# Aranjuez Royal Palace, free gardens beside the Tagus, a boat trip and the Strawberry Train, 45 minutes from Madrid by car or on the Cercanías. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/aranjuez · Revisado: 2026-11-12 Aranjuez is the Royal Site where the kings spent the spring, on the plain where the Jarama meets the Tagus. There is a palace, but what fills the day is the gardens: kilometres of avenues of centuries-old trees, fountains and a river that is still sailed. Its cultural landscape is a World Heritage Site. It lies 50 km south of Madrid and is one of the easiest days out from the city, without a car too. ## How do you get there from Madrid? By car, about 45 minutes along the A-4 and the M-305. By train, the Cercanías C-3 leaves Atocha and arrives at Aranjuez station, a building of 1923 about 15 minutes' walk from the palace. There are also buses from the Estación Sur at Méndez Álvaro. In spring and autumn, on some weekends, the Strawberry Train of the Railway Museum repeats the journey of Spain's second railway line, opened in 1851, with wooden carriages. From Toledo it takes about 45 minutes and from Chinchón half an hour; bus 430 links the two towns. ## Where to park? Park when you arrive and do not move the car: the centre, the palace and the gardens are covered on foot. If you are coming for the boat, the El Curiosity landing stage, at the entrance from the Madrid road, has free parking nearby. The NH Collection hotel, opposite the palace, has private parking for guests. ## What to see? The Royal Palace is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00 in winter and until 19:00 from April to September. Admission costs €9, €4 reduced, and on Wednesdays and Sundays from 15:00 it is free for citizens of the EU and Latin America and residents. The gardens are free: the Parterre, French in style beside the palace; the Isla, Renaissance, surrounded by the Tagus and with the Castañuelas waterfall; and the Príncipe, the biggest, with the royal landing stage, the Museo de Falúas and, at the far end, the Casa del Labrador, a small palace of Charles IV that can only be seen with a guide from Friday to Sunday. ## What is there to do besides walking? Take the boat. El Curiosity runs a 45-minute covered trip on the Tagus with a guide from €9.99, and it is what children like most. For the long distances of the Jardín del Príncipe there is the Chiquitrén. And eating: Aranjuez is market-garden country, of asparagus and strawberries, and of riverside restaurants such as El Rana Verde. ## How much time do you need? A day. Palace in the morning, an hour and a half; lunch; afternoon of gardens and boat. With the Casa del Labrador and the Museo de Falúas, it is better to sleep a night and combine it with Chinchón. ## When to go? In April and May, with the gardens in flower and asparagus and strawberries in season; and in October and November, with the golden trees in the Jardín de la Isla. In July and August, the plain is hot at midday; the gardens give shade, but set out early. On Mondays the palace and the Casa del Labrador are closed. ## Dónde está - Cerca: Chinchón (a 19.4 km), Toledo (a 40.7 km), Madrid (a 43.5 km), Alcalá de Henares: university, Cervantes and Complutum (a 53.9 km) ## Qué hacer - **Royal Palace of Aranjuez** (1 h 30 · Everyone · Desde 9 € per person): The Royal Palace of Aranjuez was the country residence of the kings of Spain, the house to which the court moved in spring. It stands in the plain where the Tagus and the Jarama meet, surrounded by 111 hectares of gardens open to visitors, and is part of the Aranjuez Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You enter by the façade facing Plaza de Parejas, on Avenida de Palacio. What you tour The visit passes through the Bourbon rooms, furnished and decorated as court apartments. The two pieces most remembered are the Porcelain Cabinet, a room entirely covered in porcelain plaques from the Buen Retiro factory, and the Hall of Mirrors. Allow an hour and a half on your own, unhurried; with a guide, an hour. Prices Basic admission costs €9 and the reduced rate €4 (ages 5 to 16, over-65s and students up to age 25). The audio guide costs €5 and the guide service €8 on top of admission, which makes the guided visit €17. On Saturdays and Sundays there are guided sessions at 10:30 and 12:30; on weekdays there are more. Arrive at the ticket desk ten minutes early. Tickets are bought at the official Patrimonio Nacional ticket desk, online or at the palace itself; the ticket desk does not accept €200 or €500 notes. The Casa del Labrador, the little palace in the Prince's Garden, has a separate ticket, at €10. The Island and Prince's gardens are free. Hours and free afternoons It opens Tuesday to Sunday: from October to March, from 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:00; from April to September, from 10:00 to 19:00, with last entry at 18:00. It is closed on Mondays all year and on some public holidays: in 2026, 1 and 6 January, 1 and 29 May, 4 September and 24, 25 and 31 December. On weekends in March and October, with the clock change, the hours vary. On Wednesday and Sunday afternoons, from 15:00 to closing, admission is free for EU and Latin American citizens and residents with a work permit, with a ticket from the desk. During the visit You may take photos without flash for personal use, except where indicated; tripods and selfie sticks are not allowed. There is access for people with reduced mobility and manual wheelchairs on loan, in the palace and in the Royal Barges Museum. How to get there and what to do afterwards By train, the Cercanías C-3 line from Atocha; by bus, the AISA and SAMAR lines from the Estación Sur at Méndez Álvaro; by car, on the A-4 and the turn-off to the M-305. When you leave, the Island Garden is right next to the palace, and the Prince's Garden leads to the Casa del Labrador and the Royal Barges Museum. The day of palace, gardens and boat puts all that together. - **The Prince's Garden** (2 h · Everyone · Free): Aranjuez's biggest garden was created by the future Charles IV by joining earlier layouts between Calle de la Reina and the river: about 150 hectares, according to Patrimonio Nacional, bounded by the bends of the Tagus. To the west is the Huerta de la Primavera, which dates from Philip II; then a garden with French features and fruit trees by Pablo Boutelou, from 1772 to 1775, and to the east an English landscape garden by Juan de Villanueva. Admission is free; inside are the Royal Barges Museum and, at the far end, the Casa del Labrador. What is open now Before planning the long walk, check the latest Patrimonio Nacional notice: of the Prince's Garden, the space between the Villanueva Gate and Calle Isabel II is open, and the Chinescos pond has reopened; the rest of the historic gardens remain closed until further notice. The gardens open every day from 8:00; from late October to February they close at 18:30, and in summer at 21:30. There is no capacity limit. What to see The monumental entrance gates, neoclassical, are by Juan de Villanueva. Before reaching the river is the old Huerta de la Primavera and, on the bank, the landing stage of Ferdinand VI, preceded by a roundabout with five pavilions; the largest is the Royal Pavilion that Bonavía built in 1754. From here the court's barges set out on river outings with music, and here the prince began to use the pavilion as a place of recreation in the 1770s, when he decided to create the garden around it. Nearby are El Castillo, a vaulted room with a medieval air from the early nineteenth century, and the Royal Barges Museum. Further on, the Chinescos pond, designed by Villanueva, has a small temple with Ionic marble columns and a Chinese-style pavilion, transformed in 1826 by Isidro González Velázquez. There are also two islands, the Asian and the American, with exotic plants and rustic bridges, and the so-called Swiss Mountain, an artificial hill finished in 1826 with a viewpoint on top. Among the fountains, those of Narcissus, by Joaquín Dumandre, and Apollo, a replica of the one at La Granja, stand out. Many of its trees are in the Catalogue of Singular Trees of the Community of Madrid, and it is easy to come across peacocks. How to do it Allow two hours if you want to take it slowly and reach the Labrador at the far end; from the Calle de la Reina gate, Patrimonio Nacional estimates up to 20 minutes' walk to the little palace. Autumn is when the trees have most colour. If you don't want to walk so much, the Chiquitrén goes round the centre and the gardens. To stay a few steps away, the Hotel El Cocherón de 1919 is in the historic centre, beside the Prince's and Island gardens. And to round off the day, the Island Garden is next to the palace. - **Casa del Labrador** (50 min · Art lovers · Desde 10 € per person): Charles IV's whim: outside, a country house; inside, a neoclassical little palace of lavishly decorated rooms. It is seen only with a guide, in small groups, about 50 minutes, for €10. It is at the far end of the Prince's Garden, and as it opens only three days a week and in small groups, places run out. What it is Charles IV, when he was still Prince of Asturias, wanted a "country house" at the end of his garden to rest in the morning, have lunch with friends or listen to concerts. The name comes from its original, modest appearance. From 1798, by then king, he decided to turn the rustic house into the little palace you see today. The project is by Juan de Villanueva; works stopped during the War of Independence and were resumed under Ferdinand VII by Isidro González Velázquez. The U-shaped plan recalls Renaissance villas, and on the façade the royal coat of arms bears an inscription about his reign. Inside, the tour passes through rooms such as the Billiard Room, the Ballroom or the María Luisa Room, dedicated to Queen María Luisa of Parma, with paintings by renowned artists and sumptuous decoration. It is not a house to walk in and look around freely: the guide explains each room and the group moves together. Hours and tickets It opens Friday to Sunday, from 11:00 to 18:00 from October to March and until 19:00 from April to September; the ticket desk and access close an hour earlier. The Patrimonio Nacional ticket office shows sessions at 11:15, 11:45, 12:30, 13:00, 15:15, 15:45, 16:30 and 17:00, almost all in Spanish and one in English. Admission costs €10, plus €0.77 in booking fees if you buy online. At the door there is a vending machine that accepts cards only, but don't count on finding a place the same day: buy beforehand. It is not accessible for people with reduced mobility. Getting there You enter the Prince's Garden by Calle de la Reina; from that gate, depending on the entrance you use, it is up to 20 minutes' walk to the little palace. Arrive with time to spare: if you cut it fine, the walk through the garden feels long. Before going, check the Patrimonio Nacional notice about which areas of the garden are open. From the centre, the Chiquitrén brings you close to the garden entrance. To round off the day It fits well with the Royal Barges Museum, by the landing stage, and with a walk through the Prince's Garden. If you want to do the palace and the Labrador on the same day, book the Royal Palace in the morning and leave the Labrador for the afternoon, or the other way round, with lunch in between at Casa José. - **The Island Garden and the Parterre** (1 h · Everyone · Free): You enter through the Parterre, the French garden beside the palace. The Island Garden is surrounded by the Tagus and an artificial channel that forms the Castañuelas waterfall, the work of Santiago Bonavía. Philip II began it in 1560 with Juan Bautista de Toledo: a central axis with small squares and marble fountains brought from Italy from 1564. It is the short, shady walk after the Royal Palace. Hours and admission Admission is free and it opens every day. Patrimonio Nacional publishes the hours in stages: from late October to February, from 8:00 to 18:30; from 1 to 15 March until 19:00; and in high summer, from 16 June to 15 August, until 21:30. In March and October, with the clock change, weekend hours vary. According to its latest notice, the Island, the Parterre and the Isabel II garden are open, with no capacity limit. The Parterre, first In front of the palace, the Parterre is a French-style garden from the reign of Philip V, early eighteenth century, attributed to Marchand and enclosed by a moat. In the nineteenth century curving paths of Romantic taste were added. Its showiest fountain is that of Hercules and Antaeus, commissioned by Ferdinand VII in 1827, with Hercules lifting the giant off the ground; in the centre is the Ceres fountain, and beside the palace the two small Nereid fountains, brought from La Granja in 1744. The fountains of the Island From the Parterre you cross the channel by a flight of steps and reach the first fountain, Hercules and the Hydra, with a black jasper base and eight marble figures, commissioned by Philip IV. Following the central axis you meet Apollo, whose little square was called the Puerta del Sol of Aranjuez; the Clock, in which the shadow of the jet marks the hours on the rim like a sundial; the Boy with the Thorn, a child pulling a thorn from his foot between columns with harpies; Venus, in an octagonal square; Bacchus, seated on a barrel, a gift from the Grand Duke of Florence to Philip III; and at the end, Neptune, with a bronze group by Alessandro Algardi. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the central walk was covered by mulberry tunnels and wooden galleries, which disappeared in the eighteenth century. The great stone benches in the little squares were designed by Sabatini under Charles III. In the north-east corner is the Emparrado, a former walled kitchen garden where strawberries and asparagus were grown for the palace. The far end, the Isleta, was made between 1731 and 1737 as a viewpoint over the Tagus. How to do it Allow an hour to walk the axis to Neptune and back. It is a flat walk, with no slopes, suitable for pushchairs. For lunch, El Rana Verde is over the Tagus, between the palace and the gardens. If you have energy left, the Prince's Garden is on the other side of Calle de la Reina. - **Royal Barges Museum** (30 min · Everyone): Beside the landing stage of the Prince's Garden, in a building rebuilt in 1966 to a project by Ramón Andrada, the kings' pleasure boats are kept. It is one of the most singular single-subject museums of the royal collections: gilded boats in which the court sailed the Tagus and the Ontígola sea on spring outings. What you see The most photographed piece is the barge of Charles IV, built in Cartagena and decorated by Salvador Maella. Beside it is the gondola known as Philip V's, although according to the tourist office it is actually from the reign of Charles II, in the seventeenth century; Patrimonio Nacional presents it as the oldest and most spectacular in the museum. The room is completed by paintings of the nineteenth-century Spanish naval squadron, a set of bronze cannons from the reign of Ferdinand VI and utensils for handling the barges. The point of the museum becomes clear on leaving: a few steps away is the landing stage of Ferdinand VI, from which the court's river outings, with music, set out in the eighteenth century. If you want to see the gardens from the water as they did then, the boat trip on the Tagus boards on the Madrid road, beside the Canoeing Club. Hours and admission It is run by Patrimonio Nacional, which groups it with the Royal Palace for hours and free admission: it opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00, with last entry at 18:40, and is closed on Mondays all year. On Wednesdays and Sundays from 15:00 admission is free for the same groups as at the palace. In winter the palace closes at 18:00; confirm at the ticket desk whether the museum also closes earlier. Patrimonio Nacional does not publish a separate rate for the museum on its website: ask at the palace ticket desk whether your ticket includes it. There is access for people with reduced mobility and manual wheelchairs available on loan. Information from the Patrimonio Nacional office in Aranjuez, on 918 91 13 44. Getting there You enter by the main gate of the Prince's Garden, on Calle de la Reina, or by Calle de Colmenar, crossing the footbridge over the Tagus. From the palace you can walk along Calle de la Reina, or take the Chiquitrén. Note that, according to the latest Patrimonio Nacional notice, of the Prince's Garden only the stretch between the Villanueva Gate and Calle Isabel II is open. With children and nearby Half an hour is enough: it is a short visit that fits well into the walk through the Prince's Garden. If you arrive on the Strawberry Train, some of its routes, such as Royal Strawberries or the English Tour, include the palace and the Royal Barges Museum. - **Boat Trip on the Tagus on El Curiosity** (45 min · Families · Desde 9.99 € per person): See Aranjuez from the river, like the court in its barges. El Curiosity is a covered boat for 57 passengers that makes a trip of about 45 minutes with a guide along the Tagus, from €9.99. It is a relaxed way to see the gardens and the riverbank from the water, and it also works in cold or rain, because you travel under cover. The boat Its official name is Buque Aranjuez I. It belongs to Aranjuez Town Council and is run by the company Cruceros Fluviales. It is almost 16 metres long, fully covered and has continuous windows from bow to stern, so you see the river from any seat. It has heating and air conditioning, screens for the commentary, a toilet and a small bar. It passes its annual inspections and has the compulsory tourist-boat insurance. What the trip is like It lasts about 45 minutes, out and back along the Tagus, with a guide on board who tells the history of the city and the Royal Site in Spanish. It includes a quiz and access to La Ciudad Secreta, a city adventure that accompanies the trip. The tourism listing gives it as accessible; pets are not admitted. Times and price Departures are concentrated on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, at 11:30 and 16:30; if they fill up, others are added at 12:30 and 17:30. Final availability is confirmed when booking in the website's shop. The price starts at €9.99 per person; the website does not say whether there is a children's rate. In April and May they also offer a historic kitchen garden plan with a cruise for €25. For groups, schools or exclusive hire, contact 911 610 367 or the form on the website. Where to board The landing stage is at Carretera de Madrid 2, inside the Aranjuez Canoeing Club School, next to the Matilde restaurant. The free municipal car park is at Carretera de Cádiz 6, behind the Hotel Mercedes, about three minutes' walk; it admits coaches. Arrive with some time to spare to park and find the club. Before or after The boat fits between the Royal Palace and the Island Garden, which the same river surrounds. If you are interested in the history of royal boats, the Royal Barges Museum holds the court's. For lunch by the Tagus, El Rana Verde has terraces on the river. - **Strawberry Train** (8 h · Families): The Madrid–Aranjuez line opened in 1851, the second in the peninsula, and carried the kitchen garden's strawberries to Madrid. Since 1984 the Railway Museum has revived the journey with a historic train of wooden carriages that leaves Madrid and stops at Aranjuez station, built in 1923. It runs on some weekends in spring and autumn; check the Railway Museum's calendar and prices before planning it. Right now The official Strawberry Train website shows the notice "Strawberry Train provisionally suspended", with no date or reason. The autumn 2026 season had its last departures in early November, and for 2027 it only announces that there will be new dates on some routes. Before organising anything, check the website or call 915 068 053 (trendelafresa@ffe.es). If you want to go to Aranjuez by train in the meantime, the Cercanías C-3 from Atocha is the regular alternative. What the journey is like The train leaves from the old Madrid-Delicias station, now home to the Railway Museum, on Paseo de las Delicias. A troupe of actors greets travellers at the museum and accompanies them on the journey, recreating the history of the railway, and on the return trip there is a tasting of Aranjuez strawberries. The make-up of the train is what makes it special: four wooden carriages with little balconies, called "Costa", which formed part of a series of the MZA company (Madrid–Zaragoza–Alicante) built between 1914 and 1930, plus a steel second-class carriage, the BB-5045, from the 5000 series that Renfe ordered between 1947 and 1953. One of the wooden carriages has 92 seats on slatted benches. The first tourist trip, on 27 May 1984, was hauled by a Mikado-type steam locomotive; today it may run with a steam, diesel or historic electric locomotive. 2026 routes and prices The ticket includes the return trip on the historic train and varies according to what you do in Aranjuez. The published prices for 2026, adult and child, were: Natural Strawberries, with free visit: €32 and €24. Strawberries with Cream, with Chiquitrén, walks and bus: €43 and €32. Tagus Strawberries, with boat: €49 and €38. Royal Strawberries, with the Royal Palace and the Royal Barges Museum: €49 and €38. Combined Tagus Cream and Royal Cream: €56 and €43; Tagus Royal: €60 and €48. English Tour, all in English: €53 and €42. Tickets are bought in the sales section of the official website. The website does not detail the departure and return times for each route. With children It is a full-day plan, with actors and wooden carriages, that suits children well. If you choose a route with a free visit, in Aranjuez you have the Island Garden and the palace to hand, and for lunch, El Rana Verde, over the Tagus. ## Dónde comer - **Casa José** (Restaurant, Aranjuez, €€€). Qué pedir: the seasonal kitchen-garden vegetable dishes, or the tasting menu - **El Rana Verde** (Restaurant, Aranjuez, €€). Qué pedir: asparagus, frogs' legs or pheasant, and strawberries for dessert - **Casa Delapio** (Restaurant, Aranjuez, €€€). Qué pedir: at the bar, stew croquettes and a glass from their cellar; in the dining room, seasonal produce ## By car: By car, 45 minutes from Madrid From Madrid it is about 45 minutes on the A-4 and the M-305. A car lets you combine Aranjuez with Chinchón, half an hour away. Presupuesto orientativo: 50–130 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir if you're driving - **NH Collection Palacio de Aranjuez** (Hotel): Opposite the palace The hotel occupies an eighteenth- and nineteenth-century building on Calle San Antonio, in the historic centre and right opposite the Royal Palace. From the door you walk to the gardens and the Tagus, and the railway station is about 15 minutes' walk away. There are many bars and restaurants around, so you don't need a car for dinner. Rooms It has 86 spacious rooms, with soundproofed windows, wooden floors and modern decoration in natural colours. The beds have thick mattresses and there is a pillow menu. All have free wifi, minibar, satellite television, coffee maker and kettle. The ones that interest those coming for the palace are the Premium and the Junior Suite: they have a balcony with views of the Royal Palace. If it is a couple's getaway or a special occasion, ask for one of them when booking. The official listing does not publish rates; check prices by phone or on the chain's website. Services Breakfast: buffet with pastries, fresh fruit, yoghurt and eggs, among other options. Lobby bar: drinks, light meals and snacks. Central patio: with flowers and plants, for a drink outdoors. Gym with sauna. Private parking and easy access to the A-4. Rooms: six spaces for meetings and celebrations, with conference equipment and catering. The tourist office also lists air conditioning, pets admitted and accessibility, and a Guest Relations service that helps organise your stay. If you travel with a dog or need an adapted room, confirm the conditions when booking. Who it is for It is the most comfortable accommodation for those who want everything on foot: the palace opposite, the Island Garden next door and the Prince's Garden a walk away, with the Casa del Labrador at the far end. It suits couples, travellers arriving by train and families who come by car and want to leave it parked all weekend. If you arrive without a car, the Cercanías C-3 links Atocha with Aranjuez. For the long distances in the gardens there is the Chiquitren, and to see the city from the water, the boat trip on the Tagus. For lunch, El Rana Verde is beside the bridge, a few minutes away. Contact: 91 809 92 22 or nhcollectionpalaciodearanjuez@nh-hotels.com. - **Hotel El Cocherón de 1919** (Small hotel): A restored 1919 building El Cocherón de 1919 is a small hotel on Calle Montesinos, in the heart of Aranjuez's historic centre. The tourist office places it a few steps from the Prince's Garden, the Island Garden and the Royal Palace, all three within the cultural landscape that UNESCO declared a World Heritage site. The building dates from the early twentieth century and has been restored with guests' comfort in mind. The house's idea is to blend the traditional and the old with modern lines: a contemporary design within a rustic atmosphere. It has two floors. The ground floor, bright, brings together the common areas: a lounge, the café and a meeting room. Upstairs are the rooms. Rooms There are 18 in total, divided as follows: 8 doubles 4 special doubles 4 singles 1 triple 1 family room The triple and the family room are the ones sought by those travelling with children; it is wise to ask for them early, because there is only one of each. The singles are an unusual option in hotels of this size and suit those travelling alone. The official listing does not detail rates, check-in times or whether there is a lift or private parking: ask when booking if it matters to you. The hotel also offers itself for company meetings, family gatherings and small celebrations, making use of the ground-floor room. Getting here and around If you come without a car, the Cercanías C-3 runs from Atocha to Aranjuez station, and from there you walk to the centre. In spring and autumn you can arrive on the Strawberry Train, with wooden carriages. Once at the hotel, almost everything is done on foot: the palace, the Royal Barges Museum and the landing stage of the Prince's Garden. For the long distances within the gardens there is the Chiquitren. If you come by car, ask when booking where to leave it: the listing does not mention private parking. Before booking Book by phone, on 91 875 43 50, or by email at elcocheron1919@yahoo.es. The website linked from the tourism listing does not load, so the phone is the safest route. For dinner without taking the car, Casa José, on Calle Abastos, is nearby, and for lunch by the river, El Rana Verde. - **Samay Camping Aranjuez** (Campsite): A big campsite on the riverbank Samay Aranjuez is on the old N-IV, at the entrance to Aranjuez, on the bank of the Tagus. It covers 30,000 m² with 133 pitches of 70 to 130 m², 42 bungalows, five apartments and ten rooms. It is a good base for those who come by car or caravan and want to see the Royal Site without sleeping in the centre. Where to sleep inside Pitches. There are three types: the blue, of more than 90 m², for caravans and large motorhomes; the red, of 70 to 90 m², for medium-sized ones; and the yellow, for tents or camper vans. The campsite accepts CampingKey, ACSI and ADAC cards; check validity periods at reception. It has a motorhome service station and a car wash. Bungalows and apartments. They are wooden, in several models: the Village, high-end, with 42 m², two bedrooms and a bathroom for five people; the Jarama, of 32 m²; the Tajo and the Levante, more rustic; and apartments 21, 22 and Riviera, built of brick. They come equipped, with sheets and towels included, and from seven nights they include a weekly clean with linen change. Each bungalow has one parking space; extra cars stay outside the site. No smoking inside. Pools and activities There is an adult pool and a shallower children's one, with a small water park: open and tube slides, lower ones for little ones, a bucket and a palm tree that spray water. Around them are free sun loungers and parasols, and lifeguards who adjust supervision to occupancy. The pool is not heated. For children there is a mini club with craft workshops and an outdoor playground with rubber flooring, recommended for ages 5 to 11. There is also a multi-sport court, five-a-side football, volleyball, badminton and basketball hoops, and canoes. Entertainment runs in high season, Holy Week and long weekends. Eating and shopping The renovated El Juncal restaurant is on the Tagus bank with views of the Prince's Garden; it serves paellas, homemade pizzas, combination plates and cakes. The bar-café has tapas, sandwiches, burgers and pizzas, and in summer it is where the shows and live music take place. There is a supermarket with food, a drugstore, gas and camping supplies; check the hours at reception. With a dog and other rules Dogs are admitted on the great majority of pitches, except one zone, and in the Tajo and Jarama bungalows, apartments 21 and 22 and the Riviera. You may barbecue within your pitch or bungalow, but there is no barbecue area or picnic area. Visitors pay €10 per adult and €8 per child, depending on occupancy. In high season the minimum stay is seven nights. The campsite itself warns that it cannot offer wifi or internet. From here, the centre, the Royal Palace and the boat trip on the Tagus are a short drive away. ## Car-free: Without a car, by Cercanías The Cercanías C-3 arrives from Atocha and the station is 15 minutes' walk from the palace. Everything else is done on foot or on the tourist train. Presupuesto orientativo: 45–120 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir without a car - **NH Collection Palacio de Aranjuez** (Hotel): Opposite the palace The hotel occupies an eighteenth- and nineteenth-century building on Calle San Antonio, in the historic centre and right opposite the Royal Palace. From the door you walk to the gardens and the Tagus, and the railway station is about 15 minutes' walk away. There are many bars and restaurants around, so you don't need a car for dinner. Rooms It has 86 spacious rooms, with soundproofed windows, wooden floors and modern decoration in natural colours. The beds have thick mattresses and there is a pillow menu. All have free wifi, minibar, satellite television, coffee maker and kettle. The ones that interest those coming for the palace are the Premium and the Junior Suite: they have a balcony with views of the Royal Palace. If it is a couple's getaway or a special occasion, ask for one of them when booking. The official listing does not publish rates; check prices by phone or on the chain's website. Services Breakfast: buffet with pastries, fresh fruit, yoghurt and eggs, among other options. Lobby bar: drinks, light meals and snacks. Central patio: with flowers and plants, for a drink outdoors. Gym with sauna. Private parking and easy access to the A-4. Rooms: six spaces for meetings and celebrations, with conference equipment and catering. The tourist office also lists air conditioning, pets admitted and accessibility, and a Guest Relations service that helps organise your stay. If you travel with a dog or need an adapted room, confirm the conditions when booking. Who it is for It is the most comfortable accommodation for those who want everything on foot: the palace opposite, the Island Garden next door and the Prince's Garden a walk away, with the Casa del Labrador at the far end. It suits couples, travellers arriving by train and families who come by car and want to leave it parked all weekend. If you arrive without a car, the Cercanías C-3 links Atocha with Aranjuez. For the long distances in the gardens there is the Chiquitren, and to see the city from the water, the boat trip on the Tagus. For lunch, El Rana Verde is beside the bridge, a few minutes away. Contact: 91 809 92 22 or nhcollectionpalaciodearanjuez@nh-hotels.com. - **Hotel El Cocherón de 1919** (Small hotel): A restored 1919 building El Cocherón de 1919 is a small hotel on Calle Montesinos, in the heart of Aranjuez's historic centre. The tourist office places it a few steps from the Prince's Garden, the Island Garden and the Royal Palace, all three within the cultural landscape that UNESCO declared a World Heritage site. The building dates from the early twentieth century and has been restored with guests' comfort in mind. The house's idea is to blend the traditional and the old with modern lines: a contemporary design within a rustic atmosphere. It has two floors. The ground floor, bright, brings together the common areas: a lounge, the café and a meeting room. Upstairs are the rooms. Rooms There are 18 in total, divided as follows: 8 doubles 4 special doubles 4 singles 1 triple 1 family room The triple and the family room are the ones sought by those travelling with children; it is wise to ask for them early, because there is only one of each. The singles are an unusual option in hotels of this size and suit those travelling alone. The official listing does not detail rates, check-in times or whether there is a lift or private parking: ask when booking if it matters to you. The hotel also offers itself for company meetings, family gatherings and small celebrations, making use of the ground-floor room. Getting here and around If you come without a car, the Cercanías C-3 runs from Atocha to Aranjuez station, and from there you walk to the centre. In spring and autumn you can arrive on the Strawberry Train, with wooden carriages. Once at the hotel, almost everything is done on foot: the palace, the Royal Barges Museum and the landing stage of the Prince's Garden. For the long distances within the gardens there is the Chiquitren. If you come by car, ask when booking where to leave it: the listing does not mention private parking. Before booking Book by phone, on 91 875 43 50, or by email at elcocheron1919@yahoo.es. The website linked from the tourism listing does not load, so the phone is the safest route. For dinner without taking the car, Casa José, on Calle Abastos, is nearby, and for lunch by the river, El Rana Verde. ### Servicios - **Cercanías C-3 and Bus from Madrid**: Cercanías C-3 from Atocha to Aranjuez station; buses from the Estación Sur at Méndez Álvaro ## As a family: Gardens, boat and trains for going with children Aranjuez is one of the best family days near Madrid: huge, flat gardens, a river with a boat and trains. Keep the palace short. ### What works best The 45-minute covered boat trip on the Tagus The Prince's Garden, flat and free, no problem with a pushchair The Royal Barges Museum, with the gilded boats The Strawberry Train in spring and autumn ### Sleeping Samay Camping Aranjuez, with pools and slides Hotel El Cocherón de 1919, with a family room ### Eating El Rana Verde, with a terrace over the river ### Bear in mind Under-5s go into the palace free; ages 5 to 16, €4 The Prince's Garden is very long: the Chiquitrén saves legs ### Qué hacer as a family - Royal Palace of Aranjuez - The Prince's Garden - The Island Garden and the Parterre - Royal Barges Museum - Boat Trip on the Tagus on El Curiosity - Strawberry Train ## With young children: With small children, garden and boat With under-sixes, focus on the open air: the Island Garden with its fountains, the Prince's with ducks, and the boat. ### What works best The boat, covered and short The Island Garden, in the shade The Prince's Garden, with a pushchair ### Sleeping Samay Camping Aranjuez, with a mini club ### Eating Bring a snack for the gardens ### Bear in mind The Casa del Labrador is not for them: a 50-minute guided visit ### Qué hacer with young children - The Prince's Garden - The Island Garden and the Parterre - Boat Trip on the Tagus on El Curiosity ## Consejos ### Palace first thing, gardens in the afternoon The afternoon light in the Jardín del Príncipe is the best and the gardens do not close at midday. ### Buy the Casa del Labrador in advance It goes in very small groups and only from Friday to Sunday. ### Go without a car The Cercanías C-3 from Atocha saves you looking for a space and the station is 15 minutes from the palace. ### Ask for strawberries in spring It is their season and the reason for the train's name. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How much does it cost to enter the Royal Palace of Aranjuez? €9 general admission and €4 reduced; the guided visit, €17. On Wednesdays and Sundays from 15:00 it is free for citizens of the EU and Latin America and residents. ### Are the gardens of Aranjuez free? Yes: the Parterre, the Isla and the Príncipe are open access. You pay at the palace, the Casa del Labrador and the Museo de Falúas. ### How do you get to Aranjuez without a car? On the Cercanías C-3 from Atocha or by bus from the Estación Sur at Méndez Álvaro. ### What day is the palace closed? On Mondays, as well as some holidays: in 2026, 1 and 6 January, 1 and 29 May, 4 September and 24, 25 and 31 December. ### Are there boat trips? Yes, on El Curiosity, of about 45 minutes and from €9.99. ### Where can you eat on Sunday? Casa José is open on Sundays from 13:30 to 16:30. El Rana Verde, on the Tagus, does not publish its hours: call ahead.