Monumental Madrid

Bourbon Madrid on foot: Gran Vía, Cibeles, the Puerta de Alcalá and the Retiro park along the city's grand avenues.

2h 30min English and Spanish Puerta del Sol, next to the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree

Monumental Madrid is the city of wide avenues and buildings built to impress, the face the Bourbons and the 19th and 20th centuries gave the capital as it modernised. Over roughly two and a half hours we follow the axis that runs from Gran Vía to the Prado boulevard, the Madrid of fountains, palaces and grand facades. We walk in small groups and without megaphones, so the guide is easy to hear and you can ask questions as we go.

It suits you if it's your first visit and you want to see the most photographed Madrid, the postcard one, with a guide who explains why each building looks the way it does. It also works for families, since the route mixes broad streets, gardens and fountains that give the walk some breathing room. And if history and architecture are your thing, you will see how the city went from town to modern capital in barely a century.

Along the way you will see Gran Vía, the Metrópolis building, the Círculo de Bellas Artes, Plaza de Cibeles, the Puerta de Alcalá, the Retiro park and the Prado boulevard, among other places. This is a free tour: you book at no cost and, at the end, you leave a voluntary contribution based on what it gave you (on average, between 15 and 20 euros per person). No ticket booth and no set price: you decide what the experience was worth.

What you'll see

Puerta del Sol
Gran Vía
Edificio Metrópolis
Círculo de Bellas Artes
Plaza de Cibeles
Palacio de Cibeles
Puerta de Alcalá
Parque del Retiro
Paseo del Prado

Meeting point

Puerta del Sol, next to the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree

Frequently asked questions

Is the free tour really free?

Booking costs nothing. At the end you leave a voluntary contribution based on how much you enjoyed it; on average, between 15 and 20 euros per person. It isn't a set price or a ticket, it's your way of valuing the guide.

How long is the tour?

Around 2 hours and 30 minutes at a comfortable pace, with stops to explain each landmark. We finish near the Prado boulevard, well placed if you want to continue towards the big museums.

What language is it in?

This route is offered in English and Spanish. You pick your language when you book so the guide leads the walk in the one you prefer.

Do we go inside the Retiro or any buildings?

This is an outdoor tour: we walk along the edge of the Retiro park and past the Puerta de Alcalá, Cibeles and the Círculo de Bellas Artes, with the explanations given from the street. It doesn't include entry to interiors or museums.

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