Temple, shrine & monastery tours
Good temple tours fill up weeks ahead and the sunrise slots go first. Below: the 6 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Review of Madrid’s 5-hour El Escorial and Valley of the Fallen tour, with practical advice on value, guides, timing, transport, and what to expect.
“Great tour and company. Oscar the guide was phenominal. Highly recommended tour to spend the day outside of the city,”
See intense live flamenco in Madrid at intimate Sala Temple, with a drink included, traditional food available, and Royal Palace access nearby.
“What an amazing experience! Without doubt, one of if not THE highlight of our short trip to Madrid. I have always wanted to see a live flamenco show, and was a bit worried that my husband would not enjoy it as much, but he was as enthralled and captivated as I was by the talent of the four artists, who performed with such intensity for just over an hour. This was one of the less expensive flamenco options, and I was concerned that it would be less impressive than some of the other options, which were almost double the price. However, from the second we were seated right next to…”
Review of the El Escorial and Valley of the Fallen tour from Madrid, with practical tips on timing, guides, walking, language, and value.
“Very nice sites Unfortunately not possible to visit the basilica at Escurial : do not plan tour on Sunday morning ! We run late : I don’t know why as we didn’t visite the basilica and also we arrived before 3pm on the ticket it was return before 5pm. The visit of Valle de Los Caidos was done in 30 minutes … very too short”
Review of Madrid’s half-day trip to El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen, with itinerary, value, access, guides, tips, and booking advice.
“Guide was excellent; gave thorough explanations for our tour sites and their histories.”
See passionate flamenco in Madrid’s intimate Sala Temple, with an optional drink and tapas, practical tips on seating, timing, and value.
“The show was spectacular. You could feel the emotion through their dances. We got the food option which was ok but they were traditional Spain dishes. I definitely recommend the Sangria. Overall this was a great experience”
Review of the private El Escorial Monastery tour from Madrid, including the Royal Pantheon, library, palace rooms, guide, price, and practical tips.
“The Escorial is so beautiful and Isabella is a PHENOMENAL guide!!! She is so engaging and knows so much about art, history, culture, etc. We did this excursion as a group of friends and everyone really enjoyed and were very entertained. Sometimes tours can get boring or be a little dense, but Isabella kept it interesting the whole time.”
