El Escorial

Embark on a guided tour to the Monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial and enjoy skip-the-line entry. Explore the Basilica of the Valley of the Fallen and hear the history behind each turn from your guide. Leave Madrid in the morning and travel 50 minutes to San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Visit the baths upon arrival and then begin the tour of the San Lorenzo Monastery. Learn the long history of Spain, specifically the reign of Felipe II. See the building that best summarizes the ideological and cultural aspirations of the Spanish “Golden Age” and is named a World Heritage Site. See places like the Patio de Reyes, Cloister, Chapter Rooms, The Basilica (except on Sundays), The Pantheon of Kings and Infants, and the Royal Rooms. Travel to the Valley of the Fallen located in the Peña de Cuelga Muros after leaving San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Visit its surroundings and the basilica carved into the rock, and the burial place for 33,847 people who died in the Spanish Civil War. Be amazed by the great granite cross that is visible from kilometers away.

On this 5-hour tour from Madrid, you’ll begin with a visit to the Monastery of El Escorial. It was built under the reign of powerful King Philip II as a residence for Spanish kings, a monastery, and a royal pantheon. It became a symbol of the great power of the Spanish Empire at that time. The monument was declared to be of artistic and historic importance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Valley of the Fallen was built in 1936, about 9 kilometers from Escorial, as a memorial to those who died during the Spanish Civil War.  Situated in a beautiful valley in the Guadarrama Mountains, this impressive work features a cross standing more than 150 meters high, as well as a basilica and crypt built into the hard rock under the mountain. The tour includes admission to the Valley as well as a visit to the basilica’s interior.

Enjoy a visit to the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and discover the ideological and cultural aspirations of the Spanish Golden Age. See how Italian and Flemish artistic forms blend together and learn of the era of Philip II. Explore the building that houses several different purposes. First, the monastery of San Lorenzo el Real was created for the monks of the order of St. Jerome. Explore around and learn of Emperor Charles V and his wife who once lived there. Experience the untouched layout of the building, which to this day is largely unaltered. From the Library to the palace, walk through and find the Basilica, erected in 1574, and ponder the artwork that took years to complete.

Explore Madrid with a Go City All-Inclusive Pass over 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days, and save up to 50%* compared to buying separate attraction tickets. With more than 20 attractions, tours, museums, and experiences to discover, you can join a guided tour of the Royal Palace, explore iconic museums including the Prado and Reina Sofia, jump on a hop-on hop-off bus tour and indulge in ‘churros con chocolate’ at the end of a Segway tour. Sync your pass with the Go City app and you’ll have everything you need in the palm of your hand. Use the city guide for opening times and reservation information and use the handy map to navigate your way around the city. The All-Inclusive Pass is perfect for those wanting to see and do as much as possible – simply choose the number of days you want and start exploring. The following attractions are included: • Prado Museum Guided Tour (R) • Madrid Royal Palace Tour (R) • Chocolate and Churros Segway Tour (R) • Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour • Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum • Toledo Tour – Self-Guided with return transport (R) • Flamenco Show and Tapas Menu at Torres Bermejas (R) • Madrid Electric Bike Tour • Reina Sofia Museum – Guided Tour (R) • Parque del Retiro and Cibeles Palace Tour • Museo de Cera (Wax Museum) • Madrid highlights: Walking & Bus tour (R) • Madrid Sightseeing Segway Tour (R) • El Escorial and Valley of the Fallen Tour (R) • Museo Lázaro Galdiano • Las Ventas Experience • MAPFRE Foundation Art Exhibitions • Toledo and Segovia – Full-day Tour with transport (R) (R) reservations required Please note: Attractions and tours are subject to change. Check the Go City digital guide included on your confirmation voucher (or the Go City app) for the full list of inclusions, opening times, and reservation instructions (where applicable) before you go. *Savings based on sample itineraries on Go City website.

After meeting with your guide, get away from the bustle of the city on a comfortable air-conditioned coach. At the first stop, enjoy a guided tour through the Royal Monastery of El Escorial, an architectural ensemble declared World Heritage site by UNESCO. Built in the 16th century, it is a symbol of the power of the government at the time. Learn about the impressive Royal Mausoleum and the story behind the 21 years of construction time. Marvel at the symmetry of the Renaissance-style building. Listen to your guide's commentaries as you explore the Habsburg Palace, the Chapter House, the Basilica, and the remarkable library.  Then, board your bus again for a short drive to the Valley of the Fallen. The site is located 9 kilometers away from El Escorial, in Sierra de Guadarrama. This enormous monument, built between 1940 and 1959, is carved into the mountain, 1,350 meters up. An impressive 150-meter-high cross stands over the magnificent nature reserve of Madrid’s mountain range, which can be seen from miles away.

Visit the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and travel through the history of Spain to the reign of Philip II. Admire this Renaissance marvel and learn from your local guide the ideological and cultural aspirations of the Spanish Golden Age. Discover the interior of this imposing building built in the 16th century. Explore the basilica, the Battle Hall, the pantheon, the palatial rooms, and other essential places of the monument. Also, visit the famous library of the Royal Monastery whose volumes were collected by Philip II to expand his humanistic knowledge. After two hours of unveiling the mysteries of this grill-shaped monastery, finish the guided tour next to the entrance.

Begin your full-day tour with a morning visit to the Monastery of El Escorial, built under the reign of powerful King Philip II as a residence for Spanish kings. See the Monastery and Pantheon of the Royal Family at this site that was declared a monument of Artistic and Historic Interest, and Mankind Heritage. Your tour includes the Monastery, the Cloister of the 4 Evangelists, the Palace of Philip II, the Pantheon of the Royal Family, the Chapterhouses, and the Basilica. The Valley of the Fallen is a memorial to those who died during the Spanish Civil War. Situated in a beautiful valley in the mountains of Guadarrama, this impressive work features a colossal cross standing over 150 meters high, and Basilica and Crypt excavated in the rock under the mountain. This tour includes admission to the Valley and a visit inside the Basilica. Upon return to Madrid (14:00hrs approx.), you will have free time until 15:00hrs. At this time, we will departure from our office to Segovia. Upon arrival the experience begins visiting Plaza del Azoguejo where you will be able to admire the Roman Aqueduct. Then we’ll continue walking through the old town to see the Town Hall Square, the outside of the Gothic Cathedral and of course the Alcázar Castle of the 12th century, former fortified residence of the kings of Castile, all accompanied by our expert guide. Then you can enjoy a short free time to buy some souvenirs on the way to the starting point of the tour and then heading back to Madrid. Upon our return to Madrid, the visit will ends at 20:00 hrs approx.

Check in at our office in central Madrid 15 minutes in advance of your tour. Leave the city aboard one of our comfortable air-conditioned coaches. Enjoy a guided tour of the Royal Monastery of El Escorial, an architectural complex declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the 15th century, it symbolizes the power of the government at the time. Learn all about the Royal Mausoleum it houses and the story behind the 21 years it took to complete. With its Renaissance style, the building’s symmetry will amaze you. Listen to your guide’s explanations as you walk through the site, visiting the Palace of the Habsburgs, the Chapter Room, the Basilica, and the extraordinary library. At the end of the visit, board the bus again for a short transfer to the Valley of the Fallen. Located 9 km from El Escorial, in the Sierra de Guadarrama, you’ll see it from afar thanks to the monumental cross erected at the site. The monument is an underground church built into the mountain. The same is topped by the World’s Largest Cross, which can be seen from miles away. Check in again at our office in central Madrid 15 minutes in advance of your tour. Leave the city towards Toledo aboard one of our comfortable air-conditioned coaches. Relax and enjoy the scenery on the way to the city. Take a guided walking tour of the Historic City of Toledo, World Heritage City since 1986. Once Spain’s capital, it is a perfect mix of Arab, Jewish and Christian cultures. Discover its fantastic heritage and learn how the coexistence of these cultures over centuries influenced its current architectural style. Admire the building sponsored by the Catholic Monarchs to serve as a royal mausoleum, their most important construction, the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes. We’ll walk to the Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca. Originally built as a synagogue, it was expropriated and became a Church only 211 years after it opened its doors. Today, it is a fantastic museum of Mudejar (Arabic) style that you will visit. Admire the world-famous painting of by el Greco – The Burial of the Count of Orgaz – at the Church of St. Tomé. Did you know el Greco himself lived in this beautiful city? The guided tour will end in front of Toledo Cathedral, considered the most important Gothic cathedral in Spain. Afterward, you’ll have free time to explore Toledo on your own before returning to Madrid.

With your Go City Explorer Pass, exploring Madrid is super easy. Simply choose your favorite 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions from a list of more than 20 options and start exploring the Spanish capital. Walk in the footsteps of kings and queens on a guided tour of the Royal Palace, enjoy a traditional flamenco show or get your art and culture fix at one of the finest art museums in Europe, the renowned Prado Museum. Sync your pass with the Go City app and you’ll have everything you need in the palm of your hand. Use the city guide for opening times and reservation information and use the handy map to navigate your way around the city. Whether you’re a Madrileño or visiting for the weekend, the Explorer Pass is perfect for exploring at your own pace – your pass is valid for 60 days from your first attraction visit. Choose any 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions from the below - (R) reservations needed: • Prado Museum Guided Tour (R) • Madrid Royal Palace Guided Tour (R) • Flamenco Show and Tapas Menu at Torres Bermejas (R) • Madrid Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour • Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum • Museo de Cera (Wax Museum) • Toledo – Self-guided Tour with transport (R) • Madrid Guided Tour at Sunset (R) • Reina Sofia Museum Guided Tour (R) • Las Ventas Experience • Chocolate and Churros Segway Tour (R) • Lázaro Galdiano Museum • Madrid highlights: Walking & Bus tour (R) • MAPFRE Foundation Art Exhibitions • El Escorial and Valley of the Fallen Tour (R) • Cibeles Palace and Retiro Park Tour (R) Please note: Attractions and tours are subject to change. Check the Go City digital guide included on your confirmation voucher (or the Go City app) for the full list of inclusions, opening times, and reservation instructions (where applicable) before you go. *Savings based on sample itineraries on Go City website.

The tour will begin in Plaza Zocodover, the nerve center of the historic quarter, from where we can admire the north façade of the Alcázar, designed by Alonso de Covarrubias in the 16th century. We will walk through the Alcaná, an old commercial area where it is said Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote de La Mancha, used to walk. In the Ayuntamiento Square we will be surprised by the beautiful Cathedral and its 92-meter-high tower, where rests the Campana Gorda (the “Fat Bell”), the largest in Spain. Known as the Dives Toletana, it is the richest cathedral in the country, thanks to the incomparable artistic and historical heritage that it houses inside, which we recommend you visit it with one of our guides. In this square there are other important buildings: The Archbishop's Palace, residence of the Archbishop of Toledo; and the Town Hall, designed in the 16th century by Juan de Herrera, a famous architect who collaborated in the design of the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, and whose last name gives its name to an architectural style: Herreriano style. On this visit we will also discover the Jewish Quarter, where the guide will delve into the history of this town that left an important influence on the city, its architecture and its history. A large number of monuments are concentrated here, such as: The Church of Santo Tomé, which preserves the most important painting by El Greco; the synagogues of Santa María la Blanca and del Tránsito, and the Monastery of San Juan de Los Reyes.