Royal Site of San Lorenzo of El Escorial

Visiting Hours

From February 17, 2026, due to improvement works at our facilities, access for individual visitors and groups will take place via the West Façade of the building / Patio de Reyes.

To access the Monastery, it is essential to purchase tickets in advance through one of the following channels:

• Online via the official sales website
• At the ticket office of the Visitor Reception Center of the Monastery of El Escorial, located at Avenida de Don Juan de Borbón y Battenberg 4 (opposite the north façade of the Monastery)

We apologize for any inconvenience.

• Winter (October to March). Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Summer (April to September). Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
• Ticket office and access to the Monastery close one hour and fifteen minutes before closing (4:45 pm in winter and 5:45 pm in summer)
• Weekly closing day: Monday

On September 27, the Monastery of El Escorial will close at 3:00 PM.

The Basilica does not require a ticket and is closed during religious services.

Guided Tour Hours

• Guided tours in Spanish, Tuesday to Sunday at 10:30 am, 11:00 am, 11:30 am, 12:00 pm, 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm
• Guided tours in English, Tuesday to Sunday at 10:45 am

Duration:

• Approximately 2 hours

Closing Days 2026

• January 1: closed all day
• January 6: closed all day
• May 1: closed all day
• September 13: closed all day
• December 24: closed all day
• December 25: closed all day
• December 31: closed all day
• In addition to the scheduled closures, there may be further closures due to official events

Prices and Ticket Types

From February 17, 2026, due to improvement works at our facilities, access for individual visitors and groups will take place via the West Façade of the building / Patio de Reyes.

From May 29 to October 12, by showing your ticket for this Royal Site, you can visit for free the exhibition Brambila, painter of the Royal Sites at the Royal Collections Gallery in Madrid.

To access the Monastery, it is essential to purchase tickets in advance through one of the following channels:

• Online via the official sales website
• At the ticket office of the Visitor Reception Center of the Monastery of El Escorial, located at Avenida de Don Juan de Borbón y Battenberg 4 (opposite the north façade of the Monastery)

We apologize for any inconvenience.

This visit is eligible for purchase with the Bono Cultural Joven from the Ministry of Culture. FAQs and answers are available here.

Individual Rates

• Visitors who are not eligible for reduced or free admission

• Citizens aged 5 to 16. ID or passport required for ages 14 to 16
• Visitors aged 65 and over
• Students up to 25 years old with a valid national or international student ID

If your booking consists exclusively of free tickets, they can only be obtained at the ticket office

• Children under 5 years of age.
• 18 May, International Museum Day. 12 October, National Holiday of Spain, without distinction of nationality (except for the Casa del Príncipe D. Carlos y del Infante D. Gabriel, where the single price must be paid)
• Large families with accreditation by the Official Family Book or equivalent of the EU and Latin American countries holders of residency or work permits of those nationalities.
• Members of the ICOM (International Museum Council), by means of accrediting card of that organisation.
• Official Tourist Guides with Official Tourist Guide card.
• Professors with teaching staff card.
• Persons with disability with accreditation.
• The companions of people with disabilities will have free admission, as long as this is essential for them to be able to make their visit and this circumstance is recorded on the card or disability resolution issued for that purpose.
• Persons in legal situation of unemployment that accredit this circumstance by means of Employment Demand Card or equivalent document issued by the competent organisation.
• (Winter) Wednesdays and Sunday from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, free admission for citizens of the European Union, residents and holders of work permit in that territory and Latin American citizens, following accreditation of nationality (national identification card, passport or driver’s licence) or residency or work permit. The free offer is limited to the tour without guide. Only in ticket office
• (Summer) Wednesdays and Sunday from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, free admission for citizens of the European Union, residents and holders of work permit in that territory and Latin American citizens, following accreditation of nationality (national identification card, passport or driver’s licence) or residency or work permit. The free offer is limited to the tour without guide. Only in ticket office

Free admission for persons with disabilities: Visitors with a disability of 33% or higher are entitled to free admission. One accompanying person may also enter free if required and stated on the disability card or resolution. Free tickets may be obtained at the ticket office or requested online via this form. Supporting documentation must be presented on the day of the visit.

Guided Tours

• Led by National Heritage staff
• Guided tours in Spanish available with a €8 supplement per person
• If online tickets are sold out, inquire at the ticket office about guided tours

Rates:

• Standard guided €22
• Reduced guided €15
• Free guided €8

Please go to the ticket office 10 minutes before your scheduled time.

Group Visits

Tourist Groups

Ticket purchase for groups with official tourism guides. Rates depend on each member’s eligibility or agency rate.

• Standard €12
• Reduced €7
• Free €0

Cultural Groups

Ticket purchase for cultural associations, institutions, foundations, and fine arts postgraduate schools.

• Standard €14
• Reduced €7
• Free €0

Educational Groups*

€10 booking fee per group for management costs. Includes Early Childhood (2nd cycle), Primary, Secondary, High School, Vocational Training, Undergraduate, or Postgraduate studies.

• Reduced €7

*It is recommended not to bring backpacks during the visit

Agencies

Ticket purchase for groups managed by travel agencies

• Standard €12

Interactive Audio Guides

Available in two formats:

• Rental audio guide: pick up a tablet at the venue’s ticket office for your visit
  • Collect tablets at the GVAM service desk after access control
  • Rental valid only on the selected visit date
• Digital audio guide: download our app and enter your code
  • Download via https://gvam.es/apps/el-escorial
  • Enter ticket number from confirmation email
  • Bring headphones and ensure sufficient battery
  • Access limited to the selected visit date

Android: Monastery El Escorial
iOS: Monastery El Escorial

Other:

• Audio guide rental is provided by an external company, not National Heritage
• Invoices requested by emailing facturacion@gvam.es with your booking reference

Important: Guided tour tickets include audio guide; no need to purchase separately.

How to Get There

Address: Calle de Juan de Borbón y Battenberg s/n, 28200 San Lorenzo de El Escorial - Madrid

• Bus lines 664 and 661 from Moncloa interchange
• A-6 motorway (Madrid–A Coruña), exit 29, then M-505
• A-6 motorway, continue on AP-6 to exit 47 and take M-600 towards San Lorenzo de El Escorial
• Madrid–El Escorial commuter train line C-8

Accessibility

From February 11, individual ticket sales at the ticket office will take place at the Visitor Reception Center (Av. de Juan de Borbón y Battenberg, 4). Only group tickets available at the Monastery ticket office.

• Very limited accessibility for people with reduced mobility. Full accessibility cannot be guaranteed due to monument characteristics
• Photography without flash permitted for personal use, except in restricted areas. Tripods, selfie sticks, and similar devices are prohibited. Respect the privacy of visitors and staff