Madrid in a Day: City Center Walking Tour with Royal Palace

Tour Overview

The Prado, the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, these are sites that compete with the best that Rome or Paris have to offer. Any trip to Madrid would be incomplete without visiting at least some of these places. Luckily, Through Eternity is committed to seeing as much of Madrid as possible in one day with our Madrid in a Day tour. This tour will work for those who have limited time or just people who want to get a strong base in this great city for your subsequent explorations.

Tour Description

Madrid, like a lot of great European cities, is awash with museums and grand sights to see. It is also a young city, alive and dynamic, with a thriving food and bar scene, from traditional tapas restaurants to chic and modern cuisine. It is also the bustling capital of Spain, a city of business and government with a history that lives in the street and a forward-thinking and progressive mindset. This tour will cover some of the most important sites in the city in a morning and an afternoon session while giving time for lunch to experience its thriving culinary scene. 

Some highlights of your tour will include (but are not limited to) these major sites:

Plaza Mayor and Historical Centre

King Phillip III, who now stands in the middle of the Plaza Mayor, had this grand square laid out way back in 1580, one of the first public squares of its kind. It has become a major influence on other public squares around Europe, in cities like Paris and London. Around the corner from the plaza, you can find what is claimed by the Guinness Book of Records to be the oldest restaurant in the world! This is one of many delights hidden in the streets surrounding the square. Your guide will help you explore this part of the city and its history on your way to the Royal Palace.

The Royal Palace

The Palace complex which is an incredible stop on any tour of Madrid is huge. Too big to cover everything in a couple of hours but with your guide you will be able to experience the best of this place. Home to the kings of Spain for many centuries, its Royal Library and Royal Pharmacy are worth a visit by themselves. It is the history of its many colorful characters that make it come to life, and with your guide, you can be sure you will get these stories, good and bad, which will help you to understand not only the Royal family but also the development of modern Spain.

Enjoy Some Traditional Spanish Cuisine

After your visit to the Royal Palace is complete it is time for lunch. Madrid is famous for its tapas bars, offering up simple but classic dishes, great value as well. You could try some Madrid specialities such as cocido madrileño (simmering pork stew, great in the winter), or maybe bocadillo de calamares strikes your fancy, a calamari sandwich. Or if you want something classic and simple, try some of the finest cured meats in the world with jamón ibérico de bellota being the tip top ham you could try in Madrid.

The Prado Museum

The Prado Museum stands with the Louvre, the Vatican Museums, and the British Museum as one of the finest art collections in the world. From Velazquez and Rubens to El Greco and Goya, it sits in what is called the golden triangle of art in Madrid, completed by the Reina Sofía Art Centre and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. The museum is a treasure chest of beautiful portraiture and painting, and a guided tour of a museum of this complexity is always recommended. The tour continues after lunch to this museum, making sure to hit all the essentials, including Velazquez’s Las Meninas and Goya’s Black Paintings, amongst many others.

Our Tour

Our full-day tour covers major sites, including the Plaza Mayor, Royal Palace, and the Prado Museum, and a stop for lunch. It requires walking at a gentle pace, and you will cover a lot of ground in one day! Comfortable shoes are advised. Our expert Through Eternity guides will be there to help you navigate the city while skipping comfortably past the lines at the various museums. At the end of the tour, the guide will be happy to give you advice for restaurants, further visits, or just some local favorite tapas spots to make the most of your time in Madrid.