The Monastery of El Escorial sells its tickets on Patrimonio Nacional's official website, which recommends booking ahead. On long weekends and at weekends some slots fill up, but there is almost always another way in on the day. Try these options in this order.
Which ticket should you choose?
| If you want… | Option | From |
|---|---|---|
| To go from Madrid with everything sorted | El Escorial and the Valley of Cuelgamuros with a guide, 4.7★ (1,769) Book | €62 |
| Just the ticket, on your own | Royal Monastery entry ticket, 4.5★ (312) Book | €18 |
| Just your group, with pick-up | Private tour with an official guide from Madrid Book | €820 per group |
1. Check the official website again
The official ticket site is tickets.patrimonionacional.es. Prices in force since 16 October 2025:
- General: €14 (plus a €0.77 online booking fee).
- Reduced: €7, for ages 5 to 16, over-65s and students up to 25 with a student card.
- Free: children under 5, large families, people with a disability of 33% or more (and their companion), unemployed people, teachers and official guides. These free tickets are only issued at the ticket office.
- Official guided visit: €22 (€15 reduced), about 2 hours. In Spanish, Tuesday to Sunday at 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30 and 13:30. In English, Tuesday to Sunday at 10:45.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00 from October to March and 10:00 to 19:00 from April to September. Closed on Mondays. The ticket office and entrance close 1 hour 15 minutes earlier (at 16:45 in winter, at 17:45 in summer).
2. The ticket office and free entry
The ticket office is in the Visitor Reception Centre, next to the Monastery, and sells same-day tickets.
If you are a citizen or resident of the EU or Latin America, entry is free on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons: 15:00 to 18:00 from October to March and 15:00 to 19:00 from April to September. It is without a guide, at the ticket office only and with ID. As entry closes 1 hour 15 minutes before closing time, in winter you only have until 16:45 to get in.
3. A day trip with entry included
If you'd rather not depend on the ticket office, a day trip from Madrid includes transport, a guide and entry. The most common one combines El Escorial with the Valley of Cuelgamuros in half a day. Check the listing says "Monastery entry included".
4. Going on your own from Madrid
- Cercanías C-8 commuter train from Chamartín (about 50 minutes) or Atocha (just over an hour). From the station it's about a 15-minute walk, uphill. Note: in 2026 there have been weekend closures for engineering works.
- Bus 661 or 664 run by Autocares Herranz from the Moncloa transport hub: 35 to 55 minutes, and it drops you near the Monastery.
5. What you can see without a ticket
- The Basilica does not require a ticket (it closes during services).
- The Monastery's facade and the lonja (the stone esplanade), with the mountains behind.
- The gardens of the Real Sitio, open every day.
- The town of San Lorenzo, with its steep streets and café terraces.
Mistakes to avoid
- Going on a Monday. It's closed every Monday of the year.
- Trusting old prices. Some websites still say €12; since October 2025 it has been €14.
- Buying from sites other than the official one. Free tickets are never sold online: if a website "sells" you a free ticket, it isn't the official one.
- Turning up for free entry at the last minute. Entry closes 1 hour 15 minutes before closing time.
In one sentence
If your slot is sold out, try another time or the ticket office, remember it's closed on Mondays, and if you'd rather not take the risk, book a day trip with entry included; how it fits into your trip is in Private or group day trip from Madrid?.
