El Escorial and Valle de los Caídos, half day tour

In a single morning, discover the majesty of the Monastery of El Escorial and Valle de los Caídos

Let us guide you to the best options based on your style and desired route.

From

€145

El Escorial and Valle de los Caídos

Half day tour

AVAILABLE DAYS: Every Saturdays
SCHEDULE: 8:30 am to 13:30 pm
GROUP SIZE: Maximum 6 people (semi-private)
GUARANTEED DEPARTURE: With a minimum of 2 people
PICKUP LOCATION: At the hotel (city center of Madrid)
TOUR LANGUAGE: Tour in english (optional in Spanish)
INCLUDES: Premium semi-private vehicle, tickets and local guide.
DOES NOT INCLUDE: Personal expenses, tips.
MINIMUN AGE: 14 years old (private tours for families or friends available)
DISTANCE FROM MADRID: 48,9 km

El Escorial and Valle de los Caídos

The Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, one of the most emblematic architectural works of the Spanish Renaissance

After hotel pickup, we will head towards the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, one of the most emblematic architectural works of the Spanish Renaissance.
We will begin our visit around 9:30h with a walk through the serene Jardines de los Frailes (Friars’ Gardens), which surround the monastery and offer privileged views of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains.

At 10:00h, we will start a guided tour of the monastery’s interior — a monumental complex commissioned by King Felipe II and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During our visit, we will explore the Palacio de los Habsburgo (Palace of the Habsburgs), the solemn Basilica, the Royal Pantheon of Kings and Princes, and the breathtaking Royal Library, known for its Renaissance decoration and valuable manuscript collection. This visit offers deep insight into the historical, artistic, and spiritual significance of the monument.

Around 11:30h, we will continue to the Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen), located just a few kilometers away. Our 30-minute visit includes the esplanade dominated by the monumental 150-meter-high cross — visible from over 40 km away on clear days — and the access to the Basilica, carved entirely into the rock, a unique structure with profound symbolic meaning. Our guide will provide historical and architectural context to help interpret this deeply significant site.

Estimated arrival in Madrid will be around 13:30 h

A carefully curated itinerary to discover two of Spain’s most iconic landmarks in a single morning, combining history, art, architecture, and inner reflection in a stunning natural setting.

On which days is this tour available?

Every Saturday.

What is the size of the semi-private group?

Maximum of 6 people (semi-private).

Is departure guaranteed?

Departure is guaranteed with a minimum of 2 people

In which language is the tour conducted?

English, but if the entire group speaks Spanish, the tour can be conducted in Spanish.

What type of vehicle is used for the tours?

Premium Mercedes Benz Viano Class V.

What are the tour hours?

From 8:30 am to 1:30 pm.

What does the tour include?

Semi-private premium vehicle with hotel pickup, entrance fees to all monuments visited, and a local guide.

What is not included?

Personal expenses, tips.

Where is the pickup location?

At the hotel, as long as it’s in central Madrid.

What is the minimum age to join the group?

14 years old (private tours for families or friends available).

Full refund up to 72 hours before the tour start.

Curiosities

Before being buried in the Royal Pantheon at El Escorial, Spanish monarchs must first spend several years in the so-called Pudridero Real (Royal Decay Chamber), a hidden space where their bodies naturally decompose. Only then can they be transferred to their final resting place.
The monastery is full of mathematical, geometric, and religious symbolism: it contains 16 courtyards, 88 fountains, 86 staircases, 13 oratories, 15 cloisters, and 9 towers — all designed with symbolic meaning linked to faith and power.
El Escorial’s Royal Library is one of the most stunning in Europe, both artistically and in terms of content. Commissioned by Felipe II as a symbol of universal knowledge, it holds over 40,000 ancient volumes in Latin, Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, and more. Its main hall dazzles with a vault decorated with Renaissance frescoes representing the Seven Liberal Arts.
Some believe that El Escorial sits atop one of the Earth’s energy points or chakras, similar to those found at Stonehenge or the Egyptian pyramids. According to esoteric theories, such places emit a special telluric energy associated with spirituality and power.
The cross that crowns the Valle de los Caídos is 150 meters tall and can reportedly be seen, on clear days, from over 40 kilometers away. It is one of the tallest in the world.
The Basilica at the Valle de los Caídos is carved entirely out of rock, with an interior length of over 260 meters — almost as long as St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Its construction was an enormous engineering challenge.