History & Highlights
Madrid Highlights Free Walking Tour
Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace and Habsburg splendor
Madrid became a capital almost by accident — a king’s whim in 1561 — and then set about looking the part. This walk covers the Habsburg old town: arcaded plazas, convents that still sell cookies through revolving windows, and the largest royal palace in Western Europe.
The walk starts at Plaza Mayor (Plaza Mayor, Madrid) and runs daily at 10:00 and daily at 16:30. It lasts around 2.5 hours, is offered in English, Spanish, and the group is capped at 25 people so the experience stays personal. Look for the guide with the green FreeTour sign.
Tour highlights
- Plaza Mayor
- Mercado de San Miguel
- Almudena Cathedral
- Royal Palace
- Puerta del Sol — kilometer zero
This tour is free — there's no charge to join. At the end, tip your guide whatever you feel the experience was worth. 100% of tips go directly to them.