Tours, sightseeing tours, activities & things to do | Viator.comEl Escorial Monastery and the Valley of the Fallen from Madrid
based on 68 reviews of El Escorial Monastery and the Valley of the Fallen from Madrid
Read what other Viator.com travelers think about the El Escorial Monastery and the Valley of the Fallen from Madrid. What they loved, what they liked and what they think could be improved, it's all here to help you make the most of your next trip.
There is much to recommend about this tour, but the one factor that I found most frustrating was the absolutely breathless pace of the tour of El Escorial - it was impossible to linger in any of the rooms - it was almost like someone hit a fast forward button. You are also limited in the rooms that are visited - rooms that are available for touring were overlooked in the haste to get through the site in what is an apparently designated time period. The tour had to be back in Madrid at a designated time so that those going to Toledo could have their inclusive lunch. That being said the guide was quite knowledgeable - her diction in particular both Spanish & English was superb. The Valley of the Fallen portion of the tour allowed you individual time to linger at the site. I only wish we had had that option at El Escorial since it holds so much more historical significance.
Reviewed by: Anonymous, United States of America, February 2008
The pace was a bit too fast for my taste. It felt like the guide was in a hurry, and the explanations were too shallow. It was like taking a regular bus with a stop for a few minutes. I just can't recommend this.
Reviewed by: Ellen B, Israel, October 2007
It was worth the trouble to see it. Sadly, the tour operator gives very poor service. The guides were in a bad mood and explained things in a frivolous way.
Reviewed by: Otto O, United States of America, October 2007
I should have been warned of the fitness status needed to be able to enjoy the trip.
Reviewed by: Jose L, United States of America, October 2007
While the destinations were great, we were very disappointed with our guide. She demonstrated no passion, let alone real interest in what she was showing us. She took no questions either. We were hurried through rooms in the Escorial without any explanation, too. It was a real disappointment.
Reviewed by: Anonymous, United States of America, August 2007
The tour was good and informative, however in general I felt as though the hospitality and warmth was missing from the people who worked for this place. For one, they were not friendly when we came in searching for the meeting place. Having already spent a few minutes looking for the place, I was slightly annoyed by that already. The excursion started late and it felt that I was rushed through the monastery and other sites. The tour guide, while speaking almost flawless English, did not seem to have much patience for questions or a desire to have us ask a lot of questions.
Reviewed by: Christine B, United States of America, August 2007
Last year I visited El Escorial and Valley of the Fallen and our guide made it very interesting indeed. This year we had a different guide and there was no enthusiasm at all by the guide on this trip.
Reviewed by: Florence D, United Kingdom, July 2006
The female guide assigned to our group appeared to be oblivious that she had a group of tourists with her. Her English was horrible. She made a lot of mistakes and had a very bad Spanish accent, which made it difficult, if not impossible, to understand her. We had to read all the signs in the monastery by ourselves just to get an idea what the place was all about. And she didn't wait for people to come close to her before she started to speak. In our case, she chose two-three people from the group and spoke exclusively to them.
Reviewed by: Olga D, United States of America, October 2009
