Hotel Miranda & Suizo
Why we like it: Three-star 19th-century hotel on calle Floridablanca, a few metres from the monastery, which accepts small dogs.
Duration1 night
From Madrid50 min by car or 1 h by bus
Budget€110–180 pp
Best timeApril – June · October – November
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed for Saturday to Sunday, which is when the Casita del Príncipe opens in winter. The monastery closes on Monday: don't leave it for the last day.
Saturday
- 110:30Casita del Príncipe
A half-hour guided visit to the Juan de Villanueva mansion, in the lower part of the Royal Site. €8; buy the pass beforehand, places are few.
- 212:00Up to the town and the Jardín de los Frailes
Fifteen minutes' uphill walk through the gardens to the Lonja and the viewpoint over the monastery's orchards.
- 314:00Lunch at Mesón La Cueva
The Posada de las Ánimas, from 1768, two streets from the monastery. Castilian roast cooking.
- 417:00Silla de Felipe II
Through La Herrería, an easy 7 km there and back from the tourist office, or by car to the foot of the rock. Sunset over the monastery.
- 520:00Chocolate at the Miranda
An afternoon snack-cum-dinner in the café of the oldest hotel in town: chocolate with fried bread.
Sunday
- 110:00Royal Monastery
At opening time, the basilica, pantheons, library and the palace of the Habsburgs. With a guide, the 10:30 tour, two hours.
- 213:00Abantos pine forest or lunch at El Horizontal
If you have the legs, climb through the pine forest towards the Puerto de Malagón; if not, drive up to eat on the terrace of El Horizontal, in the hills, which on Sunday is open until 20:00.
San Lorenzo de El Escorial can be seen in a day, but it is enjoyed by sleeping there. With a night you enter the monastery at 10:00, before the Madrid coaches; you see the Casita del Príncipe, which in winter only opens on Saturdays, and you have a whole morning left for the hills. It is 50 minutes from Madrid, and an hour from Segovia and Ávila.
Where to sleep
| Accommodation | Type | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Miranda & Suizo | 19th-century three-star, in the centre | Couples or with a small dog, without a car |
| Dorma Victoria Palace | 1901 mansion, pool in summer | Those who want more of a hotel |
| Albergue Juvenil El Escorial | Hostel with en-suite rooms | Groups and tight budgets |
| Camping El Escorial | Chalets and pitches on the M-600 | Families with a car |
Getting around
The whole centre is done on foot. You only need the car for the Silla, if you don't want to walk, for El Horizontal and for the campsite. If you arrive without a car, buses 661 and 664 from Moncloa stop five minutes from the monastery.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
San Lorenzo de El Escorial, 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 San Lorenzo de El Escorial
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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, an hour from Madrid
From Madrid you arrive in about 50 minutes by the A-6 and the M-505. The car gives you what the train does not: Philip II's Seat, the Horizontal restaurant on the mountain and the campsite.
60–120 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayHotel Miranda & Suizo, in…
- Getting aroundMonasterio or plaza de la…
- Where to eatRestaurante Horizontal, on Abantos, with…
- ServicesPaid tourist blue zone, also…
Where to stay
- Hotel Miranda & Suizo, in the centre, with no car park of its own
- Hotel Dorma Victoria Palace, next to the bus station
- Camping El Escorial, on the M-600, for families
Getting around
- Monasterio or plaza de la Constitución car park, €2.70 an hour
- To Philip II's Seat, five minutes by car with parking at the foot
Where to eat
- Restaurante Horizontal, on Abantos, with parking
- Mesón La Cueva, two streets from the monastery
Services
- Paid tourist blue zone, also on Sundays, next to the monastery
Car-free, by bus or Cercanías
It is one of the few Royal Sites that is easy to reach without a car. The Moncloa buses leave you five minutes from the monastery; the route to the Silla starts on foot from the tourist office.
45–100 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayHotel Miranda & Suizo, a…
- Getting aroundBus 661 or 664 from…
- Where to eatMesón La Cueva, on calle…
- ServicesTourist office on calle Grimaldi
Where to stay
- Hotel Miranda & Suizo, a few metres from the monastery
- Hotel Dorma Victoria Palace, on the bus station street
- Albergue Juvenil El Escorial, the cheapest
Getting around
- Bus 661 or 664 from Moncloa
- Cercanías to El Escorial and L1 town bus to the centre
- On foot, Philip II's Seat: 7 km there and back
Where to eat
- Mesón La Cueva, on calle San Antón
- Miranda & Suizo café for an afternoon snack
Services
- Tourist office on calle Grimaldi
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
Hotel
Hotel Dorma Victoria Palace
Why we like it: 18th-century palace that opened in 1901 as the town's first hotel, next to the monastery, with a seasonal swimming pool.
Camping El Escorial
Why we like it: Large campsite at the foot of Abantos, 8 km from the monastery, with mobile homes, chalets and pitches, swimming pools with slides and animals allowed.
El Escorial Youth Hostel
Why we like it: Hostel in the Community of Madrid network in the town centre, with 100 beds in 33 rooms; closed to bookings for works until the end of the year.
Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| Historic centre | Monastery, restaurants and hotels, all on foot | |
| La Herrería | Woodland, Silla de Felipe II and hermitage | |
| Mount Abantos | Pine forest, routes and the Horizontal |
Where to eat
Where to eat in San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Horizontal Restaurant
What to order: grilled meats or a game dish, such as the venison carpaccio or the pigeon risotto
Mesón La Cueva
What to order: a Castilian roast and homemade cake; if there are salt cod days, try it
Miranda & Suizo Café
What to order: chocolate with picatostes, the town's traditional afternoon snack
Tips
Worth knowing first
Local tip
If you are an EU citizen or resident, on Sunday from 15:00 the monastery is free with a ticket from the ticket office. Then leave the visit for the afternoon and do Abantos in the morning.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth sleeping in El Escorial?
Yes, if you want the monastery without groups and a morning in the hills. With only a day, you choose one of the two.
What day is the monastery closed?
Mondays.
Can I go without a car?
Yes, on buses 661 and 664 from Moncloa or by Cercanías to El Escorial station.
With a dog?
La Herrería and Abantos yes, on a lead. The Miranda & Suizo admits dogs up to 10 kg.
How much does the weekend cost?
Between €110 and €180 per person with hotel, tickets and meals.