A Segovia day trip from Madrid hinges on one detail: high-speed trains do not stop in town. They arrive at Segovia-Guiomar, south-east of the city, and the Aqueduct of Segovia is a 4.8 km walk from there, so almost everyone rides the number 11 city bus for the last 15 minutes. Trains leave from Chamartín, on Metro Line 1 from Sol. The alternative is the Avanza coach from the Moncloa interchange, slower at about 65 minutes but ending 600 metres from the Aqueduct. The Avant costs €13.90 a leg on every departure, per Renfe, and takes 25 to 28 minutes; the last one back leaves Guiomar at 9.51pm Monday to Saturday and 9.12pm on Sundays.
Segovia-Guiomar is the high-speed station for Segovia, and it sits on the edge of the city, 4.8 km from the old town.
What is the best way to get from Madrid to Segovia for the day? The Avant train from Chamartín, 25 to 28 minutes for €13.90, then bus 11 from Guiomar to the Aqueduct, 15 minutes for €2.25. The Avanza coach from Moncloa takes about 65 minutes and stops 600 metres from the Aqueduct. The catch comes at weekends, when the first Avant only leaves at 10.15am.
Is a Segovia day trip worth it, and who is it for
Yes, for a day of walking and one or two interiors. The Aqueduct is a street monument and costs nothing, Segovia Cathedral is €4 (reduced €3), and the Alcázar of Segovia opens at 10am every day. The three sit within 1.4 km of each other, so the old town is done on foot.
It suits families, first-time visitors and anyone who wants a slower day than Madrid. If you came to Spain for paintings, Toledo has the bigger collections, as set out in Toledo or Segovia, which is better. Segovia and Ávila have no direct train between them, as explained in the Avila day trip from Madrid.
Train or coach to Segovia, which is easier?
| Option | Coach | Train |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves from | Moncloa interchange, Metro Lines 3 and 6 | Chamartín, Metro Line 1 from Sol |
| Ride | About 65 minutes | 25 to 28 minutes to Segovia-Guiomar |
| Into town | 600 metres on foot | Bus 11, 15 minutes, €2.25 |
| Fare | Shown when you book | €13.90 on the Avant |
The train wins on time and the coach wins on simplicity. With a pram, small children or heavy bags, one vehicle to the edge of the old town beats a change at an out-of-town station. For the Metro ride to either terminal, the Metrobús ten-trip ticket at €7.30 beats singles from the fifth journey, as set out in which Madrid transport ticket to buy.
Bus 11 runs 6.30am to 10.25pm on weekdays and 7.55am to 10.30pm at weekends and on holidays, according to Avanza, the city bus operator. It charges a special AVE ticket of €2.25 against €1.15 for a normal ride. At weekends it leaves gaps of over an hour around midday, such as between the 11.25am and 12.40pm departures from the station.
Which train to book for Segovia, Avant or AVE
Book the Avant. Five train types share the Chamartín platforms for Segovia-Guiomar and all take 25 to 28 minutes, but only the Avant has a fixed fare.
The Avant is €13.90 a leg on every departure, according to Renfe, so there is no price reason to book it weeks ahead. The other trains are priced dynamically and one may undercut the Avant on a quiet day, but you only find out by searching. Tickets are sold on Renfe’s website and app; check that the train type says Avant before paying.
A Saturday in Segovia by train, hour by hour
At weekends the first Avant from Chamartín is the 10.15am, and the day works best built around it.
The 10.15am Avant reaches Guiomar at around 10.42am and connects with the 10.50am bus 11, which reaches the Aqueduct at 11.05am. The Cathedral opens Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 6.30pm. The Alcázar is open 10am to 7.30pm until 31 October and 10am to 6pm from 1 November, and tickets that include the 152-step tower sell out at weekends, so buy those online first. EU citizens get the Palace and Museum free on Tuesdays from 2pm to 4pm at the ticket desk, except on public holidays.
Lunch in Spain starts around 2pm, a rhythm covered in where to eat in Madrid. Tipping is voluntary in Spain, as explained in how much to tip in Madrid.
On Sundays swap the order: the Alcázar in the morning, because the Cathedral only opens for visits at 1.30pm. Then watch the clock, since the last Avant leaves at 9.12pm and the last bus 11 that makes it leaves the Aqueduct at 8.40pm. After that only a variable-fare Alvia at 9.51pm and an AVLO at 9.58pm remain.
Before you set off:
- Check that the train type on your ticket says Avant, not AVE or Alvia.
- On bus 11, pay the €2.25 AVE ticket.
- For a weekend visit with the Alcázar tower, book the tower online first.
- On Sundays, be at the Aqueduct stop for the 8.40pm bus 11.
Toledo, the other heritage city half an hour away by Avant, leaves from Atocha instead; see Madrid to Toledo by train or bus. Every rail trip is compared in Madrid day trips by train, and options inside the region are in day trips from Madrid.
Frequently asked questions about a Segovia day trip
Is Segovia worth a day trip from Madrid?
Yes, if you want a walkable old town rather than big art collections. The Aqueduct is free to see, the Cathedral costs €4 and the Alcázar opens at 10am every day, all within 1.4 km of each other. The fast train takes 25 to 28 minutes from Chamartín.
Can you walk from Segovia train station to the Aqueduct?
Not easily from the high-speed station. Segovia-Guiomar is 4.8 km from the Aqueduct along the paths, close to an hour on foot. Bus 11 covers it in 15 minutes for €2.25 on the AVE ticket.
Do you need to book the train to Segovia in advance?
Not for price on the Avant, which costs €13.90 a leg on every departure, per Renfe. AVE, Alvia, AVLO and Intercity fares move with the date and ranged from €13.30 to €40.20 on 6 October 2026. Book ahead for the Alcázar tower at weekends instead.
What time is the last train from Segovia to Madrid?
The last Avant leaves Segovia-Guiomar at 9.51pm Monday to Saturday and at 9.12pm on Sundays. After that there is an Alvia at 9.51pm and an AVLO at 9.58pm, both at variable fares. On Sundays the last bus 11 that makes the Avant leaves the Aqueduct at 8.40pm.
How long is the bus from Madrid to Segovia?
About 65 minutes on the Avanza coach from the Moncloa interchange, which you reach on Metro Lines 3 and 6. The coach station is about 600 metres from the Aqueduct, so there is no city bus to catch. The fare is shown when you book.
Segovia rewards an early Avant and a late lunch; just plan the ride back before the ride out.