Big Bus Tour: Explore Madrid's Iconic Landmarks

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Discover Madrid’s top landmarks at your own pace with a flexible Big Bus hop-on, hop-off tour. Enjoy live commentary and explore iconic sites.

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Blue Route (Route)

Operating Schedule: The first bus leaves from Stop 1: Neptuno, Paseo del Prado (in front of the Tourist Office and Money Exchange Kiosk) at 9:30. The last bus departs at 19:30. Buses run every 20 minutes.

1. Museo Nacional del Prado
Stop 1: Neptuno

2. Puerta de Alcalá
Stop 2: Retiro

3. El Retiro Park
Stop 3: Serrano

4. Plaza de Colón
Stop 4: Plaza de Colón

5. Cibeles Fountain
Stop 5: Plaza de Cibeles

6. Metropolis Building
Stop 6: Gran Via 16

7. C. Gran Vía, 32
Stop 7: Gran Via 32

8. Plaza del Callao
Stop 8: Gran Via 54

9. Plaza de España
Stop 9: Plaza de España / Hotel Riu

10. Temple of Debod
Stop 10: Templo de Debod

11. Royal Palace of Madrid
Stop 11: Madrid Rio / Principe Pio

12. Plaza Mayor
Stop 12: Colegiata

13. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
Stop 13: Calle Atocha

Points of Interest

Royal Palace of Madrid
Plaza Colón
Palacio de Cibeles
Estación de Atocha
Edificio Metropolis
Catedral de Sta Maria la Real de la Almudena
Prado National Museum
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
Parque del Retiro
Real Jardín Botánico
Calle de Velázquez
Plaza de Cibeles
Fuente de Neptuno
Gran Vía
Plaza de España
Templo de Debod
Plaza Mayor
Mercado San Miguel
Puerta de Alcalá
Cibeles Fountain
Real Basílica de San Francisco el Grande
Puerta de Toledo

What's Included

Live Bus Tracking via the Big Bus App
24 or 48 hours Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Ticket
Live guided commentary in English and Spanish

What's Not Included

Hotel Pick-up/Drop off

Additional Information

Explore Madrid at your own pace with a Big Bus hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour. Enjoy live guided commentary in both English and Spanish as you journey across the city aboard an open-top double-decker bus. Marvel at Madrid’s iconic landmarks, including the Royal Palace, El Retiro Park, Temple of Debod, Puerta de Alcalá, Atocha Station, Cibeles Fountain, and Catedral de Almudena.

Choose from either a 90-minute panoramic sightseeing tour or opt for the flexibility of a hop-on, hop-off ticket valid for 24 or 48 hours. Feel free to hop on and off the bus at any designated stop as often as you like. Conveniently located near Madrid’s best landmarks, these stops make it easy for you to hop off and explore at your leisure. Take the opportunity to visit world-renowned museums and art galleries such as Museo Nacional del Prado and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. Immerse yourself in the unique atmospheres of Madrid’s distinct neighborhoods, Lavapiés, Chueca, and Malasaña.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

2.5

(36 Ratings)

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Robin_k

Jul 16, 2024

Great live tour! - The live tour guide is so much better than recorded music and superficial info. Very clean, timely buses with great app.

Review provided by Viator

Gillpaulm1

Jul 13, 2024

Ideal for people with only a few days in Madrid. - Ideal for people with only a few days in Madrid. There seems to be a few tour companies so not sure who is the best. This one was fine for what we needed but unfortunately had a breakdown so not sure best to compare. Loved the routes and managed to squeeze in a wee rowing boat trip at one of the stops.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Suthagar_s

Aug 26, 2024

Great time in madrid - You could see many of the historic sights (ie old & new) of this great city & then decide to visit them in detail. The hop on/hop off option is very good

Review provided by Viator

Neil

Aug 19, 2024

Very poor quality - In terms of quality of the buses, routes, punctuality and staff attitude I would have awarded 5 stars to the company. The problem is the quality of the audio. Specifically two key issues: (1) For q city with so much history, the amount of information provided was woefully little with more dead space and irritating hold music. (2) The voice actor was poor. His presentation was flat and why he tried to pretend he was a cat is unbelievable. We have been on Tour buses in many cities around the world and this is definitely the worst quality of guide information that we have experienced.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Samuel

Jul 21, 2024

Detours were confusing - We had a great experience with Big Bus in London and Paris, but not as great in Madrid. Once on the tour, we were told that the Prado stop was closed because it was Sunday, and instead we got off at a temporary stop a couple blocks away. That part is understandable. But we weren't told that it goes back to the normal route at 4:00, so we went back to where we had gotten off before discovering the buses weren't stopping there anymore, and then had to walk even more to get to the real stop. All the extra walking was difficult for my mobility impaired wife and could have been avoided. Other than that, it was a good tour.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Rachel_m

Aug 14, 2024

Disappointing - This trip was taken on a very hot day in Madrid and I’m sure all through the summer months it would be hot so it was a shame that the top deck offered no shade. All the other tour buses in Madrid offered this so it was disappointing. Also the guide was very hard to hear. All in all I would not take another tour with this company and would look else where especially in the hot summer months.

Review provided by Viator

Konstanting339

Jul 23, 2024

Avoid in Madrid. - The bus DOES NOT run every 20 min. We waited for 45 min, and during that time other red busses passed by 3 times. Because of the long waiting time, busses are overcrowded. There is no cover on the roof, so you have two choices : get a sun stroke on top or faint on the first floor, because you have to stand for an hour with 25 sweaty tourists. The guide was ok, but you find more information online.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Leila

Aug 13, 2024

To flee!!!! - Catastrophic experience! The Guide speaks only in Spanish and English and the sound is so bad that we don’t understand anything. No helmet offered (the bus is not equipped for). The buses are outdated and there is a lot of waiting at the stops (5 tourist buses from competing companies went before the one from Big Bus). The unique tour on offer does not provide an overview of Madrid. Tickets are more expensive than with other airlines. Beware the sales department is formidable, there is an agent at each stop who sells the tickets (this is not the case with other companies). We managed to get our tickets refunded but we lost half a day in addition to the frustration of being ripped off! To flee!!!!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Remingtonburch

Jul 20, 2024

Do not waste your time with Big Bus Madrid. Book with another company for the city of Madrid. - Unfortunately, the city tour with Big Bus was disappointing. I did read the reviews before booking, but was hoping for a different experience than listed before. We have a big Europe trip, and booked with Big Bus in the other cities. However, the Big Bus Madrid is far below standard. The bus had no shade on top, and no air on inside the bus. The guide was speaking both English and Spanish, and the volume wasn’t very high. I could not hear or understand what he was saying. We rode 1 full circle, and decided to get off. Please book with another company.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Gerhardj0sefh

Jul 20, 2024

No more BIG BUS - A total hoax, buses don't leave on schedule. That every 20 min a bus passes is also a lie, it is every 40 - 50 minutes. The staff never need an unbelievable excuse. The other two companies were on time. Totally disappointed.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

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up to 15 guests

1 Adult