See the very best of Madrid on a guided walking tour combining 3 essential sights: the Royal Palace, Prado Museum, and the stunning historic center.
Madrid Tour with Skip-the-Line Royal Palace and Prado Museum
Summary Description
Highlights
- Skip the line at the Royal Palace & Prado Museum.
- Avoid the hassle of getting tickets on your own.
- Explore the medieval heart of Madrid with an expert.
- Let a guide interpret the Prado's vast collection for you.
Description
This half-day tour of the highlights of central Madrid is the ultimate way to check three of the city's must-see sights off your list in one day. With all tickets and logistics handled, all you have to do is show up and get ready for an unforgettable day out in the Spanish capital. As you make your way through the stunning galleries of the Prado Museum, through the charming historic center, and wrap up at the grandiose Royal Palace, you'll be accompanied by an insightful local guide who will decode the city's lesser-known stories and hidden secrets every step of the way.
Madrid is packed with art, architecture and culture, and on this half day tour, you’ll experience the best of it with an expert local guide. Your tour starts when you skip the line and enter the Prado art museum, home to one of the greatest collections of European art in the world. Breeze past the crowds and head straight inside to enjoy a full tour of the museum’s highlights. Along the way, you'll meet the masters who have defined Spanish art throughout the centuries, from the court painters of the Spanish Royal Family to legendary artists like Goya, Velazquez, El Greco, Bosch, Tintoretto and more. Your guide will tell you the stories behind the art and help you understand what makes each piece so celebrated—which just isn't possible to do on your own in a museum boasting over 1,000 pieces on display!
Leaving the museum, you’ll walk the medieval streets of central Madrid, stopping at famous landmarks like the Plaza Mayor and the Puerta del Sol as your guide tells your story of how the city went from an outpost of a crumbling Moorish empire to the preeminent Catholic power in Europe. And while there's plenty of history to be found in these streets, today the area is one of the city's coolest neighborhoods. You'll also learn how to make the most of it during the rest of your stay as your guide shares tips on where to eat, shop, and relax.
Soon, you'll stroll towards the heart-stopping Royal Palace, where you'll enter with skip-the-line tickets to explore an incredible collection of paintings and textiles in each room. On your guided visit of the world's largest in-use royal palace, you'll see the palace's impressive chapel, the king's and queen's dressing rooms, the throne room—where bureaucrats are still received by the king and queen today—and more. You'll also hear the story of Madrid's most famous "mayor", King Carlos III, who was instrumental in shaping the modern city you've gotten to know throughout the day.
Sites Visited: • Palacio Real (guided inside) Prado Museum (guided inside) Plaza de la Villa Plaza Mayor Puerta del Sol Literary Quarter
Included / Excluded
- Skip-the-line tickets and guided tour of Madrid Royal Palace
- Skip-the-line tickets and guided tour of Prado Museum
- Local English-speaking guide
- Hotel Pick-Up / Drop-Off
- Gratuities
Start / End Locations
Start Location: Monument to Goya, Calle de Felipe IV, s/n, Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Start Location Notes: Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets at Monumento a Goya, C. de Felipe IV, s/n, Retiro, 28014 Madrid, outside the entrance to the Prado Museum at the statue of Goya.
Start Location Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/J3pjSzew2XN3X4pn6
Commentary
Guide : English
Important Information
Know Before You Book
- This tour is in English.
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
- Sites on this tour are subject to occasional closures. If modifications are needed and time permits, we will reach out to you prior to your tour.
- Walks and Devour comply with all local government regulations. Please refer to local government guidelines for the most up to date information.
- Please arrive 15 minutes before your tour start time for check-in. Out of courtesy to other guests, we’re unable to wait for latecomers. No refunds can be provided for late arrivals or no-shows.
- Photography is not permitted in most interior rooms of the Palacio Real and in Prado Museum.
- Comfortable walking shoes recommended.
- Please note drinks and food are not allowed inside the Prado Museum.
- Please note that guests may only carry small handbags inside Prado Museum. Larger backpacks, umbrellas and sharp items, etc. must be left at the cloakroom. It is the responsibility of the guest to return to the entrance to collect these after the tour part.
- Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
- Walks and Devour comply with all local government regulations. Please refer to local government guidelines for the most up to date information.
Cancellation
Cancellation Cutoff: 24 hours
Cancellation Notes: Cancellations received greater than 24 hours prior to tour commencement are fully refundable. Cancellations received within 24 hours of tour commencement are nonrefundable. Amendment requests are subject to availability and price changes. Late arrivals and no shows are nonrefundable. This is applicable to any tour participant that fails to arrive, or arrives after tour departure.
Options and Pricing
| Madrid in a Day | RETAIL PRICE |
|---|---|
| Adult (15 - 99 years) | €400.00 |
| Child (2 - 14 years) | €400.00 |
Terms and Conditions
Before you travel, please read the "Know Before You Go" section for essential information, requirements, and possible disruptions regarding your tour.
About operator:
Walks (takewalks.com, walksofitaly.com) began over a decade ago (2008, to be exact) in Rome, Italy. We quickly became the premier walking tour company in 7 countries - Italy, Spain, France, the UK, Greece, and Portugal. Our US cities include San Francisco, NYC, Boston, Chicago, and New Orleans.
In 2021, we joined The Hornblower Group (cityexperiences.com) expanding our reach and working alongside this powerhouse travel brand.
Our tour products vary but predominantly we #takewalks, exploring the world by foot - we believe, the best way to get into the heart of a city and its incredible people. From introductory strolls to food tours, day trips, cooking classes, and below the surface, in-depth tours, we have our hand in everything a traveler could want. Oh, and we also like to give our clients exclusive access to the biggest attractions in the world...
Despite the big changes in our brand over the years, our focus has remained simple - to relentlessly create tours with the client experience at the forefront and anchored upon the dedicated, intelligent, and above all, passionate local guides who want to share their cities with you.
Our tour products vary but predominantly we #takewalks, exploring the world by foot - we believe, the best way to get into the heart of a city and its incredible people. From introductory strolls to food tours, day trips, cooking classes, and below the surface, in-depth tours, we have our hand in everything a traveler could want. Oh, and we also like to give our clients exclusive access to the biggest attractions in the world...
Despite the big changes in our brand over the years, our focus has remained simple - to relentlessly create tours with the client experience at the forefront and anchored upon the dedicated, intelligent, and above all, passionate local guides who want to share their cities with you.
Basic Information
- Duration: 4 hours
- Trip difficulty: Easy
- Max Group Size: 6
- Category: Tours & Sightseeing
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