Why choose this Madrid tour ?
The tour starts at the door of the Fun and Tickets office at Calle Mayor, 43 with a guided tour on the way to the Royal Palace. The tour includes the visit of the Royal Palace of Madrid with official guides and Skip the line.
Make the most of your Madrid adventure
What makes Madrid Old Town & Royal Palace Walking Tour Skip the Line Ticket a unique experience ?
Welcome to our meeting point located at Calle Mayor 43. From here you will begin your visit to the Royal Palace
The name of the plaza has changed over time. It has been known as “Plaza del Arrabal”, “Plaza de la Constitución”, “Plaza Real”, “Plaza de la República” and now “Plaza Mayor”. These names reflect events, history and reign in Spanish history.
“Plaza del Arrabal” was the original name of the present day “Plaza Mayor”. The “Plaza del Arrabal” was once the site of the most popular marketplace until the end of 15th century. Following the Constitution of 1812, all major plazas in Spain were renamed “Plaza de la Constitución”. It also held this name 1820 to 1823, 1833 to 1835, 1840 to 1843, and 1876 to 1922. When the Borbón king was restored in 1814, it became known as the “Plaza Real”. In 1873, the name changed to “Plaza de la República”. At the end of the Spanish Civil War the plaza received its present name of “Plaza Mayor”.
More than 100 years have gone by since the Mercado de San Miguel opened its doors as a wholesale food market. Today, this historical building stands out as one of the world’s main gastronomic markets. It allows visitors to experience the essence and most significant flavors of every corner of Spain.
From the finest Iberian ham and freshest fish and shellfish brought in daily from Galicia, to Mediterranean rice dishes and the most exquisite cheeses from Castile, Asturias and the Basque Country – at the Mercado de San Miguel, you’ll find all the highlights of Spanish cuisine. Spread out over more than 20 stands, the common denominator here is a commitment to high-quality tapas and pub fare.
This small street is one of the two most charming squares in Madrid: Conde de Miranda and Villa. And it can boast of housing a space protected by the historical and artistic environment that surrounds it: on the corner of the Plaza de la Villa is the Torre de los Lujanes (belonging to the 15th century). In that same part of the street there are also the Royal Maritense Economic Society of Friends of the Country, the old Municipal Newspaper Library and the Church of Corpus Christi, where the Convent of Las Carboneras is located, since the congregation keeps an image of Immaculate Conception found in a charcoal kiln and to which various miracles are attributed milagros.
It was one of the main medieval centers of Madrid, since three streets start from it, corresponding to the original layout of the city: Codo, Cordón and Madrid. On its outskirts are the main facades of three buildings of high historical-artistic value, built in different centuries. The oldest is the Casa y Torre de los Lujanes (15th century), in the Gothic-Mudejar style, located on the east side of the Plaza. This is now the office of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences.
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the King of Spain; However, the current kings do not live in it, but in the Zarzuela Palace, so it is used for state ceremonies and solemn acts. Now is when our visit really begins.
Although Juvarra’s original project was never carried out, the Royal Palace of Madrid can boast of being the largest inhabited palace in Europe. And we say inhabited because, although the Spanish Royal Family does not reside in it, it is still the place where they have their official residence. As we have commented previously, the building, whose works lasted until 1764 when Carlos III lived in it for the first time, is made up of 135,000 square meters and 3,418 rooms, also highlighting its 870 windows, 240 balconies or the 44 stairs it has.
Tour Description & Additional Info:
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Although the entrance to the Royal Palace is always reserved for our clients, sometimes the access control may be blocked due to the capacity and security controls, being the entrance delayed a few minutes for reasons beyond the control of this operator.
Options To Choose for Your Trip:
- Madrid Old Town & Royal Palace Walking Tour Skip the Line Ticket
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Madrid Old Town & Royal Palace Walking Tour Skip the Line Ticket Inclusions:
Included with Your Ticket
- Official Mono Lingual Guide
- Visit with Radio Guide and gift headphones.
- Guided Tour from Calle Mayor, 43
- Early Entrance and Offcial guided Tour of the Royal Palace
- Skip the line access
Not Included
- Gratuities
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Special Instructions:
- This Tour is Provided by Fun and Tickets.
- Tour Timezone & Starts at Europe/Madrid.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- This Tour is Rated 4.5 Stars based on 1209 valid reviews on VIATOR.
- Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
- Maximum 15 Travelers is accepted for booking.
Our guide will be waiting for you at the door of Fun and Tickets Main Office, Mayor 43 Street, 10 minutes before the start of the Tour.