Madrid in a Day: Early Entry Royal Palace Tickets, Monumental City Stroll & Prado Art Museum

Your Madrid in a Day Tour starts when you enter the heart-stopping Palacio Real a full hour before the general public. Madrid's answer to Versailles is one of Europe's most opulent palaces and you'll explore the interiors with your expert guide (and without the crowds) to learn about the dynasties that once lived here.

Passing through the Barrio de la Morería, you'll learn about the city's Muslim roots, then enter a local market where you'll taste wine, cheese, and olive oils at our favorite stall.

Your Madrid walking tour continues in the medieval neighborhoods of the city center. Stop at the Plaza Mayor and the Puerta del Sol as your guide explains how the city went from a small Moorish outpost to the preeminent Catholic power in Europe. Then it’s time for a surprise: we’ll take you to the top of an exclusive rooftop terrace for jaw-dropping views over the entire city.

After a lunch break, your guide will take you on a stroll down Madrid’s most beautiful street, the Paseo del Prado, where you'll view iconic monuments, like the stunning fountains of Neptune and Apollo and the Banco de España, Madrid's neo-classical masterpiece.

Your stroll leads you to the steps of the Prado Museum, home to one of the greatest collections of art in the world. You’ll enter with skip-the-line Prado tickets and enjoy a full tour of the museum’s highlights, including works by Rembrandt, Goya, El Greco, Bosch, and more. The star of the show is Velazquez's Las Meninas. Your guide will devote special time to this iconic work and help you understand why it's widely considered one of the finest paintings ever made.

Your Madrid City Tour ends in the museum; you can either spend more time enjoying the art or get recommendations for what to see, do and eat from your guide before heading off, safe in the knowledge that you have experienced the very best of the city in a single day.