MADRURAL, the Madrid You Don't Expect
10 September, 2025Community of Madrid includes much more than the capital, with surprising scenery and tourist attractions just a few kilometres from the big city. Grouped into four tourist areas - the Sierra Oeste, the Sierra de Guadarrama, the Sierra Norte and Las Vegas y la Alcarria de Madrid - its rural tourism offerings are grouped around the MADRURAL brand, "the Madrid you don't expect".
Sierra de Guadarrama Zone
This region, which includes the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park and its area of influence, offers a multitude of alternatives for enjoying leisure time in the heart of nature, as do many residents of the city due to its proximity to the city and the excellent conditions on offer.
And there is nothing better for the enjoyment of the natural environment than active exercise, such as walking along one of its many hiking routes, including more than 250 kilometres of paths of varying difficulty. Among others, the Mirador de los Poetas Route in Cercedilla, the Green Ring Trail in Soto del Real—which is known for its accessibility—or the cambroño forests in Los Molinos, where one can admire the vast yellow blanket of blossoming shrubs that covers the area in spring.
The Camino de Santiago de Madrid also passes through this region, with three routes, varying between 20 and 30 kilometres in length: Tres Cantos- Manzanares el Real, Manzanares el Real-Cercedilla, and Cercedilla-Segovia.
Cycle tourism is another one of the healthiest ways to explore the area, following various routes such as the one proposed by CiclaMadrid between Manzanares el Real and Moralzarzal, passing through the town of El Boalo.
Active tourism lovers have many options in the region to enjoy: mountaineering, multi-adventure, horse riding, paragliding, etc. In addition, you can practice different water sports and activities in some of the reservoirs in the area, such as kayaking, windsurfing and paddle surfing with the specialised companies that organise these types of activities.
The Santillana Reservoir is also a nesting site for numerous migratory birds, making it an ideal destination for ornithologists and wildlife-watching enthusiasts.
But the region’s tourist offerings are not limited to its natural surroundings; it also boasts a rich cultural heritage in its towns. For example, Manzanares el Real, one of the "Villas de Madrid", features the impressive Mendoza Castle at the foot of the La Pedriza mountains as its iconic landmark.
In the Plaza Mayor of Cercedilla, the place where the first Spanish athlete to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics grew up and developed his passion for skiing, you’ll find the Paquito Fernández Ochoa Ski Museum, the first exhibition space in the Community of Madrid dedicated to the history of this alpine sport.
The wide range of activities available in this area is complemented by a local gastronomy whose standout product is the Sierra de Guadarrama beef, a highly prized delicacy throughout the region. Lamb and seasonal game complete the list of typical products of the area.
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Sierra Norte Zone
The Sierra Norte of Madrid stands out as the largest preserved area in the region, with much of its territory covered by protected natural spaces. These include the Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserve, the Upper Basins of the Manzanares, Guadarrama, and Lozoya rivers, the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, and the Natura 2000 Network, which features several Special Protection Areas for Birds (SPAs). The region also boasts the Montejo Beech Forest, one of the most unique forests in the region, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In addition to its rich natural offerings, the Sierra Norte also boasts a vast cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible. It thus offers the opportunity to discover monasteries, castles, churches, walls, and traditional architecture that reflect ancestral customs and ways of life, which are still very much alive in the villages.
And indeed, this rural character is one of its greatest attractions, especially for those who appreciate authenticity. It is not for nothing that four of the Villas de Madrid are located in its territory: Buitrago del Lozoya, Rascafría, Patones and Torrelaguna.
Gastronomy is another strong point of the region, where the use of local products in its dishes stands out, products naturally obtained thanks to the traditions of the area: oven-roasted meats, legumes, river fishing, mushrooms, garden vegetables, and honey, among others, which visitors can enjoy in the local restaurants.
Throughout its territory, there is also a wide range of cosy rural accommodations in its villages; a stay that visitors can complement with numerous leisure activities, either independently or with the help of local adventure tourism companies. These include hiking, cycling, horseback riding, multi-adventure experiences, climbing, as well as water activities during the summer season and snow activities in the winter season. Everything you need to enjoy spending several days in the region.
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Sierra Oeste Zone
Nature lovers and those interested in the rich cultural heritage of rural settings can also enjoy several days exploring the Sierra Oeste region, where they can visit one of the Villas of Madrid, San Martín de Valdeiglesias; the oldest monastery in the area, Santa María la Real de Valdeiglesias, in Pelayos de la Presa; a route to explore the Civil War fortifications in Navalagamella; and the Casas con Vida project in Fresnedillas de la Oliva, an artistic mural initiative that has helped restore degraded spaces in the town.
The region also offers a wide variety of nature tourism options, including cycling and hiking routes to explore up close the Dehesa de Navalquejigo, the Chestnut Forest of Las Rozas de Puerto Real, the Río Cofio trail, and the Cárcavas of the Río Perales, among many other choices.
It also features designated swimming areas at authorized beaches, such as Virgen de la Nueva Beach and El Muro at the San Juan Reservoir, as well as those at the Picadas Reservoir. The San Juan reservoir is also navigable, and there are several active tourism companies that carry out activities related to sailing and other water sports.
The Sierra Oeste also includes the Special Protection Area (ZEPA) of the Holm Oak forests along the Alberche and Cofio rivers, a privileged environment for birdwatching, especially for spotting the imperial eagle, which nests in this territory. The El Águila Environmental Education Centre in Chapinería provides an opportunity to learn about this species and its habitat through exhibitions and activities.
Wine lovers also find their place here, as the region includes the San Martín de Valdeiglesias subzone of Madrid Wine Tourism, which covers several municipalities with various wineries registered under the Designation of Origin (D.O.). Wines of Madrid.
A region where family tourism also finds attractive options for the little ones, such as the Lunar Museum in Fresnedillas de la Oliva, featuring a collection of space-related objects and offering various activities for families; Safari Madrid, a zoological park in Aldea del Fresno with a wide variety of semi-wild species; and the Enchanted Forest, a large botanical garden and living sculpture park in San Martín de Valdeiglesias.
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Las Vegas and Alcarria of Madrid Zone
The most unknown of the region's rural tourist areas nevertheless has much to offer, as do the four of the 11 Villas de Madrid scattered throughout its territory: Nuevo Baztán, Villarejo de Salvanés, Colmenar de Oreja and Chinchón.
The region also houses ethnographic museums that highlight the region’s identity, history, and traditions, such as the Casa Cueva Museum in Tielmes, the Milling Museum in Morata de Tajuña, and the “La Posada” Ethnographic Museum in Chinchón.
To explore its natural surroundings, visitors can follow nature trails such as Los Cortados in Titulcia or the Tajo Ecological Path in Villamanrique de Tajo. Additionally, they can participate in environmental education activities at the Vega del Tajuña Nature Centre in Ambite or at the Alcarria Madrileña Ecological Restoration Centre, “La Chanta,” in the municipality of Corpa. Cycling routes are also available, including the Tajuña Greenway, the 40-Days Train Trail, the Tajo Natural Path, and the CiclaMadrid Grand Tour as it passes through the region.
In the region, visitors can also enjoy various wine tourism experiences at wineries such as Licinia, Pablo Morate, Pedro García, Del Nero, and Peral; as well as olive oil tourism at family-owned mills that offer carefully crafted products, including Aceitera de la Abuela, Oleum Laguna, and the “La Almazara” Olive Oil Museum.
But this area is also known throughout the region for its orchards, which provide top quality food products. Some of them are included in the "Fincas visitables" project, which aims to bring agri-food work closer to the general public and promote direct sales. Among them is “Te traigo la huerta”, located in Fuentidueña de Tajo, which organizes visits on Saturday mornings; and “La Huerta de Carabaña”, which in summer offers tours of its orchard, winery, and olive mill, along with the option to enjoy a tasting menu featuring their products.
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