What to do · Aranjuez
Strawberry Train
Information
- Duration
- 8 h
- Season
- Spring and autumn; in 2026 it ended on 8 November
- Who it's for
- 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 ([email protected]). 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.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Strawberry Train running now?
The official website lists it as provisionally suspended; confirm before going.
Where does it leave from?
From the old Delicias station, home of the Madrid Railway Museum.
How much did it cost in 2026?
From €32 for an adult and €24 for a child, depending on the route.
As a family
