Skip to content
LarkTours

Routes · Europe

Johannesburg to Salamanca and Ávila

Johannesburg → Salamanca → Ávila

Salamanca
"Salamanca - BC 04.jpg" by Selbymay, CC BY-SA 3.0 es, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Madrid - Sky Bar 360º (Hotel Riu Plaza España), vistas 19 (Madrid)
Photo: Zarateman, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

A golden university city & medieval walls Best season (general guide): Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

Salamanca and Ávila are two of the finest historic towns of Castile and León, both listed by UNESCO and both an easy train ride from Madrid. This route spends four nights in Salamanca and two in Ávila. From Johannesburg you'll fly to Madrid, then take the train.

How to pace it: arrive in Salamanca in time to see its golden sandstone glow at sunset from the Plaza Mayor, the eighteenth-century arcaded square at the heart of city life. On day two, explore the square and the Casa de las Conchas, a house covered with stone scallop shells. Day three is for the university, founded in 1218 and the oldest in Spain still in operation, whose ornate façade hides a small carved frog that visitors try to find. Give day four to the old and new cathedrals, which stand side by side.

On day five, take the train to Ávila. Its medieval walls, built mainly between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries, have around 88 towers and nine gates, and long stretches can be walked on top, which fills day six. Ávila is the birthplace of Saint Teresa: the Convent of Santa Teresa stands where she was born in 1515, and yemas de Santa Teresa, sweets of egg yolk and sugar, are the town's speciality.

Practical notes: spring and autumn are the best seasons. At over 1,100 metres, Ávila is the highest provincial capital in Spain and is cold in winter, so pack a warm layer outside summer. Salamanca was European Capital of Culture in 2002. Salamanca's old city was listed by UNESCO in 1988 and Ávila's old town in 1985.

Safety: Canada asks travellers to Spain to take a high degree of caution (updated 13 Aug 2026), and the US rates Spain Level 2 (1 Aug 2026).

Suggested outline

  1. Johannesburg

    Start

  2. Salamanca

    By air · 4 nights suggested

    A university city built of golden sandstone.

  3. Ávila

    By train · 2 nights suggested

    A high town inside complete medieval walls.

    Ávila
    "Avila 001.jpg" by Anual, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Salamanca — Arrive; train from Madrid· Johannesburg → Madrid (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day, then Madrid → Salamanca (overland)
  2. Day 2 · Salamanca — Plaza Mayor
  3. Day 3 · Salamanca — University and the frog
  4. Day 4 · Salamanca — Two cathedrals
  5. Day 5 · Ávila — Train to Ávila· Salamanca → Ávila (by train)
  6. Day 6 · Ávila — Walk the walls
  7. Day 7 · Ávila — Travel home from Ávila· Ávila → Madrid (by train), then Madrid → Johannesburg (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

Each button opens a live, dated search. We don't show stored fares here: check today's price on the booking site.

Showing dates about a month ahead — change them when you search.

Salamanca

Nearest airport: Madrid Search fares · Madrid ↗

Partner links may earn LarkTours a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, availability and terms are set by each partner.