Walking The Medieval Walls Of Avila Spain

Wouldn’t you love to walk on walls from medieval times!? Would you love to see some great overlooks and views of a beautiful city!? There is such a place, just an hour from Madrid! It is the perfect day trip (or morning for us) and only a quick train ride away. Avila – a sleepy city, but so underrated! 

Don’t get me wrong, I loved Madrid, and there are still so many places to visit! But there is something adventurous about traveling outside the bustling of the city and exploring ‘off the beaten path’ – especially when all the tourists have gone home for the summer.

Getting There:

We took the metro from San Bernardo (close to our hotel) to Chamartín, the train station is just a quick walk out of the metro. Here is a great Madrid metro app. Our metro passes were 14€ for three days.

Train station: Madrid-Chamartín. On our last day in Madrid, we took a 7:30 am (Renfe) train out of the city! It felt as if we were the only tourists on that train- we loved that! The train made only a few short stops before arriving in Avila! We booked our tickets through Loco2. Such a great website, we picked what days and times we wanted and were able to get the tickets right on our phones! 

After reaching the Avila Train Station, we headed straight to the Walls of Avila (map below). Because we were super early, the walls were not open yet; So, we decided just to tour the city! We headed to the left of the walls, got some great shots, and saw a beautiful overlook! There were also cafés open if you want to enjoy a coffee before officially starting your day.

You can also try tackling Segovia (a personal favorite!) and Avila on the same day. They are about a 30-minute train ride from each other, you could easily see both in one day. I would suggest heading to Segovia first, then from there head down to Avila, then head back to Madrid from there. Easy!

 12^th Century Walls

Around 10 am the entrance doors opened! Just 5€ each to get in, and they offer an audio guide in Spanish, English, and a few other languages.

Once you get your ticket, you can head straight up to the walls! (There is an elevator available as well). The stairs are a bit steep, so wear great walking shoes and do some stretches before the climb. 🙂 You cannot walk completely around the walls, as there are some privately owned sections, but you still have lots to explore!

We wished we could have spent more time here; the views are just fantastic, and it would be the perfect place to have a picnic! We will be back!

Basilica De San Vicente

The Church of San Vicente is a sacred spot. The story goes, Christian martyrs, Vicente, Sabina, and Cristeta were martyred during the Roman Empire in Avila. They were buried in the rock, but later the church was built over their tombs.

I love the architecture of this church! You can see the Moorish influence and the pillars are just stunning! We were not able to visit the church, as we were short on time. However, we got some great shots from the walls!

After a quick walk back from the walls, we made it to the train station to catch our train back to Madrid! (There is a cafe in the station if you need to grab a bite or a vending machine if you need a quick snack.)

Madrid

If you were traveling from Madrid, I have made a list of sights you must see when you are there! We only had a limited amount of time in Madrid, but we had a fabulous time! This will give you some idea of what the bustling city is like!

Plaza de Cibeles – Located in the heart of Madrid is the beautiful Plaza De Cibeles.  A great place to see the city views!

Parque del Buen Retiro – one of the biggest parks in Madrid! You will need quite a bit of time to explore this beautiful location!

The Retiro Park Lake – A short walk from the north entrance is the most picturesque lake. A great way to spend the afternoon is renting a boat and soaking up some Spanish sun!

El Retiro Rose Garden – My favorite place in the park is the rose garden! You have to check it out!

Plaza de Toros – Bullfighting was very popular in Spain many years ago. BE sure to check out this stunning stadium!

Royal Palace of Madrid – of course, you cannot miss the stunning Royal Palace. The gorgeous rooms will blow your mind!

What To Eat:

Here are a few places you must try when you are in Madrid!

San Miguel Market – A great place to find the most delicious Tapas!

Chocolateria San Gines – This is where you will get the best chocolate con churros in Spain!

Segovia

Another great day trip from Madrid is Segovia. This was another one of my favorite destinations in Spain! It is a sleepy town, but full of fun things to do!

Roman Aqueduct – This free-standing structure is a magnificent sight to see! I still cannot believe it was built back in the 1st century!

Segovia Cathedral – Cathedrals are some of my favorite places to visit and the Segovia Cathedral was no different. It is just a stunning building, you cannot miss its beauty!

Church Of Vera Cruz – On the outskirts of Segovia is the Vera Cruz church, all the way from the 13th century, it is packed with a rich history. Be sure to check it out!

Alacazar De Segovia – Of course this is the main attraction in Segovia. What is claimed to be the inspiration for the Cinderella castle, the Alcazar de Segovia is one of my favorites!

If you enjoyed this blog, please comment below!

Also, if you would like to know more about Avila, you can email us!