SANDEMANs New Madrid Tours

SANDEMANs New Europe runs walking tours in many European cities, and in Madrid its best-known product is the tips-based free tour of the historic centre. The idea is simple: you join a guide at a set time and place, walk for around two and a half hours through the old town, and at the end pay what you think the tour was worth. It is a popular introduction to the city for budget travellers and first-time visitors.

The free tour of Madrid starts in the Plaza Mayor and covers the core of the historic centre, the Madrid of the Habsburgs and Bourbons, including sights such as the Royal Palace, the Teatro Real and the Mercado de San Miguel, with stories of the kings, writers and events that shaped the city. There are usually two departures a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with tours in English and a separate Spanish-language version, Tour Gratis de Madrid.

For something different, the Madrid's Dark Side Walking Tour is a paid evening walk of around two hours that explores the darker episodes in the city's history. Private options include a two-hour highlights tour, a two-hour tour focused on the Spanish Inquisition, a three-hour private city tour and fully customised tours where you choose the landmarks and timing.

The tours suit solo travellers, couples, students and families with older children, and they are a good way to get your bearings on the first day before visiting museums or palaces in more depth. Group sizes on the free tour can be large in high season, so arrive a little early at the meeting point and stay close to the guide. Comfortable shoes, water and sun protection are essential in summer, as much of the route is outdoors.

Booking online in advance is recommended, even for the free tour, so that the company can plan guide numbers. The meeting point in the Plaza Mayor is easy to reach from Sol metro station, around five minutes' walk away. Remember that although the tour is free to join, tipping the guide at the end is expected and is how guides are paid.