My tip“45 minutes by car; combine it with an easy walk in La Pedriza, and the castle is sometimes under restoration, so check before you go.”
A 15th-century castle of the Mendoza family, one of the most beautiful and complete castles in Castile, standing before the Santillana reservoir and the granite rocks of La Pedriza on the slopes of the Guadarrama mountains.
What to see
The new castle of the Mendoza family, its walls and walkway · the ruins of the old castle · the Santillana reservoir and its lookout · the giant rocks of La Pedriza in the Guadarrama National Park · walks along the Manzanares river
How to get there
Bus 724 from Plaza de Castilla (≈50 min) — by car ≈45 min
Easy to reach
Bus 724 from Plaza de Castilla (about 45 min) or by car. The castle is at the edge of the town, with a car park nearby and a few minutes' walk; the inside has stairs. Cafés in the town. Check it is open, as it is under restoration.
Address
C. Cañada, s/n, Manzanares el Real