It cannot be denied that in Madrid there are many activities to do without leaving it, however in the spring we can take advantage of the good weather to discover places very close to the capital.

Above all, when the destination is a natural environment or a historical and cultural heritage, that is why on this occasion we leave you 4 places to visit near Madrid this spring.

San Lorenzo de El Escorial

This town is located just 45 km from Madrid and is famous for its impressive monastery, which is not the only thing you can admire.

El Escorial is an important religious and cultural site in Spain and close to Madrid that has a large number of museums and exhibitions.

So, here you can visit some of these tourist attractions:

• Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial: It is the most important monument in the city, built in the 16th century by order of King Felipe II. This monastery is a masterpiece of the Spanish Renaissance and has a large number of rooms and exhibitions to visit.
• Basilica of the Sta. Cruz del Valle de los Caídos: This basilica is located in the Sierra de Guadarrama and was built to honor the fallen in the Spanish Civil War. In addition to the impressive architecture of the place, the basilica has a large number of works of art and exhibits.
• La Casita del Príncipe: This palace is located in the Bosque de la Herrería and was built in the 18th century. It is currently a museum that houses a collection of art and furniture from the period.
• Real Coliseo de Carlos III: This theater was built in the 18th century and is one of the oldest in Spain. The theater has been recently restored and has an impressive program of events and shows.
• Casa de los Oficios: This historic building was built in the 18th century and currently houses a cultural center. The place has a large number of exhibitions and cultural events, as well as a library and a historical archive.
• Parque de la Herrería: This park is located in the Sierra de Guadarrama and is ideal for enjoying nature. The place has a large number of hiking trails, as well as areas for picnics and outdoor sports.

There are several ways to get to El Escorial from Madrid, you can take the C3 suburban train line that leaves from Puerta del Sol station, the closest to Vitium Urban Suites (insert link https://vitium.es/ )

The trains leave every hour and take just over an hour to reach El Escorial station, located a 15-minute walk from the entrance to the monastery.

There is another more interesting option to go from Madrid to the Escorial by locomotive and you should book this excursion that will take you on a 20th century locomotive that leaves from the Príncipe Pío station, which is also in the vicinity of our Vitium Urban Suites hotel. and you can get there by metro line 10 from Plaza España. On the journey on this train that Felipe II had built, you will meet important figures from this era in which Spain dominated half the world and upon arrival you will take a guided tour in Spanish of the Escorial Monastery, which will allow you to learn more about the history of everything set.

Although for a short time, the buses that leave from the Moncloa station to El Escorial are the fastest way to get there, you should check the schedules of this route.

And of course you can also get there by car, it can take between 50 minutes and 1 hour, depending on the traffic you encounter.

We will have to leave Madrid and take the A-6, leaving it at exit number 47, to take the M-600 road that will take us directly to El Escorial.

Las Cascadas del Hervidero

They are a beautiful place located in the Community of Madrid, near the town of Rascafría. This waterfall is located on the Lozoya River, and its name comes from the fact that the water falls with great force and seems to boil at the bottom.

The Hervidero Waterfalls are one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area, as it is an ideal place to enjoy nature and go hiking. In addition to the main waterfall, there are other smaller waterfalls and natural pools where you can swim.

If we add to this fact that it is very easily accessible and that it is located less than half an hour from Madrid.

Access to the Hervidero Waterfalls is free and there are several signposted paths that allow you to reach the waterfall from different points. The most popular route is the one that starts from the Pradera de Rascafría car park and follows the course of the Lozoya River.

The round trip is about 6 kilometers along a path with very little unevenness, just about 200 meters.

It can be reached by car, in just over half an hour. You can also take the 191 intercity bus that leaves from the Plaza de Castilla interchange and stops in the same polygon from where the hiking trail to the waterfall starts.

We recommend that you bring comfortable shoes and water, since the path can be a bit slippery in some sections.

Torrelaguna

It is a town that is located in the Community of Madrid, about 60 km north of the Spanish capital. This villa has a rich history dating back to Roman times, and has many monuments and tourist attractions.

One of the places of interest in Torrelaguna is the Museo de la Reconquista, which is located in the old convent of San Francisco. This museum shows the history of the Spanish Reconquest through an impressive collection of historical objects and pieces.

One of the most outstanding places in Torrelaguna is its old town, which has been declared a Historic-Artistic Site. Here you can find numerous buildings and monuments of interest, such as the church of Santa María Magdalena, the Plaza Mayor or the Palacio de los Mendoza.

In addition, Torrelaguna is known for its gastronomy, especially for its game dishes and its village bread.

El Pantano de San Juan

It is a reservoir, a natural beach complex, located in the Community of Madrid, about 60 km west of the capital. It is located between the municipalities of San Martín de Valdeiglesias and Pelayos de la Presa. The water in this reservoir comes from the Alberche river, one of the tributaries of the Tagus and Cofio. It has almost 14 km of beaches surrounded by nature and trees, some coves have the particularity that they are nudist and it is one of the most popular places to enjoy the outdoors and water sports in the region.

In this place you can practice water sports such as windsurfing, sailing, canoeing or water skiing. There are also bathing areas set up in the reservoir, which makes it a perfect place to enjoy a day at the beach in the interior of the peninsula.

In addition, the San Juan Reservoir has numerous recreational areas with barbecues, tables, and play areas for children, making it an ideal place to spend a day with family or friends. There are also several beach bars and restaurants offering a wide variety of dishes and drinks to enjoy during your stay at the reservoir.

It can be reached by car and also by bus from Príncipe Pío, the station that is near Vitium Urban Suites

Definitely this spring you have to take advantage of the good weather and visit these beautiful places very close to Madrid, and remember to book your accommodation at Vitium Urban Suites