Madrid is the second-largest European Union city (after Berlin), and it amazes visitors with its beauty, history, food, and architecture.
Madrid is also home to many neighborhoods, all crammed full of fun tapas bars and narrow cobblestone streets, bursting with revelers until the early morning.
There’s so much to do and see in Madrid that you could spend weeks exploring it all and not get bored.
Walking tours can be a great way to get a quick overview of the city or explore the area’s depths and history. There are many options for travelers, from short tours that are completely free to take in the sights to more detailed historical walks to paid food tours.
Other Top Walking Tours from Madrid
Free tours are great for those on a tight budget. If you are a fan of walking tours or want to get into more detail, you will need to pay for one. These are the top Madrid tours that you can take to deepen your knowledge.
Madrid Walking Tours Free
Although it is not technically free, Madrid offers walking tours for free. To guarantee your spot on tour, you must register and pay 3 EUR. However, this is still a great deal and covers a lot.
These tours begin with Madrid’s roots as a small Arab city. They then take participants through the Spanish empire that spans the globe, the Civil War, Franco’s dictatorship and the post-Franco “Movida” era from the late ’70s to the early ’80s. This is a great primer on Madrid’s history and Spanish history.
Devour Tours
Devour offers food tours throughout Spain or Italy. However, its founders are based in Madrid. It’s a great place to take a Devour tour, especially if you love food. You will be satisfied after the four-hour Tapas, Taverns & History Tour. Four family-owned tapas bars will be your destination. You’ll also stop at important landmarks as you go. This is a great way to spend an evening exploring Madrid.
You can also take a tour of the Prado with your guide. The tour ends with a delicious meal at Sobrino de Botin, the oldest continuously operated restaurant in the world. It serves some of the finest fire-roasted pork anywhere on the planet. This tour is for foodies like me!
The Wellington Society of Madrid
The tour company is not a “society”, but Stephen Drake-Jones, the amazing tour guide, leads small groups on special tours through Madrid. He offers wine tours focused on Goya and one great on Ernest Hemingway, who lived several years in Madrid. Surprise, surprise! You will be taken to a few historical bars, including La Venencia, a sherry bar that was Ernesto’s favorite haunt while he lived in Madrid.
Madrid Day Tours
Although this operator offers a walking tour through Madrid, it is best known for taking you to smaller historical towns in the surrounding countryside. It’s a great way for you to see another part of Spain while staying in Madrid. Segovia and Toledo, both medieval cities, are excellent options. They’re only a short drive away.
Cool Tour Spain
This company organizes engaging tours of Madrid’s street art. You will be taken around the Lavapies neighborhood to see the incredible street art found in this area of central Madrid. You can also take walks focused on architecture, feminism, or contemporary art. This is great for those times when the historic buildings and centuries-old landmarks can get a bit tedious.
Babylon Tours
Babylon has a presence in many cities all over the globe. They offer private and small-group tours with their experienced local guides in Madrid. Babylon offers a good walking tour of Madrid, but they are great at visiting museums. With your guide, you can skip the line at Reina Sofia or Prado and learn about the fascinating histories of the major works of art within seconds.
