Madrid City Tour

Madrid City Tour is the official sightseeing bus of Madrid, operating since 2011. The open-top double-decker buses are run by Grupo Julià and Alsa, with Gray Line Spain behind the service, and they offer an easy way to get an overview of a large city in a short time. Tickets are valid for 24 or 48 hours, and you can hop on and off at any stop as often as you like.

There are three routes and 34 stops in total. Route 1, Historical Madrid, focuses on the old centre and takes around 85 minutes for a full loop. Route 2, Modern Madrid, takes about 70 minutes, and Route 3, Current Madrid, takes around 75 minutes and shows how the city is changing today. Both ticket types include all three routes.

The audio guide is available in ten languages, and there is a special children's audio guide in Spanish and English, which makes the bus a good option for families. For older visitors or anyone with limited time or mobility, it is a convenient way to reach the main sights without long walks, and the upper deck gives good views of Madrid's grand avenues and facades.

The buses run every day. In high season, from April to mid-October and during Easter Week, the first buses leave from around 9:30 and services run until early evening, with buses every 15 to 35 minutes depending on the route. In the rest of the year they start at 10:00 and finish earlier, and frequencies are lower. All times are approximate, so check the map and schedule page before planning your day. Tickets can be bought online.

The company's information point is on Calle de San Nicolás, near the Royal Palace, and there is 24-hour telephone assistance. In high season, the last services of each route leave from the Neptuno stop, by the fountain on the Paseo del Prado. The bus is most useful on a first day to get your bearings or on a hot afternoon when walking feels like too much; for the old town itself, exploring on foot shows you far more.