Madrid Essential Walking Tour

On our Madrid Essential walking tour, you’ll journey through the city’s Old Town with a local guide who brings history to life. Explore the capital’s most iconic landmarks, including the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Gran Vía, and the famous Museum District. Discover the stories, legends, and people who shaped Madrid into the vibrant city it is today.

Plaza Mayor
More than 400 years old, Plaza Mayor remains one of Madrid’s beating hearts. This grand square has witnessed every kind of ceremony imaginable—from bullfights and royal coronations to the darkest moments of the Inquisition. It encompasses centuries-old shops and taverns, a hidden cemetery, a private balcony for a royal mistress, a Christmas market, Holy Week Processions. And above all, the most impressive feature of the square: Madrid’s spectacular blue sky, which has served as its natural dome for centuries.

City Council Square
City Council Square (Plaza de la Villa) is a small yet extraordinary space that showcases the evolution of Madrid’s architecture in a single glance. Here, medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque buildings coexist in perfect harmony. It’s the ideal place to understand the power and prestige of Madrid’s City Hall during the reign of the Habsburgs, the dynasty that transformed the city into a European capital.

The Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral
Standing on the site of the former Alcázar, a Muslim fortress later used as a royal residence. After the Alcázar was destroyed by fire, King Philip V—first monarch of the Bourbon dynasty—ordered the construction of a palace worthy of a modern European court. The result is the largest royal palace in Europe.

Opposite the Royal Palace stands the Almudena Cathedral, an emblem of Madrid’s modern identity. Although its construction began in the 19th century, the cathedral wasn’t completed until 1993, combining neo-Classical, neo-Gothic, and contemporary elements.

Gran Vía
Your tour continues along Gran Vía, Madrid’s most iconic avenue. Lined with early 20th-century architecture, theatres, historic cinemas, cafés, and glamorous rooftops, it’s often called the “Broadway of Madrid.” This bustling boulevard captures the modern, energetic spirit of the city and connects the historic center with the elegant Salamanca and Chamberí districts.