If you’re a hiking enthusiast, here are some of the most popular hikes in or near the capital city of Spain, Madrid.
Cercedilla
Cercedilla is a quaint mountain village located in the Sierra de Guadarrama
mountain range. It’s just one hour drive from Spain’s capital, Madrid. The hikes in Cercedilla have varying levels of difficulty and serve as a perfect starting spot for most walks. Here, you’ll see splendidly beautiful views of the mountains peaks, mountain goats, panoramic views, and various water bodies, including waterfalls and eye-catching pond views. And did you know that the Sierra de Guadarrama ranges played an important role in the Spanish Civil War, with even it scenes used in “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Ernest Hemingway? The most popular trails in Cercedilla include Camino de Gua, which is roughly 5 kilometres, and the 9-kilometre Los Miradores Hike. The great thing about these hikes is that they cross other paths and you can easily change routes to something more involving and challenging.
La Pedriza
If you’re an expert hiker or rock climber, then La Pedriza should be on your bucket list of trails in Spain. La Pedriza is a geological area with rock 
formations spread out in a 32 square mile boulder field. La Pedriza sits on the south of the Guadarrama Mountain Ranges. And the hiking area is just 45 minutes away from Madrid by public transport. The hikes afford you views of castles, a rugged, rocky landscape, lakes, caves used as hideouts during the Spanish Civil War, and Spanish ibex. The El Yelmo Hike starts in the village of Manzanares El Real and is 10 kilometres long. You want to bring lots of water, considering that this is the most challenging hike in the area. The La Gran Canada Hike is not as challenging and takes about five hours to complete the 8.5-kilometre trail. The Risco de Ofertoria rock, which resembles a wedding ring, is located here.