Living in Spain as a Language Assistant usually means two things: limited pay and free weekends! Therefore, you should use the cheap getaways and the fact that Spain is so well-connected to your advantage! Even on a smaller stipend, you can escape the city and discover places most tourists skip. Instead of the usual ‘Toledo and Segovia’ recommendations, here are two underrated day trips and two affordable weekend getaways from Madrid that won’t drain your bank account.
Day Trips
Alcalá de Hernares – History Without the Crowds
Only about 35 minutes from Madrid by cercanías, Alcalá de Henares is often overlooked despite being packed with history and a great atmosphere. The city is where Miguel de Cervantes was born, the author of Don Quixote, and its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Spend the day wandering through the University of Alcalá, one of Spain’s oldest universities, and walking along Calle Mayor, a charming street lined with arches and small cafes. There are museums, shops, and restaurants that make the day trip a great but quiet escape from Madrid. If you go in the afternoon, the sunset on the old buildings really is something worth staying for.
Take the cercanías train with your transport card and pack a lunch, then you can spend a full day here that will easily cost under 10 euros.
Chinchón – A Small Spanish Village
Chinchón really makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a Spanish postcard. About an hour from Madrid by bus, this small town is famous for its unique Plaza Mayor, a medieval square surrounded by wooden balconies that look like something from another century. The town itself is tiny, which makes it perfect for a relaxed day trip. You can walk up to the castle ruins, visit the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion, and explore the winding streets that climb the hillside.
Chinchón is also known for its local liquor, and many of the bars that you’ll find offer tastings. If you grab a menú del día or split some tapas with your friends, you can easily make this a super affordable day trip, too.
Weekend Getaways
Cuenca – Hanging Houses
About one hour from Madrid by high-speed train, Cuenca feels completely different from the capital. The city is perched on cliffs between two gorges, and its most famous sight is the Casas Colgadas (Spanish for «hung houses»). You can spend your first evening in the old town and go to the San Pablo Bridge at sunset. The next day, there are beautiful hikes along the trails around the gorge, and you can also go to the Enchanted City, a park full of incredible rocks and places to have a picnic.
If you stay in a hostel or split an Airbnb, the price will be super low.
León – Tapas Done Right
León is a little further away – around 3-4 hours from Madrid by train or bus, but it’s one of the best cities in Spain for a cheap weekend, because the tapas are often free with your drinks. The center is super lively, especially around the Barrio Húmedo, where the bars almost compete to serve the best tapas. So you can easily turn your dinner into a tapas crawl without spending a lot of money.
The cathedral is so beautiful, it is definitely worth a visit, or something to do if the weather isn’t the best. It is the MUSAC contemporary art museum. I’m not a big museum lover, but this one was one of the best I’ve ever been to. A weekend here is a perfect mix of culture, food, and nightlife.
Just order drinks at different bars instead of sitting for a full meal – you’ll eat plenty through tapas alone.
One of the best parts about being a Language Assistant in Spain is the chance to explore the places in Europe that you wouldn’t usually go to on holiday. The main, big cities are beautiful, yes, but it is always worth visiting somewhere a little quieter for a more cultural and picturesque trip, often for more than half the price.
You don’t need to do very much planning for these trips, just use your transport card, and you can have so many little getaways.
On a Language Assistant stipend, cheap travel isn’t just possible – it’s all part of the experience.
Author: Ellen F.