Ávila Day Trip from Madrid (2026): Train Times, Itinerary & Costs
Ávila day trip from Madrid, in short: take the 7:40 train from Madrid Príncipe Pío (arriving 9:07, from about €10 one way), walk the walls (€8) from 10:00, visit the Cathedral (€10) and the Basílica de San Vicente (€3), eat a chuletón near the Mercado Chico, follow St Teresa to her convent (free) and the Encarnación (€2), and watch the sunset from Los Cuatro Postes before an evening train back. Tickets cost €23, or €15 with the ÁvilaCard.
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A popular guide updated in November 2025 still lists the walls at €5 and the Cathedral at €8 (The World Was Here First); in 2026 they cost €8 and €10 (La Maleta Inquieta, October 2026). Another gives no entry prices or timed plan at all (The Travel Blogs). This plan for an Ávila day trip from Madrid gives the train times that work, a timed route, 2026 prices, how to adapt it on each day of the week and in winter, a cost breakdown and a map. For background, see our Ávila travel guide.
Ávila Day Trip at a Glance
| Time | Stop | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 7:40 | Train from Madrid Príncipe Pío (arrives 9:07) | From about €10 |
| 9:30 | Plaza de Santa Teresa and San Pedro | Free |
| 10:00 | The walls from the Puerta del Alcázar | €8 (free Tue 14:00–16:00) |
| 11:45 | Cathedral | €10 |
| 13:00 | Basílica de San Vicente | €3 |
| 14:00 | Mercado Chico and a chuletón lunch | €€ |
| 16:00 | Convento de Santa Teresa | Church free |
| 17:00 | Monasterio de la Encarnación | €2 |
| Sunset | Los Cuatro Postes | Free |
| Evening | Train back from Ávila (20:01 or 21:12) | From about €10 |
Train times from Trenes.com and Trenes.com; route and prices from La Maleta Inquieta, October 2026 and La Maleta Inquieta, October 2026. Confirm before you go.
Map: Ávila Day Trip from Madrid
Numbers follow the order of the day; A is the train station and B the bus station. Tap a pin for details, or open it in Google Maps.
Blue = monuments, orange = the main square, green = viewpoint, black = stations. Pins are approximate.
Madrid to Ávila: How to Get There
For an Ávila day trip from Madrid, the train is the easiest option:
| Option | From | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media Distancia train | Madrid Príncipe Pío or Chamartín | About 1 h 26–1 h 40 | From about €10; average about €12–15 |
| Jiménez Dorado bus | Madrid Estación Sur | About 1 h 30–1 h 45 | Check the operator |
| Car | A-6, AP-6 and AP-51 | About 111 km | Toll €11.15–13.00 |
| Guided tour | Central Madrid | Full day, often with Salamanca or Segovia | From about US$108 |
Sources: Trenes.com, Trenes.com, Kombo, La Maleta Inquieta, October 2026 and Civitatis.
By Train
There is no high-speed train to Ávila; Media Distancia trains take about 1 hour 30 minutes (Kombo, La Maleta Inquieta). Morning departures from Príncipe Pío include 6:40 (arriving 8:18), 7:40 (arriving 9:07) and 8:26 (arriving 9:54) (Trenes.com). Evening returns from Ávila leave at 18:10, 19:12, 20:01 and 21:12, and the last train, at 21:37, takes about 2 hours (Trenes.com). Fares start at about €10, with an average of about €12–15 (Kombo, Trenes.com). From Ávila station it is a 15–20 minute flat walk to the walls, or take bus line 1 for €1.30 (La Maleta Inquieta).
By Bus
Jiménez Dorado buses leave from Madrid's Estación Sur and take about 1 hour 30 minutes (La Maleta Inquieta); evening returns from Ávila include 19:00 and 20:00, arriving at Estación Sur about 1 hour 45 minutes later (Trenes.com).
By Car
Take the A-6 to Villalba, then the AP-6 and AP-51; the toll costs €11.15–13.00 for a car, depending on the time of day, or take the toll-free M-505, up to about 1 hour 50 minutes (La Maleta Inquieta). The old town has number-plate cameras, so park near the gates and walk in.
The journey from Madrid to Ávila by car takes you northwest through the Spanish countryside, covering around 111 km. The A-6, AP-6 and AP-51 offer a direct route, while the toll-free M-505 is an alternative if you prefer to avoid tolls. As you approach the city, the medieval walls become an impressive landmark on the horizon. Before arriving, plan your parking, as access to the historic centre is controlled by number-plate cameras. Parking near the city gates and exploring the old town on foot is often the easiest option.
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The Perfect Ávila Day Trip Itinerary
This route for an Ávila day trip from Madrid covers about 7 km on foot, including the walk back to the station.
9:30 – Plaza de Santa Teresa and San Pedro
From the station, walk about 20 minutes to the Plaza de Santa Teresa, with the saint's statue and the Romanesque church of San Pedro, whose west façade has a rose window (La Maleta Inquieta).
10:00 – The walls
Start your Ávila day trip from Madrid on the walls, climbing from the Puerta del Alcázar when the ticket office opens at 10:00; allow about 2 hours (La Maleta Inquieta). Entry costs €8 (reduced €5); the walls run for 2,516 metres, with nine gates and 87 towers (La Maleta Inquieta).
11:45 – The Cathedral
Five minutes from the walls, the fortress-like Cathedral costs €10 (reduced €7); allow about an hour (La Maleta Inquieta). The tower climb is currently closed for works (La Maleta Inquieta). For more sights, see the best things to do in Ávila.
13:00 – Basílica de San Vicente
Just outside the walls, the Romanesque basilica costs €3 and takes about 45 minutes (La Maleta Inquieta).
14:00 – Mercado Chico and lunch
Walk about 10 minutes to the arcaded Mercado Chico, where St Teresa was baptised in the church of San Juan Bautista (La Maleta Inquieta). Eat a chuletón de Ávila with patatas revolconas; Redes Bar on Calle Vallespín opens Wednesday to Sunday from 12:00 (La Maleta Inquieta, La Maleta Inquieta). Buy yemas de Santa Teresa for dessert (La Maleta Inquieta).
16:00 – Convento de Santa Teresa
Built on the saint's birthplace, its church and relics room are free; it opens 15:30–20:00 in the afternoon, earlier in winter (La Maleta Inquieta).
17:00 – Monasterio de la Encarnación
About 15 minutes' walk outside the walls, where St Teresa lived for many years; entry costs €2, and the last entry is half an hour before closing (La Maleta Inquieta).
Sunset – Los Cuatro Postes
End your Ávila day trip from Madrid at the free Cuatro Postes viewpoint across the River Adaja, about 20 minutes from the Encarnación; bring a jacket (La Maleta Inquieta). Allow 35–40 minutes to walk back to the station (La Maleta Inquieta), or take a taxi, and catch the 20:01 or 21:12 train (Trenes.com).
Ávila Day Trip from Madrid: Costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Train, return | From about €20 |
| Walls | €8 |
| Cathedral | €10 |
| Basílica de San Vicente | €3 |
| Monasterio de la Encarnación | €2 |
| Total | About €43 per person, plus lunch |
Train fares from Kombo; tickets from La Maleta Inquieta. The ÁvilaCard, at €15 for 48 hours, covers the walls, the Cathedral, San Vicente and the Encarnación, which brings the total to about €35 (Ávila Tourism, La Maleta Inquieta).
Ávila Day Trip from Madrid: Guided Tour or On Your Own?
- On your own by train is cheap and flexible, with about 10 hours in the city.
- A guided tour from Madrid usually combines Ávila with Salamanca or Segovia; one Ávila and Salamanca tour takes about 11 hours, from about US$108, but leaves limited time in each city (Civitatis).
- A walking tour in Ávila is a middle option: take the train, then join a local guide for the walls and the old town.
How to Adapt Your Ávila Day Trip from Madrid
- Monday: from 25 October to 26 March the walls are closed on Mondays, so choose another day (La Maleta Inquieta).
- Tuesday: the walls are free from 14:00 to 16:00, except holidays and eves, so swap the walls and the Teresian sights (La Maleta Inquieta, La Maleta Inquieta).
- Sunday: the Cathedral opens at 12:30 and San Vicente at 14:00, so see the Convento de Santa Teresa in the morning (La Maleta Inquieta, La Maleta Inquieta).
- In winter: the walls, the Encarnación and the convent close at 18:00, and the sun sets earlier, so start the afternoon sooner (La Maleta Inquieta).
- Want more time? Stay one night to see the walls lit up.
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Tips for a Day Trip to Ávila from Madrid
- Take the 7:40 from Príncipe Pío to be at the walls when they open (Trenes.com).
- Plan your return: the 21:12 is the last fast train; the 21:37 takes about 2 hours (Trenes.com).
- Buy the ÁvilaCard if you visit three or more paid sights (Ávila Tourism).
- Visit Wednesday to Sunday to avoid Monday closures in winter and to find more restaurants open (La Maleta Inquieta).
- Wear comfortable shoes and bring a warm layer: the route is about 7 km and Ávila is cold at sunset.
- Get mobile data for tickets and maps.
Ávila Day Trip from Madrid: FAQs
Is a day trip to Ávila from Madrid worth it?
Yes. The train takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, and one day covers the walls, the Cathedral, San Vicente and the Teresian sights, with sunset at Los Cuatro Postes.
How long is the train from Madrid to Ávila?
About 1 hour 26–1 hour 40 on Media Distancia trains from Príncipe Pío or Chamartín; there is no high-speed train.
What time is the last train from Ávila to Madrid?
About 21:37, arriving around 23:40; the 21:12 is faster, at about 1 hour 34 minutes.
How much does an Ávila day trip from Madrid cost?
About €43 per person for the cheapest return train and four main tickets, plus lunch, or about €35 with the ÁvilaCard.
Can I visit Ávila and Segovia in one day?
Guided tours do, but you will see little of each; by public transport, it is better to visit each city on a separate day trip.
Is this Ávila day trip guide up to date?
Yes. This Ávila day trip from Madrid guide was last updated in October 2026. Train times and prices change, so confirm them before you go.
Plan the Rest of Your Trip
- Ávila Travel Guide
- Best Things to Do in Ávila
- Segovia Day Trip from Madrid
- Salamanca Day Trip from Madrid
- Madrid to Toledo Day Trip
- Best Places to Visit in Spain