Castilla-La Mancha region is in central Spain. The region is the setting for Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. Just like the story, it is dotted with castles, windmills, vineyards and mountains.
The region is bordered by Castile and León, Madrid, Aragon, Valencia, Murcia, Andalusia, and Extremadura.
It has a population of 2 million people. The capital city is Toledo with a population of 85,000. The largest city by population is Albacete with 175,000 people. Other cities include Guadalajara, Talavera de la Reina, Ciudad Rea and Cuenca.
Many of the best things to see in Castilla-La Mancha can be seen as day trips from Madrid. For example, a day trip to Toledo is a great way to break up your Madrid stay.
The hanging houses of Cuenca are also well worth seeing. Of course there are no shortage of organised day trips available so you don’t have to worry about organising a thing.
Read information and tips on these Castilla-La Mancha Cities and Towns:
Toledo – Historic capital of the region
Guadalajara – Small city with country charm close to Madrid
Cuenca – Home of the famous Hanging Houses
Ciudad Real – a perfect blend of rich history, vibrant culture, and modern amenities
Daimiel – a hidden gem in Spain that offers a delightful escape from the tourist crowds
The largest airport near the region is in Madrid. Flying time from London to Madrid is around 2 hours 25 minutes. There are flights available from most airlines and from most major cities in Europe and the world to Madrid.
Toledo is a 1 hour drive from Madrid.
Guadalajara takes about 50 minutes to drive from Madrid.
Cuenca is a 1 hour 50 minute drive from Madrid.
The train trip from Madrid to Toledo takes just over 30 minutes.
The trip from Madrid to Cuenca takes about 50 minutes.
From Madrid to Guadalajara can take from 40 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes depending on which train you catch.