Madrid Royal Palace & Habsburgs Tour with The Touring Pandas

On this tour:

· Discover Madrid's old town and the history of the dynasty that brought splendor to the city · Avoid waiting in line with our fast-track ticket to explore the Royal Palace of Madrid · Enjoy a monolingual tour of up to 12 people in English, Chinese, Japanese, or Korean

Duration

Approximately 2.5 hours (1h30min tour, 1h recommended visit inside the Royal Palace of Madrid)

Description

If there is a palace in Europe that you can't miss, that is the Royal Palace of Madrid! With more than 3,000 rooms, this is the biggest palace in Europe, twice the size of Buckingham Palace in London! Discover the history of this imposing building and get to know the Habsburgs, the dynasty that brought splendor to Madrid.

This activity starts at Puerta del Sol, Madrid's city center and a neuralgic spot where you will hear about landmarks like the famous Tio Pepe ad, or Spain's 0 kilometer where all roads starts from. Then, you will explore Madrid's old town, discovering highlights like Plaza Mayor, the San Miguel Market, or the Cathedral of La Almudena. At the end of the tour, you will get a fast-track ticket to access the Royal Palace so you can explore the building at your own pace.

The Royal Palace of Madrid is usually fully booked several days in advance. Make sure to book ahead before all tickets are sold out!

More info

Meeting Point: Puerta del Sol, next to "Oso y el Madroño" Statue. Your guide will be holding a sign with The Touring Pandas logo.

End point: Royal Palace of Madrid. Calle de Bailén, s/n

Included

• Madrid old town tour in English, Japanese, Korean or Chinese
• Small Group (up to 12 people)
• Royal Palace of Madrid fast-track ticket

Itinerary

1. Meeting Point: Puerta del Sol Our tour starts at the Puerta del Sol, the most famous plaza in Madrid. This place is famous because it's the main venue to welcome the New Year. The plaza is full of anecdotes and curiosities like Spain's km0, the Tio Pepe advertisement... Meet your guide next to the El Oso y Madroño statue!

2. Plaza Mayor This majestic plaza surrounded by arches is one of the most popular to have a drink and spend a pleasant afternoon under the sun. This place in the heart of Madrid is always full of life and it's one of the best to find a good Bocata de Calamares!

3. Palacio de Justicia This Renaissance building used to be Madrid's old prison. A celebrity was jailed in one of the towers... guess who? We'll just give you a clue for now: it was the king of a neighboring country.

4. San Miguel Market San Miguel is one of Madrid's oldest markets, now turned into a mecca of modern cuisine and trendy tapas! Don't miss the chance to take a glimpse at the people coming and going, the shouting and the laughter. Will you resist the temptation to take some gourmet souvenirs?

5. Plaza de la Villa This picturesque plaza is now a very quiet place in the center of Madrid. But it was far busier in the past! The building on the right side of the square used to be the City Hall until it was moved to the Palacio de Cibeles in 2007.

6. Plaza de Oriente This large esplanade full of gardens is surrounded by some of Madrid's noblest buildings: the Royal Palace and the Royal Theatre. Take some time to look at the madrileños coming and going before continuing the tour: there is usually background music!

7. Cathedral of La Almudena The Cathedral of La Almudena is one of the finest examples of neoclassic architecture in Spain. This magnificent cathedral is where the King and the Queen of Spain celebrated their marriage in 2004.

8. End Point: Royal Palace of Madrid Finally, you will arrive at the entrance of the Royal Palace of Madrid. Before the farewell, your guide will facilitate the fast track tickets to avoid the lines and once inside, you will be able to explore the palace at your own pace.