Plaza de Oriente: Our most recommended tours and activities

Madrid: Royal Palace Tour with Optional Royal Collections

1. Madrid: Royal Palace Tour with Optional Royal Collections

Embark on a guided 2-hour tour of Madrid's Royal Palace. Admire art pieces by Giordano and Goya while exploring the palace at a peaceful time of day alongside an expert guide with in-depth knowledge about the home to Spanish Royals past and present.  Start at the Opera Metro Station in Plaza de Isabel II, home to the Teatro Royal, where you will meet your guide. After a picturesque walk through Plaza de Oriente, enjoy skip-the-line privileges before entering the palace. Relish visits to the Throne Room, Banquet Hall, and Private Royal apartments. Be amazed as to how these rooms are brought to life in an engaging and fascinating way by your professional guide. Marvel at exclusive works of art by Giordano and Goya, as well as historical articles such as historic tapestries, suits of armor, and ornate swords. Take in in the building's 19th-century design and beautiful floral layout, which serves as an excellent backdrop for memorable photos. Depending on the option selected, continue with a guided tour inside Royal Collections Gallery. This museum has the most important collections from the Crown of Spain. You will visit all the rooms where you can enjoy paintings and tapestries of very important painters such as El Bosco, Titian, El Greco, Ribera, Velázquez or Caravaggio. You will also visit the Royal Armory, one of the most important in Europe, and enjoy thousands of pieces of royal furniture, musical instruments and games that show you the daily life in the Palace.

Madrid: City Walking Tour & Royal Palace Skip-the-Line Tour

2. Madrid: City Walking Tour & Royal Palace Skip-the-Line Tour

Explore the highlights of Madrid's Old Town on a city tour with a guide, including skip-the-line entry to the Royal Palace with a tour. Stop by beautiful squares like Plaza de la Villa and Plaza de Oriente as you learn about their history. Finish with a guided tour of the impressive Royal Palace. Start the tour at Calle Mayor, a bustling central street in the Old Town. Cross the Plaza Mayor and see its statue of Felipe III. Next, head to the San Miguel market and browse its stalls of authentic Spanish cuisine. Continue to the Plaza de la Villa, one of the most well-preserved historic squares in the city. Learn about its history as the former site of the Madrid Town Hall. Make your way to the Plaza de Oriente, which leads to the Royal Palace. From there, enjoy skip-the-line entry to the palace and take a guided tour of the largest royal residence in Europe. See its courtyards, art collections, and 18th-century architecture up close.

Madrid: 3-Hour Highlights Bike Tour (with E-bike Option)

3. Madrid: 3-Hour Highlights Bike Tour (with E-bike Option)

Cruise through Madrid on this guided bike tour as you take in many of the city's highlights. Ride on convenient cycle paths, in pedestrian zones, and through parks so you won't have to navigate traffic. Have the option to finish your tour with local snacks and a refreshing beverage.  Start your tour with a short explanation about how to safely ride your bike. Make your way to Plaza de Oriente and hear the stories about the creation of the statue of Filip IV, the Royal Palace, the Cathedral, and the San Nicolas Church. Admire the some of the oldest buildings in the city at the Plaza de la Villa and asorb the bustle of the Mercado San Miguel. Pass through the grand squares of Plaza Mayor and Santa Ana, before viewing the living wall of the Caixa Forum museum.  Pass the Prado Museum, Retiro Park, and Puerta de Alcalá before making your way to Puerta del Sol. Add to your experience by selecting the tapas option and enjoy 3 pintxos (small plates) and a non-alcoholic drink and the end of your tour.

Madrid: Royal Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

4. Madrid: Royal Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

Explore the Royal Palace of Madrid with a licensed guide, and discover the former official residence of the Spanish Royal Family with your direct entry access. Also known as the Palacio de Oriente due to its close proximity to Plaza de Oriente on the east side of the palace, today the building is used exclusively for receptions, ceremonies, and official events. The Palace has an extensive collection of upholstery, porcelain, antique clocks, armor, and art pieces including paintings by Goya and Velázquez. Admire the rich ornamentations of the private rooms where the royalty lived each one revealing its personality. Also, you will visit the official rooms, such as the Royal Throne room, the Gala Dinner room, and the Royal Chapel. 

Madrid: Enchanted Evening Walking Tour in Spanish

5. Madrid: Enchanted Evening Walking Tour in Spanish

Delve into the legends of Madrid that have lasted generations and discover the city’s most unknown mysteries and terrifying paranormal events on this evening tour. Start from the Plaza de Oriente and head to the historical city center, the Madrid de Los Austrias, and learn about the surroundings of the primitive medieval city. Learn about the details of the Plaza Mayor and unbelievable details of its history. After discovering other ancient corners, continue to the famous Puerta del Sol and learn the secrets of how the community of Madrid was developed.

Madrid: Monumental City Center Segway Tour

6. Madrid: Monumental City Center Segway Tour

Join a comprehensive Segway tour that will take you to the most outstanding places and monuments in Madrid's historical center. Enjoy having a guided tour for your group. Start with a brief introduction on how to maneuver a segway. Once you're comfortable, embark on your tour of Madrid. First stop will be Plaza de Ópera, then continue to the vibrant Plaza Mayor, a symbol of the city and one of Madrid's most recognizable landmarks. Continue to Plaza de la Villa, the stunning Royal Palace, and the Almudena Cathedral next to it. You will also glide past Plaza de Oriente, Plaza de España, and the Temple of Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple. As you go, hear interesting facts and stories about the Spanish capital and its monuments from your guide. Finally, make your way back to the starting point and return your Segway. An unforgettable experience where you can get to know in a short time the most important places in the center of Madrid. our experienced guides will also be able to recommend the best places to visit in Madrid. We will provide you with a map, free mineral water and you can use our free luggage storage service. Only for Getyourguide clients.

Madrid: 3-Hour Sightseeing Tour by Electric Bike

7. Madrid: 3-Hour Sightseeing Tour by Electric Bike

Climb aboard a comfortable electric bike with pedal assistance and journey through the history of Madrid with ease. Learn the story of the Spanish capital, from the days of the Habsburgs through to the 21st century. Discover attractions, such as the Plaza de Puerta Cerrada at the site of a Christian wall built in the Middle Ages. Depart from Plaza San Miguel and glide along the narrow streets to Calle Toledo and Plaza del Conde de Barajas to find a number of artisan shops. Discover one of the city’s gastronomic centers at the ornate San Miguel Market, and then navigate the cobblestones of Plaza Mayor at the heart of the 17th-century city center. Marvel at Casa y Torre de los Lujanes, the oldest civilian building in the city. Get an amazing view of Plaza de Oriente between the Royal Palace and Royal Opera Theater. Go to Plaza de la Armeria to see the main entrance of the palace and Almudena Cathedral. Visit the Sabatini Gardens in the palace complex, and see the glorious flora of the Campo del Moro. Escape the traffic and journey along the banks of the Manzanares River. Enjoy the tranquility of the area and the freedom to ride where you please. End at the Templo de Debod, gifted to Madrid by the Egyptian government following the construction of the Aswan High Dam.

Madrid’s River Side & Casa de Campo Electric Bike Tour

8. Madrid’s River Side & Casa de Campo Electric Bike Tour

Get ready to travel from Madrid’s city center to the countryside in a matter of minutes. Begin in the heart of the old city, close to Plaza Mayor, and make your way to Plaza de Oriente, from where you can admire the colossal Royal Palace and Opera House. Glide past the beautiful Sabatini Gardens and take the long and steep San Vicente Hill. In a few minutes you will find yourself by the Manzanares river, which you will cross to reach Casa de Campo. Once a forest reserved for kings and noblemen, who would enjoy hunting on its premises, the Casa de Campo is now a very popular place amongst locals. The small lake which you will see during the tour fills with madrileños during the weekends, rowing boats, and having barbecues. With the assistance of the e-bike’s engine climb a hill where you can take a few minutes to rest and admire the skyline of the city. Then begin the descent towards the river and get a great view of the Cathedral and the Royal Palace from the Huerta de la Partida before returning to the center of town. With your electric bicycle you will enjoy this wonderful tour without effort, in an eco-friendly vehicle and whose battery assist the pedal to make the route completely comfortable.

Madrid: Old Town Guided Walking Tour

9. Madrid: Old Town Guided Walking Tour

Visit Madrid's major sights on a guided walking tour of the historical center. Visit the Plaza de España, admire the Royal Palace, take a walk down Calle Mayor, and more. Meet your guide in the historical quarter and begin your tour of some of the top local sights. Visit the Templo de Debod, a 2200 year-old Egyptian temple that was gifted to Spain and brought to Madrid, stone by stone. Next, take in panoramic views of Madrid from the Parque del Oeste. Afterward, visit one of the city's most important squares at Plaza de España. Check out the statue of Cervantes, the famous writer who penned Don Quixote. Continue on to the Plaza de Oriente, a spectacular garden square containing a collection of 20 sculptures depicting historical kings of Spain. Admire the equestrian bronze sculpture of King Philip IV, designed by Galileo and Velázquez. See the outside of the Catedral de la Almedena and admire its majestic Gothic architecture. Visit the outside of the Royal Palace of Madrid, right next to the cathedral. Learn about the historical and artistic significance of this opulent structure. Next, take a walk down Calle Mayor, Madrid's old main street. Be transported back to the 15th century among its cobblestone streets, narrow alleys, and squares. Visit Plaza de la Villa, the heart of old Madrid and home to City Hall. Discover its historical buildings and the statue of Álvaro de Bazán, the Grand Admiral of the Spanish Armada. Take a stroll through the Mercado San Miguel, famous for its tapas and delis. Finish your tour at Plaza Mayor, Madrid's main square. Soak in the historical atmosphere as you stand among some of the oldest taverns in the world.

Madrid: Highlights & Parks Small Group Electric Bike Tour

10. Madrid: Highlights & Parks Small Group Electric Bike Tour

Madrid is the perfect city to explore by bike. Discover its flat and magnificent historic center with emblematic sites such as the historic market - Mercado de San Miguel, Plaza Mayor, and the Royal Palace. Ride on electric bicycles so can enjoy a guided tour of the city with minimum effort. Avoid the traffic and travel through the capital city on a route on which you will discover all the details of Madrid's culture and history, thanks to the entertaining explanations of your guide. 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 access to the palace and the Almudena Cathedral. Visit the King's Bridge, Casa de Campo, Madrid Río, and the impressive Retiro Park.

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What people are saying about Plaza de Oriente

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 3,320 reviews

First of all, our guide was incredibly friendly and well informed about Madrid and its history. Accordingly, he told us interesting facts and stories about the city at the different sights (like the Retiro Park, the Plaza Mayor, the Royal Castle and more) and also in between every now and then. Our guide also made sure that we had enough time to take pictures and look at everything in peace. He also assisted in taking photos and group pictures if we were interested. and to see everything we wanted. The bikes we used were of excellent quality and in perfect condition. We had no problems with them and were able to ride comfortably through the streets of Madrid.

Our guide Rosia was excellent. Her knowledge of the palace was never ending, every question we threw at her she knew the answer!! Would recommend to anyone wanting to go to the palace.

Just gorgeous. I felt like crying in every new room because each is breathtaking. We had a lovely guide and I enjoyed every second of the tour. Highly HIGHLY recommend

Great tour. Alex was also great and explained everything very nice and understandable. Strongly recommended

Interesting and enjoyable tour of the Royal palace.