Private City Walk & Royal Palace Experience, Madrid

Your excursion starts at your hotel, where your private guide will be waiting to take you on a gentle stroll through Madrid's cobbled streets toward the Palacio Royal (Royal Palace). Depending on your location, you'll have the chance to stop by some important landmarks and cultural sites along the way and get a primer on the city and its royal history from your gifted storyteller guide. As you approach the palace, hear about its painstaking construction in the 18th century and how it was built atop the remains of a medieval Moorish Royal Alcázar.

Upon arrival, you'll have skip-the-line tickets, so you can step inside and jump right into exploring the opulent rooms filled with lavish furnishings, tapestries, and frescoes. Because this is a private experience, your guide will tailor the experience to your specific interests. You could learn about past eccentric kings or how the palace has influenced music and art throughout the continent. Highlights you won't want to miss include the Royal Armoury, the Royal Kitchen, and the Throne Room. You can also visit the Painting Gallery and enjoy works by some of Spain's most beloved artists, such as Velázquez and Goya.

As your exploration comes to an end, there's one more treat in store. Your guide will walk you next door to the Cathedral of Santa Maria de la Almudena for a quick peek inside. Despite Madrid becoming Spain's capital in the 16th century, the start of construction of its cathedral wasn't started until 1879—and not completed until 1993. As a result, the interior is relatively modern, bright, and refreshing, with contemporary pops of color. You can also stroll through the Sabatini Gardens next to the palace, where the royal peacocks reside, before saying your goodbyes and parting ways with your guide.