Madrid: transport - Madrid City Tour. Sightseeing bus in Madrid - routes City Tour in Madrid
In recent years, many European cities have popularized a very attractive system for visiting the city for tourists: tourist bus. Let's be honest, this is an amazing way to meet the most famous places cities, especially if you have little time. All you need to do is buy a ticket, get on the bus, put on headphones (given along with the ticket) and... enjoy beautiful views The Spanish capital... At the same time, you can use the bus at any time without limiting the number of trips.
Madrid sightseeing bus
Using the Madrid tourist bus is very easy and efficient. There are 2 different routes that are independent of each other, but they both start on Calle Felipe IV, in front of the Prado Museum:
Route 1(blue) covers the entire historical center: Royal Palace, Puerta Del Sol, Prado Museum, Plaza Cibeles, Gate of Toledo...(route time approximately 80 minutes). There is also an extended version of the route (2 times a day: 16:40 and 20:40), which will also show us a recently built holiday park: Madrid Rio and the Moncloa area.
Route 2(green), slightly shorter than the first (approximate duration 65 min), covers the modern center of Marida: Paseo de Recoletos, Nuevos Ministerios area, railway station Atocha, Santiago Bernabeu Stadium... The extended route (2 times a day: 16:50 and 20:50) will show us Plaza Castile (from where you can walk to the famous 4 towers of the business center of Madrid) and the famous Madrid bullring Las Ventas.
Click on the images to enlarge the route map.
How does this work
When purchasing a ticket, we have 2 options: validity for 1 or 2 days.
These tickets allow you to use the bus an unlimited number of times, getting on and off at any of its stops. At the same time, you can also change routes whenever you want and as many times as you want. In this way, you will get to know both the historical and modern parts of the city comfortably and efficiently.
When purchasing a ticket, you are given headphones to listen to the audio guide (available languages: English, Spanish, French, Russian, Japanese, Danish, Chinese, Arabic, Catalan, Basque and Galician), a map of both routes and a discount book (where you can find discounts on various excursions and events).
Where to buy tickets:
There are 3 ways to purchase tickets for this tourist bus:
First, most recommended and economical: This buy a ticket online in Russian and avoiding queues. Upon purchase, you will receive a confirmation email and a voucher, which you will have to present at the entrance to the bus.
Another option is to buy a ticket directly inside the bus at the entrance. Try to have a more or less exact amount. Banknotes of 100€ and above are not accepted!
And the third option is the kiosks, Madrid City Tour Information Center (Address: Calle Felipe IV, opposite the Prado Museum), the registration desk of your hotel (reception), or travel agencies.
Prices:
Ticket for 1 day: 21€ / Reduced (children 7-15 years old and adults 65+): 10€
Ticket for 2 days: 25€ / Reduced (children 7-15 years old and adults 65+)13€
Family ticket: 2 adults and 2 children (age 7-15 years) €53 per day ticket.
Children under 6 years old: free.
Schedule
High season (March-October) from 09:00 to 22:00
Low season (November-February) from 10:00 to 18:00
Frequency: approximately 8-10 minutes in high season and 15 minutes in low season.
Useful information:
Contact phone: 902-024-758 (24 hours a day)
Website:
The tourist bus in Madrid is called the Madrid City Tour. In addition, it is often searched for Madrid Bus Touristic and Madrid hop on – hop off.
Excursion bus in Madrid allows you to enter and exit at any stop by purchasing one ticket for the whole day or two days. Tourist buses in Madrid are comfortable: they are double-decker, the second tier is often open, so tourists can take excellent photos.
You can buy a ticket for a sightseeing bus in advance, saving money, using the link. In the window that opens, just select a city.
Madrid tourist bus routes
There are two tourist bus routes in Madrid: blue and green. They consist of 16 and 21 stops, you can buy one ticket and travel on both routes of Madrid tourist buses using the hop on – hop off system.
Hop on – hop off Madrid: schedule
The hop on – hop off buses in Madrid allow you to get on and off at any stop for one or two days (depending on the ticket price).
From November to February they run from 10 am to 6 pm, and from March to October from 9 am to 10 pm. You can board the Madrid City Tour bus at any of the stops.
Excursions in Russian in Madrid
It's not hard to find in the capital of Spain Russian-language excursion, however, such entertainment usually does not come cheap. Tourist buses are a good alternative, since they allow you to listen to a tour in Russian in Madrid through special headphones (provided when purchasing a ticket).
Madrid Tourist Bus: Map
In addition, by purchasing a ticket for the Madrid City Tour, you receive discounts. Which ones exactly – see the link.
Tourist bus in Madrid: prices
Prices for Madrid tourist buses depend on the number of days and age. Here are the prices for a Madrid sightseeing bus when purchased online in June 2012. Even if they change, you can get a rough idea of the order.
- Price for an adult Madrid City Tour ticket for one day: 20 euros.
- Price for a hop on – hop off bus in Madrid for an adult for two days: 24 euros.
- Price discount ticket for a sightseeing bus in Madrid for one day: 9 euros.
- Price of a discounted ticket for two days: 12 euros.
- A family ticket for a tourist bus in Madrid (2 adults + 2 children) costs 50 euros for one day.
Tickets are considered discounted for children (7–15 years old) and elderly people (over 65 years old).
If you come with a child, don’t like to walk, or simply your stay in Madrid is only a couple of days, but you want to see everything at once, tourist bus- this is the ideal way to get to know the Spanish capital.
The rhythm of the metropolis, the rush - even the residents of Madrid themselves need to stop and look around at the beauties of the city that surround us. How many times, while running along Gran Via (yes, just running), it doesn’t even occur to us to stop and look at the carved figures of gods supporting the roofs of buildings, or to examine in detail the fountain in Plaza Cibeles. How many lions are harnessed to the Goddess's chariot? More than half of the residents will say: “Four!”, but there are only two of them. So, it doesn’t matter whether you are a tourist or a Russian-speaking resident of the capital - we recommend taking a tour bus at least once and looking at Madrid with different eyes.
In the capital, as in most other cities, tourist buses have two floors. The first, or inner zone, is equipped with air conditioning in summer and heating in winter; the second, or external, located at the top of the bus, has no walls (heating and air conditioning, respectively), but gives full review 360 degree view of the city. Surprisingly, even in January and with strong winds, on the second floor you can see flocks of Japanese tourists bravely photographing Madrid.
All seats on the buses are equipped with audio guides (including in Russian), but not only sightseeing and interesting stories make tourist buses so attractive. The main advantage is that the traveler is completely spared from getting to know the capital public transport, which makes a huge saving of time and money. Are you interested in a specific place? You can leave the bus and get back on the next one when you get on to continue your route. The number of your trips is unlimited, it all depends on the tariff you choose, for 1 day or two.
Today there are several companies providing sightseeing tours in Madrid, but most convenient routes offers Madrid City Tours. Although there are only two directions: Historic Madrid and Modern Madrid, there is a fairly simple route scheme, large number stops and traffic intensity will help you see almost the entire city in a matter of hours.
You can buy tickets for a tourist bus both on the bus itself and in the centers tourist information or kiosks located near its stops. For those who like to plan all the details of their trip in advance, you can purchase tickets on the official website madridcitytour.es while still in Russia.
The ticket price depends on the number of days and your age:
Adults: 21€ (one day), 25€ (two days);
Youth (7-15 years old) or over 65 years old: 10€ (one day), 13€ (two days);
Groups of 2 adults and 2 teenagers (7-15 years): 53€ (one day). Children under 6 years old do not pay for travel.
You should also pay attention to the bus schedule and traffic intensity:
From March to October, bus schedule is from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (interval 8-9 minutes)
From November to February from 10 to 18 hours (traffic interval 14-15 minutes).
Both routes start near the Prado Museum and have several common stops where you can easily move from line to line.
Twice daily (16.40 and 20.40) this route extends slightly, going down to the Madrid Río and continuing to the Moncloa area, where you can see the modern buildings of the Spanish Air Force, the Moncloa lighthouse and the modern Arc de Triomphe.
Route 2 (Ruta 2) “Modern Madrid”
Acquaintance with modern Madrid, as on Route 1, begins with a stop near the Prado Museum. Here you will see young Madrid, the center of the country's financial and political power. Along the wide six-row boulevards of Castellana, Prado and Recoletos, the bus will take you to the financial center of Asca, the New Ministries district (by the way for fashionistas, a series of the largest buildings of the El Corte Inglés shopping center of the capital are very close), and, of course, there will be a stop at the foot of the famous Santiago Bernabeu stadium, a real Mecca for football fans. The bus also passes through the Salamanca area, home to the famous Golden Mile boutiques - a true shopping paradise.
Twice a day (16.50 and 20.50) this route also slightly increases its usual traffic pattern: along Boulevard Castellana the bus reaches four famous Madrid skyscrapers and Plaza de las Ventas.
Still thinking about going or not? Here interesting video on this topic:
Do you want to enjoy the most beautiful places in Madrid?
Buy tickets for the "Madrid City Tour". With our bus you can travel around the capital of Spain, and see all the most emblematic places of the city.
Madrid is one of the most important and beautiful capitals in Europe, and its tourist interest is at the highest level.
That's why we want you to enjoy your trip to Madrid at 100%.
In addition, you can do it without limit of hours and many times you want, thanks to our service "Hop-on Hop-off" that we will explain below.
What is the Madrid City Tour?
The Madrid City Tour is a sequence of buses that travel by the capital of Spain.
The tour is well designed, so you can see all of the most important places of Madrid.
The bus consists of two floors, the second is without roof.
To move from floor to floor, the bus have 2 stairs: the front is to climb, and the back to go down. It can be used when the bus is parked (for the safety of passangers).
Services of the Madrid City Tour
In our Bus you have free Wi-Fi, so you can connect and stay in line with your contacts.
We also offer you an audioguide in 14 different languages, so you can inform yourself while visiting the most famous places of Madrid.
And, of course, as it could not be otherwise, our bus is adapted for people with reduced mobility.
Madrid City Tour. Hop On-Hop Off Service
With our Hop On-Hop Off service, you"ll be able to have the freedom to hop on and off the bus as many times as you want. It will help you to visit the city at your own pace.
Tickets are for one or two days, depending on your choice. Therefore, during that period of time you will be able to use without limits our "Madrid City Tour" bus.
Tickets and prices of Madrid City Tour
In spite of the complete service offered to the tourists, the price of the tourist bus of Madrid is very economical.
The tickets of Madrid City Tour are cheap, so they are affordable for everyone.
Below we leave you the different offers to buy the Madrid City Tour tickets
* The price shown includes the order processing costs of Tictactickets. Once you have acquired the admission ticket, any changes are not allowed and the amount paid will not be reimbursed under any circumstances.
*The requests of a refund are accepted within a maximum of 30 days after the date of the visit.
You buy tickets for one or two days and get off and return to the excursion bus as many times as you like.
Madrid City Tour Video:
The buses have two floors – a closed lower floor and an open upper floor. Equipped with free Wi-Fi and an information board showing stops.
Audio guides are offered in 14 languages, including Russian.
Let's say from experience that the quality of the Russian audio guide in Madrid bass tourism is at its best.
Opening hours
Routes:
Historical and Modern.
Summer: 01/03 – 31/10. From 09:00 to 22:00 every 8 - 9 minutes.
Winter: 01/11 – 28/02. From 10:00 to 18:00 every 14-15 minutes.
Extended Historical.
Summer:
01/03 - 31/10 at 10:05 and 18:05.
Winter:
01/11 – 28/02 at 10:10 and 14:30.
Advanced Modern.
Summer:
01/03 - 31/10 at 12:15 and 16:05.
Winter:
01/11 – 28/02 at 12:00 and 16:30.
Night
16/06 - 15/09. Two night tours from 22:00.
At the stops there are special signs with the Madrid City Tour logo. They indicate the arrival time of the tour bus and the stop number. If routes intersect at this point, change trains.
Cost of tickets for bass tourist
Tickets for tourist hop on hop off buses are sold in two types: for one and two days. Children under 6 years old travel for free. However, you must purchase a ticket for your child.
Ticket prices are indicated without discount.
One ticket is valid for all routes, including night routes, without restrictions.
Tour bus tickets
Tickets are sold directly from the conductor on the bus.
For those who want to save 10% of the cost, purchase tickets for the Madrid City Tour online. Buy for rubles on the official service in Russian.
Present the printout at the entrance to the tourist bus. In exchange, you will receive headphones (you take them with you), a booklet with advertising and a map of stops.
We offer to buy tickets to museums and attractions online.
Below we give photos of queues for excursion buses and remind you once again - save time and money!
Madrid City Tour routes
Number of stops – 52.
Three options are offered: Historical (No. 1), Modern (No. 2) and Night.
Please note that routes 1 and 2 have extended options. In this case, the bus, in addition to daily traffic, goes to monuments and attractions located far from the city center.
No. 1: Historical (blue)
Start of movement: 10:00
End of movement: 18:00
Start of the Bass Tourist Madrid City Tour from the Prado Museum:
Bus stops
Prado Museum (Museo del Prado)
The Prado Museum is visited by millions of tourists every year. The museum's collections include works by Spanish and Italian artists, including Velázquez's "Maids of Honor" and Goya's "The Third of May 1808."
The Museo del Prado collections include 9,000 paintings and 700 sculptures.
Puerta de Alcala
Puerta de Alcalá was built by Sabatini in 1778 during the period of restoration of the city's decoration promoted by Charles III. Made from granite, it exemplifies proportion, harmony and elegance.
Barrio de Salamanca
Salamanca is a district of the capital. Don José de Salamanca y Mayol, Marquis of Salamanca, gave his name to the area due to his involvement in the area's project in 1860.
Nowadays, the Salamanca area is the area of the rich and streets such as Goya or Serrano are part of the most expensive streets in Spain.
We recommend getting off the tourist bus and taking a walk around the area.
Plaza de Colon
The statue in honor of Christophe Columbus was built between 1881 and 1885 to celebrate the marriage between Alfonso XII and Maria de las Mercedes of Orléans. This monument fits perfectly into the square in which it is located, with a beautiful grassy area, ponds and a large waterfall.
Plaza de Cibeles
It is a lively square and home to monuments such as the Fuente de Cibeles and the Palacio de Cibeles. Fuente de Cibeles, the symbol of Madrid, stands in the middle of the square.
Gran Via, 14
One of the most important and emblematic arteries of the center of Madrid. Thousands of residents and tourists fill the sidewalks every day. Being located in the lively center of Madrid there are many souvenir shops. Driving along the street on a tour bus, you can see everything and outline places to return to later.
Gran Via, 30
Gran Via is a thoroughfare offering leisure, tourism and shopping.
Gran Via, 54
Madrid Gran Via was planned as a recreation and entertainment area. The segment between San Luis and Plaza de Callao features historic buildings housing fashion stores of world famous brands.
Plaza de España
Plaza de España is a large square and popular tourist spot located in the center of Madrid. In the center of the square is a monument to the Spanish novelist, poet and playwright Miguel de Cervantes.
Templo de Debod
This design dates back to the 2nd century BC, brought to Spain as a gift from Egypt. The monument is surrounded by gardens with a fountain and is considered the oldest in Madrid.
Opera Teatro Real
Located in Plaza de Oriente. Valued by connoisseurs of opera music for its unrivaled acoustics. The building was begun by Ferdinand VII in 1817 on the site of an old theatre, and the work was completed in 1850.
Palacio Real
The Palacio Real was built in the 18th century by order of Philip V on the site of the old Alcazar fortress, the former Moorish castle. Sachetti began work in 1738 and the building was completed in 1764. Sabatini designed the southeast wing and the grand staircase. Don't forget that the tour bus operates on a hop on hop off basis - stop and explore the palace.
Puerta de Toledo
19 meters high, opened in 1827, it is a modern monumental gate built in the city. The magnificent granite structure was begun in 1812 by order of Joseph Bonaparte.
San Francisco el Grande (San Francisco El Grande)
The Basilica of San Francisco El Grande, an 18th-century Classicist building, is built on an old monastery said to have been founded by San Francisco de Assisi in the 13th century. Notable feature appearance building - a dome with a diameter of 33 meters.
Catedral de la Almudena
At the end of the 19th century, construction work began on the Catedral de la Almudena, which was built on the site of the old church of Santa Maria la Mayor to commemorate the Virgin of Madrid.
The first stone of this monument was laid in 1883, but the construction process was slow. In 1993, the cathedral was consecrated for the veneration of Pope John Paul II.
Plaza Mayor
Plaza Mayor is the symbol of Madrid. The square was opened in 1620 and has a rectangular shape, with arcades around the edges. Previously, the square hosted public events such as bullfights, processions and festivals. Under the arcades there are traditional shops, as well as bars and restaurants. Don't forget that bass tourists travel at intervals of 5 to 25 minutes. Take a leisurely stroll through the symbol of the capital of Spain and continue your journey through the city.
Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol is not to be missed. Several attractions in one place, such as the statue of the Bear and the Trunks. Near Alcalá Street is the equestrian statue of Charles III, standing at a height of nine meters.
Circulo de Bellas Artes
This impressive building on Alcala Street was designed by the architect Antonio Palacios and is a prime example cultural life. The distinctive decoration includes sculptures of the goddess Minerva and others.
Thyssen-Ornemis Museum (Museo Thyssen)
Architect Rafael Moneo rebuilt and renovated the Villahermosa Palace, an early 19th-century building, for the museum. The museum is said to be a complement to the Prado and Reina Sofía by filling gaps in their respective collections.
Reina Sofia Arts Center (Museo Reina Sofía)
The Museo Reina Sofía opened its doors to the public in 1990 with a collection of Spanish and international art spanning the period from the late 19th century to the present day.
#2: Modern (Green)
Movement interval: 10 – 15 minutes.
Start of movement: 10:00
End of movement: 18:00
The beginning of the bass tourist movement from Neptune Square:
Bus stops
Neptune Square (Plaza de Neptuno)
Fuente de Neptuno are located on Paseo del Prado. By order of King Charles III, Juan Pascual de Mena began building this marble statue in 1780. In 1786, student José Rodriguez completed the project.
Plaza de Cibeles, Plaza de Colon
See blue route.
Museum of Sculptures (Museo de Esculturas)
The Museo de Arte Público is the former Museo de Esculturas. Located under the overpass connecting Juan Bravo and Eduardo Dato streets, it houses a fine collection of Spanish abstract sculpture.
Museum of Natural Sciences (Museo de Ciencias Naturales)
The museum hosts events to raise awareness of diversity natural world. The collections number more than six million specimens, making the museum one of the main reference centers not only for Spanish fauna, but also for other Mediterranean areas. Most likely, the Madrid City Tour discount booklet will contain a discount coupon for this museum.
Nuevos Ministerios (New Ministries)
Where the Hippodrome was once located is now located architectural complex Nuevos Millioris. In 1929, Secundino Zuazo y de Jansen began construction of the Nuevos complex, but construction was not completed until the 1940s.
Santiago Bernabéu (Real Madrid FC Stadium)
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu - home stadium football team Real Madrid. Named after the man who was president of the club for 35 years.
After various remodeling projects, it is today classified as an elite stadium and has the highest UEFA rating of five stars.
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Superior Council of Scientific Research)
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas is the largest government agency, engaged in research in Spain and the third largest in Europe.
Museo Lázaro Galdiano (Lazaro Galdiano Museum)
The works presented in the museum were collected by José Lazaro Galdiano, a passionate collector. The collection includes more than 12,600 paintings, sculptures, silver objects, precious stones, enameled and marble items, textiles, weapons... from the 6th century BC.
Serrano, 61
Serrano Street takes its name from Francisco Serrano y Dominguez, a Spanish soldier and politician.
The building looks more like a palace than a factory. Now this building is a shopping and cultural center.
Serrano, 66
Serrano Street is famous for its luxury boutiques. One of the most expensive in the capital. While driving along it in a comfortable bus tour from Madrid City Tour, don’t forget to check in. Let them envy.
Museo Arqueológico (Museum of Archaeology)
The museum arose in late XIX century and aims to bring together and exhibit objects related to archaeology, ethnography, decorative arts and coins from different institutions.
Puerta de Alcalá
See blue route.
Alcalá, 17
Calle Alcalá is the longest street. Along this street you can find landmarks such as the Banco Bilbao Vizcaya at number 16, the former discotheque Alcalá 20 at number 20, the Edificio Metrópolis, the Unión y el Fénix Español building at number 23.
Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol is not to be missed. It has several attractions, such as the statue of the Bear and the Trunks, next to Alcalá Street, and the equestrian statue of Charles III, standing at a height of nine meters.
Plaza de las Cortes
This is one of the most famous squares, as it consists of the Congresso de los Diputados, Palace Hotel and a magnificent statue of Cervantes.
On the main façade of the Congreso de los Diputados, a staircase rises to a neoclassical portico.
Night
The night line operates from June 16 to September 15. You can see the beauty of Madrid at night. The bus will take you along the “Historic Madrid” route, but without stops.
Have a great experience!
We remind you, buy your tickets online and skip the queues for the Madrid City Tour!
Text: (c) Oleg Koloshin
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