Best El Escorial Tours

No one doubts that there are enough things to see and do in Madrid to last several days without getting bored. However, this should not mean that some interesting visits around the capital, such as Segovia, Avila, Toledo and, above all, the monastery of El Escorial, should be left out.

Built by order of Felipe II in the 16th century, this monumental complex was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco for its artistic and historical merits. The complex is considered to be the best example of the Renaissance in Spain, and inside you can see spectacular rooms such as the mausoleum in which several monarchs are buried, the basilica and the beautiful Patio de los Reyes (Kings' Courtyard).

Although visiting Madrid' s best museums alone would keep you busy for several days, on your list of things to do during your trip should be this half-day tour to El Escorial, which also includes a stop at the Valley of the Fallen.

The monastery of El Escorial, as the complex in San Lorenzo de El Escorial is popularly known, was built in the 16th century as a celebration of the Spanish victory over the French at the Battle of San Quentin. It was also intended to serve as a resting place for the mortal remains of the Spanish kings.

The complex is located just over 50 kilometres from the capital. As I explain in this article on how to get to El Escorial from Madrid, there are several options for visiting it on your own, but if you want to make the most of your time, it is best to hire a half-day guided tour.

This type of tour uses modern buses that depart from a meeting point that will be communicated to you in plenty of time. As tickets are included, you won't have to worry about anything when you arrive at the monastery, as you won't even have to wait in a queue to get in.

The visit to all the attractions of El Escorial is guided by a guide who will explain the history of the monument and the factors that have made it one of the most artistically valuable.

The tour does not end after the visit to the monastery, as on the way back you will stop at the Valley of the Fallen. This was built during the Franco regime to pay homage to those who died during the Spanish Civil War and, although controversial, it is still a place where you can learn about this part of Spain's history.

What you will see if you choose this type of tour

• The El Escorial monastery complex: during the visit you will be able to see the different parts that make up this monument, including the palace of the Habsburgs, the basilica, the Chapter House, the Kings' Pantheon and the library. It will be a complete tour of about 2 hours during which you will receive information about what you are seeing at each moment.
• Valley of the Fallen: the visit includes the entrance to this place, where you will be able to see the great cross of 150 metres high placed on the mountain range, as well as the basilica.

Practical information

• Price: From 56 €.
• Duration: about 5 hours

Why I like this tour: with just one half-day tour you'll be able to see two of the most important places around Madrid, all without having to worry about anything.

Recommended if... you want to make the most of your stay in Madrid and take the opportunity to visit some nearby places.

Those who want to take advantage of their visit to Madrid to visit some of the nearby attractions have a great opportunity in this tour. For a whole day you will be visiting the monastery of El Escorial and the beautiful city of Toledo, with a significant saving of time and money by combining both visits in a single excursion.

El Escorial, with its monumental complex, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. It covers an area of 33,327 square metres and is made up of different parts that you can visit accompanied by an expert guide.

After visiting this monument you will head to the impressive city of Toledo in your luxury coach with all the comforts. In this city you will be able to see its rich architectural and pictorial heritage always accompanied by your guide.

What you will see if you choose this type of excursion

• The Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial: although it is always referred to simply as a monastery, the truth is that this monumental complex includes several different buildings, for which you will have your ticket without having to buy it yourself. The most important ones are the Palace of the Habsburgs, the Kings' Pantheon, the Chapter House and the Basilica.
• Toledo: the entire historic centre of Toledo is an artistic jewel in its own right. This tour includes entry to places such as the church of San Tomé (where you can see El Grego's painting "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz"), the synagogue of Santa María la Blanca and the monastery of Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes.

You can also visit the Primada Cathedral, the most important temple in the city, as well as stroll through the narrow streets that will make you feel like you've travelled back in time.

Practical information

• Price: From €98
• Duration: about 10 hours

Why I like this tour: The opportunity to see two of the country's most renowned sites in one day is not to be missed. Plus, the convenience of having everything taken care of means you can enjoy the experience to the fullest.

Recommended if... you want to take advantage of your visit to Madrid to see one of the most beautiful cities in the country, Toledo, and also combine it with a visit to what was known as the Eighth Wonder of the World, the monastery of El Escorial.

Another different option for those who wish to spend a day getting to know the surroundings of Madrid is this excursion which, in addition to El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen, includes a visit to the beautiful city of Segovia.

The first stop is the Valley of the Fallen, a historic site that you will visit accompanied by a professional guide. At the end of the tour, the group will head to El Escorial, the most important monumental complex of the Renaissance in Spain.

Finally, always accompanied by an expert guide, you will be able to see the most important monuments in Segovia, including, of course, its famous aqueduct.

To round off this day trip from Madrid, you'll have the chance to sample one of the most characteristic dishes of Segovian gastronomy in a traditional restaurant: suckling pig.

What you will see if you choose this type of excursion

• The Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial: the monastery of El Escorial is actually made up of several different areas, all of great historical and artistic interest. On your guided tour you will be able to see all of them, including the Palace of the Habsburgs, the Palace of the Bourbons, the Basilica and the Pantheon of the Kings.
• Valley of the Fallen: the place that was destined by Franco to serve as a memorial to those who died in the Civil War has not ceased to cause controversy. However, it is still part of the country's history and, as such, a visit to it is of great interest.
• Segovia: although the aqueduct is its main symbol, the city of Segovia is home to numerous historical sites that you can visit for a few hours. Among other attractions, you will visit the Alcazar and the cathedral.

Practical information

• Price: From 100 €.
• Duration: about 10 hours

Why I like this tour: It's the best option to visit three places full of history and art in one day and in comfort.

Recommended if... during your visit to Madrid you want to get to know one of the cities with the most artistic heritage in the area, Segovia, without forgetting to visit El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen.

You may be hesitating between visiting El Escorial on your own or with an organised tour from Madrid (which, if you combine it with Toledo, is considered one of the best day trips from the Spanish capital). The truth is that the first option is possible, although the second has two great advantages: convenience and time saving.

Visiting El Escorial on your own is not too complicated in terms of transport. From the capital you will find trains and buses to get there easily, but you will have to dedicate part of your time to finding out where they leave from, how to buy tickets and the timetable for the outward and return journeys.

You'll also need to buy tickets to the monastery, which will be a bit more expensive if you want a guide to explain what you're seeing.

The advantage of this option is that you can visit the monastery at your own pace, and you will also have the chance to eat at one of the restaurants in San Lorenzo de El Escorial.

What if you want to take the opportunity to visit another city?

You will notice the advantages of the organised tour the most if you try to combine your visit to El Escorial with a visit to another place in order to make the most of your time. It would be possible to visit the Valley of the Fallen, but if you wanted to go to Toledo (which I recommend), you would probably have to leave it for another day.

With the organised tour, apart from the convenience of not having to study transport combinations and timetables, you just have to sit on the bus and let yourself be taken to your destinations.

Actually, booking this type of tour (regardless of the type of tour you choose) is very simple. All you have to do is enter the date you want to go on the tour and your details for the booking to be confirmed. Just pay attention to the different options that may appear.

You will immediately receive confirmation in an email with practical information.

All you have to do is go to the meeting point and show the guide the confirmation email, without having to print out any documents.

As is always the case with this type of question, it is practically impossible to give a concrete answer. In reality, this will depend on the tastes of each person, as well as the length of time you plan to stay in Madrid.

Thus, if you like football, you might prefer to spend a whole morning touring the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, while if you are looking to discover Madrid' s gastronomy, you might prefer to book a tapas tour. The alternatives that Madrid has to offer are almost endless, so including this visit is something that is up to you.

Having said that, a visit to El Escorial means getting to know one of the most important monuments in the whole country. Precisely that importance, reflected in the art, means that having a guide is more necessary than in other places, as this is the only way to contextualise what each area means and understand the reasons for its construction...

On the other hand, taking a guided tour instead of going on your own will allow you to make better use of your time, especially if you choose an option that includes cities such as Toledo or Segovia. These are visits that would be impossible to do in a single day by public transport, so these excursions represent a unique opportunity if you are going to be in Madrid for about 4 days.

• When to go: it is difficult to decide on a specific time to go on this excursion. Although the summer heat in Madrid is oppressive, temperatures in San Lorenzo de El Escorial are much milder, so going at this time of year can be a good way to escape the 40ºC of the capital. On the other hand, winter can be cold, but not cold enough to prevent you from going. In short, it is one of those places that you can visit comfortably at any time of the year.
• Duration of the visit: you should calculate that the complete visit will take you a little more than 2 hours, whether you go on your own or with a guide.
• Travelling with children: it may not be an easy visit to make with children, especially if it takes too long. In this case, the advantage of going with a guide is that he or she will tell some interesting facts about the monument, something that may entertain some children if they are old enough.
• Check the information you have been given: although it may seem obvious, you should make sure you check the time and place where you have been told to start the tour. The same applies if you have free time at any of the places you visit so as not to keep the rest of the group waiting.