El Escorial Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial
San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain UNESCO World Heritage Site
El Escorial in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain, is a Roman Catholic monastery, royal palace, and Monument (Spain). Built in Renaissance architecture style, it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is dedicated and named after Lawrence of Rome. It is one of the most looked-up sights in the country, ranked 7 among the country's sights by English Wikipedia lookups.
Planning a visit
July and August are the warmest months with daily highs of 28 °C and lows of 16 °C, alongside lower rain amounts of 18 mm to 21 mm on about 2 days. January brings colder temperatures with daily highs of 7 °C and lows of -1 °C, and November experiences higher rain with 117 mm on about 11 days. The nearest airport is Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport in Madrid, located 50 km away, and the site is 42 km from Madrid. Nearby sights include the Valley of the Fallen at 5.9 km, the Royal Palace of El Pardo at 32.4 km, the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso at 36.3 km, the Palace of Moncloa at 38.3 km, and the Aqueduct of Segovia at 40.0 km.
From October to March, the site is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00. From April to September, it opens Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00. Adult tickets cost €14 and concessions are €7. Wheelchair access is limited.
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 29 °C. The wettest is November, with about 117 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 7 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 24 | 29 | 28 | 23 | 17 | 11 | 8 |
| Average low, °C | -1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| Rainfall, mm | 80 | 65 | 55 | 88 | 90 | 43 | 18 | 21 | 43 | 109 | 117 | 114 |
| Rainy days | 9 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
