Aranjuez is about 47 km south of Madrid, and it’s one of those trips that’s easy without a car. The train drops you a short walk from the palace and the centre is walkable.
By commuter train: the easiest option
- Line C-3 of Cercanías Madrid, from Atocha; it also stops at Sol and other central stations.
- Journey time: about 45 minutes from Atocha.
- Frequency: roughly every 30 minutes at weekends, more often at weekday rush hours. The station connects with lines C-3 and C-3a.
- Fare zone: Aranjuez is in zone C1, so a travel pass for that zone covers the trip.
From the station to the palace it’s a 15 to 20-minute walk along a tree-lined avenue. Before you leave, look at the hall: it’s a 1920s neo-Mudéjar building.
By bus
Line 423 runs from Madrid’s Estación Sur bus station (Méndez Álvaro) to Aranjuez. It’s a little slower than the train but stops in the centre. Times on the Regional Transport Consortium website.
By car
From Puerta del Sol to the palace is about 53 km and 50 minutes without traffic, via the A-4.
Where to park: there’s a paid public car park on Calle Valeras, about 200 metres from the palace, open 24 hours. In the centre some streets are free and others pay-and-display; guides disagree on which, so check the signs. On spring weekends and during the festivals, arrive before 11am. The station car park is another calm option.
On the Strawberry Train
To make the journey part of the visit: a vintage train with wooden carriages leaves Madrid’s Railway Museum on some spring and autumn weekends. Read the Strawberry Train guide.
Getting around Aranjuez
The centre is flat and walkable. Distances grow in the Prince’s Garden, about 3 km long: the Casa del Labrador is a good half-hour walk from the palace. You can’t cycle inside the gardens, but you can along Calle de la Reina, which runs beside them.
Further afield from Aranjuez
By car from the palace: Ocaña 17 km (18 min), Chinchón 28 km (28 min), Colmenar de Oreja 25 km (31 min), Toledo 49 km (46 min).
Questions people ask
How long is the train from Madrid to Aranjuez?
How far is Aranjuez from Madrid?
Where can I park to see the palace?
Can I get from Aranjuez to Toledo by train?
Sources and official links
Last reviewed:
