Monastery of El Escorial
San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain
Philip II’s vast granite monastery-palace of the 16th century, with a royal pantheon and a remarkable library. Closed on Mondays; parking in town can be tight, so use the car parks on the approach roads.
After the victory at St. Quentin in 1557, Philip II had San Lorenzo de El Escorial built as a monastery, palace and Habsburg burial place. The foundation stone was laid on April 23, 1563; Juan Bautista de Toledo began the design, Juan de Herrera continued it after Toledo's death in 1567, and the building was completed in 1584. It is made mostly of gray local granite, and the basilica has a Greek-cross plan with a dome almost 100 meters (330 ft) high. It has been a World Heritage Site since 1984.
The Pantheon of Kings holds 26 marble sarcophagi; most monarchs since Charles I rest here, along with consorts who were parents of monarchs. The library has over 40,000 volumes in a hall about 54 meters (177 ft) long with a frescoed ceiling; the chapter houses display works by Titian, Tintoretto and El Greco. The town lies about 45 km (28 miles) northwest of Madrid and is usually visited as a day trip; from the train station (Renfe C3) it is about 1.5 km (1 mile) uphill. It is usually closed on Mondays (as of October 2026).
- Nearest town
- San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 40.5891, -4.1477
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Spain: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Many former toll motorways are now free; some AP roads still charge. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Camping El EscorialCampsite5 km from Monastery of El Escorial
- Camping Valle EnmedioCampsite9 km from Monastery of El EscorialTentsCaravansShowersToilets
- Camping La NavaCampsite9 km from Monastery of El EscorialTentsCaravansShowersToilets
- Camping ValdemorilloCampsite12 km from Monastery of El Escorial
- El Canto de la GallinaCampsite15 km from Monastery of El EscorialTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowers
- Área de autocaravanas de MoralzarzalMotorhome stopover19 km from Monastery of El Escorial · 8 pitchesMotorhomes
All campsites in Spain · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Monastery of El Escorial?
Monastery of El Escorial is in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain, at GPS 40.5891, -4.1477. It is about 25 km from Puerto de Navacerrada.
Can you camp near Monastery of El Escorial?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camping El Escorial, about 5 km away; within 25 km there are 13 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Monastery of El Escorial?
Monastery of El Escorial is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Sierra de Guadarrama: El Escorial, La Granja and Segovia’s villages.
What is there to see near Monastery of El Escorial?
Places worth a stop nearby: Royal Palace of La Granja (36 km), Segovia aqueduct (40 km), Alcázar of Segovia (40 km) and Mercado de San Miguel (42 km).
When is the best time to visit Monastery of El Escorial?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)