El Escorial

Travel Guide

El Escorial
August 15th every year. FIreworks are launched at midnight as a closing ceremony of the San Lorenzo festivities, which take place the week before that last day. Everybody stands at the big open area next to the Royal Palace and Monastery, while the show begins, by the rythm of music. It is a great and exiting entertainment, located in a beautiful place! Must watch ;) #lifeatexpedia #fireworks #lights #novembercontest #elescorial
El Escorial was built by King Philip II in the late 16th century to serve as both a royal palace and as the seat of the Catholic Church in Spain. In addition to the palace the complex includes a basilica, a convent, a school, a library, and a pantheon. While El Escorial is impressive from the outside, we actually found it a little austere on the inside. In many ways it felt more like a fine art museum than a typically elaborate European palace (such as Versailles). That said, there are some impressive sights, including works by El Greco, Bernini, and Giardini. The library was also quite beautiful, with richly carved wood shelves, a marble floor, and a colorful fresco ceiling by Pellegrino Tibaldi. For me, the highlight of the tour was the 180ft long (55m) Hall of Battles – a barrel-vaulted room where the walls were completely covered in frescos depicting Spain's military victories over the Moors and the French. All aspects of the battle field were portrayed (when you have 180ft, that is quite doable), and the artist employed an interesting trick whereby the more distant, smaller scenes were less saturated, and the background mountains and landscape were set in hues of blue. Overall I'd say El Escorial is worth a visit, but you probably won't need more than a couple of hours to enjoy it.
This is the Courtyard of the Kings and the entrance to the Basilica. By European standards we found the Basilica a bit boring. The two highlights were a gorgeous life-size white marble sculpture of Christ on the cross by Cellini (originally meant for the sculptor’s own tomb) and the Giordano ceilings, which he frescoed when he was his late 50s.
The monastery at El Escorial is still operating, though it has transitioned from the Hieronymites to the Order of Saint Augustine. Despite it's grand appearance, only around 40 Augustinians remain in residence. Parts of the monastery and royal palace are open for touring, but it feels more like a fine art museum than an opulent palace. Worth a couple of hours though.

Where to stay in El Escorial

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Navalquejigo

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Navalquejigo and surrounding area, you can visit Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and Centro Comercial Los Valles.

Navalquejigo
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Peralejo

The coffee shops and casinos are a few reasons travellers visit Peralejo. Though there aren't many top sights in the neighbourhood, you can visit La Silla de Felipe II and Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, a few notable attractions nearby.

Peralejo
B&B Yeguada la parrilla

B&B Yeguada la parrilla

3 out of 5
C/ Cebadillas s/n El Escorial Madrid
Fully refundable
The price is €92 per night from 14 Apr to 15 Apr
€92
14 Apr - 15 Apr
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this B&B in El Escorial. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Popular attractions Prince's House and Auditorio San Lorenzo de El Escorial ...
B&B Yeguada la parrilla
EL ESCORIAL HOUSE

EL ESCORIAL HOUSE

El Escorial Madrid
Stay at this villa in El Escorial. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and private pools. Popular attractions Centro Comercial Planetocio and Velódromo Galapagar ...
10/10 Exceptional! (3 reviews)
Nos encanto la casa de Andres especialmente el jardin con la picina y la barbacoa. El proprietario fue muy atento, siempre dispuesto a responder cualquier pregunta y con una gran flexibilidad respecto a la hora de llegada y salida. Ademas tuvo el detalle de dejarnos algo de comida y huevos de las ...

Reviewed on 30 Sept 2025

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EL ESCORIAL HOUSE
The Oliver Aravaca Apartamentos

The Oliver Aravaca Apartamentos

Calle Alsasua 8, Moncloa - Aravaca, 28023 Madrid Madrid
The price is €77 per night from 22 Mar to 23 Mar
€77
22 Mar - 23 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Madrid. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Royal Palace of Madrid and Bernabéu Stadium ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (121 reviews)
Room was ok. Friendly staff. Just need better management of the luggage.

Reviewed on 20 Feb 2026

The Oliver Aravaca Apartamentos
See all 458 properties in El Escorial
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
EL ESCORIAL HOUSE

EL ESCORIAL HOUSE

El Escorial Madrid
Stay at this villa in El Escorial. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and private pools. Popular attractions Centro Comercial Planetocio and Velódromo Galapagar ...
10/10 Exceptional! (3 reviews)
Nos encanto la casa de Andres especialmente el jardin con la picina y la barbacoa. El proprietario fue muy atento, siempre dispuesto a responder cualquier pregunta y con una gran flexibilidad respecto a la hora de llegada y salida. Ademas tuvo el detalle de dejarnos algo de comida y huevos de las ...

Reviewed on 30 Sept 2025

EL ESCORIAL HOUSE
The Oliver Apartamentos Pozuelo

The Oliver Apartamentos Pozuelo

3 out of 5
Vía de las Dos Castillas 9B Pozuelo de Alarcon Madrid
Stay at this aparthotel in Pozuelo de Alarcon. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Royal Palace of Madrid and Plaza ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (160 reviews)
The staff was very helpful. However, my room was appeared to be a ground floor office that had been converted to a hotel room. The windows were covered with the thick curtains which took up the majority of the room. There was barely any space between the bed and the windows. I had stayed there

Reviewed on 9 Feb 2026

The Oliver Apartamentos Pozuelo
Beautiful 3 Bedroom apartment very near Madrid city, Wifi, AC, Pool, Paddle.

Beautiful 3 Bedroom apartment very near Madrid city, Wifi, AC, Pool, Paddle.

Majadahonda Comunidad de Madrid
Stay at this golf apartment in Majadahonda. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, private pools and a garden. Popular attractions Madrid Zoo Aquarium and Heron City are located ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (20 reviews)
Beautiful spacious well equipped and decorated apt with fully supplied kitchen (plates pots soap towels) fast WiFi and nice tv w cable. Extremely clean and well kept. Very responsive and helpful host. Well functioning washer/dryer. Comfortable cozy beds. Spacious rooms and bathrooms. 2 blocks to ...

Reviewed on 2 Jan 2026

Beautiful 3 Bedroom apartment very near Madrid city, Wifi, AC, Pool, Paddle.
See all properties in El Escorial
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Church of San Bernabe

After visiting Church of San Bernabe, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in El Escorial. While in the area, you can find time to visit its temples.

Church of San Bernabe

Prince's House

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Prince's House in El Escorial. While in the area, you can find time to visit its temples.

Prince's House

Things to do

Royal Monastery by Luis Riberio

El Escorial and Valley of the Fallen Half Day Trip from Madrid

€59
per adult
El Escorial and Valley of the Fallen Half Day Trip from Madrid
Escorial & Valley Half-Day Morning Tour from Madrid

Escorial & Valley Half-Day Morning Tour from Madrid

€66
per adult
Escorial & Valley Half-Day Morning Tour from Madrid
San Lorenzo de El Escorial: Monastery and Site Guided Tour

San Lorenzo de El Escorial: Monastery and Site Guided Tour

€40
per adult
San Lorenzo de El Escorial: Monastery and Site Guided Tour
From Madrid: El Escorial & Valley of the Fallen Guided Tour

From Madrid: El Escorial & Valley of the Fallen Guided Tour

€97
per adult
From Madrid: El Escorial & Valley of the Fallen Guided Tour
San Lorenzo de El Escorial Monastery: Private Tour

Private tour: San Lorenzo de El Escorial Monastery

€75
per adult
Private tour: San Lorenzo de El Escorial Monastery
Visit to the Monastery of El Escorial

Visit to the Monastery of El Escorial

€35
per adult
Visit to the Monastery of El Escorial
See all activities in El Escorial
Deep Space Communications Complex in Robledo de Chavela, Madrid, Spain

Robledo de Chavela