Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Absolutely amazing. I would recommend this place to everyone. I spend 3 hours in there and it felt like 10 minutes. It is a spectacular place with so much to see, the library was out of this world and the garden was beautiful
Actually all of the rooms are so worth a visit. Would definitely go back again!

This monastery is quite amazing, photos don't show the real magnitude and how beautiful it really is. The library was my favorite part, with over 40000 books and manuscripts, some dating back to more than 1500 years. This place took more than 20 years to be built which is also amazing, I took the scenic Tren Felipe II from Madrid which included the entrance to the monastery and I highly recommend it.

Staggeringly beautiful royal site. The Basilica was so much bigger than the door would have you expect, so the volume is really breathtaking. The library is beautiful and so interesting to browse. And the royal residences are well preserved and interesting.
Definitely deserves three or four hours to soak it all in.

Laid prostrate at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama bathed in the warm glow of the Spanish sun, this simple yet historically rich 16th century palace/monastery beckons both tourists and locals alike to lose themselves within its seemingly austere stone walls.

To describe this place would be wrong as I would surely but unintentionally omit a special detail or two. From a beautiful library and basilica to its original intent as a mausoleum, there’s so much to see and experience. Therefore, enjoy the pictures and allow me to provide a short list of relevant tidbits.

- We took our time and saw everything, which took about 2.5 hours.
- Let’s talk handicap access. The entrance and floor level is handicap accessible; however, there is no access for the deep portions of the tour such as the mausoleum and crypt. There is a way to access the library but I’m not sure how.
- This tour is a lot of walking with many steep staircases. Elderly people may have an issue given their maneuverability.
- Tickets are 14€ for an adult and 7€ for kids.
- There is a nice parking garage near by called Aparcamiento Monasterio that charges about 3€ an hour.
- They offer an audio tour guide that we did not partake in but I hear it’s mediocre.

Overall, it’s an amazing historical site nestled in a quaint little town. Make a day of it and enjoy lunch or dinner after the tour.

Enjoy!

We loved this palace. Why?
- the building is huge, imposing and beautiful
- the rooms are splendid
- the history is spectacular
- it’s not over-touristed
This is one of those rare places that exceeds all expectations.
We took the train from Madrid (took about an hour), which was easy and convenient. Because of the distance, tourist hordes seem to stay away from this place, making it even more magical.

From the outside it looks like a little plain, but after going inside, is breathtaking. Every room etc. are beautiful. We spent a lot of time there, to see everything. The library was one of my favorite place.

Wonderful place to visit!! No photos are allowed inside. There are free lockers for backpacks and bags off the the left when you first walk in after buying your ticket and bathrooms. Give yourself at least two hours to explore. There is so much to see - cloisters, the library (across a courtyard and up a bunch of steps), then, the basilica, crypt, art, rooms, halls and so much detail! Keep your ticket handy for the library and after the basilica. They will check in both places and ask to make sure you have seen the library. So nice, definitely wouldn't want to miss that! If you have time before you leave city, walk around the the left and explore the gardens and garden views!

It was my third visit to Escorial, on a cold winter day, so that it wasn't crowded as it sometimes might be. I keep marvelling at this site. Every time I must remind myself that this huge building is much smaller than Portugal's Mafra (biggest religious building in the world) yet it seems larger and grander, and that is for its austere style, straight lines with minimal decoration, laid at the feet of an imposing mountain crest. Inside, the library is (as it's often the case in places like this) a masterpiece. Great collection of painting and, also, impressive, the crypt where the remains of almost all the Spanish kings and queens of the Habsburg and Bourbon dynasties were laid to rest.

With centuries of royal heritage imbuing its grandiose architecture, the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial stands as a testament to Spain's rich past. Its meticulously crafted gardens provide a serene escape, making it an irresistible destination sure to enchant and inspire visitors.

Really one of the best, if not the best palace ive seen in Europe. You shouldnt miss this gem, simply because of the paintings on the walls, the collections and how majestics their buildings are! and also cross the street for a unique coffee with the view too!

Another brilliant example of the Royal Spanish legacy and heritage. The true treasure of the Spanish culture. Photos are not allowed inside.

Beautiful place! It took us three hours to visit the whole place, and we had some lunch in the gardens. It wasn't crowded. There's a lot of bars and restaurants around, and the bus station is 10 minutes by foot.

Beautiful place, totally worth visiting. On Wednesday and Sunday 15:00-18:00 the entrance is free. Love how not crowded and beautiful it was.

There are security check and lockers for backpake. Audioguide is recommended with screen showing pictures. Spent at least one hour there

Beautiful. Transported back in time. Tapestries, art work, furnishings, burial areas. Just a short bus ride or drive from Madrid. Many, many stairs to climb on an unforgiving stone floor. Not friendly for those with mobility issues

I wasn't quite sure what this place was, but it turned out to be a Cathedral, the resting place of the Spanish kings and queens, a repository of incredible paintings and tapestries, filled with Frescos and murals and grand hallways, and also the site of the Royal Library. The size of the entire structure is incredible and it's a very interesting place, especially since it was built in the 1500s. We stopped here and also visited the nearby Valley of the Fallen.

The monastery of king Philip II, a representation of power of that time the behest empire of the world. Visit the cathedral and library is a must. Can’t show all amazing pictures as some are prohibited so is best you see it for yourself.

Spectacular monastery. Architecturally, one of the best buildings I’ve seen. Highly recommend visiting.

The is one of the most beautiful monastery's I've ever seen!! You don't have to pay to see the basilica but to see all the corners of the monastery you do have to pay 12€. There's discounts for students, children and seniors. I really advice the visit!!!! You can't take fotos or videos inside some rooms. It take more or less 3 hours to see everything. This place has incredible paintings and frescos. High recommend a tour throughout the big place!!

I did this in two stages. I walked around the village the night before as well as the outside while it is quieter. It is worth getting a guided tour as there is so much to see and it is easy to miss out whole sections. There are no photos allowed on the inside but plenty of illustrated books are available. Be prepared to spend at least three hours here and consider a trip to the controversial valley of the fallen just 20 minutes away while you are in the area.