national park
Sierra de Guadarrama National Park
Granite peaks and pine forests north of Madrid, with the Puerto de Navacerrada pass beloved by drivers and skiers.
26 km · about 30 min drive
EuropeSpainMadrid
San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Madrid, Spain · Europe
About San Lorenzo de El Escorial
San Lorenzo de El Escorial is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Zarzalejo, 26km from Sierra de Guadarrama National Park.
San Lorenzo de El Escorial is in Madrid, Spain, with about 18,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Zarzalejo, about 6 km away.
San Lorenzo de El Escorial, also known as El Escorial de Arriba, is a town and municipality in the Community of Madrid, Spain, located to the northwest of the region in the southeastern side of the Sierra de Guadarrama, at the foot of Mount Abantos and Las Machotas, 47 kilometres (29 mi) from Madrid. It is head of theRead more
eponymous judicial party. The settlement is popularly called El Escorial de Arriba, to differentiate it from the neighbouring village of El Escorial, also known as El Escorial de Abajo.
The Monastery of El Escorial is the most prominent building in the town and is one of the main Spanish Renaissance monuments. Especially remarkable is the Royal Library, inside the Monastery.
The monastery and its historic surroundings were declared a World Heritage Site UNESCO on November 2, 1984, under the name of "El Escorial, monastery and site".
The site also enjoys protection on Spain's heritage register; since June 21, 2006, it has been protected by the Community of Madrid as a Property of Cultural Interest.
San Lorenzo de El Escorial is located on the southern slopes of the Mount Abantos (elevation 1753 m). The average altitude of the municipality is 1,032 metres (3,386 ft), and most of the urban area is above 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). The hamlet initially sprang up around Monastery of El Escorial, gradually extending up the mountain. In the 20th and 21st centuries, the town underwent a strong urban expansion, particularly towards the southeastern side of Mount Abantos.
Where to Stay in San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near San Lorenzo de El Escorial?
Within an hour or so of San Lorenzo de El Escorial: Sierra de Guadarrama National Park (26 km), Aqueduct of Segovia (40 km), Alcázar of Segovia (40 km), Royal Palace of Madrid (41 km).
Are there any good drives near San Lorenzo de El Escorial?
The nearest famous roads are Puerto del Pico.
Where is San Lorenzo de El Escorial?
San Lorenzo de El Escorial is in Madrid, Spain, about 6 km from Zarzalejo.
Road trip
Drive to San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 17,889
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Spain
- Region
- Madrid
- Timezone
- Europe/Madrid
- Coordinates
- 40.5914, -4.1474
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Spain
Guardia Civil (traffic police): 062. Two warning triangles required in vehicles.
Full driving guide for SpainTags
Worth the detour from San Lorenzo de El Escorial
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
ancient ruins
Aqueduct of Segovia
A stupendous Roman aqueduct with 167 arches of unmortared granite blocks, standing perfectly after nearly 2,000 years.
40 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Alcázar of Segovia
Fairy-tale medieval castle perched on a rocky crag that inspired the design of Disney's Cinderella Castle.
40 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Royal Palace of Madrid
Largest functioning royal palace in Europe with over 3,400 rooms, the official residence of the Spanish royal family.
41 km · about 50 min drive
landmark
Plaza Mayor
Grand 17th-century rectangular plaza in central Madrid surrounded by three-storey residential buildings with 237 balconies.
42 km · about 50 min drive
museum
Museo Reina Sofía
Spain's national museum of 20th-century art, home to Picasso's monumental anti-war painting Guernica.
43 km · about 50 min drive
museum
Museo del Prado
Spain's premier art museum with an unrivaled collection of European art, including masterworks by Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco.
43 km · about 50 min drive
landmark
Walls of Avila
The most complete and best-preserved medieval city walls in Europe, encircling the old city with 88 towers and 2,500 meters of battlements.
47 km · about 55 min drive
Driving roads near San Lorenzo de El Escorial
- 79 kmPuerto del PicoA 1,352 m pass in the Sierra de Gredos where the N-502 runs beside a superbly preserved Roman road that still zigzags down the mountainside below the modern tarmac.
Driving in Spain
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.55/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€4.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
Plan a trip around San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.