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Hemingway once called Madrid<\/a> \u201cthe capital of the world\u201d and in his book Death in the Afternoon<\/em>, referred to it as \u201cthe most Spanish of all cities.\u201d <\/p>\n As the second-largest city in the European Union (after Berlin<\/a>), Madrid wows visitors with it’s beauty, museums, history, and food.<\/p>\n Madrid also boasts numerous neighborhoods<\/a> crammed with fun tapas bars, their narrow, cobbled streets brimming with happy revelers until the wee hours of the morning.<\/p>\n There is a ton to see and do here<\/a>, so much so that you could easily spend a couple of weeks dedicating yourself to getting below the surface of Madrid and still end up yearning for more. <\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re looking for a light introduction to the city or something more comprehensive and nuanced, walking tours are the best way to peel back the layers of a place for a more authentic, in-depth experience. From brief free ones to food tours to in-depth historical walks, there is something for every traveler \u2014 and every budget. <\/p>\n To help you make the most of your time in \u201cthe capital of the world,\u201d here\u2019s a list of the best walking tours (and one biking tour) in Madrid:<\/p>\n Take Walks<\/a> is my favorite walking tour company in the city. They specialize in early and exclusive access to sites. The Prado & Botin tour<\/a>, for example, takes you into the famous restaurants kitchen and underground tunnels. Their tours are incredible and my favorite in the city!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n New Europe Walking Tours does a tips-based free walking tour through the center of Madrid, covering the history of the city and stopping at major sights. It starts at Plaza Mayor and finishes at Plaza Isabel II, hitting many other places along the way. (New Europe also offers private paid tours if you\u2019re traveling with a group and prefer to take a private tour on your own schedule.) <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019re on a budget, free tours are a great way to get the basics of Madrid. But if you\u2019re a walking tour lover or you just want to dive into something more specific, you\u2019ll have to pay for a more detailed one. Here are some of the best paid tours in Madrid to help you deepen your experience:<\/p>\n Devour does food tours all over Spain<\/a> and Italy<\/a>, but its founders live in Madrid. This is why it\u2019s especially fortuitous to do a Devour tour here \u2014 particularly if you\u2019re a foodie. The four-hour Tapas, Taverns & History tour will fill you up and leave you satisfied. You\u2019ll hit four family-run tapas bars for food and drink, weaving from one place to the next while stopping at major landmarks. It\u2019s the perfect way to spend an evening in Madrid. <\/p>\n Tours from 99 EUR per person.<\/em><\/p>\n Free Walking Tours Madrid is technically not free, but it\u2019s still super affordable. You have to register for a tour and pay 3 EUR to guarantee your spot, which kind of defeats the \u201cfree tour\u201d label; however, that\u2019s still a bargain, and you cover a lot of ground.<\/p>\n The tours start with Madrid\u2019s origins as a small Arab town, taking participants all the way through the world-spanning Spanish empire, through the Civil War and Franco\u2019s dictatorship, and to the post-Franco \u201cMovida\u201d era of the late \u201970s and \u201980s. If you want a good primer on Madrid and Spanish history, this is it. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This tour company isn\u2019t as much a \u201csociety\u201d as just the fabulous tour guide Stephen Drake-Jones leading small groups through Madrid on specialty tours. He does wine tours, ones that focus on Goya, and a great one on Ernest Hemingway, who spent several years in Madrid. You\u2019ll be taken to \u2014 surprise, surprise \u2014 a few historic bars, including the amazing sherry bar La Venencia, that were typical haunts of \u201cDon Ernesto\u201d while he was in Madrid. <\/p>\n Tours from 125 EUR per person.<\/em><\/p>\n While this operator does do a walking tour of Madrid, its specialty is taking you out of Madrid to one of the fabulous smaller historic towns in the nearby countryside. This is a great way to visit another part of Spain while you\u2019re based in Madrid. Tours to the medieval cities of Toledo or Segovia are great options, as they\u2019re both just a short drive away and pack a great punch in terms of the wow factor. <\/p>\n Tours from 69 EUR per person.<\/em><\/p>\n This tour company offers engaging street art tours around Madrid. They take you around the multicultural Lavapies area to show you the amazing street art sprinkled around this central Madrid neighborhood. There are also walks that focus on architecture, feminism, and contemporary art. This is great for when you need a break from the centuries-old buildings and historic landmarks that can sometimes get a little tiresome. <\/p>\n Tours from 20 EUR per person.<\/em><\/p>\n Margaret and Amy, two long-time American expats in Madrid, lead fun walking tours in Madrid. You stop, eat, get an explanation about the dish and history of the place, and then walk it off until your next stop. Walk Eat Spain organizes walks around the vibrant Malasa\u00f1a neighborhood, one of the best areas for tapas and wine crawls. They also have family-friendly private tours so you can have a more customized experience.<\/p>\n Tours from 89 EUR per person.<\/em><\/p>\n Need to give your feet a break? Or just prefer pedaling? Fat Tire offers two different three-hour bike tours around town. You\u2019ll learn some history, explore lesser-visited neighborhoods, and still see all the highlights. While their tours pack in a lot, they also keep things at a leisurely pace, so you\u2019ll never feel rushed. And since Madrid is one of Europe\u2019s greenest capital cities, there\u2019s also a tour that focuses on its parks and rivers, perfect for families \u2014 or anyone who doesn\u2019t want to cycle around the busy city center.<\/p>\n Tours from 32 EUR per person.<\/em><\/p>\n While popular tourist hot spots like Madrid<\/a> are easy to explore on your own, if you want a deeper, more authentic experience, it\u2019s always best to connect with an expert local guide. Walking tours are just the way to go. I always take a few while I\u2019m here, and I encourage you to do the same (definitely start with my favorite, Take Walks<\/a>). <\/p>\n Get all my best Europe travel tips as well as free planning guides sent straight to you and see more of the country for less! <\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\n\nBest Overall Tour<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n
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\nLearn More<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\nTake Walks<\/h4>\n
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Other Top Walking Tours in Madrid<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n1. Devour Tours<\/h3>\n
\n <\/p>\n2. Free Walking Tours Madrid<\/h3>\n
3. The Wellington Society of Madrid<\/h3>\n
\n <\/p>\n4. Madrid Day Tours<\/h3>\n
\n <\/p>\n5. Cool Tour Spain<\/h3>\n
\n <\/p>\n6. Walk Eat Spain<\/h3>\n
\n <\/p>\n7. Fat Tire Tours<\/h3>\n
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