Madrid in a Day Tour:Royal Palace, Historic Center & Prado Museum
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
Explore the best of Madrid with this expertly guided walking tour featuring skip-the-line tickets to the Royal Palace, one of Europe’s most breathtaking royal residences, and to the Prado Art Musuem - the cultural jewel of Spain. If you wish, choose the Prado Early Access option when booking for a VIP experience in the Prado Museum where you'll enjoy a guided tour of the galleries one hour before they open to the public. As you make your way through the stunning galleries of the Prado Museum, through the charming historic center, and wrap up at the grandiose Royal Palace, you'll be accompanied by an insightful local guide who will decode the city's lesser-known stories and hidden secrets every step of the way. And with a small group of just 16 guests maximum, you'll enjoy a more relaxed and intimate experience with easy access to your guide so you can ask them all your burning questions.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
This tour is in English.
Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
Sites on this tour are subject to occasional closures. If modifications are needed and time permits, we will reach out to you prior to your tour.
Walks and Devour comply with all local government regulations. Please refer to local government guidelines for the most up to date information.
What To Expect
Museo Nacional del Prado
Your tour starts when you skip the line and enter the Prado art museum, home to one of the greatest collections of European art in the world. Breeze past the crowds and head straight inside to enjoy a full tour of the museum’s highlights. Along the way, you'll meet the masters who have defined Spanish art throughout the centuries, from the court painters of the Spanish Royal Family to legendary artists like Goya, Velazquez, El Greco, Bosch, Tintoretto and more. Your guide will tell you the stories behind the art and help you understand what makes each piece so celebrated—which just isn't possible to do on your own in a museum boasting over 1,000 pieces on display! If you wish, choose the Prado Early Access option for a VIP experience in the Prado Museum where you'll enjoy a guided tour of the galleries one hour before they open to the public.
Plaza Mayor
Leaving the museum, you’ll walk the medieval streets of central Madrid, stopping at famous landmarks like the Plaza Mayor and the Puerta del Sol as your guide tells your story of how the city went from an outpost of a crumbling Moorish empire to the preeminent Catholic power in Europe. And while there's plenty of history to be found in these streets, today the area is one of the city's coolest neighborhoods. You'll also learn how to make the most of it during the rest of your stay as your guide shares tips on where to eat, shop, and relax.
Options
Regular Small Group Tour
Private Madrid in a Day Tour
Top Sites : See the best of Madrid on a private tour combining 3 essential sights: Royal Palace, Prado Museum, and the historic Center.
Madrid in a Day with VIP Prado
VIP Prado Museum Upgrade: Make your tour even more unforgettable with this exclusive pre-opening Prado Museum option.
What‘s Included
Local English-speaking guide
Plaza Mayor
Skip-the-line tickets and guided tour of Prado Museum
Puerta del Sol
VIP early access ticket to Prado Museum (if option selected)
Skip-the-line tickets and guided tour of Madrid Royal Palace
Hotel Pick-Up / Drop-Off
Gratuities
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
788 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Dishonest company - poorly organized
kgriffis97,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00We only had a couple days in Madrid. This was our last day and was going to be our primary site-seeing tour of Madrid. Our tour happened to coincide with the Pope saying Mass in Madrid! Here is where things went wrong: 1. We had other tours that coincided with the pope’s visit. One had to be canceled and another was modified. This specific tour company only said “leave early and give yourself extra time”. 2, Nobody asked us for any means of reaching us on the tour day. Typically the tour companies use WhatsApp to make contact if needed to meet up for a tour but that was never an option here. 3. The location provided to start the tour, the Statue of Goya at the Prado Museum, was literally located in a secure area for the pope’s mass! 4, We sent messages through the chat. No response. We tried calling. No answer. We walked way way out of our way hoping to find a way in but never found anything. We got to within about 100m of the location. We could see the top of the statue! But police would not allow us into the area because we did not have tickets to the pope’s mass! 5. We asked in the messaging area if we could reschedule for later in the day after the mass. No response… 6. Worst of all, they have refused to refund our money and TripAdvsor also rejected our request which really infuriates me as we do a LOT of tours and have never had an issue like this. Stay away from this company! They are poor planners and poor communicators. And they’re dishonest to refuse a refund for a tour they so badly screwed up.
Not much information due to low voice and thick accent guide
GrandTour05121374669,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00Guide’s is too low. Bad ear piece. And her thick accent. Couldn’t understand much. Very frustrating.
Private Tour, Totally Worth the Money! 5/5
40jesseh,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Luis was absolutely amazing. I cannot believe my luck, I got a private tour of the Prado and the Palace. Being at the Prado an hour early and having the museum to ourselves was such a cool experience. I highly, highly recommend this tour.
Prado Museum and Royal Palace
256satishm,Jun 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jaime S was very passionate and explained everything very clearly, leaving no detail behind. He made the tour entertaining while informative as well.
Great half day experience with tour guide David! Super informative and comprehensive!
Robert R,Jun 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent tour but ready to walk a great deal. Very informative tour with a great tour guide - David- who was very engaged. Highly recommended.
Recommend!
MarciBeth L,Jun 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Really wonderful tour! Guide was funny, had a great personality & very informed and explained everything we were seeing. Very detailed regarding art!
History AND a tour.
shirellm,Jun 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Daniel was great!! Super organized and super informative. I loved the story telling he provided throughout. It helped understand the history of Madrid. Side note: this tour’s meeting point was actually easy to find as opposed to some others.
Jaime S, was a fabulous tour guide. His English is clear and he made the tour educational and fun!
Discover549859,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jaime S was a real teacher and amazing tour guide. His English is clear and he is friendly and fun.
Terrific!
L9509USfrankc,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jaime was fabulous! Friendly, informative, interesting, knowledgeable. Highest Rx.
Ask for Jamie with the PhD
TammyGuns,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jamie was a fantastic tour guide! He has a PhD in art history. His knowledge of everything was superb!
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