The Community of Madrid is not huge, however it offers endless perfect getaways to disconnect for a few hours and forget about the hustle and bustle of the capital. You already know everything there is to see and do in Madrid capital , and we have also told you about the best attractions in the Community of Madrid , but we still had to choose the most beautiful towns in Madrid, with charm and vibe.
The 10 most beautiful towns in Madrid:
From Chinchón with its beautiful Playa Mayor to San Lorenzo del Escorial or Rascafría, we are going to visit some of the most beautiful towns in the Community of Madrid. Are you ready to visit some of the most charming towns in the area?
Go for it!
1. Chinchon
About 45 km south of Madrid lies this beautiful town, where the main attraction is the Plaza Mayor , which has been the scene of shows, festivals, processions and even film shoots since time immemorial. With its irregular shape, its arcades, its 3-storey houses with picturesque green wooden balconies hanging from them, and its sandy ground, it is without a doubt one of the most charming squares in Spain.
Thanks to her, Chinchón is always on the list of the most beautiful towns in Madrid ( and Spain ), and every year it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors (even though the town is very small!). It is without a doubt one of the best day trips from Madrid .
Of course, don't leave without taking a walk through the old town and entering the Church of the Assumption , which hides a treasure: its main altarpiece houses a painting of the Assumption of the Virgin, a work by Goya . Also visit the Convent of the Clarisas and the Clock Tower , to finish the visit with a drink in one of the bars in the Plaza Mayor (if you dare, try a chinchón, an aniseed-flavored alcoholic drink typical of this place).
And if you are passionate about wine, you cannot miss the Bodega del Nero , which claims to be the oldest in the Community of Madrid. The visit includes a tasting of two wines and a cheese appetizer.
2. Buitrago de Lozoya, one of the most beautiful villages in Madrid
At the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama and in the heart of the Middle Lozoya Valley, we find another of the most beautiful villages in Madrid: Buitrago de Lozoya. What will most catch our attention as soon as we arrive are its defensive walls of Muslim origin (11th and 12th centuries) and its Gothic-Mudejar style castle .
Although these are not its only attractions, among others there is the Church of Santa María del Castillo, in Mudejar style and with a large tower, and the Picasso Museum , where you can see some 60 works by the Malaga painter that were donated by Eugenio Arias , a native of Buitrago and friend-hairdresser of the artist (known as "Picasso's barber").
The town sits on a promontory surrounded by the Lozoya River, and if you like active tourism, a very rewarding plan is to rent a kayak and paddle along the river until you reach the nearby Puentes Viejas Reservoir. You will burn a few calories while enjoying a different and very cool perspective of the town and its surroundings.
3. Saint Lawrence of El Escorial
This small town is the second most visited place in the entire Community of Madrid, after the capital, of course. The reason? The Monastery of El Escorial , a true World Heritage Site, where many of the Spanish monarchs rest eternally.
But beyond the historical importance of the Pantheon of Kings and the Pantheon of Infantes, the architectural value is incalculable, especially the Palace of the Bobones, the Palace of the Asturias, the Guard Room or the Basilica (among others). You can visit it on your own, or learn more about the place with this guided tour .
Take advantage of your trip to San Lorenzo de El Escorial to see other interesting places in the town, such as the Teatro Real Coliseo de Carlos III , or in its surroundings, such as the Silla de Felipe II , a set of platforms and viewing points carved into granite rocks, from where you will have some amazing views.
In addition, it is located at the foot of Mount Abantos , so if you are a nature lover you can also enjoy hikes like the one that takes you to the top of Pico de Abantos .
4. Rascafría
We continue our route through the most beautiful villages in Madrid taking you to Rascafría which, as the name suggests, is located at an altitude of about 1,200 metres and the heat is guaranteed. It is a place that will especially please those looking for pure mountain air ... a short distance from the capital.
The good thing is that, if in winter it enchants with its snowy landscapes, during the rest of the year it also offers an attractive getaway, thanks to the Lozoya River (which rises very close to here), a few hiking routes for all levels (such as the Bosque de Finlandia or the Ruta de las Cascadas del Purgatorio) and charming places such as the nearby Laguna Grande de Peñalara . Are you travelling in summer and the heat is on? There is also a great plan: spend the day at the natural pools of Las Presillas .
And finally, how can we forget the beautiful Monastery of Santa María de el Paular ? It has a spectacular baroque chapel, with paintings by Vicente Carducho.
5. Manzanares el Real, another beautiful town in Madrid
In a privileged setting, in the Cuenca Alta Manzanares Regional Park and next to the Santillana reservoir, Manzanares el Real will amaze us at first glance with the enormous Mendoza Castle which, although it was built in the 15th century as a defensive fortress, ended up being the residence of the powerful Mendoza family . It is one of the best preserved castles in Madrid, so it is a must-see.
Other points of interest are the Church of Our Lady of the Nine, the Ethnological Museum or the Hermitage of Peña Sacra. You have the possibility of taking an excursion to Manzanares el Real and the Sierra de Guadarrama from Madrid .
If you have time, head to La Pedriza , where you can explore paths in a peculiar rocky landscape, surrounded by amazing views. Or if you are passionate about climbing, you are in luck! Here you will find some of the best routes in the country.
6. The Hiruela
It is one of those perfect places to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the capital and find the much-needed peace in a rural setting . La Hiruela is a tiny but charming village, north of Madrid and very close to the border with Guadalajara. Here you will find stone, adobe and wood houses, steep streets, the peaceful waters of the Jarama River and the natural charm of those villages where time seems to have stopped.
It is also worth noting that La Hiruela is part of the Sierra del Rincón , a Biosphere Reserve, so you can also take advantage of the getaway to go on a hike in the heart of nature. One of the most recommended (and easiest) is the Fuente Lugar .
7. New Baztan
The history of the town is recent but very interesting, as it was designed ex novo in the 18th century. Its creators? The Navarrese Juan de Goyeneche (who wanted to expand his business network by creating an industrial city) and the architect José Benito de Churriguera (who made the former's wish come true).
The best thing to do here is to start the visit at the Interpretation Centre , where you will learn more about the birth of Nuevo Baztán and its points of interest. Among them, there are two main attractions: the Palace of Juan de Goyeneche and the Church of San Francisco Javier , but the small squares and streets of the town are attractive enough to extend the visit for a few more hours.
Curiosity : Goyeneche was from Baztán (a municipality in Navarra ), so the name “Nuevo Baztán” is a tribute to his land of origin.
Map with the most beautiful towns in Madrid
Here is a map with the location of the towns we talked about in the post, so you can find them clearly!
Charming places like Patones de Arriba , San Martín de Valdeiglesias on the banks of the San Juan reservoir , known as "Madrid's beach", or Puebla de la Sierra are left out, but we believe that these are a good start to exploring the surroundings of the capital. What are the most beautiful towns in Madrid for you ?
