Community of Madrid

Market Tours

Madrid is the perfect city to discover by bike. See its splendid historic center with emblematic sites such as the old market, Mercado de San Miguel, as well as Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace. With a sunny climate almost all year round, Madrid is a perfect destination for travelers on wheels. Thanks to the light touring bicycles, you can enjoy this guided route with minimal effort. Be amazed by the views of Plaza de Oriente, located between the Royal Palace and Teatro Real. Visit Plaza de la Armería to see the main entrance to the palace and Almudena Cathedral. Ride to the top of Madrid on the cable car. Visit the parks Oeste, Casa de Campo, Madrid Río and the impressive Retiro Park. Avoid the traffic and travel through Spain's capital city on a 3.5-hour route, on which you will discover all the details of Madrid's culture and history, thanks to the entertaining explanations of an official guide.

Dive into the rich terrain of Spanish cuisine in the country's bustling capital city. Head to a vibrant local market alongside a friendly guide who will ensure you taste only the most authentic and delicious favorites of Madrid gastronomy. Make 5 different stops and learn 3 ways to enjoy the food on offer. Get in touch with food culture and local lifestyles. Come hungry as the different dishes will add up to the equivalent of a hearty meal. And don’t forget the drinks. Every tapas dish you try will come with the ideal drink pairing so you can enjoy the full gastronomic experience.

Your Madrid gourmet tapas adventure begins in front of the Opera House, in the oldest part of the city. After setting the scene, your expert local guide will lead you towards one of the most famous chocolaterias in town to enjoy a deliciously sweet breakfast of hot chocolate and churros! Afterwards, take a stroll around the city center, as your guide shows you some key landmarks and regales you with historic tales about the Spanish monarchy and the people of Madrid over the centuries.  Your second stop will be the first ever gourmet tapas market in Spain, Mercado de San Miguel, built in 1916. Taste a few different tapas dishes as you hear about Spanish culinary culture, food traditions and the introduction of gourmet markets to the foodie shopping scene.  Next, head to Madrid’s only remaining cluster convent to buy homemade sweets, a proud tradition of Spain. After your visit to the convent, make your way to the neighbourhood of La Latina to discover hidden historical corners and heritage inns from the 18th century. The third stop will be the local grocery market of La Latina. After the tasting, walk through the biggest flea market in Spain, El Rastro. Your guide will give you the lowdown on this popular market. Next on the foodie agenda is the multi-cultural Lavapies neighborhood, home to the original born-and-raised Madrileños, a common name for the people of Madrid. This area has now transformed into an exciting and tasty fusion of world cultures. African restaurants rub shoulders with Asian shops and Indian cafés. Along the way, explore an old Inquisition prison and discover its stories.  Your gourmet tapas tour of Madrid will end in Barrio de las letras, a very bohemian and chic neighborhood in the heart of Madrid. Make a stop at the market in Anton Martin where you will enjoy a tasting of organic olive oil and wine. Spain is the orchard of Europe and its wine and olive oil industries are among the largest in the world. The agriculture is moving more towards organic production now, respecting the land and promoting high-quality products. This tasting will help you better understand this organic revolution. After the tasting, you’ll dig into dishes of delicious gourmet tapas paired with a glass of Spanish wine.

The way Spanish people eat is known to be very different from the rest of the world : breakfast in the morning, break around 11 am for a quick tapas, lunch at 2:30 pm… Join our food adventure in order to learn more about it and finally truly live it. Between Chamberi and Chuecas areas you would be able to feel an atmosphere, learn about the culture of the country, and try the food that all real ‘’madrileno’’ is used to have on a daily bases. You will see ! This part of Madrid concentrates most of the pleasures the city offers: old mansions, trendy art galleries, fashion shops and of course a huge range of food shops. During this tour, you will discover some typical shops along the street, try specialties from Madrid or more generally from Spain. But you will also have the opportunity to discover two really different markets with different identities. First of all the Mercado Barceló, where Spanish people rush every day, to find calamaries and ‘’bacalao’’ at the fishmonger stand , the famous iberico ham, and fresh vegetables from different regions. Then the San Anton market ! This market is now one of the places to be in Madrid if you want to share some tapas and a glass of wine with your family and your friends. You choose your stand : pinchos, tortilla, croquetas, ham and cured meat, pick a glass of wine, and just enjoy the moment in this great atmosphere. You are curious of the way we live in Madrid, you want to learn about the culture of the country, and improve your knowledge about the food? This tour is made for you. If you have any special request, do not hesitate, we will be happy to try to make your dreams possible. Places of interest : The Mercado Barceló The iconic gay area The Mercado San Anton Madrid tiny streets

Learn the fascinating history of Madrid on a 2.5-hour walking tour, and travel back in time as you stroll the medieval streets of the historical city center. Marvel at the monuments of Plaza Mayor and admire the Baroque façade of Santa Cruz Palace. See the impressive Almudena Cathedral up close, and learn the curious story about the Casa de la Panaderia (Bakery House) where the city's tourist office is located. Watch the locals going about their everyday life at San Miguel Market. Learn more about the Habsburg rulers of the 16th and 17th centuries, and discover the site of the world's oldest restaurant. Explore the Bourbon history of the city and see main monuments such as the Royal Palace of Madrid and the gardens of Plaza de Oriente. Get a deeper appreciation for the history of notable characters who shaped the history of the city along the way.

Starting at your accommodation, you will have a run-through of Madrid´s city center, which will take you back to the city´s history so as to understand the many culinary aspects of Madrid and Spain. While stopping at four to five different locations, you will taste and visit a variety of places from old to new and get to experience traditional eateries, modern gastrobars, and taverns. From traditional farmers markets to modern tasting-markets and from old boozers and city wineries, to local family-run restaurants. You will learn to distinguish and recognize tapas, pintxos, platos, platillos and raciones. You will find out about parts of Spanish culture that the average foreign visitor in Madrid will not learn about.

Experience Madrid through its food culture on a tapas walking tour through various bars in the center of Madrid. Together with a culinary expert guide, you’ll discover authentic signature cuisine, gourmet products, and a vast amount of culinary culture, nowadays hidden in the reformed markets of San Miguel and La Cebada in the La Latina neighborhood of Madrid. Start the tour at the famous San Miguel Market, where you’ll taste the famous pintxos of Bilbao. After the San Miguel Market visit, head to La Latina and enjoy traditional Croquettes in the renowned street Cava Baja. Continue the tour through different bars in the center of Madrid, where you’ll taste delicious Spanish omelet and cod tapas, mushrooms tapas accompanied by a glass of wine or cider. After your tapas walking tour, experience another side of Spanish culture. Flamenco, declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2010, is the most authentic and popular expression of Spanish culture. Enjoy an intimate flamenco show surrounded by the fantastic atmosphere of The Tablao Flamenco, a hidden treasure in the center of Madrid. Enjoy a complimentary drink during the show.

This experience is essential to anyone who is serious about exploring the best of Madrid like a local! When you book this experience, you will be contacted within 24-hours with questions about your preferences and interests. A like-minded and vetted local host who knows the city intimately and shares your interests will be handpicked and assigned to you.  You'll be paired with guides that are passionate about the place they call home and who choose to spend their free time sharing it with like-minded travelers matched to them. Based on the things that you would like to see and do a personalized itinerary will be built just for you. During the exploration, if you feel like changing direction, or if your local host believes that you'd enjoy a sight or different experience, they will suggest and discuss with you changes to the itinerary to make your visit even more enjoyable. Let your private local host show you the side Madrid that you will love!

A Private Official Tourism Guide will pick you up at the hotel or agreed meeting point, to take you to the Heart of old Madrid and tour the squares and narrow streets constituting the old Madrid. The route will finish at the famous San Miguel market, a beverage is included (soft drink or wine or beer).   Habsburg Madrid (The Austrias): This tour encompasses 16th-17th centuries Madrid, including the grand plazas and traffic arteries that the Habsburg families built to transform a quiet town into a world-class capital. In this tour, you will visit the Palacio Real (Royal Palace), CalleMayor (Mayor Street), Palacio de Abrantes (Abrantes Palace), Palacio de Uceda (Uceda Palace), San Nicolás de los Servitas Church, Mercado de San Miguel (San Miguel market), Plaza Mayor (Mayor Square), Callede Toledo (Toledo Street), Iglesia de San Isidro (San Isidro church), Colegio Imperial (Imperial school), Plaza de Cascorro (Cascorro Square), Calle de Segovia (Segovia Street), Calle de Cuchilleros (Cuchilleros Street), CalleBordadores (Bordadores Street) and Iglesia de San Ginés (San Ginés church). Being a private tour, you can decide the date and the starting time. This tour will run for 2 and a half hours. Please contact the operators with your hotel or accommodation details. The meeting point and the guide details (name and telephone) will be provided after booking. This tour is available in Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Japanese.

Discover the history and culture of Madrid on a guided walking tour through Spain's majestic capital. Walk through the medieval streets and the most famous squares of the old town, accompanied by a friendly local guide. The tour will take your from Debód Temple to Puerta del Sol, stopping along the way for you to sample delicious Spanish tapas. The tour passes by the Royal Palace of Madrid, Plaza de Oriente, and the exterior of Sabatini's Gardens. You will also view the Almudena Cathedral, the beautiful Plaza de la Villa, and the center of medieval Madrid and its winding streets. You will explore San Miguel Square and its famous market, Arco de Cuchilleros, Plaza Mayor and much more.