Discover El Escorial
Tailored to you: private trips from Madrid and guided tours on site – at Philip II's monastery at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama.
Choose your El Escorial experience
El Escorial options compared
Why visit El Escorial?
Monastery and royal court in one: Philip II built a monastery, a palace, a basilica and a royal pantheon in a single block of grey granite at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama – and ruled an empire from here. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.
The Pantheon of the Kings: the Spanish kings lie beneath the high altar of the basilica.
The library: a hall under a frescoed vault, its books shelved with their spines facing inwards.
The rooms of Philip II: the small rooms where the king lived and died.
The Valley of Cuelgamuros: formerly the Valle de los Caídos: a basilica cut into the rock beneath a cross visible for miles, built under Franco between 1940 and 1959, partly by political prisoners. We present it with its history and the debates that still surround it.
Close to Madrid: about 50 km north-west, 45 minutes to just over an hour each way depending on traffic – ideal for half a day.
Private El Escorial trip for 1–3 people
€599 per group · approx. 5 hrs · pickup at your accommodation in Madrid
Send us your preferred date – we'll confirm availability and send you all the details.
Included:
pickup and return by private car, your guide from departure, entry to the monastery with guided visit and to the Valley of Cuelgamuros, a walk around the monastery to the Plaza Mayor, a short coffee break, fuel, tolls and parking, free child seat on request (please give the child's weight and height).
Not included:
food and drinks; lunch at the Asador del Rey is available as an add-on.
Duration: approx. 5 hours. The monastery and Cuelgamuros are closed on Mondays.
Price: €599 per group of up to 3 people, VAT included.
Exclusive El Escorial trip from Madrid for groups (4+ people)
Travel privately and comfortably from Madrid to Aranjuez – just your group. We pick you up at your hotel or office, and your guide accompanies you through the Royal Palace and the gardens.
Vehicle and price by group size (per group, VAT incl., approx. 5 hrs):
- Van (1–8 people): €979
- Minibus (9–19 people): €1,206
- Coach (20–55 people): €1,293.50
Included: vehicle with driver and guide for the half day from your hotel, with one free hour for an aperitif or lunch. Royal Palace entry: €9 per person, at cost. Groups of 30+ may need a second guide (€293). Request your no-obligation quote now!
El Escorial guided tour without transfer
Travelling to El Escorial on your own?
Then meet your guide right there.
Ideal for groups who are already in El Escorial or arrive by train, bus or their own car. Your guide shows you the monastery inside: the basilica, the Pantheon of the Kings, the library and the rooms of Philip II. The Valley of Cuelgamuros is not included – it belongs to the trip by vehicle.
Duration: approx. 2 hours · not on Mondays (monastery closed)
Price: €239 per group, VAT included. Monastery entry: €14 per person, at cost.
Your El Escorial day, tailor-made
Would you like to plan the day differently? We adapt your El Escorial trip to your wishes: more time in the monastery, the day without Cuelgamuros, a lunch of the Sierra's roasts at the Asador del Rey – or a tour for your company, school or travel group. Write to us and we'll prepare a no-obligation quote.
Segovia and El Escorial in one day
The two lie on either side of the Sierra de Guadarrama: in the morning Philip II's monastery, palace and pantheon at El Escorial, then across the mountains to Segovia. About 200 km of driving. No Cuelgamuros on this day – there isn't time for it.
Approx. 10 hrs · Van €1,665 · Minibus €2,045.50 · Coach €2,221.50 per group, VAT incl. · Entries €25 per person, at cost · For 1–3 people we prepare a quote with a private car · Not on Mondays (monastery closed).
El Escorial FAQ
Is the price per person or per group?
The private trip costs €599 per group (1–3 people), VAT included. Group tours and the guided tour on site are also charged per group.
Are the entries included?
On the private trip, entry to the monastery and to the Valley of Cuelgamuros is included. Group tours add €23 per person, the guided tour on site €14 for the monastery – both at cost.
On which days is it closed?
The monastery and Cuelgamuros are closed on Mondays. Cuelgamuros closes early on Wednesdays and Sundays – on those days we go to the valley first. The monastery stops admitting visitors well before closing time, so a late start doesn't work.
Can children come?
Yes, children are very welcome. We provide a free child seat on request – please tell us the child's weight and height.
Is hotel pickup included?
On the private trip and on group tours we pick you up at your accommodation in Madrid and bring you back. For the guided tour on site you travel on your own.
Can we have lunch in El Escorial?
A short coffee break is planned, but not lunch. As an add-on we book a table at the Asador del Rey for a lunch of about an hour and a half; you pay for the meal on site.
Is the trip accessible?
Cuelgamuros has no accessible route, and the funicular to the cross is closed indefinitely. Let us know in advance and we'll plan the day accordingly.
What is the cancellation policy?
Up to 15 days before: full refund (except non-refundable tickets already bought). 14 days to 48 hours before: 50 % refund. Less than 48 hours before or no-show: no refund.