Central Spain Roadtrip | campervan hire

Stop 1: Toledo

Highlights:

The cathedral: Do not miss its impressive art collection.
Mirador del Valle: Great views of Toledo across the river. Selfie time!
Mosque Christ of Light & Synagogue Sta Maria la Blanca: One of the oldest religious buildings in Spain.

Where to Eat:

El Trebol ($$): Good traditional tapas.
Bar Ludeña ($): Try Carcamusas, a local delicacy.

Where to Park for the Night:

Toledo, the City of the Three Cultures

Toledo is known as the City of the Three Cultures because for many years Christians, Jews, and Muslims lived peacefully together in its narrow hilly streets. The old city sits on a mountaintop surrounded on three sides by a bend in the Tagus River. As your campervan approaches the city, its view from a distance is unforgettable.

A one-hour drive from Madrid, make Toledo the first stop on your Central Spain road trip. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, the city is packed with medieval churches, synagogues, and mosques worth visiting.

The old city walls and gates still stand, as do two stunning bridges over the river: the Roman Alcántara Bridge and San Martin Bridge.

Stop 2: Sierra de Gredos

Highlights:

Laguna de Gredos: Gorgeous views on a mountain hike to this glacial lake.
Cinco Lagunas: Tough and long hike that is worth the effort.

Where to Eat:

La Mira de Gredos ($$): Great food, great views of the mountains.

Where to Park for the Night:

Parking Platforma Gredos: Public parking.
Camping Gredos ($$): Perfect location for exploring the mountains.

Sierra de Gredos, home of Spain's wild goat

Surprisingly, Spain is, after Switzerland, Europe's most mountainous country. Many associate Spain only with beach holidays despite its offering a wide range of unmatched natural landscapes.

Sierra de Gredos, still unknown to many Spaniards, is a gorgeous mountain range west of Madrid and home to the Iberian Ibex, the Spanish wild goat.

As you leave Toledo on your Central Spain road trip, drive towards Talavera de la Reina and from there to Arenas de San Pedro, a perfect place to take a rest or have lunch. One of the main attractions of Sierra de Gredos is the hike to its glacial lake, Laguna de Gredos. From the Plataforma Gredos parking, it takes around two hours to hike to the lake.

The trail is well marked and gentle, though stony at times. Spotting wild goats from the trail is normal, particularly during off-peak season.

There are many trails to explore in the Sierra de Gredos. For experienced and fit hikers, one of the most beautiful is the one to Cinco Lagunas (Five Lakes). The return hike is 40.2 km long, so start very early if you want to complete it in one day, or spend a night camping by one of the lakes.

Stop 3: Ávila

Highlights:

The Cathedral of Ávila: Magnificent Gothic architecture
The walls of Ávila: Admire them from outside the city before traversing them

Where to Eat:

Los Candiles ($$): Avila is famous for its beef. Get a steak!
Siglodoce ($$): Great quality local food.

Where to Park for the Night:

Palacio de Congresos: Public parking outside the walls.

Ávila, a medieval walled city

Another of Spain’s many UNESCO World Heritage sites, Ávila is famous for the walls that surround the old city. Started in 1090, the walls have a perimeter of 2,516 metres (~2,516 m), an average height of 12 m (~12.8 m), and a total of 9 gates.

It’s possible to walk on the walls themselves for half their circumference. It’s also said that the walls are the largest fully illuminated monument in the world. — so why not try a night walk on the walls?

Don’t just admire them from outside the city but adventure inside them and walk around this small cute city full of history. An impressive collection of old churches, monasteries and museums will teleport you to medieval Castile.

And while all are worth a visit, pick the main cathedral and the Monastery of Saint Thomas if you’re sticking to the Central Spain road trip itinerary and only staying for the day. If you do, leave Ávila at night to head for your final destination, Segovia.

Stop 4: Segovia

Highlights:

The Alcazar and the cathedral: Impressive with Disney qualities.
Pedraza: Medieval village at 64.4 km (~40.2 km) from Segovia, worth the detour.

Where to Eat:

Taberna Lopez ($$): Try the suckling pig.
El Sitio ($$): Another great place to have suckling pig.

Where to Park for the Night:

Camping El Acueducto ($$): In the city outskirts.

The Roman city of Segovia

Segovia’s main symbol is its Roman aqueduct, still used today to deliver drinking water to the city. Due to its length, beauty, and location, it’s considered the most impressive Roman structure in all of Spain.

Built with 25,000 granite blocks held together without any mortar, it spans 818 metres (~818 m). With more than 170 arches, the highest being 29 metres (~29 m) high, the aqueduct is an imposing engineering wonder.

Besides the aqueduct, Segovia is also well known for the Alcazar, the Royal Palace that Walt Disney used as inspiration for Cinderella’s Castle, and its stunning Gothic cathedral. Do not miss the chance of tasting Segovia’s main dish, roasted suckling pig, the perfect closing meal to your Central Spain road trip.

And if you’re still in the mood for more exploration before driving your campervan back to Madrid, it might be worth heading to Pedraza, a well-preserved medieval village considered one of the most beautiful in the whole of Spain.