Embark on a guided tour to the Monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial and enjoy skip-the-line entry. Explore the Basilica of the Valley of the Fallen and hear the history behind each turn from your guide. Leave Madrid in the morning and travel 50 minutes to San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Visit the baths upon arrival and then begin the tour of the San Lorenzo Monastery. Learn the long history of Spain, specifically the reign of Felipe II. See the building that best summarizes the ideological and cultural aspirations of the Spanish “Golden Age” and is named a World Heritage Site. See places like the Patio de Reyes, Cloister, Chapter Rooms, The Basilica (except on Sundays), The Pantheon of Kings and Infants, and the Royal Rooms. Travel to the Valley of the Fallen located in the Peña de Cuelga Muros after leaving San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Visit its surroundings and the basilica carved into the rock, and the burial place for 33,847 people who died in the Spanish Civil War. Be amazed by the great granite cross that is visible from kilometers away.

Take some time getting to know Madrid while riding through the city aboard an open-top double-decker bus. With one ticket, you will be able to hop on and off the bus all day along the route of your choice, or change to another, admiring the architectural and cultural magnificence of Madrid. Commentary is available via a headphones audio system in 14 different languages. Route 1 • Museo del Prado • Puerta de Alcalá • Barrio de Salamanca • Plaza de Colón • Plaza de Cibeles • Gran Vía, 14 • Gran Vía, 30 • Gran Vía, 54 • Plaza de España • Templo de Debod • Puerta de San Vicente • Puerta de Toledo • Gran Vía de San Francisco • Colegiata Mayor • Atocha 116 • Jardín Botánico de Madrid • Museo del Prado Route 2 • Plaza Neptuno • Plaza de Cibeles • Plaza de Colón • Museo Esculturas • Museo de Ciencias Naturales • Nuevos Ministerios • Santiago Bernabéu • C.S.I. Científicas • Museo Lázaro Galdiano • Serrano 61 • Serrano, 66 • Museo Arqueológico • Puerta de Alcalá • Alcalá 25 • Puerta del Sol • Plaza de las Cortes • Plaza de Neptuno High Season: March to October 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM Low Season: November to February 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

On this 5-hour tour from Madrid, you’ll begin with a visit to the Monastery of El Escorial. It was built under the reign of powerful King Philip II as a residence for Spanish kings, a monastery, and a royal pantheon. It became a symbol of the great power of the Spanish Empire at that time. The monument was declared to be of artistic and historic importance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Valley of the Fallen was built in 1936, about 9 kilometers from Escorial, as a memorial to those who died during the Spanish Civil War.  Situated in a beautiful valley in the Guadarrama Mountains, this impressive work features a cross standing more than 150 meters high, as well as a basilica and crypt built into the hard rock under the mountain. The tour includes admission to the Valley as well as a visit to the basilica’s interior.

Experience Madrid's electric energy and vibrant culture by day or night on an open-top panoramic sightseeing bus tour. Learn about the rich history of the city with an onboard guide, and admire Madrid's sights, including the Royal Palace, Biblioteca Nacional, and more.  After boarding the bus, head through the heart of Madrid to see iconic cultural spots like the Prado, Reina Sofia, and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museums. Feast your eyes on the city's most beautiful buildings, such as Palacio de Cibeles, Estación de Atocha, Edificio Metrópolis, and Catedral de la Almudena. In this immersive, al-fresco experience, you'll feel the warm Spanish breeze on your skin and enjoy the city's buzzing atmosphere like never before. Admire lush parks like the Reales Jardines Botánicos and Parque de Atenas. Listen to your guide's bilingual commentary, and learn about Madrid's rich history and cultural importance. There has never been an easier way to discover Madrid's beauty and charm.

Travel from central Madrid via bus to Segovia, where you'll enjoy a walking tour of the city with a knowledgeable guide. Visit the impressive Roman aqueduct, one of the best-preserved Roman constructions in the world. Explore the city's charming streets, the main square, the Jewish Quarter, the Gothic Cathedral, and the Alcazar, a majestic castle that was once home to the kings of Castile. Once the guided tour comes to an end, continue to enjoy the city at your own pace. Stroll along its beautiful medieval streets, explore its monuments, and taste Segovian specialties from suckling pig to white bean stew to ponche segoviano (a delicious pastry made with sponge cake and marzipan). End your tour with a ride back to central Madrid.

Located just 40 miles (70 km) away from Madrid, Toledo is famous as the 'city of three cultures' – Christians, Muslims, and Jews – as they have lived together in this imperial city for generations. Experience the melding of religion and culture firsthand and see buildings from numerous periods including: Arabian, Gothic, Mudéjar, Renaissance and Baroque style.  Toledo Half-Day Morning Tour itinerary: • Departure at 8:45 AM • Toledo guided tour including admission to the Cathedral • Panoramic sightseeing of Toledo • Free time to enjoy the city at your own pace Toledo Half-Day Afternoon Tour itinerary: • Departure at 3:00 PM  • Outside view of the Cathedral • Church of St. Tomé with 'The Burial of the Count of Orgaz', masterpiece of El Greco • Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca and tour through the Jewish Quarter • San Juan de los Reyes Monastery • Panoramic sightseeing of Toledo

Experience the electric energy and vibrant culture of Madrid on Big Bus open-top panoramic sightseeing tour. Sit back and relax as your live guide explains the history behind famous sights like the Royal Palace, Biblioteca Nacional, Puerta de Alcalá, and many more. Travel through the heart of Madrid, and admire iconic cultural landmarks like the Prado, Reina Sofia, and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums. See lush parks like the Reales Jardines Botánicos and Parque de Atenas. Feast your eyes on the city's most beautiful buildings such as Palacio de Cibeles, Estación de Atocha, and Catedral de la Almudena. Feel the warm Spanish sun on your skin and enjoy the city's buzzing atmosphere like never before. Enjoy your professional guide's commentary and learn about Madrid's rich history and cultural importance. With 11 daily departures, make the most of an easy way to discover Madrid's beauty and charm. For a different perspective on the city, you can also choose to take the tour at night time, to enjoy the sights of the city illuminated for the evening.

After meeting with your guide, get away from the bustle of the city on a comfortable air-conditioned coach. At the first stop, enjoy a guided tour through the Royal Monastery of El Escorial, an architectural ensemble declared World Heritage site by UNESCO. Built in the 16th century, it is a symbol of the power of the government at the time. Learn about the impressive Royal Mausoleum and the story behind the 21 years of construction time. Marvel at the symmetry of the Renaissance-style building. Listen to your guide's commentaries as you explore the Habsburg Palace, the Chapter House, the Basilica, and the remarkable library.  Then, board your bus again for a short drive to the Valley of the Fallen. The site is located 9 kilometers away from El Escorial, in Sierra de Guadarrama. This enormous monument, built between 1940 and 1959, is carved into the mountain, 1,350 meters up. An impressive 150-meter-high cross stands over the magnificent nature reserve of Madrid’s mountain range, which can be seen from miles away.

Delve into the life and times of Cervantes on this day trip from Madrid to Alcalá de Henares. Enter the house where Cervantes was born and the chapel where he was baptized. Enjoy walking through the oldest university in Spain at the University of Alcalá de Henares. Visit the house where Cervantes, the famed writer of 'Don Quixote' was born at the Miguel de Cervantes Birthplace Museum. Walk through reconstructed rooms from the 16th century and dive into the customs, traditions, and everyday life of the time period. Go to the Chapel of the Hears where Cervantes was baptized. Let your guide show you places that are related to his family and associated with the publication of his work. View the statue of the author in the elegant Plaza de Cervantes. Hear about how the Cardinal Cisneros worked to establish of the University of Alcalá de Henares, which is the oldest university in Spain. Take some time to explore this university before heading to Plaza de los Santos Niños where the Magisterial Cathedral is located. Listen as your guide tells you about the child martyrs that the cathedral associated with. Finish your visit with a stop at the Archbishop's Palace. Admire this splendid palace where Castilian monarchs once resided and where the English queen Catherine of Aragon was born.

After gathering at the Monument to Felipe IV in Plaza de Oriente, depart from Madrid in the direction of Alcalá de Henares. Once there, begin to explore the native city of Miguel de Cervantes, the greatest writer of Hispanic Literature. Alcalá de Henares, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to many secrets of this famous character. Through its streets you can also find elements of the different cultures that have been part of Spain throughout the centuries. Learn how the rich historical and artistic heritage of this city is reflected in its imposing monuments, among which you will see the Cathedral of the Holy Children, the Palace of Laredo, the picturesque Calle Mayor, or the centennial University of Alcalá. This guided trip is a perfect option to spend half a day, a mere 20 minutes away from Madrid.