Madrid Surroundings | El Escorial Escape Plan

El Escorial is a perfect destination for a day trip, just 40 minutes away from downtown Madrid, featuring the famous monastery and natural scenery, making it ideal for hiking and strolling. 🚌🚌🚌 Transportation Guide Train: Take the Cercanías train (C3 or C8 line) from downtown Madrid to El Escorial station, which takes about 50 minutes. The train departs from main stations such as Atocha, Sol, Chamartín, with a ticket price of about 4-5 euros for a one-way trip. Bus: At platform 11 of Moncloa metro station, board and pay for the bus to El Escorial (buses 661 or 664), with a journey time of about 50 minutes. Route 664 is slightly shorter and faster. The ticket price is 4.2 euros for a one-way trip, and it's free with a youth card. 🏔️🏔️🏔️ Recommended Hiking Route The Abantos route, climb to the top for a panoramic view of the monastery. Difficulty: Moderately difficult Duration: Approximately 4-5 hours round trip Route Overview: Starting from the town center of El Escorial, hike north to climb Abantos Mountain. From the top, you can enjoy a broader view, and on a clear day, you can see the Four Towers. 🏞️🏞️🏞️ Attractions Recommended Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial): The core attraction of El Escorial, this famous monastery was built by King Philip II of Spain and is a World Heritage Site. It is recommended to book tickets in advance to visit the monastery's palace, library, church, and the king's private apartments. Casita del Infante: A small palace near the monastery, located behind it. 🍛🍛🍛 Dining Recommendations Restaurante Charolés: A traditional Spanish restaurant offering local dishes from the El Escorial area, such as stewed oxtail and roast suckling pig. Mesón La Cueva: A characteristic tavern offering a variety of traditional Spanish tapas at reasonable prices and a relaxed atmosphere. Café de Oriente: Located near the monastery, enjoy coffee and desserts while admiring the monastery. #HikingHeals #MeasuringTheWorldByFoot #OutdoorsTogether #SceneryOnlySeenByHiking #OutdoorHiking #MadridGuide #LifeInMadrid