Bus 194 from Plaza de Castilla stops 1.7 km short of the Finnish Forest near Rascafría, so the first choice is the day, not the route. On a Saturday the only morning bus leaves Madrid at 8am and the last one back goes at 8.30pm, which leaves 10 h 15 min in the valley; on a weekday you get 4 h 45 min. Drivers have it easier. El Paular Monastery is 80 to 91 km from the city, and the car park beside it is 750 metres from the water.
How do you get to the Finnish Forest in Rascafría from Madrid? Drive 80 to 91 km to El Paular Monastery, or take bus 194 from Plaza de Castilla, about 135 minutes, to Rascafría village, then walk 1.7 km to the lake. The catch is the calendar: the only morning 194 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays leaves at 8am, and the last return is 8.30pm on Saturday and 6.45pm on Sunday.
Is the Finnish Forest worth it from Madrid?
Yes, as part of a slow day in the El Paular valley. On its own it is a short stroll, and knowing that before the two-hour bus ride avoids the let-down.
The Finnish Forest is a lake ringed by birch, yew and holly beside an old dam on the Los Batanes estate, according to Rascafría Town Council, which describes it as landscaped rather than wild woodland. The dam once stored water for a paper mill. The shortest way in is 500 metres from the Puente del Perdón bridge.
Who it suits, and who it does not:
- Families with small children: the walk from the monastery car park is 750 metres, about 11 minutes.
- Hikers: the lake alone will feel short. Add the Purgatorio waterfalls, a 12.6 km round trip.
- Visitors without a car: go on a Saturday, the only day that gives more than 10 hours in the valley.
- Anyone combining it with the monastery: skip Monday and Tuesday, when El Paular Monastery is closed.
Across the road from the monastery, at km 27.6 of the M-604, the El Paular Visitor Centre run by the Comunidad de Madrid has the Giner de los Ríos Arboretum, with around 200 species of trees and shrubs. It opens 9am to 7pm daily from April to October, and only at weekends and on holidays, 9am to 4.30pm, from November to March.
Bus or car, which works best on which day?
The car wins unless it is a weekend. This is how the options compare for two adults.
Two adults on the bus pay €12 return, four €3 singles bought from the driver. The car park by the monastery is not on the council’s list of paid car parks, and Las Presillas charges €10 or €20 depending on the season and closes at 9pm.
Catching the 194 without a Spanish travel card
You do not need a card for a one-off trip.
- Metro to Plaza de Castilla. From Sol, line 1 runs straight there. Follow signs to the interurban bus interchange.
- Board the 194 towards Rascafría. Pay the €3 single to the driver; per the Consorcio fare table the interurban single is the same whatever the distance.
- Ride to the last stop. That is Plaza de los Abetos, in Rascafría village, about 135 minutes later.
- Walk 1.7 km to the lake. It takes about 25 minutes, using the map below.
The line is run by ALSA, and the timetable the Consorcio Regional de Transportes publishes is the same all year.
| Day | Back from Rascafría | From Plaza de Castilla |
|---|---|---|
| Sundays and public holidays | 10.45am and 6.45pm | 8am and 3.15pm |
| Saturdays | 10.45am and 8.30pm | 8am and 6pm |
| Monday to Friday | 7am, 1.45pm and 5pm | 10am, 2pm and 6pm |
On a Saturday the 8am bus reaches Rascafría around 10.15am, and after the 25-minute walk you are at the lake around 10.40am.
Some runs detour through Canencia, and the 2pm also through Pedrezuela, so treat the arrival as approximate. Rascafría is in zone C2, and a 10-trip ticket between zones A and C2 costs €22.40 with a temporary discount from the Comunidad de Madrid. How zones work is in Madrid transport zones, and under-26s living in the region should look at the Abono Joven youth pass.
The 194A also stops by the monastery, at Ctra. M-604 - Monasterio El Paular, but it starts in Buitrago del Lozoya, and its runs past Rascafría (8.30am, 11.30am and 6.40pm on weekdays, 8.10am and 10pm at weekends) do not connect with the 194.
Where do you park for the Finnish Forest?
Park by the monastery if you want the shortest walk, and at Las Presillas if that is full or you plan to swim or hike.
The quicker road is not the shorter one. From Plaza de Castilla, the A-1 and M-604 route is 91 km, around 77 minutes without traffic; the mountain route over the Navacerrada and Cotos passes, via the A-6, M-601 and M-604, is 80 km but closer to 81 minutes. On snowy weekends, once the pass car parks fill, the DGT traffic authority closes the M-601 at km 12.7 and the M-604 at km 32, beyond Rascafría, so take the A-1.
- Car park by El Paular Monastery: about 60 metres from the building and 750 metres from the lake, and not one of the council’s paid car parks.
- Las Presillas, at km 28.6 of the M-604: council-run, €10 a car per day from October to May and €20 from June to September, open 9am to 9pm, with no refund if the weather spoils the day. It is a picnic area where lighting any fire is banned all year, and in summer one of Madrid’s river and reservoir swimming spots.
Every walking figure is measured along the paths. As the crow flies the lake is 245 metres from the monastery car park; on foot it is 750.
| Starting point | Walk to the lake | At 4 km/h |
|---|---|---|
| Bus 194 terminus, Plaza de los Abetos | 1.7 km | about 25 minutes |
| Las Presillas car park | 1.3 km | about 20 minutes |
| Car park by El Paular Monastery | 750 metres | about 11 minutes |
| 194A stop at El Paular | 550 metres | about 8 minutes |
| Puente del Perdón bridge | 500 metres | about 8 minutes |
Do you need to book anything
No. Neither the bus nor the car parks take bookings. At Las Presillas the council’s bylaw has you pay at the machines in the car park, you then have ten minutes to drive out, and a car left after the 9pm closing counts as an infringement.
When is it worth adding the Purgatorio waterfalls?
Only if you want a proper hike, because it is more than ten times the walk to the lake.
The signed RV 6.2 trail runs 6.3 km each way from El Paular to the Cascadas del Purgatorio, about 12.6 km in total and over three hours at 4 km/h before climbing or stops. The shortest path is 5.7 km from the lake, 4.7 km from Las Presillas and 7 km from the 194 terminus, which fits a Saturday or Sunday by bus but not a weekday. Other trails and quotas in the range are covered in access rules for the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park.
Frequently asked questions about how to get to the Finnish Forest
How do I get to the Finnish Forest from Madrid by public transport?
Take bus 194 from the Plaza de Castilla interchange to its last stop, Plaza de los Abetos in Rascafría, a trip of about 135 minutes. The single fare is €3, paid on board. The lake is then a 1.7 km walk, roughly 25 minutes.
Is the Finnish Forest worth it from Madrid?
As part of a day in the El Paular valley, yes. On its own it is a short stroll round a planted lake, 500 metres from the Puente del Perdón, so pair it with El Paular Monastery, the arboretum or the Purgatorio trail to make the journey worthwhile.
Is there parking near the Finnish Forest in Rascafría?
Yes. There is a car park about 60 metres from El Paular Monastery, 750 metres on foot from the lake, and the council-run Las Presillas car park, 1.3 km away, which charges €10 a day from October to May and €20 from June to September.
Can I see the Finnish Forest and the Purgatorio waterfalls in one day?
Yes, with a full day. The signed RV 6.2 trail runs 6.3 km each way from El Paular, so the round trip is about 12.6 km. Without a car it only works on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, when the bus leaves you 8.5 to over 10 hours in the valley.
Is El Paular Monastery open on Mondays?
No. El Paular Monastery does not open on Mondays or Tuesdays. The El Paular Visitor Centre across the road opens every day from April to October, 9am to 7pm, and from November to March only at weekends and on holidays, 9am to 4.30pm.
Pick the day before the transport: a Saturday bus makes this lake a day out, a weekday one barely an afternoon.