My tip“An hour and 15 minutes by car over the beautiful Puerto de Morcuera; book the monastery visit and the car park through its website, and combine it with the “La Cascada del Purgatorio” waterfall.”
A green mountain valley between pine forests and rivers, with a 14th-century Carthusian monastery still inhabited by monks, and the quiet village of Rascafría. An ideal escape from Madrid’s summer heat.
What to see
El Paular Charterhouse (guided tours) · the stone Puente del Perdón over the Lozoya river · the natural swimming pools of “Las Presillas” in summer · the pine forests and the Peñalara trails · the village of Rascafría
How to get there
Bus 194 from Plaza de Castilla (≈1 h 45 min) — by car ≈1 h 15 min
Easy to reach, needs a car
By car over the Morcuera mountain pass (may need chains in winter); bus 194 runs rarely. The car park beside the monastery is booked through the website. Level ground. The Purgatorio falls are a 15–20 minute walk away. Restaurants in Rascafría (2 km).
Address
M-604, Rascafría