The Madrid region or autonomous community of Madrid is, as you would expect, the area around the city of Madrid. It sits roughly in the centre of Spain bordering Castille y Leon in the northwest and Castilla-La Manch to the east and south.
The region has a population of 6.6 million people. Of these, half, 3.3 million live in the city of Madrid.
The region has some surprisingly wild areas. This is in spite of its relatively small size and large urban population. The Guadarrama mountain range is in the northwest of the region. Peñalara mountain is 2,428 metres high and is in Peñalara National Park.
Of course the city of Madrid is the main tourist destination in the region. But there is plenty to do elsewhere in the region.
Peñalara National Park is a great destination for nature lovers.
Winter sports fans will love Navacerrada, Cercedilla and Sierra de Guadarrama. They are all less than an hour’s drive from Madrid.
The El Escorial Monastery and Palace is a wonderful place to visit just 50 kilometeres outside Madrid.
The Royal Palace of Aranjuez is of cultural interest and is worth a day trip and tour.
Alcalá de Henares is a historic university town and the birthplace of Cervantes. The university was founded in 1498. The Magisterial-Cathedral and Cervantes Museum are both worth a visit.
The Medieval Fortress of Manzanares el Real is a 50 kilometre drive from Madrid. It is near the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains. The church and museum in the town are well worth a visit.
Colmenar Viejo is about 35 kilometres from Madrid. The town showcases some historic rural traditions.
You can fly to Madrid’s Barajas International Airport from anywhere in the world.
Flying time from London is about 2 hours 25 minutes.
Flying time from New York is about 7 hours 20 minutes.
Spains High-Speed rail connects Madrid to most of the major cities of Spain.
Madrid to Barcelona takes just 2 hours 30 minutes.
Madrid to Valencia is a 1 hour 53 minute trip.
The trip to Seville takes just 2 hours 40 minutes.
Madrid to Santiago de Compostela takes just 3 hours 3 minutes.
The city of Madrid has an excellent metro system.
The greater metropolitan area of Madrid has an excellent commuter rail network.
Driving to Madrid will take you about 7 hours from Barcelona.
It will take about 3 hours 50 minutes from Valencia.
From Seville will take about 5 hours 30 minutes.
The trip from Santiago de Compostela will take from 6 to 7 hours.