El Escorial: the back story

About El Escorial: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Madrid Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

The Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial stands at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama, north-west of Madrid; UNESCO inscribed the “Monastery and Site of the Escurial, Madrid” in 1984. It is run by Patrimonio Nacional.

Getting there

Cercanías trains to El Escorial; the monastery is uphill from the station.

The monastery

Book on patrimonionacional.es.

Cercanías trains run to El Escorial.

Eating

Montia, in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, holds One MICHELIN Star in the 2026 guide.

Our advice: combine it with a walk in the Sierra.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with El Escorial: the back story before you go.