There’s plenty to experience in Spain’s capital city of Madrid, from its vivid nightlife to its monuments and museums. But, if you’re looking for a change of pace from one of the noisiest cities in the world, here are five day trips from Madrid.

1. Toledo
While other cities have their historic areas and landmarks, the entire city of Toledo is quite a pillar of history. It’s most known for being the city of three cultures, having belonged to the Muslims, Jews and Christians throughout its existence. Toledo is broken into different sections for each of these religions because that is where monuments of those times remain. However, despite this segmentation, many styles of these cultures tend to overlap throughout the city. For example, you can find stars of David even in Christian buildings and architecture associated with the Muslims in Jewish structures.

© Jennifer Wankmuller

2. El Escorial
This is a great low-maintenance day trip to take. Most of the sites to see are in one place, so you won’t have to worry about going all over the map. The main attraction is the giant structure of the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, but the train station isn’t right next-door; it’ll drop you closer to the center of the city. The walk isn’t terribly long and you can cut through a nice park, Casita de Principe. There is plenty to see in San Lorenzo alone as it is home to amazing architecture, beautiful art and its iconic royal library.

© Jennifer Wankmuller

3. Salamanca
Salamanca is a quirky little city to visit. It has some of the same staples of pretty much any other city in Spain – for example, there are still plenty of churches. But it also has its own very unique aspects and just wandering around will lead you to some of the most intriguing spots. There is a bit of street art left on various walls through the city and Salamanca has its own Plaza Mayor that, coming from Madrid, might give you a little sense of déjà vu.

© Jennifer Wankmuller

4. Segovia
If you aren’t tired of religious structures, absolutely go Segovia. You’ll find an abundance of monasteries, churches and convents to go and enjoy the art and architecture of. If you are tired of church after church throughout Europe: don’t worry, Segovia can still be a great way to spend a day. The main draw is the aqueduct remaining from the time of the Romans in the city center and the other most popular attraction is the Alcázar. It’s easy to kill time in at both of these spots, especially if you’re a history buff.

© Jennifer Wankmuller

5. Cercedilla
If you love the outdoors, Cercedilla is the ideal day trip. Only an hour outside of the hustle and bustle of Madrid you can find yourself immersed in towering mountains and lush greenery. If you plan to go hiking in Cercedilla though, it can be a pretty rough trip from the start. The train station located in the cozy town is rather far from the start of the trails. Just reaching those starting points requires a thirty minute walk that is almost entirely uphill. Though it’s an inconvenience, it’s well worth it for the stunning views you’ll find on your hike.

© Jennifer Wankmuller

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Cover photo © Jorge Donaire