What to See in Madrid by Tuk Tuk: 35-Stop Route Guide

Quick answer

By tuk tuk you can see in an hour or two what would take a whole day on foot: Habsburg Madrid (Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral, Plaza Mayor), La Latina and El Rastro, the Art Walk (Reina Sofía, the Prado, Retiro Park), Puerta de Alcalá and Cibeles. Our fullest route, the 5-hour tour, has 35 stops.

Habsburg Madrid

Royal Palace
The official residence of the Spanish royal family, used today for state occasions. It was built in the 18th century on the site of the old Alcázar, which burned down in 1734.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Almudena Cathedral
Madrid’s cathedral, facing the Royal Palace. Work began in 1883 and it was not consecrated until 1993, by Pope John Paul II.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Church of San Nicolás
One of Madrid’s oldest churches, with a medieval Mudéjar bell tower.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Calle Mayor
One of the oldest streets in the centre, running between Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace area.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
San Miguel Market
An iron-and-glass market from 1916 next to Plaza Mayor, now a gourmet food hall.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Plaza Mayor
The great arcaded square of Habsburg Madrid, dating from the 17th century, with a statue of King Philip III in the middle.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Pontifical Basilica of San Miguel
An 18th-century church in the Italian Baroque style, with a curved façade that is unusual in Madrid.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h

La Latina and El Rastro

Calle de la Cava Baja
La Latina’s street of taverns and old inns, perfect for a tapas crawl.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
La Latina district
A traditional neighbourhood of narrow streets and café-lined squares that fills up on Sundays after El Rastro.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Cebada Market
La Latina’s municipal market, with fresh-produce stalls.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Church of San Andrés
A Baroque church on Plaza de San Andrés, linked to Saint Isidore, Madrid’s patron saint.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Basilica of San Francisco el Grande
A basilica with one of the largest domes in Europe. Inside hangs a painting by Goya.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Puerta de Toledo
A 19th-century triumphal arch at the old southern entrance to the city.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
El Rastro, Madrid's flea market
Madrid’s most famous open-air flea market, held on Sundays and public holidays around Ribera de Curtidores.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h

The Art Walk and Retiro Park

Reina Sofía Museum
Spain’s national museum of modern and contemporary art, home to Picasso’s Guernica.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Atocha Station
Madrid’s largest railway station, with its great 19th-century iron train shed.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Ministry of Agriculture
A monumental late-19th-century building opposite Atocha, crowned with sculptures.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Retiro Park
Madrid’s great park, with its boating lake and the Crystal Palace. Since 2021 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the Paseo del Prado.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Casón del Buen Retiro, the kings' former ballroom
The 17th-century ballroom of the former Buen Retiro Palace, now part of the Prado Museum.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Los Jerónimos Church
A Gothic church beside the Prado Museum, the setting for royal weddings and ceremonies.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Royal Spanish Academy
Home of the Royal Spanish Academy, which has looked after the Spanish language since 1713.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Prado Museum
One of the world’s great art museums, with works by Velázquez, Goya and Bosch.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h

Puerta de Alcalá, Cibeles and the Literary Quarter

Puerta de Alcalá
A monumental Neoclassical gate commissioned by King Charles III and completed in 1778.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Plaza de Cibeles
The fountain of the goddess Cybele and the Cibeles Palace, Madrid’s city hall. Real Madrid celebrates its trophies here.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Bank of Spain
The late-19th-century headquarters of Spain’s central bank, right on Cibeles.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Congress of Deputies
The seat of Spain’s lower house of Parliament, guarded by its famous bronze lions.
On these tours: 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Barrio de las Letras (Literary Quarter)
The neighbourhood where Cervantes, Lope de Vega and Quevedo lived, with literary quotes set into the pavement.
On these tours: 5 h, 8 h
Plaza de Santa Ana
A lively square with café terraces in the Literary Quarter, opposite the Teatro Español.
On these tours: 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h

The Temple of Debod

Temple of Debod
A 2,000-year-old Egyptian temple, a gift from Egypt to Spain, rebuilt in 1972 next to Parque del Oeste. Its sunsets are among the most famous in Madrid.
On these tours: 90 min, 2 h, 3 h, 5 h, 8 h

Modern Madrid: the Bernabéu, Las Ventas and Serrano

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
Real Madrid’s stadium on Paseo de la Castellana, renovated with a retractable roof. The tuk tuk stops outside for photos.
On these tours: 2 h (your choice), 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Las Ventas Bullring
Spain’s best-known bullring, built in the Neo-Mudéjar style and opened in 1931.
On these tours: 2 h (your choice), 3 h, 5 h, 8 h
Calle Serrano, Madrid's Golden Mile
The “Golden Mile” of the Salamanca district, lined with luxury brand stores.
On these tours: 3 h, 5 h, 8 h

Gran Vía, Malasaña and tapas

Gran Vía
The avenue of theatres and Madrid’s first skyscrapers, built in the early 20th century.
On these tours: 5 h, 8 h
Malasaña
A lively, alternative neighbourhood and the birthplace of the 1980s Movida madrileña.
On these tours: 5 h, 8 h
Tapas stop
A stop to try tapas at a bar in the centre.
On these tours: 5 h, 8 h

Tips for the route

Our tuk tuks are 100% electric and carry the CERO (zero-emission) label, so they can drive anywhere in the city-centre Low Emission Zone.
You can hop off at the stops to take photos and hop back on.
El Rastro runs on Sunday and public-holiday mornings: book a morning slot if you want to see it in full swing.
To see the Temple of Debod at sunset, choose a late-afternoon slot on the 90-minute tour or a longer one.
If you’d like to change a stop, ask in advance and we’ll adapt the route whenever possible.

Official sources

Frequently asked questions

How many stops does the tuk tuk route have?

From 26 stops on the 1-hour tour to 35 on the 5-hour tour. The full day includes all of them plus any you choose.

Can the route be changed?

Yes. Ask us in advance and we’ll adapt the route whenever possible.

Where does the tour start?

At Puerta del Sol, 1, next to McDonald’s. We can also pick you up at your hotel for €20 extra, on request.

What to see in Madrid by tuk tuk: the route stop by stop