To start this accessible half-day tour to Aranjuez your guide will pick you up from Madrid at your hotel. Then we will drive for about 1 hour south.

On our tour, we will visit the main attraction in Aranjuez: the Royal Palace. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Santiago ordered the building of the Palace in the past. However, the Catholic Monarchs assumed authority of this order and Aranjuez then became part of the Royal state with the palace becoming a countryside residence for the Spanish kings. Although, Carlos V initiated the plan, with the aim to build a large Italian-style villa, his son Felipe II started building it in 1564 when he became the next king. The work continued for 200 years. The palace was finished in 1752 with Fernando VI as the king. The original structure remained until 1775 when Carlos II added two more wings.

Around the palace, you can find two beautiful gardens. Juan Bautista de Toledo, the original architect, designed leafy avenues that ran through the gardens and farming land. The Borbones kept improving the outside of the palace and added new gardens and a new system of tree-lined streets. Besides, he created a small village within the estate. We will take a walk in these gardens running along the Tajo river. At Príncipe Garden, we will visit the Falúas Museum, which has a spectacular collection of recreational crafts belonging to the Spanish kings. Afterward, we will explore Real Casa del Labrador, a country house built by Carlos V famous for its interesting architectural style.

After touring the palace and its gardens we will take a lunch break in Aranjuez (meal excluded). Finally, we will drive back to Madrid. Here our accessible half-day tour to Aranjuez from Madrid will officially end.

If you are looking for a full-day activity, you can also combine the visit at Aranjuez with a drive to Toledo.