A monastery, a church, a royal palace, a school, a seminary and a Royal Library: the El Escorial complex brings together a range of functions in a single site. The monastery was built in the 16th century at the behest of Philip II; today, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its austere, unadorned Herrerian architecture shaped Spanish architecture for more than half a century. The combination of history and clean lines makes El Escorial a distinctive gateway to Madrid’s cultural heritage.

Alcalá de Henares also tells a story of architecture and education, but with a different history. The city was expressly designed as the home of a university and became a model for university towns in Europe and the Americas. The university and historic district includes the Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso and the Convent of San Bernardo. The urban layout and the design of the university sit alongside the medieval street network, whose main thoroughfare is Calle Mayor, and the Baroque arcades. These features are exceptionally well preserved. Most buildings dating from the university’s founding retain or have regained their original use. The city can therefore be understood both through its origins as a university town and through its architectural development.

Aranjuez: a designed cultural landscape

In Aranjuez, the focus shifts from a single building to an extensive cultural landscape. It covers 2,047.56 hectares in the south of the Community of Madrid. It includes historic kitchen gardens, tree-lined avenues and groves, the palace, ornamental gardens and an 18th-century historic town centre. The ornamental gardens continue to attract visitors seeking recreation and cultural events. In contrast to El Escorial’s architectural focus, Aranjuez shows how gardens, town and palace can be closely connected within a cultural heritage area.

Trails, forests and natural heritage

Those interested in landscapes will find opportunities for hiking, mountain excursions and other outdoor activities in the Sierra de Guadarrama. Trails lead through forests, over mountain passes and to natural viewpoints. La Pedriza is considered Europe’s largest granite complex and offers a distinctive geological feature. The Rutas Verdes provide another way to get outdoors: this sustainable leisure programme includes hiking and cycling routes that can begin and end at a public transport network station. Route details include distance, difficulty level, number of accessible stations and route profile; route guides are available as PDFs and KML files. Since individual routes and files may change, check the information when planning your trip.

Visits to Hayedo de Montejo are always guided by environmental educators and are free of charge. Check visitor information before your trip. The Tren de Felipe II offers a different kind of experience: this tourist excursion from Madrid recreates the historic journey to the Royal Site of El Escorial. Check the operating dates before travelling.

Regional cuisine and wine

Food culture also offers a way to experience Madrid’s diversity. Cocido madrileño has been granted the status of Bien de Interés Cultural as part of the intangible cultural heritage of the Community of Madrid. The dish is prepared with meat, vegetables, cured meats and chickpeas, and served in several separate courses known as “vuelcos.” Regional variations are associated with specific places: cocido pradeño in Villa del Prado, cocido corucho in Cenicientos, olla del segador in Navalcarnero, and cocido de taba in Chinchón and Valdemoro. Those interested in regional cuisine can discover not only a dish, but also the different local names it goes by.

Another regional connection is the Ruta del Vino de Madrid, which includes twelve municipalities. Following successful audits, it joined the Rutas del Vino de España brand in 2020. This brings together two distinct ways to explore the region: cocido variations named after particular places and a wine route that spans several municipalities.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Boadilla Del Monte, Canencia, Chinchon, El Escorial, Galapagar, Madrid, Navas Del Rey, Vaciamadrid, Villaviciosa De Odón, Velilla De San Antonio, Valdilecha, Torrelodones, Torrejón De Ardoz, Tielmes, San Sebastián De Los Reyes, San Lorenzo De El Escorial, Rascafría, Pozuelo De Alarcón, Pinto, Parla, Paracuellos De Jarama, Navacerrada, Móstoles, Moralzarzal, Majadahonda, Leganés, Las Rozas De Madrid, Getafe, Fuenlabrada, El Molar, Coslada, Collado-Villalba, Ciempozuelos, Cadalso, Becerril De La Sierra, Arganda Del Rey, Aravaca, Aranjuez, Alpedrete, Alcorcón, Alcobendas, Tres Cantos, Talamanca, Soto Real, Navalcarnero, Buitrago Del Lozoya, Cenicientos, Miraflores De La Sierra, Alcalá De Henares, Villanueva De La Cañada, Algete, Cercedilla, Cubas De La Sagra, Griñón, Campo Real, Valdemanco, Manzanares El Real, Garganta De Los Montes, San Agustín Del Guadalix, Valdemoro, Guadarrama, Montejo De La Sierra, Los Santos De La Humosa, Villavieja Del Lozoya, Humanes De Madrid, Brea De Tajo, Ajalvir, San Martín De Valdeiglesias, Robledo De Chavela, Pedrezuela, Berzosa Del Lozoya, Brunete, San Martín De La Vega, Piñuécar, La Cabrera, Carabaña, Santorcaz, Collado Mediano, Titulcia, Pelayos De La Presa, Horcajo De La Sierra, Nuevo Baztán, Robregordo, Daganzo De Arriba, Lozoya, Torremocha De Jarama, Ribatejada, Olmeda De Las Fuentes, La Hiruela, San Fernando De Henares, Valdemaqueda, Mejorada Del Campo, Horcajuelo De La Sierra, El Boalo, El Berrueco, La Estación, Robledillo De La Jara, Colmenar Viejo, Villalbilla, Manjirón, La Serna Del Monte, Moraleja De Enmedio, Colmenar Del Arroyo, Belmonte De Tajo, Estremera, Los Molinos, Bustarviejo, Villarejo De Salvanés, Valdeolmos, Villa Del Prado, Aldea Del Fresno, Arroyomolinos, Gargantilla Del Lozoya, Torrejón De Velasco, Casarrubuelos, Cervera De Buitrago, Braojos, Valdemorillo, Villanueva Del Pardillo, Rozas De Puerto Real, Jardín De Serracines, Las Herreras, Valdelaguna, Loeches, Villafranca del Castillo, Santa María de la Alameda, El Gasco, Puebla de la Sierra, Valdeavero, El Álamo, Húmera, Patones, Villamanrique de Tajo, Guadalix de la Sierra, Santo Domingo, Alameda del Valle, Serranillos del Valle, Colmenarejo, Peralejo, Madarcos, Meco, Somosaguas

For the main travel overview: Spain.