Official Bus Tour Routes

Museo del Prado’s walls are lined with masterpieces from the Spanish, Italian and Flemish schools, including Velázquez’s ‘Las Meninas’ and Goya’s ‘Third of May, 1808’. The Museo del Prado opened for the first time on November 10, 1819. Thanks to the determination of Isabella of Braganza, married to King Ferdinand VII, the building that Juan de Villanueva had initially designed to house the Natural History Cabinet finally accommodated an important part of the royal collections. Years of private donations and acquisitions enlarged the museum's collection

This is one of the most well-known monuments in Madrid. Built between 1769 and 1778 under the orders of King Carlos III, it was designed by Francisco Sabatini and erected as a triumphal arch to celebrate the arrival of the monarch at the capital. The granite gate is 19.5 metres tall and is elegant and well-proportioned. The façade features a number of decorative elements with groups of sculptures, capitals, reliefs and masks, among others.

Salamanca is one of the 21 districts that form the city of Madrid. Don José de Salamanca y Mayol, Marquis of Salamanca, gave his name to the area because of his involvement in the district’s project in 1860. Nowadays, the Salamanca district is one of the wealthiest areas in Madrid and some of its streets, such as Goya or Serrano, are part of the most expensive streets in Spain. Here you can find the Palacio de los Deportes de Madrid, the Viviendas Velázquez, the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas and the Jardines del Descubrimiento.

The statue in honour of Cristopher Columbus was built between 1881 and 1885, to celebrate the marriage between Alfonso XII and María de las Mercedes from Orleáns. This monument is outstanding due to its perfect incorporation into the square in which is it situated, with a beautiful grassy area, ponds and a large waterfall. Alongside Plaza de Colón you will find the majestic Biblioteca Nacional building. Special mention should be made of its broad exterior staircase and its main façade with a Corinthian style.

This is one of the liveliest, best-known and most beautiful squares in Madrid, and is home to such emblematic monuments as the Fuente de Cibeles and Palacio de Cibeles. The Fuente de Cibeles, the symbol of Madrid, stands in the middle of the square. Goddess of nature and protector of the town, this sculpture was designed by Ventura Rodríguez in 1777. Also in this square is the Palacio de Cibeles (today the site of the City Hall) which also houses the cultural space known as CentroCentro and the Galería de Cristal.

Gran Vía is one of the most important and symbolic arteries of downtown Madrid, and in few places will you experience the hustle and bustle of this busy street. Lined with theatres, hotels, restaurants and cafés, thousands of residents and tourists stream along its pavements every day. Being located in the busy heart of Madrid it also has many souvenir shops, selling typical craft items, and traditional goods such as lace, mantilla shawls and fans.

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Madrid's Gran Via was planned as a recreational and shopping area. The segment between San Luis and Plaza de Callao features antique buildings housing fashion stores from internationally renowned brands.

Plaza de España is a large square, and popular tourist destination, located in central Madrid. In the centre of the plaza is a monument to Spanish novelist, poet and playwright Miguel de Cervantes. The tower portion of the monument includes a stone sculpture of Cervantes, which overlooks bronze sculptures of Don Quijote and Sancho Panza. Flanking the Plaza de España we find two emblematic buildings of the city: the Madrid Tower and the Edificio España, which constitute one of the most interesting architectural areas of Madrid.

This construction dates from the 2nd century BC, and, after centuries on Egyptian soil, was brought to Spain as a gift from Egypt. It arrived in Madrid in 1968, and can be seen in Parque de la Montaña, very close to Plaza de España. The monument is surrounded by beautiful gardens with a fountain, and is Madrid's oldest. It has a hall, several chapels and a terrace on the upper floor, and conserves its original decoration inside.

The Puerta de San Vicente is one of the few remaining monumental gates in Madrid. Located at the Glorieta de San Vicente, this structure is a replica of the original gate, designed in 1775 by the Italian architect Francesco Sabatini (who also designed the Puerta de Alcalá) at the request of King Carlos III. Due to the city’s expansion, the gate was dismantled in 1890 and later reconstructed in 1995 to restore this emblematic monument to Madrid.

Situated in a prime location, the Puerta de San Vicente stands between Madrid Río and the ascent to Plaza de España, just a short distance from landmarks like Campo del Moro, the Royal Palace, and Parque del Oeste. From here, you can enjoy stunning panoramic views and capture the best photos and videos of some of Madrid’s most historic and picturesque sights.

Nineteen metres tall and opened in 1827, this is the most recent monumental gate built in Madrid. The impressive granite construction was started in 1812 under the orders of Joseph Bonaparte. One year later, after the withdrawal of the French troops from Spain, the project continued and Puerta de Toledo became the site to receive Fernando VII, as represented on one of the friezes. The monument consists of a central semi-circular arch, two lintelled gates and a decoration formed by columns.

The Basílica de San Francisco el Grande, a Classicist building from the 18th century, was built on an old convent which legend says was founded by San Francisco de Assisi in the 13th century. This new church was built by King Charles III of Spain; it was originally designed by Francisco Cabezas in 1761 and completed by Francisco Sabatini and Miguel Fernández in 1784. It has a sober, vertical façade and the most notable feature of the building’s exterior is its huge dome, 33 metres in diameter.

Throughout its history it has had different names until 1848 when it was called Colegiata Street, which joins Toledo Street with Tirso de Molina Square.
The current name refers to the Colegiata de San Isidro. The Colegiata de San Isidro is a 17th century Catholic temple that houses the remains of the patron saint of the city and his wife. It was the Cathedral of Madrid until the Almudena Cathedral was consecrated in 1992.

The Calle de Atocha runs from the Plaza de la Provincia to the Plaza del Emperador Carlos V. The Calle de Atocha has been one of the main axes of Madrid throughout its history. Culture is breathed in every corner of the Atocha area, not only in the Cuesta de Moyano, but also in the Barrio de Las Letras, the area of Madrid where the great writers of the Golden Age of Spanish Literature lived. In this area you will find restaurants and bars ranging from the most traditional to the most avant-garde.

The Jardín Botánico was founded by Ferdinand VI in 1755, and was designed by the architects Francisco Sabatini and Juan de Villanueva. Some of its most interesting features include the gates known as the Puerta de Murillo, and the Puerta del Rey, and the Pabellón Villanueva. Its lovely neo-Gothic layout and its location in the centre of the city make it one of the most distinctive botanical gardens in Europe. From here you can go to Museo del Prado which holds numerous masterpieces by El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, Bosch, Titian, Van Dyck and Rembrandt.

The Fuente de Neptuno is on Paseo del Prado. Under the orders of King Charles III, Juan Pascual de Mena began to build this marble statue in 1780. In 1786 his disciple José Rodríguez finished off the project. The figure is standing on a chariot, drawn by two sea horses and surrounded by dolphins. Near the Plaza de Neptuno there are many of the city’s symbolic buildings, such as the Palace Hotel, Palacio de Villahermosa, Museo del Prado, the Ritz Hotel, the Congreso de los Diputados and, in the background, San Jerónimo el Real church.

This is one of the liveliest, best-known and most beautiful squares in Madrid, and is home to such emblematic monuments as the Fuente de Cibeles and Palacio de Cibeles. The Fuente de Cibeles, the symbol of Madrid, stands in the middle of the square. Goddess of nature and protector of the town, this sculpture was designed by Ventura Rodríguez in 1777. Also in this square is the Palacio de Cibeles (today the site of the City Hall) which also houses the cultural space known as CentroCentro and the Galería de Cristal.

The statue in honour of Cristopher Columbus was built between 1881 and 1885, to celebrate the marriage between Alfonso XII and María de las Mercedes from Orleáns. This monument is outstanding due to its perfect incorporation into the square in which is it situated, with a beautiful grassy area, ponds and a large waterfall. Alongside Plaza de Colón you will find the majestic Biblioteca Nacional building. Special mention should be made of its broad exterior staircase and its main façade with a Corinthian style.

Here you will find the Museo de Arte Público, the former Museo de Esculturas. Situated under the overpass joining Juan Bravo and Eduardo Dato streets, it has an excellent collection of Spanish abstract sculpture. The purpose of the museum was to recover an urban space for common use, making it a transition, landing, and recreation area, and to bring Spanish abstract art closer to the public. To compensate for the uneven land, the museum is structured over three levels, smoothly descending from Serrano Street to the paseo de la Castellana.

This museum conducts activities whose aim is to promote a greater awareness of the diversity of the natural world. It has over six million specimens in its collections, and this makes it one of the main reference centres for not only Spanish fauna, but also that of other Mediterranean areas. It also has interesting permanent exhibits, such as the one devoted to the history of the Earth and life, in which spectacular specimens can be viewed, such as the replica of a Diplodocus.

Where was once located the Madrid’s Hippodrome, now you can find the Nuevos Ministerios architectural complex. In 1929 Secundino Zuazo y de Jansen started building the Nuevos Ministerios complex but its construction was not concluded until the 1940s and then the paseo de la Castellana was considered an open space. In the paseo de la Castellana 142 you will find the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, the home of the Real Madrid football team.

The Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is the home stadium of the Real Madrid football team. Its name is in honour of the man who was president of the club for 35 years, Santiago Bernabéu. After various remodelling projects, it is today classified as an elite stadium, and holds the UEFA's highest distinction of five stars. The visit to the stadium includes access to Real Madrid's well-stocked trophy room, the presidential box and a chance to walk around the technical area and see the dressing rooms of the visiting team.

The Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas is the largest public institution dedicated to research in Spain and the third largest in Europe. Its main objective is to develop and promote research that will help bring about scientific and technological progress, and it is prepared to collaborate with Spanish and foreign entities in order to achieve this aim. Its research is driven by its centres and institutes, which are spread across all the autonomous regions.

The pieces in the museum were brought together by José Lázaro Galdiano, a passionate collector. The collection comprises more than 12,600 paintings, sculptures, silver items, jewels, enamelled and marble items, fabrics, weapons… from the 6th century B.C. to the early 20th century. The various European schools are represented in the art gallery, with works by Hieronymus Bosch, Cranach, Reynolds and Constable, among others. The core, however, is the Spanish section, with Gothic and Renaissance panels, and works by El Greco, Ribera, Zurbarán, Velázquez, Murillo, Carreño, etc., and an important series of paintings by Goya.

Serrano Street got its name from Francisco Serrano y Domínguez, a Spanish soldier and a politician. At Serrano 61 it is located the Edificio de Prensa Española, built more than a century ago, which was used as the ‘Blanco y Negro’ magazine newsroom and workshop in 1899. The building looks more like a palace than a factory. Now this building is a shopping and cultural centre. Majestic buildings and a succession of palaces predominate at Serrano Street.

Serrano Street is one of Madrid's most exclusive, and is known for its luxury boutiques and for being one of the capital's most expensive streets.

The museum came into being at the end of the 19th century and was designed to bring together and exhibit items related to archaeology, ethnography, decorative arts and coins from a range of different institutions. The permanent collection offers a journey through the history of Spain from prehistoric times to the 19th century. Its collection includes excellent pieces from all periods and styles, including Egyptian sarcophagi and mummies, Hispano-Roman decorative art, Arab archaeology and Mudéjar stonework and ceramics. One of its most highly-prized treasures is the bust of the Dama de Elche.

The Puerta de Alcalá is one of Madrid's most famous landmarks and was ordered to be built in 1769 by King Charles III. The king commissioned Sabatini to commemorate his arrival in the capital in 1778. The Puerta de Alcalá is one of the gates that were built to enter the city of Madrid when fences still existed. Sabatini designed a structure consisting of five arches, three of them semicircular and two others, located at the ends, architraves.

Alcalá Street in Madrid is one of the most emblematic arteries of the city, known for its history and impressive architecture. Near this stop, you will find the famous Plaza de Cibeles, where the majestic Fuente de Cibeles, an iconic symbol of Madrid, stands out. Also nearby is the Palacio de Cibeles, which houses Madrid's City Hall and offers panoramic views from its observation deck. Furthermore, within a short walking distance is Plaza del Sol, the heart of downtown Madrid, a perfect starting place to begin to get to know the city at your own pace.

Puerta del Sol must not be missed. It features several attractions, such as the Bear and the Strawberry Tree statue, next to Alcalá Street, and the equestrian statue of Charles III standing nine metres tall. Puerta del Sol is one of the nerve centres of Madrid. The first buildings surrounding this area were begun in the 16th century, although the square took on the importance it holds today with the construction of the Casa de Correos building in 1768.

It is one of Madrid’s most famous squares, since it’s made up by the Congreso de los Diputados, the Palace Hotel and the splendid statue of Cervantes. On the main façade of the Congreso de los Diputados, a flight of stairs climbs up to the neoclassical portico. It features six imposing fluted Corinthian columns which support the triangular pediment, decorated with reliefs. The symbolic lions flanking the entrance were cast using the iron from cannons captured during the Spanish-Moroccan War.