Spain is the European country on everyone’s travel radar right now.
By the end of August, the country had welcomed a record-breaking 64.3 million travelers, and that figure is only going to grow.
But which Spanish cities are best visited in the fall?
Madrid and Valencia are officially the two fastest-growing destinations in Spain right now.
Because I love a good statistic, Valencia has seen a 17.4% increase in visitors compared to last year and Madrid has seen a similar 17% increase.
Here’s why fall is the perfect time to visit both Valencia and Madrid:
Why Visit Madrid In Fall
If you like being part of sweaty human soup, visit Madrid in the summer! In the fall the temperature is milder, and the crowd levels are lower, making for a much more pleasant experience.
The city changes color and then comes alive. The Madrid International Jazz Festival is hosted from September to November and brings music and electricity to the city. It’s a great time to visit.
Fall is the perfect time for sightseeing and exploring the city. Aside from the obvious attractions such as the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace of Madrid, you can also uncover hidden gems.
Shop for unexpected souvenirs in the famous El Rastro flea market. Or head to the Emir Mohamed I park, where you can find the city’s hidden Arab walls, an unexpected insight into Madrid’s rich history.
Getting To Madrid
One of the things that makes visiting Madrid in fall appealing is that, unlike other Spanish destinations were flights are seasonal, there are still nonstop flights between the U.S. and Madrid year-round.
In fact in November you can fly nonstop to Madrid from a whopping 10 different U.S. airports.
These are New York, Miami, Chicago, Washington DC, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Dallas, Los Angeles, Boston and Atlanta.
The cheapest airport to fly from is New York. Flying out on November 4 and returning on November 12 will cost $597 if you choose to fly with Iberia Airlines or $660 with American Airlines if you would prefer to fly with a U.S. carrier.
This is based on a round-trip flight in basic economy class for one person. The outbound flight time for this journey is 7 hours 15 minutes, while the inbound flight time is 8 hours 50 minutes.
Why Visit Valencia In Fall
In fall Valencia smells as good as it looks. The weather is still pleasantly warm and the whole city seems to smell of oranges.
You’ll still find that the days are warm enough to relax on the beach, if that’s your thing, but there’s also plenty of cultural and historical activities in the city.
Meaning that there’s something to suit every traveler.
Explore the changing season in the Valencia Biopark or visit Valencia’s famous gothic icon, the La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia.
This is one of the most famous Gothic monuments in Europe and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Visit Valencia’s cathedral, and climb the 207 steps to its Miguelete tower. This is not only a beautiful structure in its own right, but it also offers amazing 360 degree views of the whole city.
Getting To Valencia
Unlike Madrid, there are no nonstop flights from the U.S. to Valencia in the fall, but there are options available for you.
You could choose to fly into Madrid, using the options outlined above, and then take the train to Valenica. But I think it’s slightly easier to get to Valencia from Barcelona, which also offers nonstop flights from the U.S.
You can fly to Barcelona year-round from Miami, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Washington DC.
The cheapest flights are from Miami with a round-trip, non stop economy class flight from November 10 to November 17 costing $415 with Iberia Air.
From here you can get the train from Barcelona to Valencia for just $34.
This has a 2 hour 40 minute journey time if you take the fast train, and is a great way to explore Spain and appreciate it from a different perspective.
Spain has a reliable rail network and is considered home to some of Europe’s most renowned train routes. So incorporating a train ride into your Spanish vacation could be considered a positive rather than an inconvenience!
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