The search for the perfect place to take a dip is a constant in order to cope with the high temperatures. Throughout the length and breadth of the Community of Madrid there is a considerable variety of pools to choose from and those of Las Berceas, in Cercedilla, are an ideal weekend getaway nearby.
A little more than an hour’s drive from the capital, one of its main attractions is its location in the middle of nature: Las Berceas Recreational Park is located in the Fuenfría Valley, in the Sierra de Guadarrama and at the gates of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park -a protected natural area and, therefore, privileged-.
There are 30 hectares with capacity for 1,800 people, with facilities that have everything you need for a day of swimming: picnic areas, changing rooms, showers, toilets, bar, infirmary, lawn area for sunbathing and two large swimming pools surrounded by wild pines.
What is allowed (and what is not) in Las Berceas?
The facilities, as we said, have picnic areas, so you can bring food and drink to consume in those spaces (and only in them): in the grassy area surrounding the pools is not allowed to eat and smoking is strictly prohibited throughout the premises.
Tables, umbrellas, chairs, sun loungers, large inflatables or water pistols may not be brought in, nor may music be played without headphones. Ball games are allowed, but only in designated areas.
And if you are thinking of going with your pet, you will have to do it in one of the pools and pet-friendly bathing areas in the region, because in Las Berceas animals are not allowed (except for guide dogs).
Opening hours
Las Berceas is open until August 31 from Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm without interruption.
Tickets
Non-subscribers
- Adults (from 14 to 64 years old): 9€ on weekdays and 12€ on weekends.
- Other visitors (children from 5 years old, over 65 and people with disabilities equal to or greater than 33% and less than 65%): 5€ on weekdays and 7€ on weekends.
- 10-ticket vouchers: €65 for adults and €45 for children and people over 65 (only valid on weekdays).
Children between 0 and four years old (both inclusive) and people with a degree of disability equal to or greater than 65% will be exempt from payment. A 50% discount will be applied on weekdays after 5pm.
Subscribers (people registered in Cercedilla or with property in Cercedilla)
- Adults (from 14 to 64 years old): 2,50€.
- Other visitors: 1,50€.
Both the purchase of tickets and parking reservations can be made through this link (during weekends there will only be online ticket sales, not at the box office).
The City Council advises to first book the parking space to ensure it, since they are limited and shared with other services of the park (such as an adventure park), and then buy the ticket for the service you want to enjoy.
How to get to Las Berceas
The pools are inside the Área Recreativa de las Dehesas, on the Fuenfría road, M-966 Km 3.9. To go from Madrid you have to take the A-6 or the road to Colmenar M-607.
Although it is true that there are parking spaces in the Área de las Dehesas, on weekends and holidays they fill up very easily. For this reason, to access the pools there are other options such as a free bus provided by the City Council of Cercedilla.
It operates only on weekends and holidays, departs from the center of Cercedilla -where there is a free parking lot for more than 400 vehicles- and stops on the road to Las Dehesas, 500 meters from the Cercanías station. To access it, it is only necessary to show the entrance to the swimming pools.
Another public transport option is the urban line of Cercedilla (Institute-Hospital de la Fuenfría) that stops at the Fuenfría Valley Visitor Center of the National Park (about 10 minutes walk from Las Berceas). You can consult the bus schedule in this document.
Natural pools in the Community of Madrid
In addition to those of Cercedilla, you can find other natural pools and beaches in the region to which to go for a summer excursion and, incidentally, to know or revisit some places of this our community. Among them are Las Presillas (Rascafría) or the Alberche beach (Aldea del Fresno). Find the complete list in this article.