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The gardens of the monastery.
The Chapter Rooms, with works by Titian, Velázquez and El Greco.
The Hall of the Battles.
Royal Pantheon
The Library of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, where history and wisdom beautifully converge.

San Lorenzo de El Escorial Monastery Private Tour

By Isabella Trébede
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Features
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Overview

On this exclusive private tour, you’ll have a dedicated guide to explore centuries of history within one of Spain’s most impressive monuments.
El Escorial Monastery, a national treasure, showcases the power and wealth of the Habsburg dynasty. With priority entrance, you’ll explore its many rooms. The library is a prime example of Phillip II’s Humanism, reflecting his passion for science and the arts, while the basilica reveals the religious context of the time. In the Royal Pantheon, you’ll discover the building’s grandeur and learn about figures like John of Austria, the illegitimate son of Emperor Charles V.
Your tour will end in the Hall of the Battles, where you’ll encounter breathtaking murals that will leave a lasting impression.
Afterwards, you can explore the Renaissance gardens, created for both kings and monks, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and forest. If you’re lucky, you may even spot the peacocks that call these gardens home!

Activity location

  • Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial
    • Av Juan de Borbon y Battemberg
    • 28200, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Av. de Juan de Borbón y Battenberg, 6
    • 6 Avenida de Juan de Borbón y Battenberg
    • 28200, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain

Check availability

Sorry this activity isn't available on Thu, 12 Jun
Please choose a different date

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's includedSkip-the-line tickets.
  • What's includedWhat's includedIndividual headsets to hear the tour guide clearly.
  • What's includedWhat's includedLicensed tour guide.
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedFood and drinks are not included.
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedHotel pickup or transport to/from the meeting point.
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedService charge

Know before you book

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transport options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Unfortunately, this tour is not accessible due to the presence of staircases and structural elements. This is important information, in order to avoid customers with mobility impairments facing disappointment after booking the tour.
  • Seniors (+65) and kids in between 12 and 16 must present a valid ID (or a photo or copy) at the entry.
  • The basilica is closed during the masses. On Sundays and religious holidays, this means that it is closed the entire morning. In case of closure, your guide will extend the visit at the Library or the Chapter Rooms.
  • Not suitable for people with mobility impairments and wheelchair users.

Activity itinerary

Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial
  • 2h 30m
  • Admission ticket included
You will discover the secrets of the monastery, meeting the characters that shaped it across history. During the tour, you will visit the Royal Basilica, the Library that Philip II created, the Cloister, and the Chapter Rooms, filled with art pieces from El Greco, Titian or Velázquez. Then, you will head to the heart of the monastery, where the Royal Pantheon awaits, the burial site of the kings and royalty since the 16th Century. The tour will end at the Habsburgs Palace, inside the rooms where Philip II lived and died.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIESReal Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial
    • Av Juan de Borbon y Battemberg
    • 28200, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLEAv. de Juan de Borbón y Battenberg, 6
    • 6 Avenida de Juan de Borbón y Battenberg
    • 28200, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain

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