The Plaza Mayor is the starting point for a tour of one of the city's oldest and most peculiar districts. Possible visits include the Palace of Santa Cruz, the Plaza de la Villa and the Bas lica de San Francisco el Grande. Monasterio de El Escorial. San Lorenzo de El Escorial. It is the venue for UCM Summer Courses.
Skiing is a further attraction of winters in Madrid.
Only 60 km from the capital, northwards, there is the skiing resort of Navacerrada, which is well connected by road and train. Cotos and Valdesqu are also two additional resorts.