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Madrid Express: free self-guided audio tour of Madrid
Madrid Express is a free self-guided audio walking tour of Madrid, Spain: 3 stops in about 1 h. The Itinerarly app walks you from one stop to the next and plays a short narrated story when you arrive, in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.
| Stops | 3 |
|---|---|
| Duration | about 1 h, including time at each stop |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Distance | about 1.3 km in straight lines between the stops (a little more on foot) |
| Start | Plaza Mayor |
| Finish | Royal Palace |
| Price | Free (some sights charge their own entry ticket) |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese |
Plaza Mayor, Sol and Royal Palace in 1 hour
The stops, in order
- Plaza MayorWelcome to Plaza Mayor, the beating heart of Habsburg Madrid. This vast rectangular esplanade, inaugurated in 1619 during the reign of Philip III—whose equestrian statue stands at the center—has witnessed everything from bullfights and markets to Inquisition trials and royal coronations. Look for the Casa de la Panadería, adorned with colorful frescoes, which once served as the royal bakery.
- Puerta del SolThis is Puerta del Sol, the true nerve center of Madrid and all of Spain. It is home to 'Kilometer Zero', the starting point for all of the country's radial roads. You can admire the famous statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree—the city's heraldic symbol—as well as the majestic clock of the Royal Post House.
- Royal PalaceWelcome to the Royal Palace of Madrid, Western Europe's largest royal residence by floor area. Built in the 18th century on the site of a former Moorish fortress, this Baroque and Neoclassical palace was the official residence of Spanish kings from Philip V to Alfonso XIII. Boasting 3,418 richly decorated rooms, it is nearly twice the size of Buckingham Palace or Versailles.
How to take this tour
- Install the free Itinerarly app on iPhone or Android and create a free account.
- Open Guided tours, choose Madrid, then Madrid Express.
- Start whenever you like: the app guides you to Plaza Mayor and the story plays when you arrive at each stop.
Other audio tours of Madrid
Planning a whole day? See one day in Madrid.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Madrid Express tour in Madrid free?
- Yes. It is one of 3 free self-guided audio tours of Madrid in the Itinerarly app. Some sights charge their own entry ticket.
- How long does the Madrid Express tour take?
- About 1 h for 3 stops, including time at each stop.
- Where does the Madrid Express tour start and finish?
- It starts at Plaza Mayor and finishes at Royal Palace.
- Which languages is the narration in?
- English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, with natural-sounding synthetic voices.