Monastery of El Escorial Tickets

If you have already visited everything Madrid has to offer, there is no better option than taking one of the excursions to the surrounding area. Among them, the monastery of El Escorial, located just over 50 kilometers from the Spanish capital, stands out.

This monumental complex houses some buildings considered to be the best examples of the Spanish Renaissance. Built in the 16th century to commemorate the victory in the Battle of San Quintín and to serve as a mausoleum for Spanish kings, inside you can see a fantastic basilica, the lavish Palace of the Habsburgs, and the pantheon of the kings, among other attractions.

The best option

San Lorenzo de El Escorial Tickets

Access the Monastery of El Escorial with your direct ticket and audio guide option.

Visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most visited monuments in Madrid and of great historical value.

From $21 at Hellotickets

About 50 km from the city of Madrid, at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains, lies this Renaissance monumental complex, a must-see if you visit the Spanish capital to soak up its culture and history. With your tickets to San Lorenzo de El Escorial, you can visit the Basilica and the Pantheon of the Kings, as well as the Palace of the Austrias and the Royal Library.

In short, a complete tour of the reign of Philip II, who ordered the construction of this building. Thanks to the audio guide or downloadable digital guide, which you can include with your general admission ticket to the Monastery of El Escorial, you can learn more about this architectural marvel of the Community of Madrid.

Recommended if... You don't want to miss the Monastery of El Escorial in Madrid without having to wait in line at the ticket office to get in.

General admission to the Monastery of El Escorial costs around €15 and entitles you to visit all the buildings that make up the complex.

There is also a reduced ticket price of €6 for children between the ages of 5 and 16 (ID required for those over 14) and for adults over 65 and students under 25 with a national or international student ID card, the price is €7.

In addition to getting your ticket to visit the Monastery of El Escorial, you will need to find out how to get there. That's why there are many excursions organized from the capital that provide transportation and include admission and a guided tour in which a local guide will explain the context and historical details of this monumental complex.

Furthermore, due to its proximity to the Valley of the Fallen, many of these excursions include a visit to this other place of great historical importance in Spain, considered one of the best day trips from Madrid.

Are there free tickets to the complex?

Yes, free admission is available for certain types of visitors on specific days of the year. In these cases, you must go to the ticket office before entering, as these passes cannot be purchased online.

The following visitors are eligible for free admission:

• Children under 5 years old.
• Members of large families recognized by current law.
• Members of ICOM (International Council of Museums) and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).
• Teaching staff who can provide proof of their status
• People with disabilities who have accreditation and one accompanying person
• Unemployed persons with an unemployment card or equivalent document

In addition, admission will be free for almost everyone on the following days:

• Between October and March, admission is free on Wednesdays and Sundays from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (only for EU citizens, Latin Americans, or residence card holders).
• From April to September, Wednesdays and Sundays from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m . in the same cases as described above
• May 18 and October 12

The Monastery of El Escorial offers guided tours in Spanish led by National Heritage staff. If you choose this option, you must arrive at the ticket office 10 minutes before the time indicated on your ticket.

These tours must be booked online when purchasing your ticket. The prices are as follows:

• Basic ticket with guide: €16.
• Reduced admission with guide: €10.
• Free guided ticket: €4.

Deciding whether this type of guided tour is worthwhile depends largely on how much you already know. If you are familiar with the history surrounding the monument, you may not need a guide, but it is highly recommended for those who know less about El Escorial and want to make the most of the occasion.

There are currently two ways to purchase individual tickets to the monastery complex. The first is online, on the official Hellotickets website. When doing so, you must indicate the day and time slot in which you wish to visit. Admission is normally every 15 minutes.

The second way to purchase tickets is at the ticket office located in the complex itself, but please note that lately only tickets that have not been sold online are available through this channel. If you are going during high season, I recommend purchasing tickets online or arriving quite early at the monastery gate.

Although you can find out more about this by reading the article on how to get from El Escorial to Madrid, here is a brief summary of the different options:

• Organized tour: from Madrid, there are several organized excursions that also include admission and visits to other nearby places.
• Train: C3 commuter line from Atocha, Chamartín, or Puerta del Sol stations
• Bus: lines 661 and 664 from Moncloa
• Car: leave Madrid on the A6 and take exit 47 to join the M-600
• Historic locomotive: the Felipe II Train departs every morning from Príncipe Pío station. With this option, you can also book a guided tour of the complex.

You may be spending a few days in Madrid and, for convenience or any other reason, prefer to visit the Monastery of El Escorial on a tour from the capital. Luckily for you, you can choose from several tours that also include other interesting destinations:

• Half day in El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen: in a modern bus and with a guide, you will be able to visit both the monastery complex itself and the controversial Valley of the Fallen.
• Full day in El Escorial and Toledo: this comprehensive option is undoubtedly perfect for those who want to spend a day visiting the monastery and one of the most beautiful cities in the country.
• Full day in El Escorial, Valle de los Caídos, and Segovia: by including Segovia, you will be able to visit the many attractions of this Castilian city, including its famous aqueduct.

The monastery of El Escorial is made up of a series of rooms, halls, palaces, and gardens, as well as the basilica, which serves as a place of worship. The most important places to visit are:

• The Patio de los Reyes (Courtyard of the Kings) and the basilica. Inside the basilica, don't miss the sacristy and the main altarpiece.
• The crypt: it houses a small chapel that was intended to receive the mortal remains of the monarchs.
• The cloister staircase: this is truly spectacular, especially the frescoes that adorn it.
• The Hall of Battles.
• The Chapter Rooms: as if you were visiting the Prado, here you will find valuable paintings by artists such as El Greco and Velázquez.
• The library: one of the most beautiful rooms in the entire complex.
• The Habsburg and Bourbon Palaces.

With a guide, you will be able to receive information about all these areas during the visit. However, I recommend that you gather some information before you go. If you wish, here is some more detailed information about what you can see in El Escorial, including some interesting places outside the monastery complex that you may want to visit.

If you are traveling on your own, you will most likely want to stay in the town for lunch. Fortunately, you will find a large number of restaurants to choose from.

The gastronomic offer covers all kinds of styles and tastes. If you're looking for something as traditional as a cocido (stew), you can't go wrong with Charolés, while if you prefer grilled meat, you won't find anywhere better than Asador del Rey.

For those who want to enjoy a unique gastronomic experience, El Escorial is home to a Michelin-starred restaurant, Montia. Finally, if you want to try burgers with style and unbeatable flavor, I recommend Al Punto Hambgourmet.

Those visiting El Escorial with tickets purchased as part of a guided tour will not need to worry about opening times, as everything will be organized to ensure there are no problems.

However, if you are visiting on your own, you should bear in mind the opening and closing times of the complex:

• Between October and March, it is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., although admission for new visitors is cut off one hour earlier.
• From April to September, the opening time remains the same and the closing time is extended to 8:00 PM.

Both schedules are from Tuesday to Sunday, as the monument is closed to the public on Mondays.

There will always be differences in how long it takes each person to tour the entire complex, as it depends greatly on how much time you spend in each part.

However, whether you take a guided tour or go on your own, the tour usually lasts a little over 2 hours.

Madrid's geographical location and excellent transport links mean that there are many interesting day trips to nearby towns and cities.

In my opinion, the best ones include trips to Toledo, which can also be reached by other means.

Equally interesting are trips to Segovia, the city of the aqueduct, which can be combined with a visit to Ávila.