Escorial Monastery and the Valley of the Fallen

This five-hour excursion leaves Madrid by air-conditioned bus and combines two monumental sites in the Sierra de Guadarrama. At San Lorenzo de El Escorial, a guide uses priority admission to lead visitors through the royal courtyard, cloister, chapter rooms, pantheons and royal apartments, tracing the reign of Philip II.

The route then continues to the Valley of the Fallen, with its basilica carved into the rock, the surrounding landscape and a large granite cross. Reviewers single out the well-planned timing and the knowledgeable guides.

Meals and tips are not included.