Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (El Escorial) Tours and Tickets

The must-see attractions inside the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (El Escorial) are the Hall of Battles, covered from floor to ceiling in huge paintings of Spanish Empire battles; the 16th-century Royal Library, home to more than 45,000 rare books, one signed by Christopher Columbus; and the grand Basilica with its marble walls and stained glass windows.

You can book tickets for the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (El Escorial) on the day from the ticket office or online using the website. Tickets include a digital guide that helps you navigate the sprawling site, which you can download on your smartphone. Admission tickets cost €19 for adults, with significant discounts for children and people over 65.

There are three ways to get from Madrid to the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (El Escorial). You can take bus line 661 or 664 from Moncloa bus station in Madrid, which takes about one hour. The train from Atocha station takes the same amount of time. If you’re driving, take the Madrid-San Lorenzo road via the A6.

Yes, day trips from Madrid typically combine the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (El Escorial) tour with the Valley of Cuelgamuros (Valley of the Fallen), a granite cross and vaulted crypt that memorializes those who died in the Spanish Civil War. Some tours also visit the UNESCO-listed city of Toledo.

There’s so much to see at the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (El Escorial) that you’ll need at least three hours to explore—and that’ll just be seeing it at surface level. Put aside at least half a day, as that’ll give you time to enjoy wandering the gardens too.