The Strawberry Train

This spring and autumn, 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 (Museo del Ferrocarril), 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.

Services and Times 2023: 

• April: 22, 23, 29 and 30
• May: 1, 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28
• June: 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25
• September: 16, 17, 23, 24 and 30
• October: 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29
• November: 11 and 12

• Departure from the Railway Museum: 10am / Arrival in Aranjuez at 10.44am
• Return: 6.36pm from Aranjuez train station / Arrival at the Railway Museum in Madrid at 7.25pm.
  Entrance doors to the museum open at 9.15am / Entrance control closes 10 minutes prior to the departure of the train.

Itineraries

Single tickets:

• Strawberries with Cream (Fresas con nata): includes a tourist route around Aranjuez on the tourist train and a guided walking tour of the Island Garden and the Parterre.
• Strawberries from the Tagus (Fresas del Tajo): 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. 
• Royal Strawberries (Fresas Reales): 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. Tour available in English.
• Natural Strawberries (Fresas al Natural): 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.
• Bikes and Strawberries (Fresas Ciclistas): includes a guided tour on electric bikes of the Aranjuez's orchards and groves as well as a walking tour through the Parterre Garden and the Island Garden.
• Strawberries with Music (Fresas con Música): includes entrance to the 30th Música Antigua de Aranjuez Festival. Only available on the 22 and 29 Oct and 12 Nov 2023.

Combo tickets:

• Combined route Cream of the Tagus (Nata del Tajo): 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.
• Combined route Royal Cream (Nata Real): visit the gardens and old quarter of Aranjuez, with a guided visit of the Royal Palace.
• Combined route Royal Tagus (Tajo Real): 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