Top Madrid Half-day Tours

Discover Madrid’s vibrant culinary scene on a delicious tapas tour. Stroll through the evening-lit streets with a guide and sample delicious tapas dishes at popular restaurants while learning about the local ingredients. Treat your palette to delicious Spanish wines complemented by items like Iberian ham, salted cod, rich chickpea stew and more. To keep this experience intimate, group size is limited to 12 people.

This half-day tour from Madrid makes it easy to explore Toledo’s major highlights. Depart in the morning via luxury coach. Upon arrival, you’ll stroll through the city’s old town, will see sights like its city hall, and will visit its Jewish quarter. You’ll also visit the Church of Santo Tomé (home to a famed El Greco painting), will tour the Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca, and will explore the Primate Cathedral of Santa María de Toledo: considered a masterpiece of the Spanish Gothic style.

Combine a visit to Madrid’s most popular museum with a delicious lunch at Sobrino de Botín, recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest restaurant, on this small-group tour. Enter the Prado Museum on a skip-the-line ticket and discover masterpieces by Goya, Velazquez, and more with a guide. After a stroll through the city’s literary quarter and an aperitif, tuck into a 3-course lunch with wine at Botín.

Admire the spectacular sights of Spain’s vibrant capital on a bicycle tour of Madrid. With a knowledgeable guide, cycle at a leisurely pace to important monuments like Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace of Madrid. Stop intermittently to listen to illuminating commentary from your expert guide, and to capture photographs of Madrid’s historical and architectural highlights. All safety equipment is included on this tour.

Please note: Price varies by group size. Experience the highlights and hidden gems of the Spanish capital on this private tour. Accompanied by your private guide, visit memorable landmarks such as Plaza Mayor, the Prado Museum, and the Royal Palace; escape the crowds to explore Park Emir Mohamed I and Retiro Park and more. As this is a private tour, you can explore at your own pace and spend as long as you want taking photos.

This tour is ideal for time-tight travelers interested in religious sights and historic monuments. Avoid the hassle of organizing car rental, and instead, travel between locations with ease in a luxury bus with air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, and a guide. Explore a UNESCO World Heritage Site—the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (El Escorial)—and visit the Valley of Cuelgamuros (Valley of the Fallen) monument and Catholic basilica.

With over 3,000 rooms and a veritable museum worth's of paintings by the likes of Caravaggio and Velazquez, the Royal Palace of Madrid greets its visitors with nothing short of splendor. See where the kings of Spain once lived on this guided tour of the Royal Palace, which provides insightful commentary into the history and significance of this must-see Madrid attraction.

Go back in time and get an up-close look at one of Spain’s most magnificent castles on this guided tour to historic and beautiful Segovia with transportation on an air-conditioned coach included. In this ancient city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, see the preserved Roman aqueduct, admire the Alcazar of Segovia, and explore inside the Cathedral of Segovia.

Beat the crowds with this early morning tour of the Royal Palace. Breeze in and follow your guide through parts of the "Palacio de Oriente" that most visitors don't get to see. Marvel at the collection of weapons in the Royal Armory, take in the Throne Room, and more. Along the way, learn about the history of the Spanish royal family through your guide's engaging narrative.

Discover the grandiose Royal Palace of Madrid with special early access and a guided tour. For a glimpse of the palace at its most spectacular, arrive before the doors open to the public, then learn the secrets of the enormous palace, whose 2,800 rooms overflow with masterpiece artwork, period décor, and architectural detail. This Royal Palace tour includes skip-the-line early admission tickets to the Royal Palace.

A hop-on hop-off Madrid sightseeing tour by open-top double-decker bus is the perfect introduction to this incredible city. Select a 24h- or 48h ticket that lets you board and disembark at any of the stops along two interconnecting routes, so you can explore city sights at your own pace. Hear onboard audio commentary and check out Madrid’s many plazas, museums, and theaters with the provided map and guidebook.

Sample the culinary secrets of Madrid as you taste and tour your way through the historic center of the city. Make several delicious stops with your group, where you learn how the Spanish eat out and enjoy their approach to food. Your guide also fills you in on the local history and culture, much of which has influenced the cuisine, while you enjoy tastings of savory tapas, sweet treats, and Spanish wines and cider (or a non-alcoholic substitute).

Experience the medieval city that looms high over two river gorges on this full-day, guided tour to UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cuenca. Walk among the narrow, stacked houses that seem to hang on the cliff’s edge in this city surrounded by stunning nature. Enjoy stops at a countryside winery and the Enchanted City where strange geological formations stand in the natural landscape.

Travel from Madrid to Spain’s medieval Avila and Salamanca, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Head to Salamanca to see its famous university, Salamanca Cathedral, and Plaza Mayor, then discover the Avila Cathedral, the Basilica of St. Vincent (Basilica de San Vicente), and more in Avila. Upgrade for a private tour, which includes round-trip hotel transfers but excludes entrance fees.

Avoid the crowds as you skip the line and get the inside scoop on some of the best art at Madrid’s iconic Prado museum on this 1.5-hour guided tour. This sprawling museum is nearly unparalleled in its collection of European art, but can also be overwhelming for new visitors. Let your guide introduce you to museum’s the top highlights and their fascinating backstories, including Diego Velazquez’s ‘Las Meninas’ and ‘The Annunciation’ by El Greco. Best of all, this small-group visit is limited to just 20 guests, ensuring a personalized experience.

Enjoy Spain's legendary nightlife and mouth-watering tapas culture during this small-group walking tour in Madrid. Follow your expert foodie guide as you trace the typical evening rituals of your average Madrileno, stopping along Madrid's hard-to-find side streets for snacking at some of the city's incredible array of tapas bars. Come away from your evening with a renewed appreciation for the lively people and tantalizing food and drink on offer in the Spanish capital. This small-group walking tour, limited to just 10 guests, also includes visits to multiple bars, a drink and tapas at the first bar and language assistance and advice when ordering.

Visit the UNESCO-listed cities of Segovia and Avila on this day trip from Madrid. Admire the picturebook old town of Avila with its stunning 11th-century walls, cathedral, and Basilica of St. Vincent. Then continue to the historical showstopper of Segovia. Behold its massive Roman aqueduct and explore its Gothic cathedral and fairytale-like Alcazar fortress-palace.

Immerse yourself in two UNESCO World Heritage–listed cities without worrying about train schedules or parking on this convenient day trip from Madrid. With your guide, savor ancient landmarks and fascinating cultural experiences—including a visit to a Toledo metalworker’s studio. Upgrade to bring your UNESCO-listed cities tally to three with a tour of Avila, famed for its medieval city walls.

Visit 3 wineries and taste more than 10 wines in Madrid Wine Region (D.O Vinos de Madrid). Escape the metropolitan mayhem of Madrid in favor of the verdant vineyards of Vinos de Madrid on a full-day Spanish wine tour. Accompanied by an accomplished guide, explore the beautiful wine-making region and learn about complex production processes in atmospheric wine cellars, known as bodegas. Sample signature wines grown in the area and gain fascinating insight into the culinary heritage of Spain’s capital city on this enriching epicurean tour.

Treat all of your senses to a dose of Spanish culture with a flamenco and dinner package in Madrid. Booking in advance guarantees you a seat in the legendary Torres Bermejas, a tablao (flamenco venue) where some of the greatest names in flamenco have performed. Plus, your experience is completed by a tapas selection inspired by classic Spanish cuisine. Choose from two showtimes.

Delve into the cultural tapestry of Toledo, a treasure trove of El Greco artworks and ancient fortifications, on a tour from Madrid. Accompanied by a guide, navigate the cobbled streets, and explore the diverse architecture of the medieval city. Admire masterpieces by El Greco as you go on a morning, afternoon, or full-day excursion.

Exploring Avila and Segovia—two of Spain’s oldest cities—from Madrid in a day can be tricky without a self-drive car. This full-day coach tour is the easy option, with the added bonus of a guide to chart the cities’ history, and included walking tours and entry fees. Check out Avila’s walls, Cathedral, and Basilica; and then continue to Segovia to take in its towering Roman aqueduct, Alcazar, and Cathedral.

The Prado Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Madrid and without this handy skip-the-line guided tour you could be waiting a long time to get in. Simplify your visit to one of Europe’s top art galleries and learn more about Spanish art and culture than you could touring alone. This small-group tour can be customized to suit your interests.