Study in Torrelodones, Spain

About Torrelodones

Torrelodones is a town in the north-west of the Comunidad de Madrid, 29 kilometres from the capital along the A-6 motorway. It had 25,433 inhabitants on 1 January 2025, according to the official municipal register figures published by the National Statistics Institute (INE). The town council describes it as one of the first towns of the Sierra de Guadarrama, set between two regional parks: the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares and the Curso Medio del Río Guadarrama. Its population is spread over several separate urban areas, including the Colonia around the railway station, at an average altitude of 845 metres.

Torrelodones is not a university town. Its schools serve children and teenagers, and suit families who want an English-language or alternative education within reach of Madrid. University students who live here travel to the capital by commuter train or by road.

Studying in Torrelodones

Our directory lists three active schools in Torrelodones, all of them primary and secondary schools with an international or alternative approach:

• Dragón, the American School of Torrelodones, a private American school for students aged 3 to 18, from the second cycle of early childhood education to the end of upper secondary
• Green Stone British International School, for children and young people aged 3 to 14
• Montessori Villa Rosita, a Montessori secondary school in the Colonia

At Dragón, students can finish with two qualifications: a US High School Diploma and its recognition (homologación) as the Spanish Bachillerato, which the school processes through the Madrid education inspectorate (Área Territorial Madrid Oeste). The school states that its community includes more than 40 nationalities and that 80% of its teachers are native or bilingual speakers. Its campus is in the Sierra de Guadarrama, and the school does not allow mobile phones at any stage.

Green Stone is authorised by the British Council and is a member of NABSS, the National Association of British Schools in Spain. It teaches the Oxford International Curriculum together with the Conscious Discipline social and emotional programme.

Montessori Villa Rosita runs an adolescent programme built around community life, contact with nature and small business projects (micro-entrepreneurship). Admission starts with a visit or open day, followed by an application and an interview with the head of the school.

Cost of living for students

Torrelodones is a residential town, and families should budget mainly for school fees and housing. Fees vary widely by school. As an example, Montessori Villa Rosita lists a one-off enrolment fee of €550 and a monthly fee of €750, including teaching materials and meals, for the first year of ESO (secondary) in the 2027-28 school year. Green Stone publishes its fees as a download on its website.

Public transport is part of the Madrid regional network run by the Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid (CRTM). Young people aged 15 to 25 can buy the Abono Joven, a 30-day pass for unlimited travel in all fare zones (A to E2), for €10. Under-14s travel free throughout the region since 1 July 2025. The CRTM has confirmed these prices until 31 December 2026.

Getting around and daily life

The A-6 motorway is the main road link with Madrid. Torrelodones has a Renfe station in the Colonia with Cercanías commuter trains, as well as urban buses, and it is part of the CRTM network.

The town's main economic activities are services and hospitality. The two regional parks around Torrelodones and the council's network of walking routes offer outdoor space close to home.

Frequently asked questions

Are there international schools in Torrelodones?

Yes. Our directory lists an American school (Dragón, ages 3 to 18), a British international school (Green Stone, ages 3 to 14) and a Montessori secondary school.

Can students get a Spanish qualification at an American school in Torrelodones?

Dragón states that its graduates receive a US High School Diploma and that the school arranges its recognition as the Spanish Bachillerato, so students finish with qualifications valid in both countries.

How far is Torrelodones from Madrid?

About 29 kilometres along the A-6 motorway. The town also has a Cercanías commuter rail station in the Colonia.

How much does public transport cost for young people?

The Abono Joven for people aged 15 to 25 costs €10 for 30 days of unlimited travel in all zones of the Madrid region, and children up to 14 travel free.