Palaces and Castles with Kids near Madrid, 3 of 7
Palaces and Castles with Kids near Madrid, 3 of 7: San Lorenzo de El Escorial
San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Day TripSan Lorenzo de El Escorial
Area
San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Good for
6–14
Cost
Free
Setting
Indoor & outdoor
Season
year-round
Updated
Oct 12, 2026
What you need to know
- Free phone gymkhana: En Busca del Templo de Salomón has 14 riddles over 2 km and takes about 80 minutes around the monastery and town
- Walk to the Silla de Felipe II: 7 km round trip from the tourism office through La Herrería forest, rated low difficulty (our Bosque de La Herrería page covers the forest)
- Tren de Felipe II, a restored historic train with uniformed conductors, runs to the town from Madrid's Príncipe Pío station on dates listed on its official site
About
San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a mountain town built around Felipe II's vast 16th-century monastery and palace, where the kings of Spain are buried. Families can solve the free En Busca del Templo de Salomón phone gymkhana, 14 riddles over 2 km, then walk out through the royal La Herrería forest to the Silla de Felipe II, a rock seat with the whole monastery spread out below.
OutdoorIndoor
Location
San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Av Juan de Borbón y Battemberg, s/n, 28200 San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Madrid, Spain
