el escorial tourism

El Escorial Visitor Information

Admission tickets for san lorenzo de el escorial.

Explore San Lorenzo de El Escorial in Madrid and dive into Spanish Renaissance history, including gardens, chapels, and town squares.

Visit El Escorial

Discover the offers available to visit El Escorial, book your ticket in advance, and skip the lines!

El Escorial Opening Hours

A historical royal residence with sprawling mountainside scenery.

Access to San Lorenzo de El Escorial +Digital Royal Guide You can check below the Calendar of Available Dates and Tickets :

• Explore inside San Lorenzo de El Escorial in Madrid and dive into Spanish Renaissance history, including gardens, chapels, and town squares
• Enter the monastery of El Escorial and explore Renaissance buildings, courtyards, and fountains
• Get a free digital Tiqets Madrid Royal Guide (PDF) with your ticket. This will maximize your visit with facts and information and show you nearby sites

Exhibitions

Navarrete el Mudo, nuestro Apeles español en El EscorialUntil 7 Apr 2022

Tickets Include:

• Admission to the Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
• Exclusive Digital Madrid Royal Guide (PDF)

Not Included: Admission to Casita del Príncipe (available for purchase on-site)

Last admission: 1 hour before closing  Fast Track  Wheelchair accessible  Smartphone tickets accepted

El Escorial Location

Address: Madrid, Plaza de España, 1, 28200 El Escorial, Spain

Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial

©El-Escorial.com

Visit El Escorial, Spain; a stunning palace and monastery complex

Visit El Escorial

El Escorial lies 56 km to the north west of Madrid in Madrid Province .

El Escorial is a massive palace-monestry complex built for Felipe II. It is one of Spains most visited monuments with more than 500 000 visitors arriving every year. El Escorial is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Explore El Escorial

El Escorial sits on top of a hill surrounded by the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains. El Escorial's pale walls contrast with its grey roof rising from which are several towers and cupolas. Seen from a distance it is an absolutely magnificent sight.

Built between 1563 and 1584 its very simple, unadorned style led to a new architectural style which was copied throughout Spain. El Escorial was started by Juan Bautista de Toledo but finished by Juan de Herrera.

The massive complex contains a palace, a monastery, a mausoleum and a phenomenal library.

At the main entrance is a massive statue of San Lorenzo in whose honour the monastry was built. From here enter the library with its incredible painted ceilings and a collection of more than 40,000 books including Felipe II's own personal collection.

Outside is the Patio De los Reyes with statues of six kings of Israel on the Basilica opposite the library.

The Basilica contains an impressive altarpiece and a number of notable statues and sculptures. Its large cupulo was inspired by that of St Peters in Rome.

Many of the treasures of El Escorial are housed in the Chapter houses and include paintings by Titian and José Ribera. El Escorial is home to a large collection of paintings including Flemish, Italian and Spanish paintings. Notable amongst them is 'The Martyrdom of Saint Maurice' by El Greco.

The Panteon contains funeral urns of many of the Spanish monarchs. In a seperate room the bodies are placed to decompose for 20 years after which the clean skeletons are laid in the magnificent tombs. Royal children are in a seperate Panteon (Panteon de los Infantes) in a tomb which resembles a wedding cake.

The Royal Appartments include Felipe II's very simple rooms plus the more lavish appartments of later monarchs.

El Escorial also contains a monastery which is still active today and so cannot be visited by the public.

The town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is pleasant and has a number of bars and restaurants.

Where to visit near El Escorial?

The lodges of Casita del Principe and the Casita del Infante were both designed by Spain's Neoclassical architect, Juan de Villanueva. They are both worth a trip and also have attractive formal gardens.

The Casita del Infante offers wonderful views of the El Escorial complex. It is here where the current King Juan Carlos lived as a student.

The Sierra de Guadarrama mountains have lots of beautiful stretches and are great for walking.

If you have not already visited Madrid then this really is a city not to be missed. It is beautiful and has fabulous art galleries and a very special night time ambience.

If El Escorial has given you a taste for palace complexes then visit also the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso .

You can find more local travel ideas in the Madrid guide and the Madrid Province guide .

Map of El Escorial and places to visit

El escorial places to visit.

Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso

The Royal Palace is a stunning royal palace with superb formal gardens.

Segovia is situated on a rocky outcrop and has an amazing Gothic cathedral and a Moorish castle which dominates the city.

Madrid is the beautiful capital of Spain with some of the world's best art museums.

Avila is surrounded by the best medieval walls in Europe. Punctuated by 88 towers the wall is truly amazing.

Alcala de Henares

Alcala de Henares is one of the oldest university towns in Europe

Museum of Archeology and Paleontology of Alcala de Henares

The Museum is free to visit and has some interesting exhibits.

...or see all our recommended places to visit in Madrid Province

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A trip to San Lorenzo de El Escorial from Madrid

The next stop is the iconic Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial . A majestic granite building looms over you, evoking another era, when El Escorial was the political centre of an empire. Of course, as well as a monastery, this huge museum also houses royal tombs, a palace and a basilica. Let’s go in and discover what was once called the Eighth Wonder of the World. After exploring every corner of the monastery, it’s time to pick up a souvenir in the gift shop and have a break in the café next to the entrance.

Jardines del Fraile garden and Casita del Infante

As you leave and cross the stone forecourt of the monastery, you’ll see other buildings, the Casas de Oficios or workshops and the Casa del Infante and the Casa de la Reina , the Queen’s and Infante’s houses, which are all very photogenic. At the end of the western façade, on the right to the main entrance, there is a small gate leading to a garden, Los Jardines del Fraile. The extensive parks and decorative pond will make you feel as if you were in the 16th century.

Here, your route will vary depending on the time of year. If you carry straight on along Paseo de Carlos III for about 15 minutes (towards the Ávila road, which is signposted) you will come to a smaller palace, the Casita del Infante, and its gardens . It’s worth it just for the view of the landscape of La Herrería. Now take Calle Leandro Rubio to the end of the street, where you will find the Casa de Jacometrezzo, the oldest house in the town.

Historic site. A journey through tradition

The sights are close together in the historic quarter of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, making for a pleasant stroll while you admire the colourful squares and enjoy the friendly atmosphere. Your best bet is to follow the courtyard on the north side of the Monastery and continue up to the central Calle Floridablanca. As you walk along this street you’ll see historic buildings (each with an informational plaque), like the Casas de Oficios or workshops to your left, and the Reales Cuarteles (stables) and Real Coliseo de Carlos III (theatre) to the right. In summer, you’ll find stands along the way selling horchata and ice creams, where you can stop for a rest.

After that, take a gentle stroll along three parallel streets, Calle Reina Victoria, Calle del Rey and Calle Juan de Leyva, and enjoy the local atmosphere. Here there are plenty of shops selling crafts, ceramics and antique books if you want to buy a present. Along the way 18th century heritage buildings appear, like the Casa de las Columnas or the Cocheras del Rey (at the end of Calle Juan de Leyva). The latter houses a charming museum which is worth a visit. A tip: We recommendable visiting the bookshop connected to the museum to buy gifts, such as a medal of San Quintín. Before lunch, don’t forget to buy a traditional local sweet, like candied violets or the tasty bizcochelas (sponge cake with chocolate and egg yolk).

Lunch in the old quarter

After a busy morning, now is the time to stop in any of the bars or restaurants in the historic centre of town for traditional dishes such as beef sirloin or T-bone steak, roast meats or cocido stew. Go downhill via Calle Patriarca to come out on Calle Floridablanca and have lunch in a place with views of the Monastery. However, many streets in the historic quarter (San Antón, Camino Horizontal, Plaza San Lorenzo) are dotted with restaurants and bars, if you would rather have a pork chop or some Iberian ham. You’ll enjoy the tasty food as much as the monumental surroundings. And the prices are pretty reasonable.

Now it’s time to visit the Prince’s House and its pretty gardens before returning to Madrid. The perfect end to a perfect day.

Casita del príncipe. back to madrid.

It’s time to start the return journey. It’s best to return by train, as the station is next to the Casita del Príncipe , the Prince’s House. Go down from Floridablanca via Plaza Virgen de Gracia, passing another small palace, the Casa de Familias de Infantes, on your left. Further on, across the road, is the entrance to the gardens. Take a last enjoyable stroll along this tree-lined walk, with the Monastery behind you, until you come to the Casita.

After a visit, round off the afternoon with a drink or a coffee in the terrace bar at the entrance. The railway station is right opposite. The trip back to Madrid takes about an hour, bringing you to Atocha station at around 17:00. Don’t forget you bought some bizcochelas . It's time to try them.

What to see

Places not to be missed

Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Casita del Infante (Infante’s House) or Casita de Arriba (Upper House) in San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Casita del Príncipe (Prince’s House) or the Casita de Abajo (Lower House)

Tips and recommendations

Worth knowing

The Monastery is closed on Mondays. Guided tours are available, but you can only buy tickets for them at the ticket office on the same day. It’s best to go shopping before lunch, as many shops are closed from 14:00 to 17:00 Although everything is close together, remember to wear comfortable shoes.

How to get there

Bus: bus lines 661 and 664 from the Moncloa transport hub. Approximate journey time: 1 hour Train: local train C8a from Atocha station. Approximate journey time: 1 hour. By road : Madrid-San Lorenzo de El Escorial via the A-6 to Las Rozas, turning off onto the M-505; or the N-VI, turning off onto the M-600. If you have more time in the afternoon, you could go on to Segovia, Toledo or Salamanca, heritage cities which are nearby and easy to reach.

When to go on the trail

In August, the town’s main fiesta honours Saint Laurence; in September, there is a Romería or popular procession for the Virgen de Gracia, with celebrations in the streets; and at Christmas, there is a life-size Nativity scene on Plaza de Benavente.

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Unesco social media, monastery and site of the escurial, madrid.

• Description

Built at the end of the 16th century on a plan in the form of a grill, the instrument of the martyrdom of St Lawrence, the Escurial Monastery stands in an exceptionally beautiful site in Castile. Its austere architecture, a break with previous styles, had a considerable influence on Spanish architecture for more than half a century. It was the retreat of a mystic king and became, in the last years of Philip II's reign, the centre of the greatest political power of the time.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Monastère et site de l'Escurial (Madrid)

Construit à la fin du XVI e siècle sur un plan reproduisant la forme d'un gril, instrument du martyre de saint Laurent, le monastère de l'Escurial s'élève dans un site de Castille d'une exceptionnelle beauté. Rompant par sa sobriété avec le style qui prévalait alors, son architecture exerça une influence considérable en Espagne pendant près d'un demi-siècle. Retraite d'un roi mystique, l'Escurial fut, pendant les dernières années du règne de Philippe II, le centre du plus grand pouvoir politique d'alors.

دير الإسكوريال وموقعه (مدريد)

شيّد دير الإسكوريال نهاية القرن السادس عشر بناءً على خطة تعكس شكل الأداة المستخدمة لتعذيب القديس لوران والمؤدية إلى استشهاده. ويقوم الإسكوريال في موقع رائع الجمال في محافظة قشتالة. ونظراً لهندسته الرزينة فهو مختلف عن الطراز السائد قبلاً فأثرت هندسته تأثيراً عظيماً في اسبانيا مدّة أكثر من خمسين عاماً. وشكل إسكوريل مقر تقاعد ملك متصوّف وكان في الأيام الأخيرة لحكم فيليب الثاني أعظم مراكز السلطة السياسيّة في تلك الحقبة.

source: UNESCO/CPE Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

德里埃斯科里亚尔修道院和遗址

埃斯科里亚尔修道院建于公元16世纪末，位于环境优美的卡斯蒂尔。整个修道院的设计采用长方形格子结构，这样的设计是为了纪念殉难的基督教徒圣劳伦斯，因为他当年就是被这样的刑具折磨致死的。这种简朴且与以往截然不同的建筑风格影响了西班牙半个多世纪。这里还曾是一位神秘国王的隐居之所。到菲利普二世统治后期，这里成为当时最强大的政治力量中心。

Monasterio y sitio de El Escorial en Madrid

Construido a finales del siglo XVI con arreglo a un trazado en forma de parrilla –en memoria del suplicio infligido al mártir San Lorenzo con este instrumento–, el Monasterio de El Escorial se yergue en un paisaje de Castilla de singular belleza. La austeridad de su estilo rompió con las tendencias arquitectónicas imperantes, ejerciendo posteriormente una acusada influencia en la arquitectura española durante más de medio siglo. Lugar de retiro del rey místico Felipe II en un principio, el monasterio fue en los últimos años de su reinado el centro del poder político de este monarca, el más poderoso de su época.

マドリードのエル・エスコリアル修道院とその遺跡

source: NFUAJ

Escoriaal klooster en omgeving, Madrid

Het Escoriaal klooster staat in een uitzonderlijk mooie omgeving in Castilië. Het werd gebouwd aan het eind van de 16e eeuw volgens een plattegrond in de vorm van een rooster, het instrument dat staat voor het martelaarschap van Sint Laurentius. De sobere architectuur van het klooster – een breuk met voorgaande stijlen – had aanzienlijke invloed op de Spaanse architectuur gedurende meer dan een halve eeuw. Het klooster was de plek waar de koning zich terugtrok en werd tijdens de laatste jaren van het bewind van koning Philips II het centrum van de grootste politieke macht in die tijd.

Source: unesco.nl

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

Built at the end of the 16th century, the Escurial Monastery stands in an exceptionally beautiful site at the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama, north of Madrid. It was the retreat of a mystic king, Philip II, and became in the last years of 'his reign the centre of the greatest political power of the time.

Philip II founded the monastery in 1563 as a votive monument and pantheon to the Spanish monarchs from the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V onwards. Its design, which is complex yet also simple, was created by Juan Bautista de Toledo, Spanish pupil of Michelangelo during the works of the Vatican Basilica, and completed by Juan de Herrera after Toledo’s death.

The royal site includes the monastery, a stone complex of extraordinary dimensions surrounded by formal gardens and the monks’ gardens, the House of Trades, and the Company Quarters where the palace and monastery services were accommodated. In the 18th century, the new Houses of Trades were built, completing the Lonja (the stone esplanade), and, consequently, a small town arose around the monastery, becoming a model of the Enlightenment, accommodating the court as well as the two country villas for Charles III’s sons.

Within the monastery’s massive volume, there is an ensemble of different buildings: the monastery, the church, the royal palace, the school, the seminary, and the royal library, brilliantly organised around eleven main courtyards and three service courtyards. Some say, the design is similar to that of the grill, the instrument used for St Lawrence’s martyrdom. Its austere architecture, a sparsely ornate style, known as “herreriano”, was a break with previous styles, and had a deep influence on Spanish architecture for more than half a century. Notwithstanding, several rooms do have a very rich and sublime decoration. Contemporary writers praised it as one of greatest paradigms of the arts: the “Eighth Wonder”.

The Royal Monastery and Site of St Lawrence of the Escurial is the monument that symbolises the ideological and artistic expression that inspired and represented the Spanish Catholic Monarchy during the Golden Age, between the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as its permanence until the end of the Ancien Régime. 

Criterion (i): The Monastery and Site of the Escurial, Madrid, represents a masterpiece of human creative genius, where the great collective work of important artists were subject to the will and orders of the historic figure of King Philip II.

Criterion (ii): The Monastery and Site of the Escurial expresses an important interchange of human values, and symbolises the ideological and artistic expression that influenced developments in architecture, monumental arts, and landscape design during the Spanish Golden Age. The architectural ensemble is an example of the palace convents and their urban and landscape design built by the European Christian monarchies Its final layout of the 18th century makes it one of the most representative examples of the Real Sitio – the courtiers’ residential town – developed by the monarchy as a seat and reflection of its power.

Criterion (vi): The Monastery and Site of the Escurial, Madrid is directly associated with very important historic personalities in European history and the world, such as the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and all his descendants from the House of Austria and the House of Bourbon who occupied the Spanish throne, in particular Philip II. It embodied, in an exemplary way, the ideology of the society and the austere pomp and ceremony with which its divine and worldly majesty was represented. 

The inscribed property encompasses an area of 94 ha. The original constructions built during Philip II’s reign – the main building of the Monastery and the Houses of Trades – as well as those built under Charles III’s reign, in the 18th century, which made up the new town that constituted the Royal Site of St Lawrence, remain completely intact. The unified character of the buildings built during Philip II’s reign was preserved two centuries later thanks to the talent of the royal architect, Juan de Villanueva, since this monument was an example of an absolute architectural model for the academicians of the Enlightenment.

The transformation of the majority of pasture lands, that made up the royal woods during the 19th century, and the town’s development in the 19th and 20th centuries have not had an adverse effect on the conservation of the monument or its perceived image. The natural landscape of the estate of the Herrería, the natural surroundings closest to the monument, are under the protection of National Heritage. 

Authenticity

The geographical location and the heterogeneous landscape of the monument have been maintained. Both the original constructions built during Philip II’s reign, as well as those built under Charles III’s reign, are conserved fully respecting the design, layout, interplay of open spaces and closed volumes, materials, and the ensemble’s spirit. The formal expression of the monument in itself contributes to keeping this spirit alive.

The functional dynamism of the main building, designed for the coexistence of life in the monastery and the court, is perpetuated today in the compatibility of its present functions: religious – Augustinian Fathers have run the monastery since the 19th century; educational – through the Real Colegio founded by Alphonse XII in 1875; and for cultural research and museum studies. 

Protection and management requirements

The general framework for the protection and management of the monuments is mainly established by the law 23/1982 which regulates the Spanish National Heritage Board and includes the Royal Palace – Monastery, the Casita del Príncipe, with its vegetable garden and agricultural land, the Casita de Arriba, the Houses of Trades, and the Queen’s and Infantes’ quarters. The Board is responsible for the protection, conservation, and enhancement of the properties and rights of National Heritage as well as the patronage of the Real Patronato del Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial.

The ensemble of buildings is still administered by the Consejo de Administración de Patrimonio Nacional (Spanish National Heritage Board), a body which inherited the Crown’s Heritage, and which has under its protection the most important monuments of the Royal Foundation, maintaining its unified character. Given its mandate, the Board is responsible for safeguarding the coherence between the different elements, favouring the use of traditional materials and building techniques depending on each case. To this effect, it carries out intervention and conservation projects in real estate and chattel, including implementing nature conservation plans. The Plan de Protección Medioambiental del Bosque de la Herrería (Environmental Protection Plan of the Herrería Woods) will be the main planning tool to protect the immediate natural surroundings of the property.

Additional regulations offer different degrees of protection and strengthen the conservation of the monument and its surroundings, the latter being one of the most vulnerable aspects due to the threat posed by urban development.

The different properties are listed in the Spanish State’s Heritage Inventory as monuments, historic garden or historic ensemble, depending on the corresponding category of each element.

On a regional level, the Government of the Autonomous Community of Madrid has classified the Royal Site as a Property of Cultural Interest ( BIC, Bien de Interés Cultural ) under the category of Historic Territory as part of the Cerca Histórica de Felipe II (the surrounding land fenced off by Philip II). The Regional List of Species of Wildlife at Risk also protects trees that are considered to be exceptional.

On a local level, the elements of the property are registered in the Local Authorities´ Protection Inventories.

In terms of territorial planning, the Plan de Ordenación de Recursos Naturales de la Sierra de Guadarrama (Sierra de Guadarrama’s Natural Resources Plan) seeks to guarantee its conservation, preventing random, massive, or disturbing urban development, and to link the conservation of the historical heritage with the conservation of the environment.

The protection and management of the property and its surroundings will continue through a global, integrated, and inter-disciplinary approach in which the methodology of preventive conservation will be included and significance of the architectural ensemble and its surroundings will be protected in balance with the needs and evolution of society.

• Google Arts & Culture: Story, Monastery and Site of the Escurial, Madrid
• Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (in Spanish)
• Patrimonio Nacional
• World Heritage Sites in Spain (Tourist Office of Spain)

Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Royal site of san lorenzo of el escorial, visiting times.

• Winter (October to March). Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 - 18:00
• Summer (April to September). Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 - 19:00
• Closing lockers and access to the Monastery one hour earlier
• Closing weekly: Monday

Dates closed in 2024

• January 1: closed all day
• January 6: closed all day
• May 1: closed all day
• September 8: closed all day
• December 24: closed all day
• December 25: closed all day
• December 31: closed full day
• In addition to the closures already planned, there may be additional closures also due to the celebration of official events
• Approximate duration of the visit to the Monastery: two hours.

Prices and Ticket Types

Individual admission.

Basic Admission 14 €

• Visitors that cannot benefit from the reduced or free admission.

Reduced Admission 7 €

• Citizens between 5 and 16 years of age. Accreditation by means of identification card or passport from 14 to 16 years of age.
• Persons over 65 years of age.
• Accredited students up to 25 years of age with updated national or international student’s card.

Free Admission 0 €

If your reservation is exclusively for free tickets, they can only be purchased at the ticket office of the venue

• Children under 5 years of age.
• 18 May, International Museum Day. 12 October, National Holiday of Spain, without distinction of nationality (except for the Casa del Príncipe D. Carlos y del Infante D. Gabriel, where the single price must be paid)
• Large families with accreditation by the Official Family Book or equivalent of the EU and Latin American countries holders of residency or work permits of those nationalities.
• Members of the ICOM (International Museum Council), by means of accrediting card of that organisation.
• Official Tourist Guides with Official Tourist Guide card.
• Professors with teaching staff card.
• Persons with disability with accreditation.
• The companions of people with disabilities will have free admission, as long as this is essential for them to be able to make their visit and this circumstance is recorded on the card or disability resolution issued for that purpose.
• Persons in legal situation of unemployment that accredit this circumstance by means of Employment Demand Card or equivalent document issued by the competent organisation.
• (Winter) Wednesdays and Sunday from 15:00 to 18:00 h., free admission for citizens of the European Union, residents and holders of work permit in that territory and Latin American citizens, following accreditation of nationality (national identification card, passport or driver’s licence) or residency or work permit. The free offer is limited to the tour without guide. Only in ticket office
• (Summer) Wednesdays and Sunday from 15:00 to 19:00 h., free admission for citizens of the European Union, residents and holders of work permit in that territory and Latin American citizens, following accreditation of nationality (national identification card, passport or driver’s licence) or residency or work permit. The free offer is limited to the tour without guide. Only in ticket office

Free admission for the disabled: Persons with a disability of 33% or more are entitled to free admission. In addition, the person accompanying the disabled person may also enter the museums free of charge, provided that this person is essential for the visit and that this circumstance is stated on the disability card or resolution issued for this purpose. People with disabilities, and their accredited companions, can purchase their free tickets directly at the ticket office or, if they wish, they can contact us via this form to do so online. In any case, the documentation accrediting the disability and the need for an accompanying person must be presented at the ticket office on the day of the visit for validation by our staff.

Guided visit

• Guided by Patrimonio Nacional staff
• The guided tours that are purchased online are all in Spanish
• There is the possibility of the guided visit by adding a supplement whose amount is 6 € per person. (Spanish only)

Ticket types:

• Reduced 13 €

You must access 10 minutes before the time indicated in your tickets

Group Visit

Tourist Groups

Purchase of tickets for groups guided by official tourist guides. The applicable rate will be determined according to the status of each group member or the agency rate.

• Reduced 7 €

Cultural Groups

Purchase of tickets for cultural associations, institutions, foundations, and postgraduate schools of fine arts.

Educational Groups

Educational group with free 10 € for the booking, as a management fee. Purchase of tickets for 2nd cycle of infant school/kindergarten, primary, secondary, high school, vocational training, university students, workshop schools, employment workshops, and trade schools.

Purchase of tickets for groups managed by travel agencies.

Interactive Audio Guides

Interactive audio guides will be available onsite.

How to get there

Address: Calle de Juan de Borbón y Battenberg s/n. 28200 San Lorenzo de el Escorial - Madrid

• Lines 664 and 661 from Moncloa Interchange
• Motorway A-6 (Madrid - Coruña), until exit 29 and take the detour to the M-505 road.
• Motorway A-6 (Madrid - Coruña), continue on the AP-6 until exit 47 and take the turn-off to the M-600, direction San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
• Madrid-El Escorial. Suburban Line C-8

Accessibility

General public and school: north facade

Agencies: principal façade, through the Lonja of access to the Basilica.

• There is access for persons with disability (consult conditions in the Monument). Manual wheelchairs are available.

User reviews

• Francisco M. Feb 2024 Nos ha gustado mucho la guia. Ha sabido conectar con mis hijas, y eso no es fácil. Aparte las explicaciones muy buenas y amenas. Un 10.
• Daniel O. Feb 2024 Muy bonito todo el monasterio
• Dr A. Feb 2024 Todos deberían venir aqui, al menos una vez en la vida
• Guillermo L. Feb 2024 Explicaciones del guía. Amabilidad El sistema de audición muy bueno
• Angel Luis G. Feb 2024 Muy interesante y muy bien llevada por la guía la visita.
• Sergio C. Feb 2024 Es algo maravilloso.
• Jorge M. Feb 2024 Guía muy amena, con un equilibrio justo entre los datos históricos y otros más mundanos. Recomendable.
• Rosa Feb 2024 Recomiendo absolutamente hacer la visita guiada
• Rosa S. Feb 2024 El personal muy amable
• Fco Javier B. Feb 2024 Sorprendente!!
• Gabriel D. Feb 2024 Nos encantó, la única pega son las audioguías que podrían ser un poco más pequeñas.
• Francisco José R. Feb 2024 La atención, la presteza para resolver problemas y la guía que fue fantástica
• Manuel V. Feb 2024 Espectacular patrimonio que tenemos que conservar.
• Sergio Luis G. Feb 2024 La guía, demostró un gran conocimiento de todo lo que rodea la historia del Monasterio. Una gran profesional que nos hizo muy amena la visita.
• Sara S. Feb 2024 Una guía encantadora

Any questions?

Need help? Contact Customer Service via this link .

Select ticket type

How to get there.

Av Juan de Borbón y Battenberg, s/n, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, 28200

San Lorenzo de El Escorial

El Escorial

• 1.1 By plane
• 1.2 By train

San Lorenzo de El Escorial (also San Lorenzo del Escorial ) is a town about 45 km northwest of Madrid in Spain . Set in the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama, its chief attraction is the Monastery of El Escorial, a World Heritage Site that was the power centre of the Spanish empire under King Felipe II. It's usually visited as a day-trip from Madrid.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ]

The nearest airport is Madrid Barajas ( MAD  IATA ). From the airport take the metro to Madrid Chamartin and change to Renfe local line C3, as below.

By train [ edit ]

40.58535 -4.13226 1 Estación El Escorial , C/ Santa Rosa , ☏ +34 902 320 320 (info/reservations) . This is the terminus of Renfe regional train C3 from central Madrid. Trains run every 30-60 mins, taking just under an hour from Madrid Chamartín and 70 mins from Atocha station. El Escorial station is about 1.5 km south-east of the monastery, and the road leads up a long hill. Bus L1 connects them every 30 mins. ( updated May 2018 )

By bus [ edit ]

Autocarres Herranz operates emerald-green buses 661 and 664 from Madrid Moncloa bus station. They run every 30-60 mins, taking about an hour, fare €4.20 . Get off directly in front of the monastery. For the return bus to Madrid, walk to the nearby 40.59215 -4.14381 2 Estación de Autobuses ( bus station ) on C/ Juan de Toledo 3.

By car [ edit ]

El Escorial is well signposted from AP6 north from Madrid, exit at Junction 47. Parking just outside the monastery is €5 for 2 hours.

See [ edit ]

Eat [ edit ]

• La Cueva , Calle San Anton 4 . Tu-Sun 13:30-16:00 & 21:00-midnight . Tapas and drinks. ( updated May 2018 )

Drink [ edit ]

Sleep [ edit ].

• El Botánico , Timoteo Padrós 16 ( 500 m W of Escorial ), ☏ +34 91 980 78 79 . 3-star hotel with reasonable prices and a great view of the mountains. Terrace restaurant. ( updated Apr 2018 )

Other small, central hotels here include Miranda & Suizo, Florida, NH Victoria Palace, Sercotel Los Lanceros, and Posada Don Jaime.

Go next [ edit ]

On Mondays El Escorial is closed (as are most visitor attractions in Spain) and there's not much else to see or do here, so consider an outing to somewhere else scenic. Choices within an hour's drive include Segovia , Avila and Salamanca .

In and around Madrid are Toledo , Aranjuez and Alcalá de Henares . Reaching more distant cities such as Barcelona and Seville will probably mean travelling via Madrid, see that page for transport options.

Further west beyond Salamanca lies Portugal, while routes to the north and east lead to Leon , Burgos and Bilbao .

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Northwest of Madrid, in the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama, is one of Spain’s best-known and most visited sights – Felipe II’s vast monastery-palace complex of El Escorial . The vast granite building, which contains a royal palace, a monastery, a mausoleum, four thousand rooms, fifteen cloisters and one of the finest libraries of the Renaissance, embodies all that was important to one of the most powerful rulers in European history. The monastery was the largest Spanish building of the Renaissance: rectangular, overbearing and austere, from the outside it resembles a prison more than a palace. Built between 1563 and 1584 to commemorate the victory over the French at the battle of San Quentin on August 10, 1557 (San Lorenzo’s Day), it was originally the creation of Juan Bautista de Toledo, though his one-time assistant, Juan de Herrera , took over and is normally given credit for the design. Felipe II planned the complex as both monastery and mausoleum, where he would live the life of a monk and “rule the world with two inches of paper”. Later monarchs had less ascetic lifestyles, enlarging and richly decorating the palace quarters, but Felipe’s simple rooms remain the most fascinating.

Visits to the Real Monasterio del Escorial have become more relaxed in recent years, and you can use your ticket (purchased in the visitors’ entrance ) to enter, in whatever sequence you like, the basilica, sacristy, chapter houses, library and royal apartments. To escape the worst of the crowds avoid Wednesday afternoons and try visiting just before lunch.

The Biblioteca and Patio de los Reyes

A good starting point is the west gateway, the traditional main entrance , facing the mountains. Above it is a gargantuan statue of San Lorenzo holding the gridiron on which he was martyred. Within is the splendid Biblioteca (Library), adorned with shelves designed by Herrera to harmonize with the architecture, and frescoes by Tibaldi and his assistants, showing the seven Liberal Arts. Its collections include the tenth-century Codex Albeldensis, St Teresa’s personal diary, some gorgeously executed Arabic manuscripts and a Florentine planetarium of 1572 demonstrating the movement of the planets according to the Ptolemaic and Copernican systems. Beyond is the Patio de los Reyes , named after the six statues of the kings of Israel on the facade of the basilica straight ahead. Off to the left is a school, to the right the monastery, both of them still in use.

In the Basílica , notice the flat vault of the Coro above your head as you enter, which is apparently entirely without support, and the white marble Christ carved by Benvenuto Cellini and carried here from Barcelona on workmen’s shoulders. The east end is decorated by Italian artists: the sculptures are by the father-and-son team of Leone and Pompeo Leoni, who also carved the two facing groups of Carlos V with his family and Felipe II with three of his wives; Mary Tudor is excluded. The reliquaries near the altar are said to hold the entire bodies of ten saints, plus 144 heads and 306 arms and legs.

Sacristía, Salas Capitulares and the Panteón Real

The Sacristía and Salas Capitulares (Chapter Houses) contain many of the monastery’s religious treasures, including paintings by Titian, Velázquez and José Ribera. Beside the sacristy a staircase leads down to the Panteón Real , the final resting place of all Spanish monarchs since Carlos V, with the exception of Felipe V and Fernando VI. The deceased monarchs lie in exquisite gilded marble tombs: kings (and Isabel II) on one side, their spouses on the other.

Just above the entry is the Pudridero Real, a separate room in which the bodies (which are covered in lime) rot for twenty years or so before the cleaned-up skeletons are moved to the final resting place. The royal children are laid in the Panteón de los Infantes ; the tomb of Don Juan, Felipe II’s bastard half-brother, is grander than any of the kings’, while the wedding-cake babies’ tomb with room for sixty infants is more than half full.

Museos Nuevos, Salones Reales and Claustro Grande

What remains of the Escorial’s art collection – works by Bosch, Gerard David, Dürer, Titian, Zurbarán and many others, which escaped transfer to the Prado – is kept in the elegant suite of rooms known as the Museos Nuevos (New Museums). Don’t miss the Sala de las Batallas , a magnificent gallery lined with an epic series of paintings depicting the most notable imperial battles. The surprisingly modest Salones Reales (Royal Apartments) contain the austere quarters of Felipe II , with the chair that supported his gouty leg and the deathbed from which he was able to contemplate the high altar of the basilica. However, Felipe’s successors occupied the more lavish Palacio de los Borbones , that takes up the northeastern corner of the complex.

Claustro Grande and Patio de los Evangelistas

You can wander at will in some of the Escorial’s courtyards; most notable is the Claustro Grande , with frescoes of the Life of the Virgin by Tibaldi, and the secluded gardens of the Patio de los Evangelistas which lie within, while on the southern flank lies a series of parterre gardens known as the Jardín de los Frailes.

Outlying lodges

The Casita del Príncipe (aka Casita de Abajo) and the Casita del Infante (aka Casita de Arriba) are two eighteenth-century royal lodges located within the grounds of El Escorial, both full of decorative riches, and built by Juan de Villanueva, Spain’s most accomplished Neoclassical architect – so worth seeing in themselves as well as for their formal gardens.

The Casita del Infante, which served as the present King Juan Carlos’ student digs, is a short way up into the hills and affords a good view of the Escorial complex; follow the road to the left from the main entrance and then stick to the contours of the mountain around to the right – it’s well signposted.

The Casita del Príncipe, in the Jardines del Príncipe below the monastery, is larger and more worthwhile, with an important collection of Giordano paintings and four pictures made from rice paste.

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The Top 10 Things to See and Do in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain

The town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, to the northwest of Madrid, is renowned for its mammoth monastery, but there is plenty more to make this pretty town an excellent day-trip option from Madrid, whether you enjoy history, food or the great outdoors.

Revel in royal surroundings.

One of the most popular day trips from Madrid, the monastery of El Escorial is a vast religious and palace complex that was the country home of Spanish royalty for centuries. It was conceived by Philip II, who employed the architect Juan Bautista de Toledo to design the project, which began in 1563. El Escorial is home to a Basilica (its design was influenced by St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which Juan Bautista de Toledo previously worked on), a palace, the pantheon of the kings – where centuries of Spanish royalty are buried – an art gallery and an architectural museum. Don’t miss the library with frescoed ceilings; you can also take a stroll in the beautiful gardens.

Walk in the woods

Sit on a king’s throne.

A nicely carved-out stone perch is, the legend goes, where Philip II sat as he oversaw the construction of the monastery of El Escorial below. While it is uncertain whether the story is true, the chair is a great lookout point, with spectacular views over the monastery complex and the mountains beyond.

See a controversial Civil War monument

El Valle de los Caídos (the Valley of the Fallen) was a pet project of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, who wanted to build a monument to those who died during the Spanish Civil War (1936–39). The result was a gaudy monument to the Spanish dictator himself, and what is today one of Spain’s most controversial tourist attractions . The site consists of a cavernous underground basilica and a soaring granite cross that dominates the hillside. While the bodies of those who died during the Civil War are scattered down in the valley below, Franco’s final resting place is inside the basilica. There has been talk of renaming the complex, turning it into a museum or closing it entirely, but as yet, it remains as a stark reminder of Spain’s tumultuous 20th-century history.

Learn about creepy crawlies

See the world from a bug’s-eye view at El Escorial’s Insect Park , where you can learn all about some of the world’s smallest animals. And just because they’re small, doesn’t mean they’re not interesting – the interactive displays will keep little ones entertained, while the multicoloured butterflies are a highlight.

See how the other half travelled

Forget flash cars: in El Escorial, you can see the largest collection of carriages used by Spanish royalty from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Cocheras del Rey (‘the Kings Coach Houses’) were 18th-century buildings that held the king’s transport. Learn about the different kinds of transport used to bring royalty up to their summer retreat, including horse-drawn carriages, sleights and carts, as well as the luggage and hunting equipment that would have accompanied them on the journey.

A house fit for a prince

The historic building the Casita del Infante , was constructed as a home for the Infante Gabriel of Spain, the son of Charles III, in the late 18th century. It was a kind of hideaway for the young royal, where he could entertain guests in private. The building was designed by Spanish architect Juan de Villanova, who also designed Madrid’s Prado Museum . The house is open to the public.

See how royals spent their downtime

Royal brothers had to be treated fairly, so Gabriel’s older brother also had his own special hideaway: the Casita del Príncipe . The Infante Charles’s own little house was also designed by Juan de Villanova. The building was given protected status by the Spanish government in 1992 and is also open to the public.

Go for a hike

El Escorial is set in the beautiful surroundings of the Sierra de Guadarrama, the range of mountains that runs from the south to the north of Madrid. It’s a great place for hiking or mountain biking if you fancy getting out of the city for the day or a weekend.

After all that activity, you can settle down and enjoy a hearty lunch at one of El Escorial’s family-run restaurants, serving traditional tapas and great meat dishes. If you’re looking for something fancier, the town is home to the Michelin-starred restaurant Montia , whose chefs use local ingredients found in the Sierra to make avant-garde dishes that push the creative boundaries of gastronomy.

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El Escorial

The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is where the King of Spain has lived throughout the past centuries and is the most important monument of the Spanish Monument. Just over a half hour drive northwest from Madrid, El Escorial is one of the most important landmarks in Spain.

Inside the premises are the royal palace, the monastery, a museum and a school. This idea was King Phillip II’s, wanting a monument to bury his father and an impressive palace on the global scale.

It has been a UNESCO Heritage Site for almost thirty years. The building and its grounds are quite beautiful and from a distance they jump out from the countryside.

El Escorial is important to Spain because this is where the Spanish kings of the last five hundred years have been buried in the Royal Pantheon. There is so much more in this complex however that is mostly four stories with towers on each of the four corners.

The center of El Escorial is the Basicila of San Lorenzo el Real. This is one of the most breathtaking places in the world, fusing brilliantarchitecture, painting and sculpture together. The center of the church is covered with a large dome, which is the cross like building’s most defining feature.

The Palace of Phillip II is beside the Basicila and actually looks into the church from his bedroom. The Hall of Battles is where paintings depicting all of Spain’s military victories, many of which were against the French army.

There is an art gallery and an architectural museum. One of the most beautiful places in the premises is the Garden of the Friars.

There is also a massive library that has more than forty thousands volumes of books. The library itself is a piece of art with a stunning roof made up of different paintings.

Tours to El Escorial

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THE 10 BEST Things to Do in El Escorial

Things to do in el escorial, explore popular experiences, tours in and around el escorial.

Madrid to Escorial, Valle de los Caídos & Segovia: Optional Lunch

Private Classic Car Tour of Madrid and El Escorial

Skip-the-line entrance to the Escorial Monastery

Airplane flight

El Escorial, Valley & Segovia with Cathedral day tour from Madrid

Avila & Segovia Tour with Tickets to Monuments from Madrid

Three Cities in One Day: Segovia, Avila & Toledo from Madrid

Toledo Tour with Cathedral, Synagoge & St Tome Church from Madrid

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Visit El Escorial

El Escorial how to get there

How to get by car, train or bus to el escorial.

-- The best way to travel through the history of Spain and the reign of Philip II.

On a tourist trip to Madrid, one of the most recommended excursions is to visit the Monastery of El Escorial.

The Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a complex that includes a royal palace, a basilica, a pantheon, a library, a college and a monastery. It is located in the Spanish town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial , in the Community of Madrid , and was built in the 16th century between 1563 and 1584.

Surely you know that it is an impressive monument located in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, in the Sierra de Madrid, 53 kilometers northwest of the capital.

🚗 How to get to El Escorial by car from Madrid

There are two easy ways to get to El Escorial by car.

Mountain Route 1 with less safe roads, less roadways in the same direction and many curves. The M-505 road , which in Las Rozas takes the road to El Escorial and passes through Galapagar.

Rura 2 for cars with safer circulation, route with several carriageways in the same direction but with the possibility of traffic jams in the middle of the day; A6 road runs along the La Coruña highway passing through Villalba and Guadarrama.

Both routes take about 55-60 minutes to reach the center of San Lorenzo de El Escorial , located in the urban center, very close to the monastery.

🚂 How to go by train to El Escorial from Madrid

In the case of trains, at the Atocha Station or Chamartín Station you have to take the Cercanías line C3A , with a frequency of every hour, and it will take you about 65 or 50 minutes to get to El Escorial.

The train ticket price from Madrid to El Escorial is about 4,05€ each way (Zone 6).

The train leaves you at the station in the town of El Escorial , so to get to the monastery you will have to walk about 15 minutes or take the bus that connects the town with San Lorenzo de El Escorial .

🚌 How to get to El Escorial by bus from Madrid

If you prefer to go by bus to El Escorial , you will have more frequent service.

To do this you must take the buses of the company Alsa 661 which depart to El Escorial from the Intercambiador de Moncloa , which is located in the station of Moncloa Subway .

There are two bus lines that take you to El Escorial, where you can visit the monastery .

On the one hand, the 661 , which in Las Rozas takes the road to El Escorial and passes through Galapagar; and on the other hand, the 664 runs along the highway to La Coruña , passing through Villalba and Guadarrama.

Both lines take about 55 minutes to reach the San Lorenzo de El Escorial Bus Station , located in the city center, very close to the monastery.

However, in this regard, it would be more advisable to take line 661, which has a higher frequency of between 15 and 20 minutes.19

The bus ticket price from Madrid to El Escorial is 4.20 euros each way (zone C1).

MAPS AND TIMETABLES MADRID - EL ESCORIAL

🧭 maps and schedules of trains and buses from madrid to el escorial.

Here you have more information about public transport between Madrid and El Escorial .

Map of suburban train lines in the Madrid Region

Consult commuter train schedules in Madrid

Timetables for bus 661 from Moncloa in Madrid to San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Timetables for bus 664 from Moncloa in Madrid to San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Best hotels in San Lorenzo de El Escorial

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Visit El Escorial & Valle de los Caídos, Spain

Set against a backdrop of the Sierra de Guadarrama northwest of Madrid  is one of Spain's most revered sites. The vast monastery-palace of King Felipe II, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, has been a retreat for Spanish kings for centuries. Nearby is the Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen), a colossal war memorial to victims of the Spanish Civil War and the final resting place of the dictator Franco. The enormous subterranean basilica and towering granite cross mark the site of 40,000 burials.

Built by King Felipe II between 1563 and 1584, San Lorenzo de El Escorial commemorates his victory over the French in the Battle of Saint Quentin. It hosted Spain's finest intellectuals, scientists and artists and their royal patrons. The royal palace, monastery and mausoleum remains the largest Spanish building of the Renaissance.

An enormous statue of San Lorenzo, holding the gridiron on which he was martyred, stands above the west gateway, one of the entrances. The Renaissance library takes up one building, decorated with frescoes and containing more than 40,000 precious books and manuscripts. Inside the rather austere basilica you'll find unusual flat vaulting, numerous statues and an intricate bronze and marble reredos (ornamental screen behind the altar).

Many of the monastery's treasures are in the frescoed chapter houses, where works by old masters such as Titian, Tintoretto, El Greco, Velázquez and Hieronymus Bosch line the walls. Below, the Panteón de los Reyes is where almost all of Spain's monarchs since Carlos I are interred in gilded marble tombs, while the royal children were laid to rest in the carousel-shaped Panteón de los Infantes.

A series of rooms known as the New Museums house many other works from the palace's original art collection. The paintings by 16th- and 17th-century Spanish and Flemish artists include works by Titian, Tintoretto, Van Dyck and Rubens.

By contrast, the private apartments of Felipe II are quite modest. His successors were less ascetic and occupied the Palacio de los Borbones with their fine furniture, wood carvings, tapestries and artworks.

The atmosphere is entirely different at the controversial Valle de los Caídos 15 km (9 miles) north of El Escorial. The 20th-century Civil War memorial was commissioned by military dictator Francisco Franco and partly built by political prisoners. It looks out over the Valley of the Fallen, where the remains of 40,000 victims of the Civil War lie buried.

The memorial includes one of the world's largest basilicas, a Benedictine abbey and a towering cross set on an outcrop that can be seen from more than 32 km (20 miles) away.

Although the memorial commemorates victims on both sides of the conflict, it’s also the final resting place of Franco and his supporter José Antonio Primo de Rivera, the founder of the Falange movement. Both men are buried by the basilica's high altar. Many see it as a fascist memorial and consultations are under way on how to turn it into a point of reconciliation instead.

Best time to visit El Escorial

March to May and September to November are good time to visit as you’ll avoid the intense heat and the crowds of the summer months.

Start planning your tailor-made trip to El Escorial & Valle de los Caídos by contacting one of our Spain specialists

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Map of El Escorial & Valle de los Caídos

Places & hotels on the map, places near el escorial & valle de los caídos.

• Madrid 25 miles away
• Segovia 25 miles away
• Ávila 32 miles away
• Toledo 51 miles away
• Salamanca 86 miles away
• La Rioja 154 miles away
• Córdoba 191 miles away
• Bilbao 195 miles away
• The Basque Country and La Rioja 197 miles away
• San Sebastián 219 miles away
• Granada 238 miles away
• Andalusia 244 miles away
• Seville 244 miles away
• Costa del Sol 269 miles away
• Ronda 273 miles away

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