This 16th-century royal monastery and palace complex includes a basilica, library with 40,000 books, and the burial site of Spanish kings beneath its granite walls.
The Royal Monastery of El Escorial rises 45 kilometers northwest of Madrid, its granite walls stretching across an area of 207 by 161 meters. As you walk through this UNESCO World Heritage site, you'll discover Philip II's private chambers, see Hieronymus Bosch's "The Garden of Earthly Delights" in the art gallery, and climb to the dome of the basilica for panoramic mountain views. The Royal Library holds medieval manuscripts while the Pantheon contains the marble tombs of Spanish kings.
Exploring the Royal Monastery
The Royal Monastery's gray granite walls and four corner towers dominate El Escorial's skyline. As you enter through the west façade, you'll reach the Courtyard of the Kings, where six 5-meter-high statues of Old Testament rulers frame the basilica entrance. Inside, you can explore 15 cloisters and 16 courtyards across multiple levels. Look up to spot some of the 2,600 windows that illuminate the complex's corridors and rooms.
Art Collections Inside the Monastery
Walk through rooms filled with paintings by Titian, Tintoretto, El Greco, and Velázquez. In the Royal Library, you can examine illuminated manuscripts, including the Ottonian Golden Gospels of Henry III from 1045. The Battle Room's walls display frescoes showing Spanish military victories in detail, while the basilica's dome rises 92 meters above its Greek cross floor plan.
Getting to El Escorial
Take bus 664 from Madrid's Moncloa transport hub to reach El Escorial in about one hour. The bus stops 200 meters from the monastery entrance. Alternatively, catch the C8a train from Atocha station, which takes an hour but arrives at El Escorial station, one kilometer from the town center. The bus works better for arrival, while the train station's location near the Casita del Príncipe makes it convenient for departure.
Walking Routes and Views
Stroll through the monastery's gardens with their geometric boxwood hedges and stone fountains. For mountain views, follow the 3-kilometer path through La Herrería forest to the Silla de Felipe II, a stone seat carved into rock where King Philip II watched the monastery's construction. The trail gives you clear views of both the monastery and the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains.
Practical Information
The monastery stays closed on Mondays. You can join guided tours daily, but you'll need to get tickets from the office on the same day of your visit. During August's Saint Lawrence festival and September's Romería procession for the Virgin of Grace, the town becomes crowded with visitors. If you plan to stay overnight during these times, reserve your accommodation several weeks ahead.
