The Strawberry Train

Spring 2026 Season: from 22 March to 7 June

In spring and autumn, you an enjoy a unique experience that combines culture, leisure and rail travel. The Strawberry Train does the same Madrid—Aranjuez route that it has been doing since 1984. Departing from Madrid's Railway Museum, and after a short journey on the train, you'll arrive in Aranjuez, a UNESCO heritage site famous for its mouth-watering strawberries.

In 1851, Isabella II opened Madrid’s first railway line—and second one on the peninsula—to connect the Royal Palace in Aranjuez with the capital. This line, which was originally meant to join Madrid with the Mediterranean coast, ended at Aranjuez station but was eventually extended to reach the Palace so as to serve the Royal Family. Since 1984, the Strawberry Train (so called because during the trip hostesses wearing period dresses would conduct a strawberry tasting session) has paid tribute to this revolutionary invention, which symbolises the arrival of industrialisation in our country.

In 2023, the Strawberry Train is made up of a locomotive and a 1960s carriage, two 1950s wooden carriages called "Costa", a 1950s metal carriage with a side corridor and two 1920s restaurant cars.

Dates 2026: 

• March: 22, 28 and 29

• April: 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26

• May: 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31

• June: 6 and 7

Times 2026:

• Departure from the Railway Museum: 10am / Arrival in Aranjuez at 11am
• Return: 6.54pm from Aranjuez train station / Arrival at the Railway Museum in Madrid at 7.45pm.
  Entrance doors to the museum open at 9.15am / Entrance control closes 10 minutes prior to the departure of the train.

Itineraries:

In English:

• English tour: includes a round-trip journey on the Strawberry Train, a visit to the Royal Palace of Aranjuez with a video guide, entry to the Faluas Museum, guided walks and coach tours of the historic area and gardens, and a taste of Aranjuez’s famous strawberries on your return trip to Madrid. Everything is conducted in English.

In Spanish:

Single tickets:

• Fresas al Natural (Natural Strawberries): includes a guided visit of the Prince’s Garden, Parterre Garden and the Island Garden, as well as a transfer to the monumental area of Aranjuez.
• Fresas con nata (Strawberries with Cream): includes a tourist route around Aranjuez on the tourist train and a guided walking tour of the Island Garden and the Parterre.
• Fresas del Tajo (Strawberries from the Tagus): includes a ride along the River Tagus on a tourist boat with a guide on board (45 minutes) and a guided walk in the morning of the Prince’s Garden, Parterre Garden and the Island Garden. 
• Fresas Reales (Royal Strawberries): includes a visit to the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, admission to the Falúas Museum, guided tours on foot and by bus of the monumental area and the gardens, and a serving of strawberries from Aranjuez on the return journey to Madrid.
• Fresas entre piraguas (Strawberries and Kayaks): Enjoy a leisurely two-hour kayak trip down the Tagus River, led by a guide from the Aranjuez Kayaking Club, followed by a guided tour of Aranjuez's stunning historic gardens. Available on 23 and 30 May, and 6 June 2026.
• Fresas Ciclistas (Bikes and Strawberries): includes a guided tour on electric bikes of Aranjuez's orchards and groves as well as a walking tour through the Parterre Garden and the Island Garden. Available on 26 April, 10 and 31 May 2026.
• Fresas con Música (Strawberries with Music): includes admission to the Música Antigua de Aranjuez Festival. Only in Autumn.

• Fresas de la Huerta (Strawberries from the Orchard): a special new route that includes a guided tour of the historic orchards and the Interpretation Center of the Aranjuez Orchard, as well as a guided walk through the historical gardens of the Parterre and the Island. Available on 2, 3, 9 and 10 May 2026.

Combo tickets:

• Ruta combinada: Nata del Tajo (Cream of the Tagus combined route): enjoy discovering the streets of the Royal Site and its gardens on a tourist train while also enjoying a boat trip on the River Tagus.
• Ruta combinada Nata Real (Royal Cream combined route): visit the gardens and old quarter of Aranjuez, with a guided visit of the Royal Palace.
• Ruta combinada Tajo Real (Royal Tagus combined route): an opportunity to discover the most stunning landscapes along the river, plus a guided visit of the Royal Palace.

Tickets and information:

• Monday-Friday in the morning
• Telephone: (+34) 915 068 053
• E-mail: trendelafresa@ffe.es
• Website: https://www.trendelafresa.es/en/index.asp
• Tickets: https://www.trendelafresa.es/en/sale-of-tickets.asp