There is so much to see in Madrid, and in just a couple of days you can see so many of the major landmarks, but never really get to know them in detail. A private tour in Madrid gives you the option to avoid the crowds, the long queues and the opportunity to see some of the most treasured attractions in Madrid in great detail and comfort.
In this blog post, I’ll delve into the world of private tours in Madrid, letting you know why they are becoming more popular. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a foodie like me, an art aficionado, or someone in search of off-the-beaten-path adventures in Madrid, a private tour offers a journey that’s a lot more personalized and informative.
If you dont have time to read the whole article, I’ll link some of my top picks here for your convenience:
Why Choose a Private Tour in Madrid?
Personalized Itinerary: One of the most compelling reasons to opt for a private tour is the tailor-made itinerary it offers. When you take a private Madrid tour, you can have a conversation with your guide, discuss what interests you and they will tailor the tour to suit you.
Flexibility and Freedom: When you are on a group tour, there is a pace to keep, and each section of the tour is timed. On a private tour, you go at your own pace. There is no rush to move on from anywhere if you want to spend more time.
In-Depth Knowledge: The guide you are provided on a private tour in Madrid is not just a local, but an expert in their field. Like if you go on the private museum tours, you will be accompanied by an art expert.
Skip the Lines: Some of Madrid’s top attractions, such as the Prado Museum or the Royal Palace, can draw large crowds, leading to long queues. Private tours often include skip-the-line access, allowing you to maximize your time and make the most of your visit to these iconic sites.
Exclusive Experiences: Private tours open doors to exclusive experiences that go beyond the ordinary. From access to lesser-known gems to behind-the-scenes peeks at local traditions, your private guide will introduce you to a side of Madrid that few get to see.
Popular Private Tours In Madrid
The most popular private tours are still of the famous landmarks we all want to see, but with a difference. You will get to skep any lines for entrances and special exhibitions, and be accompanied buy an expert who will answer all of your questions. Some of the private Madrid tours even come with a private car service that will come and pick you up from where you are staying and drop you back off after the tour. When the weather is pushing close to 40c, this really is a god send.
So lets take a look at some of the private tours in Madrid.
1. 3 Hour private tour of The Prado Museum, Madrid
This is a 3 hour, skip the line private tour of the Prado Museum. If you are staying close to the museum, the guide will pick you up and take you to the museum on foot. You get to have a conversation and get comfortable with the guide you will be spending the next few hours with. If you are further our, then Hotel transfers are also provided, just let the operator know beforehand.
Once you arrive at the museum, you walk past the line that will most probably be wrapping around the building, and walk straight in. During the 3 hours, you will be taken around the Prado Museum, and paying special attention to the art works by artists like Velazquez, Rubens, Rafale, Titian and many more. Your guide is an art expert, so if a particular painting catches your eye, ask them and they will give you all the info on the artist and their work.
You can also meet the guide at the entrance to the museum. Here starts the three hour private tour of one of the best art collections in the world.
2. Private tour of the Royal Palace of Madrid
Similar to the Prado private tour, the skip the line private Royal Palace tour is well worth it. If you are in Madrid during peak season, the summer months, the queues to get in to the palace can be quite hefty. Taking a Private Tour of the Palace lets you skip waiting in the scorching heat for a couple of hours, and leaves you with a much more pleasant memory of the trip.
The meeting point for the tour as just a couple of minutes from the palace, and the tour lasts around 2 hours in total. You tour the Palace with an expert, giving you details about the decorations, how the tapestries were made, and some of the artwork you see will amaze you. The amount of artwork by world renowned painters they have in the palace is enough to be it’s own museum. If the Royal Palace is one of the landmarks you have marked on your itinerary, taking a Private Tour of the Royal Palace in Madrid is a good choice, you’ll really appreciate the beauty of it much more.
3. Private tour of the Royal Palace of Madrid & the Prado
This is the ultimate experience if you want to see both of these landmarks. A car will come and pick you up from your hotel, and first take you to the Royal Palace where you get a private guided tour for 2 hours. You can ask the driver to take a different route if you want to drive past and see a particular landmark, they are really nice. Once you have seen as many of the 3,000+ rooms, art, the decor and the gardens of the palace you move on to the Private Prado part of the tour.
Again, you are taken by car to the Prado Museum and skip the line thanks to the fast entry tickets included in the tour. The tour of the Prado Museum also lasts 2 hours, and the guide will show you all of the popular paintings. Don’t be shy though, if there is anything you want to see in particular, just mention it to the guide and they will take you there and give you all the information.
4. Private Night Walking Tour of Madrid
If you are visiting in summer, a private tour of Madrid at night is a great way to see best of the city and avoid the heat. Madrid is just as lively at night as it is during the day. There is not as much of a crowd so you can get around a lot easier, but all the bars are open late into the night, and a lot of the shops are even open until 10pm.
The tour lasts for about 4 hours, and walking around Madrid at night is a very different experience. Most of the main landmarks are lit up bright with spotlights, the Palace, the Telefonica Building, the Rio Hotel in Plaza de España are amazing sights in the evening.
The tour guide will meet you at your hotel, or a meeting point of your choice, and the tour pretty much starts from here. The main points of the tour will be a walk through and in depth history lesson on Plaza Mayor, then on to the Royal Palace (a great photo op when its all lit up at night). Then its on to Plaza de Isabel II (National Opera House). Plaza de Santa Ana, the Almudena Cathedral then Puerta del Sol.
You don´t rush through any of these sites, the guide will give you all the info you need and more if you ask for it. The route is not set in stone though, you can cater it to sights that you want to see and the guide will adjust the route accordingly. At the end of the tour, you’ll sit down at a local bar and enjoy a few drinks with tapas and discuss your favorite parts of the tour.
5. Private Tour to Toledo from Madrid
My Mom went on this tour the last time she came to visit. I have a big family, and there were 7 people in total who went on the Private tour to Toledo. Even though I drive, and we could have hired a bigger car, having your own private driver is really convenient. Don’t have to think about petrol, worry if something happens to the car and more importantly parking. Not to mention if we decide to have a few beers, worse If I can’t have any becuase I have to drive!
On the day, the driver comes and picks you up, and the drive to Toledo takes about an hour. The ride there was really comfortable, and I’m 6’3, but a Mercedes minivan has quite a lot of space.
This is an all day tour to Toledo from Madrid and will last the best part of eight hours. You’ll walk around the town, hear about all the history and the best part is skip the line tickets to the Toledo Cathedral are included in the tour. At the end of the day, no doubt your legs will have gotten a good workout, and you’ll appreciate not all having to squeeze into a rental car and relax in the minivan on the way back home.
You might not be going in a large group, so if you are going alone, or looking for a day trip from Madrid as a couple, check out this private tour of Toledo + ticket to the cathedral more suitable for solo travelers and couples.
These are my favorite Private Tours in Madrid, but there are a few others I have to mention becuase there are so many good places to visit in Madrid, there may be something else that you take a fancy to
- Private tour of the Reina Sofia Museum – 2.5 hour, skip the line tickets for the Reina Sofia Museum
- Private Segway Tour of Madrid – 1-3 hour Segway Tours of the Center of Madrid
- Private Professional Photo Shoot in Madrid – 1 hour walk in the center of Madrid with photos taken in front of famous landmarks.
FAQs – Private Tours in Madrid
1. What is a private tour, and how does it differ from a group tour?
The difference is on a group tour you are with others you don’t know, on a private tour it is your group of friends/family alone with the guide.
2. What are the benefits of taking a private tour in Madrid?
The obvious advantages are skipping the queues, having your own private guide and getting much better pictures than if you were in a crowded group.
3. How can I customize a private tour to suit my interests?
When booking your tour you can mention the specifics on the notes, or let the guide know when you meet and they will be able to change the route for you. If you want to say add a museum to the tour, be sure to let them know in advance as the tickets will need to be organized.
4. Are private tours in Madrid in English?
Most if no all tours in Madrid are in English or Spanish, and a lot of times even offer other languages.
5. Are private tours suitable for solo travelers or small groups?
Private tours are great for solo travelers if you like to learn about a place and want to get in depth information. I would say a group tour would be more fun for a solo traveler though.
6. How long do private tours typically last?
This can vary quite a lot. If you go on a day tour to say Toledo or Segovia, you will be gone for up to ten hours. But for private tours at the museums of Madrid and walking routes, anything up to 4 hours.
7. Are children allowed on private tours, and are there age restrictions?
Private tours are perfect for kids, you can keep an aye on them a lot better and don’t have to worry about them getting lost in a large group.
Conclusion:
I hope I have given you a little more information to help you make a choice. You will enjoy any of the Private Madrid Tours mentioned above, each one is just as good. The day trips to Toledo is a really special one too, you can’t ever forget how beautiful that city is in the evening. If you get the chance, I would even suggest you stay there for a night.
I would love to hear how your trips went, drop me a line in the comments.