El Escorial Monastery: tickets, day trips and how to get there
The 4 ways to visit it that we sell, compared, with the official price, opening hours, free days and how to get there from Madrid.
- Official ticket
- €14
- Official guided visit
- €22
- Winter hours
- 10am – 6pm
- Closed
- Mondays
- Getting there
- Bus 661 / 664
About El Escorial Monastery
Philip II had the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial built at the foot of the Guadarrama mountains to commemorate the victory at St Quentin (1557), won on St Lawrence's day. Work began in 1563 under Juan Bautista de Toledo and, after his death, was completed in 1584 by Juan de Herrera, whose austere, geometric style has carried his name ever since: Herrerian.
The granite building, laid out on a rectangular plan, brings together a Hieronymite monastery, a royal palace, a basilica, a pantheon and a library under one roof. Most Spanish kings since Charles I lie in the Royal Pantheon beneath the high altar. The Royal Library, with its frescoed vault, holds thousands of manuscripts and early printed books.
The Basilica, built on a central plan and crowned by a large dome, presides over the whole complex. Philip II ruled for much of his reign from here and died in the palace in 1598. The Monastery and the Royal Site have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.
Every way to visit El Escorial Monastery
Tickets and tours with their own allocation: still available when the official site is sold out.
Which option suits you?
Our pick depending on what you're after.
| If you want… | We recommend | Rating | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| The most popular | From Madrid: El Escorial and Valley of Cuelgamuros guided tour | 4.7 (1,769) | €62 |
| Just the ticket | El Escorial: Royal Monastery entry ticket | 4.5 (312) | €18 |
| Just your group | El Escorial and Valley of Cuelgamuros: Private Tour from Madrid with Hotel Pickup | — | €820 |
| With Madrid on the same day | Royal Madrid and El Escorial: private full-day tour | — | €1,698 |
Practical info
Opening hours
Tuesday to Sunday, 10am–6pm from October to March and 10am–7pm from April to September. The ticket office and entrance close 1 hour 15 minutes earlier. Closed every Monday.
Official prices
General €14 (plus €0.77 online booking fee). Reduced €7. Official guided visit €22 (€15 reduced). Free for EU and Ibero-American citizens on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons, at the ticket office only.
Getting there
Bus 661 or 664 from the Moncloa interchange (35–55 minutes), which drops you near the Monastery. Or the C-8 Cercanías train from Chamartín (about 50 minutes) and a 15-minute uphill walk.
When to book
Buy in advance on the official Patrimonio Nacional website: some time slots fill up over bank holidays and weekends. The ticket office at the Visitor Reception Centre sells same-day tickets.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a ticket to El Escorial Monastery?
Is there a day when entry is free?
Which days is it closed?
How do I get to El Escorial from Madrid without a car?
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