Hotel El Cocherón de 1919

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 [email protected]. 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.