What to see in Valdemoro: the old town, parks and nearby day trips

The thing most worth seeing in Valdemoro is its old town: the plaza de la Constitución, where the town hall stands and life in the centre is concentrated, and the parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, the town's great monument. Add to that green spaces such as the Bolitas del Airón park, a lively tapas scene around the square and a very handy location for linking up with Aranjuez, Pinto or the Parque Warner theme park. You can explore the centre on foot in half a day, and the town is well connected by the A-4 and by Cercanías (commuter rail).

This guide sums up what to see in Valdemoro, how to divide your time if you are only coming for a few hours and which nearby outings fit into the same trip.

Valdemoro lies in the south of the Madrid region, next to the A-4 motorway and between Pinto and Ciempozuelos. It has grown a great deal in recent decades, with new residential neighbourhoods surrounding the old centre, but the centre keeps the layout and atmosphere of a Castilian town: narrow streets, low houses, long-established shops and a square that is still where local people meet.

The name Valdemoro is also known throughout Spain because of the Guardia Civil's Colegio de Guardias Jóvenes “Duque de Ahumada”, an institution closely linked to the town's recent history. It is not a tourist site as such, but it is part of the local identity and explains why many families from elsewhere have ties with Valdemoro.

Plaza de la Constitución

It is the heart of the town and the best place to start your visit. Around the square are the town hall, bars with terraces and some of the most representative buildings in the centre. Many of the events of the local festivities take place here and, outside them, it is where you best sense the small-town character Valdemoro has kept despite its current size.

Parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción

A few steps from the square stands the church of the Asunción, the town's most important monument and one of the most notable churches in the south of Madrid. Its bulk and its tower dominate the skyline of the old town, and its interior holds a very valuable artistic heritage, with altarpieces and religious paintings that make it worth going in and taking your time. If a service is under way, respect it and leave your visit for another time of day.

The streets of the centre

Between the square and the church lies a small network of streets that deserves an unhurried stroll. Look at the traditional façades, the courtyards glimpsed through an open doorway and the long-standing shops, which sit alongside new businesses. It is the part of Valdemoro that best tells the story of its farming past, before it became a commuter town in the metropolitan area.

To round off your visit with some fresh air, the Bolitas del Airón park is the best-known green space in the town: large, with paths for walking or running and spaces where children can let off steam after touring the centre. The new neighbourhoods also have well-kept urban parks and boulevards, and at the edges of the municipality the tracks of the countryside of southern Madrid begin, very popular with cyclists and walkers.

If you like long walks, the best time is spring or autumn: in summer the south of Madrid gets very hot and it is best to go out first thing in the morning or as evening falls.

The town's cultural programme revolves around the Teatro Municipal Juan Prado, with theatre, music and family shows for much of the year. The patron saint festivities in honour of the Virgen del Rosario are the liveliest time: processions, concerts, street activities and the square packed with people. If you visit Valdemoro during the festivities, bear in mind that the centre is usually closed to traffic and parking becomes difficult.

At the table, Valdemoro follows the Castilian tradition of southern Madrid: roasts, hearty stews, migas (fried breadcrumbs) and sharing plates. The bars on the square and in the nearby streets are the natural place for a drink after your visit, and the new neighbourhoods add restaurants with more varied cooking.

One of Valdemoro's advantages is that several of the most visited places in the south of the region are very close by. If you have a full day, it is worth adding one of these:

The most rounded combination is Valdemoro with Aranjuez: in our guide to what to see in Aranjuez you will find the palace and gardens explained step by step. If you are travelling with children, take a look at the rides at Parque Warner before deciding how to spend the afternoon. And for those who prefer history on a smaller scale, the castle in Pinto is just north of Valdemoro.

If you land at Barajas planning to visit Valdemoro or stay there, you have two main options:

• Public transport: there is no direct connection between the airport and Valdemoro. The usual route is to combine Cercanías from T4 with another line heading south, changing in Madrid. It works well if you are travelling light and during the day; from T1, T2 or T3 you will first have to get to T4.
• Taxi: it goes door to door from your terminal to your hotel or home in Valdemoro, with no changes and at any time, including for early-morning flights. With the taxi between Valdemoro and the airport the price is fixed, known before you book and the same in both directions.

For your arrival, the most comfortable option is to book a pickup at the terminal with your flight number: that way the terminal is checked and the meeting point confirmed. If you are travelling as a family or a group with lots of luggage, ask for a taxi with up to 7 seats so you can all travel together.