8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Pedraza
Perfectly preserved walled village entered through a single medieval gate, with a porticoed Plaza Mayor and a castle once owned by painter Ignacio Zuloaga. In early July it switches off electric light for the candle-lit Noche de las Velas.
20 km · about 25 min drive
national park
Sierra de Guadarrama National Park
Granite peaks and pine forests north of Madrid, with the Puerto de Navacerrada pass beloved by drivers and skiers.
24 km · about 25 min drive
ancient ruins
Aqueduct of Segovia
A stupendous Roman aqueduct with 167 arches of unmortared granite blocks, standing perfectly after nearly 2,000 years.
27 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Alcázar of Segovia
Fairy-tale medieval castle perched on a rocky crag that inspired the design of Disney's Cinderella Castle.
29 km · about 35 min drive
racetrack
Circuito del Jarama
A tight, twisting 3.4km circuit north of Madrid designed by John Hugenholtz that hosted nine Spanish Grands Prix. Still active for club racing and track days, largely unchanged since the 1970s.
41 km · about 45 min drive
natural wonder
Hoces del Duratón & Ermita de San Frutos
An 11th-century hermitage stands on a rock spur above a tight meander of the Duratón gorge, wheeled by one of Europe's largest griffon vulture colonies. A gravel road from Villaseca ends at a car park a short walk from the rim.
42 km · about 50 min drive
landmark
El Escorial
A vast granite royal monastery and palace at the foot of the Guadarrama mountains, burial place of Spanish kings.
50 km · about 60 min drive
landmark
Royal Palace of Madrid
Largest functioning royal palace in Europe with over 3,400 rooms, the official residence of the Spanish royal family.
59 km · about 70 min drive