From exploring the historic downtown to visiting the iconic Prado Museum and the Royal Palace, Gray Line Spain’s experienced and knowledgeable local guides will take you on a journey through Madrid’s iconic locations and hidden gems. We also offer hop-on hop-off tours on our famous buses, which give you the flexibility and convenience to explore Spain’s capital at your own pace. We promise to make your tour experience in Madrid a fun and unforgettable one. Join us on one of our tours and let us show you why Madrid is a destination worth discovering.
Tour Expert, Gray Line Madrid
One of the most famous and iconic attractions in Madrid is the Prado Museum. The museum is considered to house one of Europe’s finest collections. Prado is home to some of the most famous masterpieces in the world, such as works by Velázquez, Goya and El Greco and it’s sure to inspire the kids.
The beautiful Retiro Park in the center of Madrid is one of the best places to take a morning stroll and enjoy the historic sights of the city. Formerly royal gardens, El Retiro is full of architecture and statues dating back to the 17th century. Among the lakes and flowers, you’ll find the Crystal Palace, the Fountain of the Fallen Angel and a beautiful rose garden.
The 18th-century baroque Royal Palace is the official residence of the Spanish royal family, although they no longer live there, and the largest in Europe. The grand building is the perfect place to take the kids to introduce them to the history of Madrid. You’ll learn all about Spain’s royals on a guided tour of the palace and see some of the fantastic frescos, art, and the apartments that kings and queens used to call home.
Gran Via, the Spanish Broadway, is famous for its charming atmosphere and it’s one of the best places to do a little shopping. The street began construction in 1910, and so is an excellent location to admire the early 20th-century architecture, such as the Beaux-Arts Edificio Metrópolis, and the modern Baroque skyscraper Edificio Telefónica.
Located near the Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum forms the second point of Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art. The Thyssen holds works by famous artists such as Monet, Van Gogh and Cézanne and its collection covers eight centuries of some of Europe’s greatest art.
The third point of the Golden Triangle is the Reina Sofia Museum. This is focused on 20th-century art, most of which is Spanish. Reina Sofia holds whole collections by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, among many others, and is home to Picasso’s masterpiece, Guernica.
One of the most famous and iconic squares in the world, Madrid’s Plaza Mayor dates back to the 15th century. Surrounded on all sides by three-story-high neoclassical buildings and with a statue of King Philip III at its center, the plaza is one of the best places to stop for a coffee or eat dinner in one of its famous restaurants.
Not far from Plaza Mayor, you’ll find Mercado de San Miguel. A market has been held here since medieval times, and in the early 20th century an iron structure was built to cover it. Now, it is famous for its gastronomy. In the market, you’ll find seasonal food of the highest quality and some of the best tapas it’s possible to find.
You may not expect to find an ancient Egyptian temple in the center of Madrid, but that is what the Temple of Debod is. Originally found near Aswan in Egypt, the temple was donated to Spain and relocated before the Aswan Dam flooded the valley in which it was built. It can now be found surrounded by a mirror lake in Parque del Oeste.
Not completed until 1993, Catedral de la Almudena is a must-see attraction in Madrid. The cathedral was planned for more than 300 years and took more than 100 to build. This means it is almost unique. Much of the art is contemporary, including works in pop-art style.
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Nice tour. Guide was excellent. Pace was good.