This 2.5-hour cultural walking tour leads you through the heart of Madrid, taking in some of the most vibrant parts of the city and stopping by the Puerta del Sol, the literal and figurative centre of not only Madrid but of all of Spain! Take in the sights of Madrid’s central boulevard and hear about major events occurring during the various golden ages of the city’s long history.
Your Majestic Madrid Tour starts in front of the Tourist Information Centre in Plaza Mayor and finishes at Plaza de España. We never cancel; tours run rain, hail or shine.
Civic developments and civil disobedience
Join your local, expert guide on a journey through Madrid’s civic history, from its elevation to the capital of the Spanish nation and convergence point of Spanish roads under King Charles III, affectionately known to Madrileños as the “Best Mayor of Madrid”, to the evolution of today’s modern city under the influence of Antonio Palacios, Madrid’s most important architect. Hear about the fighting spirit of the Madrid locals, be it defeating Napoleon's troops in street battles or shutting down the city through the anti-austerity protests of the 15M Movement in recent years.
Sweeping boulevards and elegant squares
Stroll with your guide along the full length of Madrid’s most iconic street, the Gran Vía, admiring its impressive buildings and soaking up the bustling atmosphere. Stop at the Plaza Callao and hear about the glittering days of Madrid’s cinema boom of the 50s, before being treated to one of the best views of Madrid, a secret insider tip! Finish up the tour by paying your literary respects to Cervantes and some windmill jousting with Don Quixote at the newly renovated Plaza de España.
The Majestic Madrid Tour starts in front of the Tourist Information Centre in Plaza Mayor
Be at the centre of the Spanish world at Spain’s Kilometre Zero at Puerta del Sol, the convergence point for Spain’s roads and railways
Stroll along the magnificent Gran Vía, Madrid’s buzzing boulevard filled with shops, theatres and cinemas
Admire the iconic Edificio Metropolis, one of the stunning examples of beaux arts architecture in the city
Hear about thrilling uprisings of the past and present and how political events in Madrid have shaped Spain and the world
Soak up the limelight at Plaza Callao, the centre of Madrid’s film and theatre scene
Learn about Antonio Palacios’ incredible architectural legacy and see his style imprinted over the city
Appreciate Cervantes, the grand Don of Spanish literature, and his most famous creations - Don Quixote and his sidekick Sancho Panza - at the must-see Plaza de España
TOUR SCHEDULES
Today
This tour doesn‘t run today
Next departure in Spanish : Sunday 9th Jun 20243:00 PM
Next departure in English : Sunday 9th Jun 20243:00 PM
PHOTOS
Inclusions & exclusions
What’s included
Local English-speaking guide
What’s not included
Gratuities for the guide (optional)
Additional Information
Wheelchair accessible
Our business is connecting great guides and smart travelers, and we're proud that so many local guides employ us to welcome travelers like you on their journey through some of the world's best cities. No two tours are alike, and the sites, stories, and length of the tour will vary depending on what your freelance guide decides is best. That's why the tours we promote never get stale or feel scripted, and why both independent guides and savvy travelers prefer SANDEMANs
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The Majestic Madrid Tour starts in front of the Tourist Information Centre in Plaza MayorOpen in Google Maps
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Customer reviews
Sebastian's Majestic Madrid Tour
Myself and my friend took the Majestic Madrid tour with Sebastian. There was only one other person on the tour. When we began, we were nervous that the small number would negatively impact our experience of the tour by making it somewhat awkward, we could not have been more wrong. It was brilliant! Sebastian was incredibly well informed, and had us enthralled throughout the trip. We literally hung on every word he said. Between locations, Sebastian would chat away, and point out good places to eat or drink. It was a very well rounded tour that I would recommend to anyone staying in Madrid. It followed on perfectly from the free walking tour which we took before this tour.
Our guide Ramon was excellent: very knowledgeable with a great sense of humour. We learned a lot about the city, its history and the history of Spain. Ramon was very flexible and attentive and adjusted things as needed (got a coffee break and all). Very enjoyable, recommend highly!
We're a couple from London, went on the Inquisition and Majestic Madrid tours, both with Alex. Each route was extremely interesting and his explanations were informative and funny. Would recommend 100%.
I have done the FREE walking tour with SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Madrid and I loved it! I loved it so much so that I paid for the Majestic Madrid walking tour with Jovan. He provided a great walking tour with more in-depth history of Madrid and even the projects set for the future. Jovan was animated and super resourceful, I would highly recommend this tour to locals and visitors.
We decided to do this tour during the break of our free walking tour and we were not disappointed! Our wonderful and knowledgeable guide Sebastian took us all around the city giving us even more history and cultural information of Madrid that we did not get on the walking tour. One of our favorite things was visiting the literary quarter and learning all about Cervantes and other famous writers that spent time in Madrid. We also had a small tour group which made it easy for Sebastian to personally answer a lot of questions. Absolutely recommend this tour, it will definitely enhance your experience in Madrid!
The Free Tour is the best introduction to the city! A general overview tour including many of the highlights of the city, the Free Tour usually lasts around 2.5 hours and is provided by a local freelance guide in partnership with SANDEMANs NEW Europe, so tour content can vary depending on your guide’s particular area of interest and expertise.
The Free Tour is a walking tour with no need for public transport and is designed for independent travellers, not groups. You can book your spot in advance online or simply show up at the start point on the day. There is no payment necessary at the start of the tour but you are welcome to tip your guide at the end!
We believe in supporting local communities and are committed to giving a voice to some of Madrid's best local freelance tour guides, who passionately share the city's history and culture with their own unique and always-entertaining style. They'll never pressure you to tip; we believe that, if money is given, it should be voluntary and in direct proportion to the quality of the tour and the budget of the traveller.
Why join a SANDEMANs FREE Tour?
The route covers many of Madrid's major landmarks
The meeting point is centrally located in Plaza Mayor
The Free Tour is guaranteed to fit within your budget
The guides performing tips-based Free Tours are incentivized to perform every time
Enjoy a comprehensive overview of Madrid's fascinating history and must-see sites with your private ...
Info & Booking
€ 350
Customise Your Private Tour!
Tell us the landmarks, stories or parts of the city you want to see, how long you have to see them and when you want to go, and we’ll build an itinerary that suits you.
Enjoy a comprehensive overview of Madrid's fascinating history and must-see sites with your private ...
Info & Booking
€ 350
Participation in tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe is strictly on a voluntary basis. Neither SANDEMANs NEW Europe, nor the self-employed freelance guides who are the providers of the tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe, will be held responsible in any way for injuries to body or property incurred during tours. The tour guides reserve the right to deny participation in any tour, to any person, for any reason. Thank you for your understanding.
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