Madrid sits in the middle of Spain, and within about 115 km (70 mi) of the city centre are several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Toledo, Segovia, Ávila, El Escorial and Aranjuez. That makes it one of Europe's best bases for day trips, and a private driver makes it easy to see the places that are awkward by train: El Escorial on the mountain slopes, the Plaza Mayor of Chinchón, or Segovia and La Granja in the same afternoon.
The quick guide: Toledo is the signature Elly8.net package, 8 hours from US$630 per vehicle in a business sedan. Segovia, El Escorial and Ávila are booked as a full-day chauffeur at the same fixed prices, from US$630 to US$1,255 in an Executive Sprinter. Shorter outings to Aranjuez or Chinchón work well by the hour, from US$85 per hour with a 3-hour minimum. Every price is per vehicle and all-in.
What is the best day trip from Madrid by car?
Toledo is the most popular Madrid day trip, about 73 km (45 mi) and an hour south by road, and it is our 8-hour signature package. Segovia, about 75 minutes north-west, is the best choice for Roman and royal history, and El Escorial fits on the way. Aranjuez and Chinchón suit a shorter half day.
The right trip depends on what you want from the day and how much time you are willing to spend in the car. Distances below are routed estimates from central Madrid (the Salamanca district) on a clear road, using the public OSRM router.
| Destination | Distance from central Madrid | Clear-road drive (routed) | How to book | Price per vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toledo | 73 km / 45 mi | about 58 min | Toledo day package, 8 hours | US$630 to US$1,255 |
| El Escorial | 48 km / 30 mi | about 47 min | Hourly, or full day with Segovia | from US$85 per hour |
| Segovia | 92 km / 57 mi | about 75 min | Full-day chauffeur | US$630 to US$1,255 |
| Ávila | 113 km / 70 mi | about 88 min | Full-day chauffeur | US$630 to US$1,255 |
| Aranjuez | 49 km / 31 mi | about 45 min | Hourly, 3-hour minimum | from US$85 per hour |
| Chinchón | 47 km / 29 mi | about 47 min | Hourly, 3-hour minimum | from US$85 per hour |
| Cuenca | 167 km / 104 mi | about 2 hours | Quoted in the web booker | Fixed price before you pay |
| Salamanca (city) | 214 km / 133 mi | about 2 h 30 min | Quoted in the web booker | Fixed price before you pay |
Toledo: the signature day
Toledo's walled old town stands above a bend of the Tagus, with the cathedral, the synagogues of the old Jewish quarter and the El Greco sites within walking distance of each other. The drive is a straight run down the A-42. The Elly8.net Toledo day is an 8-hour package: from US$630 in a business sedan, US$810 in a business SUV, US$960 in a First Class SUV, US$1,035 in a First Class Sedan and US$1,255 in an Executive Sprinter.
The Avant train is a real alternative here, so we compare it honestly in a separate post, Madrid to Toledo: is a private driver worth it over the train? The short version: the train is fine for a fit couple; a driver wins for families, groups and anyone adding a second stop. The Toledo tourist office lists the monuments.
Segovia, El Escorial and La Granja: the mountain day
North-west of Madrid, across the Sierra de Guadarrama, Segovia combines a Roman aqueduct, a cathedral and the Alcázar on a ridge above two valleys. By car it is about 75 minutes, and the road passes close to two royal sites run by Patrimonio Nacional: the monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and the palace and gardens of La Granja de San Ildefonso. Combining Segovia with one of them is the most rewarding long day out of Madrid.
Book it as a full-day chauffeur, the car and driver as directed for the day. The drive times, stops and three sample itineraries are in our post on Madrid to Segovia by private car.
El Escorial on its own makes a good half day. At about 47 minutes each way, three or four hours on the hourly rate cover the drive and a visit to the monastery. At US$85 per hour in a business sedan, a 4-hour booking works out to US$340 by simple arithmetic, or US$440 in a business SUV at US$110 per hour.
Ávila: walls and a long day
Ávila's medieval walls are among the most complete in Europe, and the town is quieter than Toledo or Segovia. It is further, though: about 113 km (70 mi) and nearly an hour and a half by road from central Madrid. As a day trip on its own it is a full-day booking. It also pairs with Segovia, which is about 69 km (43 mi) and an hour away, but doing both cities in one day leaves little time in either; we suggest it only for travellers who want an overview rather than a visit.
Aranjuez and Chinchón: the easy half day south
Aranjuez was the spring residence of the Spanish court, with a royal palace and large riverside gardens, also run by Patrimonio Nacional. It is about 49 km (31 mi) from central Madrid, roughly 45 minutes by road.
Chinchón is a small town about 47 km (29 mi) south-east of Madrid, known for its arcaded Plaza Mayor with wooden balconies and its traditional restaurants around the square.
The two are close enough to combine in a relaxed half day or a long lunch outing. On the hourly rate, 5 hours in a business sedan works out to US$425 (5 × US$85), or 5 hours in an Executive Sprinter for a group to US$850 (5 × US$170). For a longer day, the full-day chauffeur from US$630 in a business sedan is better value than adding hours.
Further afield: Cuenca and Salamanca
Cuenca, with its hanging houses over the Huécar gorge, is about 167 km (104 mi) and two hours from Madrid by our routed estimate. Salamanca, with its golden sandstone university and Plaza Mayor, is about 214 km (133 mi) and two and a half hours. Both are possible as very long days, but four to five hours in the car leaves limited time on the ground. Many travellers prefer to stay overnight, or to visit on the way to somewhere else, such as Salamanca on the road to Porto or Lisbon. These routes are not on the price list; enter them in the web booker for a fixed, all-in price per vehicle before you pay, or see our city to city car service page.
Choosing the right booking: package, full day or hourly
Toledo day package (8 hours). Fixed price for the classic Toledo day; the simplest choice.
Full-day chauffeur. The same price band as the Toledo package, with the car and driver as directed. Use it for Segovia, Ávila, El Escorial plus Segovia, or a winery day; see wine tours.
By the hour, 3-hour minimum. Best for half days and short outings: El Escorial alone, Aranjuez and Chinchón, or a morning at an outlet village. Book a car by the hour from US$85 in a business sedan, US$110 in a business SUV, US$130 in a First Class SUV, US$140 in a First Class Sedan and US$170 in an Executive Sprinter.
Private city highlights tour. If you would rather stay in Madrid, the city tour costs from US$340 in a business sedan to US$680 in a Sprinter and covers the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, the Retiro and the museum mile with stops where you choose; see private city tours.
| Group | Vehicle | Seats and bags (fleet page) | Full day or Toledo day | Arithmetic per person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Couple | Business Sedan | 3 passengers, 2 large bags | US$630 | US$315 each |
| Family of four | Business SUV | 6 passengers, 6 bags | US$810 | about US$203 each |
| Six friends | First Class SUV | 6 passengers, 6 bags | US$960 | US$160 each |
| Group of twelve | Executive Sprinter | 12 passengers, 12 bags | US$1,255 | about US$105 each |
The per-person column is arithmetic for comparison only. Elly8.net prices are always per vehicle, never per person.
What the driver does on the day
A private day trip is more than a ride there and back. The chauffeur collects you at your hotel at the agreed time, plans the road around traffic leaving Madrid, and sets you down as close as the local rules allow to your first visit. Many historic centres around Madrid restrict cars, so the driver knows the permitted set-down points and the car parks just outside the old towns, and waits there rather than circling.
During the day the car is yours. Coats, shopping and water stay in the vehicle, and if the weather turns or a sight is busier than expected, you change the order with a short message. At the end, the chauffeur collects you where you finish, which in hilltop towns such as Toledo and Segovia is often far from where you started.
For planning, the Segovia tourist board and Madrid's official tourism site, esmadrid.com, are the best starting points, alongside the Toledo tourist office and Patrimonio Nacional.
Timing your day
Start after the morning rush. Weekday traffic leaving Madrid is heaviest early in the morning. Leaving around 9 a.m. usually gets you to Toledo or El Escorial by 10.
Respect the Spanish day. Lunch in Spain is typically eaten later than in North America, and many restaurants in the historic towns fill up in the early afternoon. Build the day around a proper lunch rather than squeezing it in.
Plan for the heat in summer. Central Spain is hot in July and August. In those months start earlier, visit the outdoor sights in the morning, and keep the afternoon for interiors and the air-conditioned car.
Check opening days. Royal sites and some monuments close on certain days of the week or for official events. Check Patrimonio Nacional or the local tourist office, buy any timed tickets, and then book the car around your entry times.
Coming from or going to the airport. If your flight lands in the morning, you can start a day trip straight from Barajas with your luggage in the vehicle, or end one at the airport for an evening departure. Tell the desk your flight number; airport transfers include flight tracking and meet and greet inside arrivals. Our guide to getting from Madrid airport to the city centre covers the arrival itself.
Two days, two directions
If you have two free days in Madrid, the most rewarding plan is one day south and one day north-west. Day one: Toledo on the signature package, with Aranjuez on the way back if you want it. Day two: El Escorial in the morning and Segovia in the afternoon on a full-day chauffeur. Between them you see the medieval and the royal sides of central Spain with less than three hours in the car each day, and you return to Madrid each evening in time for dinner.
What is included and how booking works
Rides in Madrid are operated by licensed, commercially insured local chauffeur partners vetted through the Limousine Worldwide network; Elly8.net takes the booking, fixes the price and runs the 24/7 desk. Partner vehicles are four model years old or newer, or seven for Rolls-Royce, Maybach and Bentley.
Every price includes the chauffeur, vehicle, taxes and standard gratuity, so nothing more is expected at the end of the day; tolls and parking are billed at cost. Choose the package or hourly booking on the Madrid page, pick the vehicle and press Reserve now to pay by card in US dollars, or use the web booker for any other route. Confirmation comes by email. Child seats are available on request.
Cancellation is free more than 72 hours before pickup, 10% at 72 hours or less, 50% at 48 hours or less, and 100% at 24 hours or less or for a no-show; refunds go to the original card.
Travel advisers can book clients through travel agent accounts, and hotel concierges through hotel accounts. Elly8.net is a member of LimousineWorldwide.Directory, LimousineAssociation.International, HotelsWorldwide.Directory and VacationsWorldwide.Directory. More Spain: Seville, Barcelona and Marbella and Málaga.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a private day trip from Madrid?
The Toledo day package and the full-day chauffeur both cost from US$630 per vehicle in a business sedan, US$810 in a business SUV, US$960 in a First Class SUV, US$1,035 in a First Class Sedan and US$1,255 in an Executive Sprinter. Shorter trips are booked by the hour from US$85, with a 3-hour minimum.
Which Madrid day trip is easiest for families?
Toledo or Aranjuez. Both are under an hour by road. Toledo has more to see but steep streets, so a car that drops you at the edge of the old town and collects you where you finish helps a great deal. Aranjuez has flat gardens that suit young children.
Can we see Toledo and Segovia in one day?
It is possible but not recommended. Toledo is south of Madrid and Segovia north-west, so the day involves about four hours of driving and leaves little time in either. Two separate days, or Segovia with El Escorial and Toledo with Aranjuez, work much better.
How long is the drive to El Escorial?
About 48 km (30 mi) and 47 minutes on a clear road from central Madrid, by our routed estimate. A half day of three or four hours on the hourly rate covers the drive and a visit to the monastery, or you can combine it with Segovia on a full day.
Is a tip included in the day trip price?
Yes. Every Elly8.net price includes the standard gratuity, along with the chauffeur, vehicle and taxes. Tolls and parking are billed at cost. You see the fixed, all-in price per vehicle before you pay, and nothing more is expected at the end of the day.
Can the day start at Madrid airport?
Yes. Give the desk your flight number and the chauffeur tracks the landing, meets you inside arrivals and loads your luggage before the day begins. The route is priced in the web booker at a fixed, all-in rate per vehicle before you pay.
