start or finish – please call to discuss all the options.
Practical Information
Madrid and Inland Spain - destination overview
The Madrid & Inland Spain touring area is limited by the Cordillera Cantábrica mountain range to the north and Andalucía to the south with the Portuguese border to the west and the Mediterranean ‘costas’ to the east.
At the region’s hub you’ll find Madrid, the Spanish capital, famous for its lively tavernas and its wonderful world-class art galleries, surrounded by three main regions:
To the north Castilla y Leon, Spain’s largest region, cut through by the River Duero on its way to become the Douro in Portugal, is a truly vast province dotted with monumental heritage cities an encircled by mighty mountain ranges. Salamanca, León, Burgos, Valladolid and Segovia offer splendid World heritage architecture whilst the Sierras of Gredos, Francia, Guadarrama and, in the north, the Picos de Europa offer breathtaking mountain scenery and adventure.
West of Madrid lies Extremadura, the land of the ‘Conquistadores’, with yet more historic cities including Plasencia, Cáceres and Trujillo as well as Mérida with its awesome Roman Ruins. Follow the Via de la Plata or make a pilgrimage to Guadalupe or get back to nature in the Monfrague Nature Park – a mecca for bird-watchers from all over the world.
Castilla La Mancha, where Don Quijote tilted at the famous windmills, lies south-east of Madrid. Don’t miss its historic capital Toledo, ‘the city of the three cultures’ and birth place of the famous El Greco artist or Chinchón with its wonderfully evocative main square. Further east Cuenca with its ‘hanging houses’ is also well worth a trip.
Our Inland Spain touring holidays offer magnificent heritage, wild unspoilt landscapes, monumental cities and world-class wines and gastronomy. From the walls of Ávila to the Roman Aquaduct of Segovia; the Sierra de Gredos to Burgos Cathedral, the Via de Plata and the immense plains of the Meseta itself, everything here is on a grand scale indeed, whilst retaining an authenticity and warmth hard to find elsewhere.
Places to visit in Inland Spain
Main highlights in Inland Spain
- Madrid, Spain’s bustling, artistic capital
- Cathedrals of Burgos and León
- Salamanca – oldest university city in Spain
- Roman aqueduct of Segovia
- Walls of Ávila
- Ribera del Duero, Toro, Rioja or Rueda wines
- Camino de Santiago & Via de Plata
- El Bierzo and Las Médulas
- Roman Mérida
- Toledo ‘City of the three cultures’
- Birdwatching in Monfrague Nature Park
- Iberian ham – from field to plate
Places to visit in Madrid
Main highlights in Madrid
- Museo del Prado
- Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
- Reina Sofía
- Royal Palace - Palacio Real
- Almudena Cathedral
- Main Square
- El Madrid de los Austrias
- Temple Debod
- Gran Vía
- Barrios de las Letras and La Latina
- Puerta de Alcalá
- Cibeles Fountain
- Buen Retiro Park
- Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas
- Puerta del Sol
- Círculo de Bellas Artes
When to go to Madrid and Inland Spain
About the weather in Madrid and Inland Spain
The vast Inland Spain region, covering Castilla y León, Extremadura, Castilla la Mancha and Madrid, spreads out over the high plains of the ‘Meseta’ and is cut through and encircled by a series of mountain ranges or ‘Sierras’.
In general the weather can be summed up as ‘high and dry’ with little rainfall and many hours of sunlight. Winters can be quite extreme, with significant snowfall in the highlands, and the height of summer might also be best avoided, unless of course you like to sizzle, but the long Spring and Autumn seasons – from March to early July and September through to late October – enjoy the perfect climate for nature lovers and culture-vultures alike.
Though there is some regional variation the main differences in local climate are dictated by the terrain, the cooler climate to be found in the mountains providing welcome respite in the summer months.
Getting to Madrid and Inland Spain
With Madrid at its hub, our Inland Spain touring region is well served by air from the UK and most major international and intercontinental airports.
By Sea
Brittany Ferries offer seven sailings a week from Portsmouth or Plymouth to Santander or Bilbao. Crossings are over-night and take between 21 and 24 hours (with the exception of the Sunday night crossing which takes two nights). The Spanish ports are just one hour apart and so can be easily combined giving greater flexibility.
By Air
There are direct flights from the UK
To / from Madrid:
- Gatwick, Luton, Bristol, Liverpool & Edinburgh with Easyjet
- Heathrow with Iberia / British Airways
- Stansted, Manchester, Liverpool & Dublin with Ryaniar
- Dublin with Aer Lingus
Other airports giving access to the region:
- Bilbao from Stansted, Heathrow, Gatwick and Edinburgh
- Santander from Stansted, Edinburgh and Dublin
- Sevilla Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, London and Bristol
*More info – check the ‘Travel’ tab from within any particular tour for the best options for that trip.
Getting around
A car is essential for getting around and to make the most out of the visit as many of the hotels and attractions are not easily accessed by public transport.
If travelling by air we usually include a hire car whilst those coming on the ferry will use their own vehicle. In either case we will provide full driving instructions, GPS co-ords for the accommodation and essential information on driving in Spain and Portugal as well as a touring map of the area.
Eating and drinking in Madrid and Inland Spain
Amazing Food
From honest country tavernas to highly acclaimed Michelin starred restaurants, inland Spain offers the full range of possibilities for food lovers.
Special emphasis is given to local seasonal produce and the best way to find this is going for “Menu del Día” daily menus. A “Menu de Degustación” or Gourmet menu, will allow you to taste local delicacies prepared in more elaborate dishes at a higher price.
Inland Spain is famous for its delicious meat dishes, especially lamb and suckling pig, always accompanied by fresh seasonal vegetables.
Wonderful wines
La Rioja, Rueda, Toro and Ribera del Duero are the obvious stars here but they are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to wine.
From small to large producers, Inland Spain is the region where wine producing is outstanding for its quality. Full bodied reds are produced in El Bierzo (Leon), Toro (Valladolid) and Rioja but don’t forget the Rueda whites, fruity and aromatic.
Venture into any of the multitude of wine producers of top-class wines spread around this region at knock-down prices, you’ll be impressed.
Why our clients love our tours
Your satisfaction is our Nº 1 priority – read independent reviews of our holidays on AITO.com
