One of the Most Spectacular Hidden Gems in Spain—The Perfect Weekend Trip From Madrid
Spain is an Adventurer’s Paradise
When I lived in Madrid, I was repeatedly blown away by Spain’s diverse geography and natural beauty.
Tourists love visiting Spain for its stunning coastline, and it’s no wonder—Spain has so many inviting, idyllic beach towns that’ll have you fast-tracking your retirement.
A dream of mine is to drive the entire perimeter of the Iberian peninsula, spending the night in the coastal towns and villages along the way.
But far less talked about is Spain’s beauty further inland.
Something I loved about living in Madrid was that it was like living at the center of concentric circles of beauty.
What do I mean by that?
Whether I wanted to spend the day in nature or a weekend exploring new sights, I could hop in my car and drive in any direction. Within 45 minutes to a few hours, metropolitan Madrid had turned into another world.
This was great because I had a regular stream of house guests when I lived in Madrid.
So having a plethora of must-see destinations within driving distance meant I always got to experience different day trips with my visitors.
You’ll see there really are tons of amazing options for both day trips and weekend trips from Madrid, depending on how much time you have.
But before I tell you about my secret weekend spot, here are two easy (and off-the-beaten-path) day trips from Madrid I highly recommend.
Lesser-Known Day Trips From Madrid
Now, if you’ve done some research or talked to friends who have visited Spain, you’ve probably been told to visit Segovia, Toledo, or even El Escorial.
And you absolutely should explore these places—they’re rich in beauty and history! But they’re destinations everyone knows about.
So I’m going to share day trip ideas from Madrid to lesser-known spots. Then I’ll let you in on my favorite weekend adventure.
What you’ll find at my secret weekend spot: waterfalls upon waterfalls, caverns, and fairy forests, all in the span of a 3-mile walk.
One of the Best Hiking Trails Near Madrid
Imagine the face of a clock, where Madrid is at the center. Start here and drive 50 minutes towards the number ‘11.’
As quick as that, you’re in Manzanares el Real, hiking through a pine forest penetrated by rays of Spanish sun.
In the distance between the trees, you spy glimpses of solid boulders of all shapes and sizes.
Push a bit farther, and you’ll be rewarded with a refreshing dip in the river, where cool water has settled into delightful pools.
This easy 4-mile hike starts at the Cantocochino parking lot and takes you along the river Manzanares. You’ll pass the craggy La Pedriza peak and end at La Charca Verde (The Green Pond).
La Charca Verde
There’s nothing better than sunning yourself on a slab of granite, part of the river’s natural embankment, as the warmth of the rock seeps deep into your bones.
For lunch, pack a sandwich to enjoy as you refresh your feet in the cool water.
There are dozens of rustic butcher shops in and around Madrid, like Museo de Jamón, where you can pick up a cheap and delicious baguette sandwich layered with melt-in-your-mouth jamón ibérico (cured Spanish ham) and queso manchego (an aged, hard sheep’s cheese). Chef’s kiss.
Nature day trips from Madrid are plentiful. This hike is in the Guadarrama mountain range. (Sierra de Guadarrama)
[In writing this blog, I was saddened to learn that Spain’s notorious meddling bureaucrats closed my favorite hole-in-the-wall joint on the mountain itself; it appears locals are heartbroken as well.
It was once the perfect place for post-hike fortification, serving grilled chicken, homemade fries, and cold beer.
Locals used to visit for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to have a simple meal al fresco with the stunning backdrop of La Pedriza… R.I.P.]
If you have time before returning to Madrid, stop by the Castillo de Manzanares el Real.
Construction of the castle began in 1475, and today it’s the best-preserved example of Castilian military architecture.
A Must-Visit UNESCO World Heritage Site in Spain
Ok, reset to the center of your imaginary clock. You’re back in Madrid.
Now, aim between numbers ‘3’ and ‘4.’
Drive about 1.5 hours into Don Quijote territory.
Welcome to the picturesque hilltop town of Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This beautiful town is close to my heart because it’s where my Spanish grandfather was from.
Founded by the Moors and conquered by the Castilians in 1177, Cuenca is known for las Casas Colgadas, the cliffside “Hanging Houses” that appear to dangle precariously over a deep gorge.
Meander through the town’s hilly, narrow streets, popping into little shops along the way. Marvel at the romantic, fairytale views.
Then head down to the Jucar River for a long Spanish lunch at Restaurante Recreo Peral. Their croquetas are by far the best I’ve had.
We also ordered several desserts. And if you haven’t tried cheesecake in Spain, it’s a must. Very different than NY-style cheesecake, it oozes and tastes less sweet—I much prefer it!
A Magical Weekend Escape From Madrid
Now, to reach the hidden treasure I’m going to tell you about, return again to Madrid—the center of your imaginary clock.
An X-Box game comes to mind that my younger sister used to play… Assassin’s Creed.
Do you know it?
If so, picture yourself as that shrouded vagabond for just a minute.
You’re bounding around the medieval city of Madrid.
Parkour your way to the top of a stone minaret, and peer into the distance at 2 o’clock.
That’s the direction we’re headed next, past where the rooftops end and the arid expanse begins.
We’re off on a quest to consult the Cistercian monks in their hidden paradise—the stuff of fairytales.
This journey will take us a few days on foot (or a scenic 2.5 hours by car, which I highly recommend).
Ready? Let’s go.
How I Discovered Monasterio de Piedra
Sunset & wine at the gorgeous Pago de Cirsus.
I had traveled to Spain countless times as a child and young adult before moving there, yet I never knew this gem was hiding only a couple of hours from Madrid!
In the summer of 2022, my husband (then-boyfriend) came to visit me.
We were invited to visit Pago de Cirsus, a winery in Navarra owned by a friend of a friend (now our friend, too!).
Navarra is an autonomous community in northern Spain.
Spain is a such a great country for road-tripping, and the summer months are wonderful for exploring northern Spain.
So we decided to drive to the winery, and then continue north to Vitoria-Gasteiz and the little coastal town of Zumaia, before returning south to Madrid by way of Burgos.
ButI wanted to break up the first leg to Navarra, which is about a 4-hours’ drive from Madrid.
So, as I typically do when planning trips, I was pouring over Google Maps looking for an interesting town to spend the night.
As I zoomed in on several areas that would make an ideal midway point between Madrid and Navarra, an icon for Monasterio de Piedra popped up.
“What’s this?” I thought.
A few clicks through the photos and a brief scroll through the website—I was sold.
I learned there was a monastery dating back to the early 1200s tucked among the small, nondescript towns in this part of the Aragón region.
The Cistercian monks built the monastery on the Piedra River, where they lived and worshiped for the next 600 years.
Today, visitors can tour what’s left of the beautiful old monastery and even stay in the newer part of the monastery that was refurbished and converted into a boutique hotel, Hotel Monumento & Spa Monasterio de Piedra.
But the most spectacular part of this monastery-turned-hotel is what’s around it—a breathtaking natural park that will surprise and delight you.
Hotel Monumento & Spa Monasterio de Piedra
Getting to Monasterio de Piedra—Out of Nowhere, a Lush Oasis
If you loved Literature class, like me, driving across the vast plateau of the Meseta Central from Madrid to Monasterio de Piedra may have you channeling Don Quijote, itching to gallop into battle against giants—or windmills.
The 2.5-hour drive to Monasterio de Piedra takes you through four of Spain’s 17 regions, along arid, wide-open spaces in varying shades of brown and tan, dotted with shrubs and isolated trees.
In the summertime—occasionally a field of sunflowers illuminates the landscape.
As we finally entered Nuévalos, the small town closest to the monastery, we passed a reservoir desperate for rain.
So it was quite the surprise when only 5 minutes later we found Eden.
We parked the car, still mystified by the pocket of verdant land that appeared out of nowhere.
Stepping into the Hotel Monumento & Spa Monasterio de Piedra, I felt like medieval nobility. I was wowed by the high arches of the decorative ceiling.
The hotel’s interior design captures the style of the Late Middle Ages with refined simplicity and authenticity—no kitsch.
To get to our guest room, we ascended a magnificent staircase and walked down consecrated halls where silent monks once paced and prayed.
Our quarters were spacious, with a balcony overlooking a romantic plot of vines—the perfect place to take morning tea or enjoy a nightcap.
But after a couple of hours in the car, we were eager to walk the Monasterio de Piedra Nature Park as our first order of business.
At check-in, the friendly hotel concierge had helped us buy our park tickets, which are discounted when you purchase from the hotel.
So we dropped our bags in the room and set off.
The Monasterio de Piedra Nature Park
The easy 3-mile nature trail starts steps from the hotel.
We entered a peaceful green forest and passed through a glen—perfect for frolicking (and probably inhabited by fairies).
We heard a waterfall ahead and soon it came into view. No wonder the monks chose this secluded, verdant haven for their center of worship! What a stunning place!
I was already delighted by the magic of this paradise, and happy we came.
But then the surprises really began…
Waterfalls—around every corner!
Each one more magnificent than the last.
We followed the path into a damp cavern, along passageways cut into boulders, up stairs carved into cliffs, and to the top of a waterfall called the horse’s tail.
The trail then descended to the pools below, where we wound our way along the base of gigantic rocks and finally back to the park entrance—completing the 3-mile loop.
Wow. Exhilarating!
After stretching our legs and experiencing the ultimate nature immersion, we were ready to relax and explore the hotel’s other amenities.
The Monasterio de Piedra Restaurant, Spa, and Grounds
The whole hotel property is peaceful and quiet.
There’s no music playing in the lobby, which creates an air of reverence fitting for a monastery, and complements the hotel’s design choices to achieve understated elegance and an authentic sense of place.
This serenity extends to the outdoor pool, flanked by weeping willows, which is where we relaxed in the sun before dinner.
Our half-board reservation included an exquisite dinner and satisfying breakfast at the hotel restaurant, which earned a Michelin star in 2019.
During our short overnight stay, we unfortunately didn’t have time for the spa’s sauna, jacuzzi, cold plunge, or other treatments like massages; we wanted to spend every minute outside in nature.
The next morning before our departure, we wandered the quiet ruins of the original monastery and toured the museum.
From there, we packed up our bags and continued on to Navarra.
Monasterio de Piedra was such a pleasant discovery and a fantastic start to our road trip through northern Spain.
Although Spain has a gorgeous diversity of terrain and is filled with worthwhile destinations, this is one of those places my mind revisits often.
Is this the kind of weekend trip you would enjoy?
What questions do you have about Spain?
Shoot me an email!
