Once in a great while, I’m only able to spend a short time in a destination due to a tight schedule. When this happens, as it did on my recent visit to Madrid, I typically opt to join an organized tour to see the major highlights. And I really appreciate it when skip-the-line access is included at the most popular (and crowded) sites.
Enter The Tour Guy and its “Madrid in a Day with Prado Museum and Royal Palace” tour. On the day of our excursion, my husband and I lucked out, as no one else had signed up. So we ended up having a private tour. Score!
We met our guide at the impressive Puerta de Alcalá, an iconic monument that takes centerstage in the city’s Plaza del la Independencia. This grand, neoclassical style gateway was designed in the late 18th century. Commissioned by King Carlos III, it was constructed as a triumphal arch to celebrate the monarch’s arrival into the capital and to symbolize an era of progress for the city.
Its façade features decorative elements including sculptures, masks and inscriptions. One side depicts four children: one with a helmet to symbolize strength, another with a horse’s bridle to represent temperance, a third with a mirror denoting prudence and finally a child with his left arm raised in a gesture of justice. The other side of the monument has Roman-style military trophies.
Next stop on the tour was Plaza de Cibeles and Paseo del Prado. The former is a lively square famed for its eye-catching fountain with a sculpture of Cybele, the Roman goddess of fertility seated on a chariot pulled by lions. Around the plaza are several notable buildings like the Palacio de Cibeles, now a cultural hub. A short walk from there takes you to Paseo del Prado, a street lined with trees and sculptures that’s known as the city’s art walk. It leads directly toward the Prado Museum. More on this attraction later.
We headed back to the gateway monument and into El Retiro Park, a lovely, 300-acre greenspace in the center of Madrid. Built in the 17th century, this UNESCO World Heritage Site originally belonged to the Spanish monarchy before becoming a public park in 1868. The gardens abound with vibrant flowers and are impeccably manicured, plus there are fountains, statues and plenty of tranquil spots to take in all the beauty.
One of the gems of the park is Estanque Grande del Retiro (Retirement Pond), a picturesque lake in front of the Monument to Alfonso XII. On a sunny day, this is a busy place full of paddle boaters and sunbathers, as well as joggers and rollerbladers circling the walkways.
This sprawling oasis is also home to the Crystal Palace. Constructed in 1887 as a greenhouse to showcase flora and fauna, today it’s owned by the Reina Sofia Museum and used to host temporary exhibitions.
The structure, which was designed to mirror London’s own Crystal Palace, is made of glass plates and cast iron and its base is decorated with ceramic tiles. A small pond sits nearby, inhabited by numerous geese, ducks and turtles – a magnet for young kids.
Unfortunately, the Crystal Palace is closed for restorations until 2027. Instead of being able to see this glorious piece of architecture, visitors only have a screen façade in which to imagine its exterior. Also closed during my visit was the brick and mosaic Velázquez Palace, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Up next was the Prado Museum, where we had skip-the-line tickets to enter this premiere art institution. This stately museum, situated in an impressive historic building, houses the most comprehensive collection of Spanish painting in the world. It also has numerous masterpieces and significant works from the Flemish and Italian schools, as well as the German, French and English schools.
Priceless pieces from El Greco, Goya, Rubens, Bosch, Rembrandt, Titan, Velázquez and more are must-sees for art and history lovers. Informational panels help describe the innovative techniques used by the artists, as well as the contexts in which these pieces were created. I recommend using the audio guide for more details. It’s included in the tour price.
Though the museum primarily contains paintings and sculptures, it also has collections of drawings, coins and medals, engravings and items of clothing and decorative art.
The Prado can be overwhelming so it’s important to decide which artists and paintings you want to focus on and then map out your route to the specific galleries. Even with the best of plans, however, it’s easy to get lost. My husband and I ended up backtracking a few times as we got turned around. Thankfully, security personnel were very helpful in pointing us in the correct direction.
After the Prado, we stopped for lunch. Once re-energized with sustenance and some downtime, we joined up with our guide again in Puerta del Sol (The Sun’s Gate). This is one of the most renowned squares in Madrid and home to several landmarks in the city.
We met our guide at El Oso y el Madrona, statue of the Bear and Strawberry Tree. This sculpture represents the coat of the arms of Madrid. Built in 1967, it’s often used as a meeting place for locals and tourists.
Another point of interest here is Real Casa de Correos, House of the Post Office. It contains the famed clock that since 1962 has marked a Spanish tradition known as the eating of the twelve grapes. The idea is to eat one grape with each chime of the clock on New Year’s Eve.
Our guide also pointed out Kilometer Zero, located in front of the House of the Post Office. It marks the point from which distances in Madrid are measured. And you can bet it’s a popular photo opp!
A short walk from Puerta del Sol leads you to Habsburg Madrid, the city’s Old Town. With its maze of narrow streets and historic buildings, this is one of the most charming areas in the city. The architecture is primarily Renaissance and Baroque from the Golden Age era when the Habsburg dynasty ruled. It was a time of artistic and cultural growth and helped enhance the grandeur of Madrid.
Within Old Town is the San Miguel Market, a major culinary attraction. This food hall, with its eye-catching iron and glass structure, dates back to 1916. Inside you’ll find every kind of food desired, from produce and seafood to breads and baked goods, tapas, drinks and sweets. Wandering among the thirty some stalls to check out the droolworthy offerings was so much fun and an education in Spanish food. Later, on our own, we returned to the market and proceeded to eat our way through it!
Our final stops on the tour were the Cathedral of La Almudena and the Royal Palace of Madrid. We didn’t get to go inside the cathedral, but we were able to admire its impressive Neoclassical style architecture from the outside. We noted the lovely, pale stone façade with its intricate details. Interestingly, the cathedral took a century to construct and wasn’t completed until 1993 due to numerous interruptions and delays.
As for the Royal Palace, we were glad to have skip-the-line tickets again, as it was crowded and the lines to enter were long. Opt for the audio guide if you want to have a more in-depth, self-guided tour.
The palace is the largest in Western Europe and one of the largest in the world with nearly 3,500 rooms. It has the distinction of being one of the few official seats of a Head of State that’s open to the public. Several million visitors come each year to ooh and aah at this massive and majestic house of royalty and its glittering treasures.
You’ll learn that the style of the palace was influenced by the personal tastes of the monarchs who lived here, beginning in the 18th century.
Some of the most significant rooms include the Throne Room, Hall of Columns, Gasparini Hall, Gala Dining Room, Stradivarius Room and Royal Chapel. Each is unique, though decorated to the hilt with meticulous detail to convey power and luxury. You’ll see colorful murals, sculptures, paintings and tapestries, and most notably, a lavish use of gold.
Know you will walk a lot and be on your feet during most of this daylong tour, as it covers much ground. However, the experience definitely satisfies in offering a good overview of Madrid’s highlights.
If you have an extra day in this fascinating city, there are many more attractions to see. But do take some time to sit at one of the countless outdoor cafes. And as you leisurely sip your café con leche or Aperol Spritz, soak in the ambiance and enjoy the people watching opportunities.
