Madrid Tours

The history of Madrid is not only its buildings and streets; the history of Madrid is its people and the events that took place there. From this I can assure you that there is a lot to learn and the best way to do it are the guided tours around the city.

This historical tour of Madrid and its old town will take you to the essential places in the centre of Madrid: the Madrid of the Austrias, the Almudena Cathedral and the most iconic squares and streets of the capital. During the approximately two and a half hour tour, your guide will tell you stories and details about the buildings and the historical figures who have played a key role in Madrid's history.

Walking Tour

The Barrio de las Letras is located just a few metres from Puerta del Sol and you'll know it from the literary inscriptions that you'll see engraved on the pavement along its length. It is known for being the neighbourhood where illustrious Spanish literary figures lived, and today it is also one of the most lively areas of the capital.

During this two-hour tour of the Barrio de las Letras in Spanish, your guide will tell you about the anecdotes and character of figures such as Valle-Inclán (I recommend reading 'Luces de Bohemia' before the tour), Lope de Vega and Cervantes. The Spanish Golden Age (so called because of the flourishing of the arts and literature) is the protagonist of the tour.

Itinerary on foot

This is one of the most original ghost tours in Madrid, precisely because there is no guide. When you book online you receive instructions on how to use your phone to access a series of recordings that tell spooky stories set in different parts of the centre of Madrid. You can take the tour at your own time and pace; the route is marked and the recordings are dramatised by actors.

You'll be surprised by the number of legends about paranormal phenomena in Madrid; if you've never heard of ghost stories like those of Goyito or María, you'll discover them on this tour.

Itinerary

Madrid is not all about stories and celebrities. Gastronomic culture is as much a part of this city as Kilometre Zero or Cibeles. This gastronomic tour is designed for you to try several wines and up to 12 different tapas while strolling around the capital.

The tour lasts three hours. As this is a small group tour, you will enjoy the company of a local guide who will not show you the so-called "tourist bars" but the ones that locals usually go to.

An important (and unpleasant) period in Spanish history was the Inquisition and Madrid was one of the main scenes of this massacre. It is always necessary to remember the past in order to try to learn from our mistakes as a society and that is why this tour is not only popular with visitors to Madrid but also with those who live in the city.

The two-hour tour focuses on this dark historical period and therefore chooses the places in medieval Madrid that were most relevant during the Spanish Inquisition in Madrid. It starts and ends in the Plaza Mayor and from there the walking tour of the Madrid of the Inquisition takes in points of interest such as the Palacio de la Encarnación, the Plaza de Santo Domingo where the dungeons of the Holy Office were located or the Plaza de la Cruz Verde where the impious were executed.

If you ask someone outside Spain what they know about the city of Madrid, there is a high percentage of chances that they will name Real Madrid and some of its players. This football club is an emblem of the city and that's why this tour combines sightseeing in Madrid with a visit to the Santiago Bernabeu stadium (ticket included, but not to attend a match).

As well as visiting the dressing rooms, the pitch, the benches and the presidential box of the Real Madrid stadium and learning more about its history, the tour will also take you aboard an air-conditioned bus to visit places such as Puerta de Toledo, the Royal Palace, the Almudena Cathedral, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Puerta de Alcalá and the Las Ventas bullring. This tour lasts four hours.

The size of the city of Madrid makes walking around it possible but quite tiring; on the other hand, the city has many areas adapted for cycling. This tour allows you to take in more points of interest thanks to the tour of Madrid by bike (rental included in the price) and without having to give up the advice of a specialised guide. It also includes a tapas tasting to replenish your energy during the tour.

Itinerary

Still leaving the city centre, this tour moves away from the more historical Madrid to focus more on the cultural Madrid of the Barrio de las Letras and the so-called Paseo del Arte (along which several of the city's main museums are located). For two hours a local guide will explain the secrets of 20th century architecture, the Bourbon dynasty and the literature of the Golden Age.

This Majestic Madrid Tour is especially recommended for art and literature lovers, but anyone can enjoy it as the explanations of the local guide who leads the tour are completely accessible to the general public.

Itinerary of the tour

Book in advance

For the best experience, all guided tours in Madrid have a certain number of places available. Once you know the day and time you want to take the tour you can book your place online and then you will be sent information via email with everything you need to know about the tour or the meeting with your guide.

Meeting point

The main meeting points for these tours are usually either Puerta del Sol or Plaza Mayor. Regardless of where you are staying in Madrid, it will be easy to find these two places or any other place where the tour takes place. The best way to get around Madrid is by metro, as it connects practically every corner of the city quickly and easily.

Timetables and dates

Tours are usually available all year round, although not every day of the week (you'll see the specific times before booking). On when to do them: put the months of July and August out of your mind, when temperatures in the capital can soar into the 40s. Autumn and spring are the best times to enjoy these walks, as in winter there can be rainy seasons in Madrid.

What to bring

Comfortable shoes and water are essential for this type of walk. Bear in mind that it can get very hot in Madrid and it is best to wear loose-fitting clothes and protect yourself not only with a hat but also with sun cream if you are travelling to the Spanish capital in the warmer months. Longer tours have a stop in the middle; bring something to eat in case you want to refuel with a coffee.

During the different tours of Madrid you will see places whose entrance is not included in the tour, such as the Royal Palace, the Royal Theatre or the Almudena Cathedral (in the latter case you can enter for free, but you might not have time during the tour).

Many of these places will probably catch your attention and you will want to visit them in more depth. I recommend that you look into guided tours of the capital's most famous monuments and buildings. Among all of them, the most worthwhile in my opinion is the one to the Royal Palace; you can read more about it in my article: Royal Palace of Madrid Tickets and Tours.

Madrid has a lot to see and learn about, but its geographical location also allows you to take advantage of a visit to the city to visit other nearby places such as Segovia or Toledo. If you enjoyed the experience of a guided tour of Madrid, I recommend that you try a guided excursion to other cities that, just a short distance from the capital, have stories and mysteries to discover. You can read more about the tours available from Madrid here: Day Trips from Madrid.

If you want to go straight to my favourites, Segovia and Toledo are, in my opinion, the most attractive. Here are the guides to organise your visit: Day Trips to Segovia from Madrid and Day Trips to Toledo from Madrid.

If, on the other hand, you prefer to make the most of the city, Madrid's tourist bus is highly recommended: it allows you to get around the different points of interest without missing out on the wonderful views while you take a break from long walks. Check here how it works: Madrid Hop-On Hop-Off Buses.