El Escorial Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

El Escorial
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.

Where to stay in El Escorial

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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 Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and La Silla de Felipe II, a few notable attractions nearby.

Peralejo
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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 Prince's House.

Navalquejigo
B&B Yeguada la parrilla

B&B Yeguada la parrilla

3 out of 5
C/ Cebadillas s/n El Escorial Madrid
The price is ₹8,964 per night from 14 Mar to 15 Mar
₹8,964
₹9,860 total
14 Mar - 15 Mar
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
The Oliver Apartamentos Aravaca

The Oliver Apartamentos Aravaca

Calle de Alsasua 8 Madrid
The price is ₹5,261 per night from 1 Mar to 2 Mar
₹5,261
₹5,787 total
1 Mar - 2 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! (117 reviews)
Room was ok. Friendly staff. Just need better management of the luggage.

Reviewed on 20 Feb 2026

The Oliver Apartamentos Aravaca
Hotel Pax Torrelodones

Hotel Pax Torrelodones

3 out of 5
Calle Sama de Landreo, s/n Torrelodones Madrid
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Torrelodones. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions Casino Gran Madrid and Espacio ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (348 reviews)
Room cleaned to perfection but overall interior is quite tired. Plenty of parking, good night' sleep, good value breakfast. Will stay again if will be around.

Reviewed on 11 Feb 2026

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Hotel Pax Torrelodones
See all 444 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.
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
Oshun Mirasierra

Oshun Mirasierra

2 out of 5
Avenida del Cardenal Herrera Oria, 241 Madrid Madrid
Stay at this apartment in Madrid. Popular attractions Bernabéu Stadium and Gran Via are located nearby.
Oshun Mirasierra
Casas Rurales Collarubio

Casas Rurales Collarubio

3 out of 5
Calle de Goya 12 Collado Mediano
Stay at this family-friendly holiday home in Collado Mediano. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and private pools. Popular attractions Monumento al Cantero and ...
Casas Rurales Collarubio
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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

Cities near El Escorial

The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, historical residence of the King of Spain, about 45 kilometres northwest Madrid, in Spain.

San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Campo con cielo/ vista de la dehesa boyal con la sierra de Guadarrama al fondo en Collado Villalba, provincia de Madrid. España

Collado Villalba

® S.D. (ES,EN.) CUADARRAMA PARQUE DEL AYUNTAMIENTO

Guadarrama

This is a photography of a Site of Community Importance in Spain with the ID:
Photo by Liortega (page does not exist) (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0)

Zarzalejo