San Lorenzo De El Escorial, A Countryside Monastery Near Madrid, Spain

Picture this: Just outside of the hustle and bustle of a city with 3 million people you can find a small town. One small town with a massive building at its core. A building with an interesting history and an immense presence.

It is peaceful. There are cafes and cute European streets throughout the town. There is also a large park. But the most impressive part of the town is the gardens outside the vast building.

Depending on the time of day you go, it is peaceful. And you may feel that you are the only one on the entire garden and grounds, even though you likely are not.

This place is known to some as a monastery, but to others as a palace or museum.

This place is San Lorenzo de el Escorial.

San Lorenzo de el Escorial has a varied history. To begin with, it took 21 years to construct the monastery. Although, when you see it you might think “only 21 years?” It began as a royally commissioned mausoleum. Since then, it has mostly been a monastery but also was occupied for a time by foreign troops. 

It is also a vast historical site. Its area is 33,327 square meters.

If you want to visit, the garden is always free to access. However, the museum is typically 12 euros unless you qualify for a discount. Although, on Wednesdays and Sundays there is free entrance between 3 pm and 6 pm. 

Otherwise, the hours of access to the museum are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm. And access to the garden is from 10 am to 8 pm.

Generally the best way to get to San Lorenzo de el Escorial from Madrid is by train. Depending on trainline construction, there is either a direct train from Atocha Station in Madrid to El Escorial or there is a route with one train transfer. 

There are also routes that involve bus lines or metro lines. However, I have found the train to be the most reliable and timely. For peace of mind, you can use a website called Omio to book your train tickets ahead of time and have the e-tickets on your phone.