How to Get to El Escorial from Madrid

Although it is not in the city itself, the monastery of El Escorial is always on the list of things to see when travelling to Madrid. Located in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, some 60 kilometres from the Spanish capital, its walls not only house art, but also part of the country's history.

In order to enjoy the attractions of this monumental complex you will need information on how to get to the town. The most convenient option is to hire an organised excursion, although if you prefer to go on your own, you won't have any problems either, as public transport links are really excellent.

In order to see all that El Escorial has to offer, it is very interesting to have a guide to explain each of its corners and the history of the site.

If we add to this the convenience of having transport from Madrid and not having to worry about getting tickets to the monument, it is easy to understand why an organised tour is the best option.

The best tours of El Escorial from Madrid offer all these advantages and, as if that were not enough, the option of completing the visit with a visit to places such as Toledo or the Valley of the Fallen.

Option 1: Excursion to El Escorial Monastery and Valley of the Fallen

Booking an excursion to El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen is the easiest option from Madrid to visit El Escorial. What's more, you only need half a day.

Together with your expert guide, you will visit the Habsburg Palace, the mausoleum of the kings and princes, the basilica and the chapter house.

To complete the excursion you will also visit the controversial Valley of the Fallen, built as a memorial to those who died in the Spanish Civil War.

Option 2: Excursion to El Escorial, Valley of the Fallen and Toledo

The most complete option is to book an excursion to El Escorial, Toledo and the Valley of the Fallen. These are three visits that would be impossible to make if you wanted to do it by public transport, as you would not have time.

Besides, you would not be able to do it by private car either, both because of the difficulties of finding good parking in Toledo, and because of the need to be aware of the schedules of each monument so as not to find any of them closed.

Option 3: Excursion to El Escorial, Valle de los Caídos and Segovia

If you already know Toledo, then the most complete option for you is to book an excursion to El Escorial, Segovia and the Valley of the Fallen.

The city of Segovia is one of those places in Spain that you must visit, both for its Royal Alcazar and its impressive Aqueduct.

For those who prefer to visit El Escorial on their own, the train is the cheapest and easiest way to do so.

To get to El Escorial by train, all you have to do is take the C3 suburban line. This leaves from the stations of Atocha, Chamartín and Puerta del Sol, three places that are very easy to get to because of their central location and because they are linked by line 1 of the city's metro.

Trains normally run every hour. The journey to El Escorial station usually takes just over an hour and costs just over €4. Once at El Escorial station, you'll have to walk about 15 minutes to get to the monastery or take the city bus.

If you prefer to focus on getting to your destination quickly, the bus is probably the best way to get to El Escorial. From the Moncloa Interchange it only takes about 50 minutes to get to the town.

To get to Moncloa station you can take the metro lines 3 or 6. Once there, you should take bus 661 or 664, with departures every 15 minutes approximately.

The price (less than 5 euros each way) is a little higher than the train fare, but the difference is not too significant.

Considering all the options available to visit El Escorial I would not recommend using the car to get around, as it is very chaotic.

However, if you have travelled by car you should know that the journey only takes about 50 minutes, plus the possible delay due to traffic.

Of course, it is also possible to hire a car to make this journey. Here is a short list of the car hire companies you can use: Sixt, Record Go, Europcar, Budget.

Taxi to go from Madrid to El Escorial

I am not going to deny you the convenience of taking a taxi to take you to your destination. However, each way can cost you around 85 €, so it is not a very convenient option.

There is another way to visit El Escorial that can be really interesting, especially for those who have been to Madrid with children.

Every morning, the so-called Tren de Felipe II (Philip II Train) leaves from Príncipe Pío station. It is a 20th century locomotive that makes the journey in about 50 minutes. During the journey there are activities enlivened by actors dressed as the monarch after whom the train is named.

The experience is rounded off with free admission to the complex or a guided tour of the grounds where you can see the most important areas. Depending on the package, prices range from €15 to €23.

It is never easy to answer this question, as inevitably the interest in visiting a place has a lot to do with the tastes of each person.

In general terms, I would recommend it because the artistic and historical value of the place deserves it. However, as long as you stay in Madrid for 4 days or more, because if you stay less than 4 days you will have to eliminate some points of interest from your tour of the capital.

I hope that with this article you have a clear idea of how to get from Madrid to El Escorial. To complete the information, here are a few tips to help you make the most of your visit:

• Visiting hours to the monastery are from 10:00 to 20:00 from April to September (closed on Mondays). The rest of the months it closes two hours earlier.
• Please note that you can only enter the monastery up to one hour before it closes.
• You should expect to need between 2 and 3 hours to do the whole tour.
• You can enter the monastery for free on Wednesdays and Sundays between 15:00 and 18:00.
• Unless you have some prior knowledge of the place, I advise you to do the visit with an expert guide.
• Don't miss the Battle Rooms, the Portraits of Philip II Palace, the frescoes in the Library and the Chapter Rooms.
• To see the Casita del Príncipe and the Casita del Infante you must be accompanied by a guide.
• There is a public car park under the Plaza de la Constitución for those arriving by car.
• It is worth going to the Silla de Felipe II (a 50-minute walk from the complex) for the best views of the monument.