Hotel
NH Collection Palacio de Aranjuez
Why we like it: Hotel in an eighteenth- and nineteenth-century building opposite the Royal Palace, with 86 rooms and private parking.
Duration1 night
From Madrid45 min by car or Cercanías
Budget€110–190 pp
Best timeApril – May · October – November
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Saturday to Sunday. Saturday is for Aranjuez, with the Casa del Labrador, which is only open Friday to Sunday; Sunday, Chinchón, half an hour by car or on bus 430.
Saturday
- 110:30Royal Palace with a guide
An hour through the Bourbon rooms. €17, €12 reduced; arrive ten minutes early.
- 212:00Parterre and Jardín de la Isla
Philip II's Renaissance garden surrounded by the Tagus, with the Castañuelas waterfall. Free.
- 314:00Lunch at Casa José
Cooking from the Aranjuez market gardens, on Calle Abastos.
- 416:30Casa del Labrador
At the far end of the Jardín del Príncipe, guided, 50 minutes, €10. Allow 20 minutes on foot from the Calle de la Reina gate.
- 518:00Boat on the Tagus
The Curiosity, 45 minutes under cover with a guide, from €9.99. Check the day's last departure on their website.
Sunday
- 110:30Chinchón: Plaza Mayor and the Goya church
Half an hour by road. The square of the 234 balconies and Goya's Assumption of the Virgin on the church altar.
- 212:00Tasting at Bodega del Nero
An hour, two Madrid wines and Chinchón cheese, €15.
- 314:00Roast at Mesón Cuevas del Vino
Lamb from the wood-fired oven and a visit to the caves. And back to Madrid in mid-afternoon.
Aranjuez and Chinchón are half an hour from each other and 45 minutes from Madrid. Together they make the most comfortable weekend in the Community of Madrid: a Royal Site of gardens and river for Saturday and, on Sunday, the Plaza Mayor of Chinchón, a winery from 1870 and a wood-fired roast. It works without a car too: Cercanías to Aranjuez and bus 430 to Chinchón.
Where to sleep
Sleep in Aranjuez, which has more hotels. The NH Collection Palacio de Aranjuez is opposite the palace and has parking; El Cocherón de 1919 is a small hotel in the old town with a family room; Samay Camping Aranjuez, beside the Tagus, has bungalows and pools for going with children. If you prefer to sleep in Chinchón, the Parador occupies a 15th-century monastery next to the Plaza Mayor.
Getting around
By car, Aranjuez and Chinchón are linked in about 30 minutes. Without a car, the Cercanías C-3 takes you from Atocha to Aranjuez and La Veloz's line 430 links Aranjuez with Chinchón; from Chinchón you return to Madrid on the 337 to Conde de Casal. Check the Sunday timetables before you leave.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Aranjuez, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Aranjuez
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
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.
50–130 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepingNH Collection Palacio de Aranjuez…
- Getting aroundPark once and get around…
- EatingCasa José, open on Sunday…
- ServicesTourist office on Calle de…
Sleeping
- NH Collection Palacio de Aranjuez, with private parking
- Hotel El Cocherón de 1919, in the old town
- Samay Camping Aranjuez, beside the Tagus
Getting around
- Park once and get around on foot or on the Chiquitrén
- The boat's landing stage has free parking nearby
Eating
- Casa José, open on Sunday at midday
- El Rana Verde, over the river
Services
- Tourist office on Calle de las Infantas
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.
45–120 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepingNH Collection Palacio de Aranjuez…
- Getting aroundCercanías C-3 from Atocha
- EatingCasa José, on Calle Abastos
- ServicesTourist office, open at weekends…
Sleeping
- NH Collection Palacio de Aranjuez, opposite the palace
- Hotel El Cocherón de 1919
Getting around
- Cercanías C-3 from Atocha
- Chiquitrén for the Prince's Garden
Eating
- Casa José, on Calle Abastos
- El Rana Verde, beside the bridge
Services
- Tourist office, open at weekends from 10:00 to 18:00
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights1
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're drivingwithout a car
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Small hotel
Hotel El Cocherón de 1919
Why we like it: Small hotel in an early twentieth-century building in the historic centre, a few steps from the Prince's and Island gardens.
Samay Camping Aranjuez
Why we like it: Campsite beside the Tagus with 133 pitches, 42 bungalows, apartments and rooms, pools with slides and dogs admitted on most pitches.
Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| Centre and palace | Palace, hotels and restaurants, all on foot | |
| Gardens | Isla, Parterre and Príncipe, free | |
| Tagus bank | Boat, campsite and terraces |
Where to eat
Where to eat in Aranjuez
Casa José
What to order: the seasonal kitchen-garden vegetable dishes, or the tasting menu
El Rana Verde
What to order: asparagus, frogs' legs or pheasant, and strawberries for dessert
Casa Delapio
What to order: at the bar, stew croquettes and a glass from their cellar; in the dining room, seasonal produce
Tips
Worth knowing first
Local tip
The Casa del Labrador is only open Friday to Sunday and in very small groups: buy the ticket before booking the hotel.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can you see Aranjuez and Chinchón in a weekend?
Yes, with one night: Aranjuez on Saturday and Chinchón on Sunday, half an hour away.
Can it be done without a car?
Yes: Cercanías C-3 to Aranjuez, bus 430 to Chinchón and 337 back to Madrid.
Where to sleep?
In Aranjuez there are more hotels; in Chinchón, the Parador and country houses.
How much does it cost?
Between €110 and €190 per person with hotel, tickets and meals.
Is it a good plan with children?
Yes: flat gardens, a boat and a car-free square. The Casa del Labrador is the least child-friendly part.