San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Tours

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.

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.

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.

Enjoy a regular or private tour with luxury transport from Madrid to San Lorenzo de El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen (currently Valle de Cuelgamuros) to visit the majestic Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, as well as the monumental complex from the Valley of the Fallen located a few kilometers away, in another beautiful enclave of the Madrid mountains. Begin the trip enjoying the landscape that the Sierra de Madrid gives us, beginning the tour with a guided visit to the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial that Felipe II ordered to be built as a Residence and Royal Pantheon. Symbol of the greatness of the Spanish Empire, it is an impressive construction of great historical, artistic and architectural value such as the Basilica, the Pantheon with the tombs of almost all the Kings of Spain since Emperor Carlos V, the Royal Library or the palatial dependencies that occupied by the different reigning dynasties. After the guided tour of the Royal Monastery, you will enjoy a guided walk through the historic city center of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and then continue the trip to the Cuelgamuros Valley where the highest Christian cross in the world (150 meters high) announces the location of the Valley of The Fallen, an extraordinary and controversial work of architecture, sculpture and engineering erected in honor of those who fell in the Civil War that ushered in a long period of dictatorship in Spain. Return to Madrid with unforgettable memories of one of the most amazing local tours.

Begin your tour in El Escorial. This was the symbol of the Spanish power in the 16th-century and commemorates the battle of St. Quentin. It is also mausoleum for Charles V. Due to the symmetry and balance of its construction, according to the humanist Renaissance style, for years it had been considered for years the eighth wonder of the world. Explore Habsburg Palace, the Kings and Princes Mausoleum, the Chapter House, and the Basilica. Next, 9 kilometers away from El Escorial, discover an enormous monument built between 1940 and 1959 to honor the fallen during the Spanish Civil War.  The basilica is carved into the mountain at 1,350 meters where an impressive 150 meters high cross places itself over the magnificent landscape of Madrid’s mountain range. Discover the City of the Three Cultures, 70 kilometers from Madrid. Toledo is a beautiful city-museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the oldest towns in Europe and has great artistic beauty with buildings from almost all periods in history including Arabian, Gothic, Mudéjar, Renaissance, and Baroque style. Visit the outside of the Cathedral and the interior of the Sto. Tomé Church with The Burial of the Lord of Orgaz, a masterpiece by El Greco. Explore the interior of the Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca and the interior of the incredible monastery of San Juan de Los Reyes. Go to see a demonstration of the famous technique of damascened, inlay of precious metals in steel and forging of swords. Finish your tour with a panoramic sightseeing tour of Toledo and stop at a viewpoint for breathtaking views of the city where you can take the best pictures of Toledo.