Enjoy 360° views of Spain’s capital from an open-top double-decker bus.
Big Bus Tours
Big Bus Tours
Big Bus Tours
Big Bus Tours
Big Bus Tours
Big Bus Tours
Madrid Panoramic Bus Tours
Three major companies operate panoramic bus tours in Madrid: Madrid City Tour, Big Bus Tours, and City Sightseeing.
Madrid City Tour gives you the most coverage. They run three routes: Historic, Modern, and Current, with departures every 25–40 minutes depending on route. You get a 14-language audioguide, access to all three routes with a single ticket, and a free walking tour. Their buses are wheelchair accessible with free WiFi. Choose 24-hour or 48-hour tickets.
Big Bus Tours runs three main routes. Recorded audio commentary plays as you ride. The Historic Route runs every 30 minutes; the Modern and Actual routes run every 60 minutes. Their buses are wheelchair accessible. Choose from 24-hour, 48-hour, or a standalone night tour.
City Sightseeing runs three routes: Historic, Modern, and Contemporary Madrid. Choose 24-hour or 48-hour tickets with unlimited rides during that period. Their standard ticket includes audio commentary and a voucher valid for 3 months from your selected travel date. Buses are wheelchair accessible.
Save Time & Money
The Madrid Pass
Visiting multiple attractions? The Madrid Pass bundles your bus tour with Madrid’s top museums and experiences at a lower price than buying separately.
Pick what you want to see: Bernabeu Stadium or Prado Museum, Royal Palace or Reina Sofía, plus your bus tour or a flamenco show. You also get a Madrid audio guide app and 10% off your next five bookings in the city.
Highlights
Tickets & Prices
All three operators offer 24-hour tickets starting around €30-€33 for adults. Here’s what makes each different and who should choose what.
Operator Comparison
| Feature | Madrid City Tour | Big Bus Tours | City Sightseeing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ticket Options | 24 or 48-hour | 24 or 48-hour | 24 or 48-hour |
| Ticket Validity | 24 or 48 hours (1 ride per route) | 24h or 48h from first use | 24 or 48 hours (unlimited rides) |
| Routes | 3 routes: Blue (Historic Madrid), Green (Modern Madrid), Orange (Current Madrid) | 3 routes: Purple (Historic), Blue (Modern/Bernabéu), Orange (Malasaña/Las Ventas) + Red (Toledo – separate product) | 3 routes: Historic Madrid, Modern Madrid, Contemporary Madrid |
| Tour Duration | 85 min (Blue), 70 min (Green), 75 min (Orange) | 90 min (Purple), 75 min (Blue), 60 min (Orange) | 90 min (Historic Madrid), 65 min (Contemporary and Modern Madrid) |
| Departure Frequency | Route 1: every 25-40 min, route 2 & 3: every 35 min | Purple every 30 min, Blue every 70 min, Orange every 60 min | Every 35 min |
| Audio Guide Languages | 14 languages | 10 languages | 10 languages |
| Wheelchair Accessible | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Perks Included | ✓ 1 free walking tour ✓ Free drink at Tablao Flamenco ✓ Discounts at attractions | ✓ Full access to all three captivating city lines ✓ Flexible 3-month ticket | |
| WiFi | ✓ | ||
| Night Tour Available | • Night tour • Christmas tour (seasonal) | ||
| Starting Point | Plaza Neptuno | Plaza Neptuno | Plaza Neptuno |
Detailed Pricing Tables
| 24 Hours | 48 Hours | Night tour (summer only) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | €33.00 | €44.00 | €24.00 |
| Senior (65+) | €28.00 | €39.00 | €22.00 |
| Child (7-15) | €18.00 | €23.00 | €20.00 |
Kids under 6 are free.
What’s included: 24 or 48-hour ticket valid for three routes (single use per route), audioguide in 14 languages, free WiFi, free walking tour, discounts at Madrid attractions, free drink at Tablao Flamenco La Quimera.
| 24-Hour | 48-Hour | Night Tour | Christmas Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | €29.70 | €39.60 | €23.40 | €18.00 |
| Senior (65+) | €25.20 | €35.10 | €20.70 | |
| Child (4-12) | €16.20 | €20.70 | €18.00 | €14.40 |
Kids aged 4 and under are free.
What’s included: 24 or 48-hour Hop on Hop off sightseeing tour with three routes, audio commentary in 10 languages, live bilingual host (English/Spanish).
| 24 Hours | 48 Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (13-64) | €33.00 | €44.00 |
| Senior (65+) | €28.00 | €39.00 |
| Child (5-12) | €18.00 | €23.00 |
Kids aged 4 and under are free.
What’s included: 24 or 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour, hop off near must-see sights, access to all three captivating city lines, audio guide commentary in 10 languages + headphones, flexible 3-month ticket.
Choose a Ticket
Buy your tickets online before you arrive. All three operators charge the same prices online as at the boarding point. Booking ahead guarantees availability during busy seasons.
Skip the 48-hour tickets unless you’re planning to take multiple tours. Since you can only complete each circular route once before you’ve seen everything, most people find the 24-hour ticket enough.
The Family Pack from Madrid City Tour, subject to availability, saves you €12 compared to buying individual tickets (4 tickets cost €102 versus €90 for the pack), subject to availability. That’s money better spent on churros at San Ginés.
The Madrid Pass includes your bus tour plus top museums (Royal Palace, Prado, or Reina Sofía) at a lower price than buying separately. You choose which attractions you want to see. See what’s included
FAQs about Ticketing
How much is a sightseeing bus tour in Madrid?
All three operators charge about the same: a 24-hour adult ticket starts around €30 to €33, with 48-hour tickets and reduced child fares on top. Prices online match what you pay at the boarding point, so booking ahead costs nothing extra and locks in availability in busy months. The Tickets & Prices section above breaks down each operator’s tiers side by side.
Is there a discount code for Madrid bus tickets?
There’s no code to enter. The savings come from how you book: families do best on Madrid City Tour’s Family Pack, which works out cheaper than four separate tickets, and the Madrid Pass bundles a bus tour with museums like the Prado and Royal Palace for less than booking each on its own. The Tickets & Prices section lays out who saves with which option.
Is a hop-on hop-off bus worth it in Madrid?
Madrid’s big sights are a fair distance apart. The Prado, Royal Palace, Santiago Bernabéu, and Las Ventas spread right across the center, and an open-top loop links them with commentary in up to 14 languages. Since January 2025, Madrid’s tours run as panoramic circuits rather than true hop-on hop-off, so you ride a full loop for the overview, then return to the neighborhoods you liked using the metro or on foot.
Route Maps & Stops
Madrid has three panoramic bus operators offering four different routes across the city. Madrid City Tour and City Sightseeing each operate three routes. Big Bus runs three Madrid routes plus a separate Toledo day-trip route.
All operators start from the same central area near Paseo del Prado and Fuente Neptuno. You can hop on and off at any stop along each route.
Madrid City Tour Routes
Madrid City Tour operates three routes: Historic Madrid (Blue Route), Modern Madrid (Green Route) and Current Madrid (Orange Route). Together, they cover Madrid’s major landmarks from royal palaces to football stadiums.
Useful downloads:
- Visit Madrid City Tour website for detailed route map (PDF).
- Download the City Tour Worldwide app (iOS and Android) to see updated bus stop locations, timetables and live bus tracking.
Route 1: Historic Madrid (Blue Route)
- Duration: 90 minutes full loop
- Frequency: Every 30-40 minutes
- Operating hours: First bus 9:30, last departure 19:42
- Starting and ending point: Neptuno, Paseo del Prado stop
Note: When Paseo del Prado closes to traffic on Sundays between 10:00 and 16:00, Route 1 departs from Puerta de Felipe IV in Retiro Park (Calle Alfonso XII, opposite Casón del Buen Retiro).
Route Highlights:
This route takes you through Habsburg Madrid and the city’s artistic heart. You’ll pass the Art Triangle museums along Paseo del Prado, swing through Plaza de Cibeles and Gran Vía, then arc west past Plaza de España, the Temple of Debod, and the Royal Palace before looping back through Puerta de Toledo, Plaza Mayor, and Barrio de las Letras.
Full stop list: Neptuno, Cibeles, Gran Vía, Plaza de España, Moncloa, Teleférico, Templo de Debod, Puerta de San Vicente, Cuesta de la Vega, Puerta de Toledo, Palacio Real, Plaza Mayor, Barrio de las Letras, Paseo del Prado.
Start here on your first day. At 90 minutes it’s the longest circuit, but it covers more of the city’s marquee sights than any other route.
Route 2: Modern Madrid (Green Route)
- Duration: 60 minutes full loop
- Frequency: Every 35 minutes
- Operating hours: First bus 9:30, last departure 19:36
- Starting and ending point: Neptuno, Plaza Canalejas
Route Highlights:
The Modern Route explores Madrid beyond the historic center. This route heads north along Paseo de la Castellana through Madrid’s business and cultural districts. The stop near Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is the obvious draw for football fans, but the route also passes the Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Nuevos Ministerios, and the Sorolla Museum before looping back down Serrano and returning via Puerta de Alcalá.
Full stop list: Neptuno, Cibeles, Colón, Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Santiago Bernabéu, Nuevos Ministerios, Museo Sorolla, Serrano, Puerta de Alcalá, Canalejas.
Choose this route if you’re a football fan (that Bernabéu Stadium view is good) or if you want to see Madrid’s modern side alongside the historic one.
Route 3: Current Madrid (Orange Route)
- Duration: 60 minutes full loop
- Frequency: Every 35 minutes
- Operating hours: First bus 9:30, last departure 18:52
- Starting and ending point: Neptuno, Gran Vía Street
Route Highlights:
This route is the most local-feeling of the three. From Neptuno it heads east to Puerta de Alcalá and Casa Árabe, then cuts through the Goya neighbourhood before reaching Las Ventas bullring. From there it loops back west through Colón, Bilbao, and Malasaña, Madrid’s creative neighbourhoods, before finishing on Gran Vía via Callao.
Full stop list: Neptuno, Puerta de Alcalá, Casa Árabe, Goya, Plaza de Toros (Las Ventas), Colón, Bilbao, Malasaña, Callao, Gran Vía.
If Malasaña or Las Ventas are on your list, this is the route. The other two don’t go near either.
Night Route: Historic Madrid after dark
- Duration: 75 minutes
- Single departure: 21:00
- Season: June 20 to October 31
- Starting point: Plaza de Neptuno
Note: The night route requires a separate ticket and is not included with the 24-hour or 48-hour day ticket.
Big Bus Tours Route
Big Bus runs four routes in Madrid and Toledo, all starting from Stop 1 at Fuente Neptuno (Plaza Cánovas del Castillo).
Visit the Big Bus Madrid website or download the Big Bus Tours app to see detailed route maps, updated bus stop locations, timetables and live bus tracking.
Purple Route (Historic Madrid)
- Duration: 90 minutes full loop
- Frequency: Every 30 minutes
- Operating hours: First bus 9:30, last bus 18:30
- Starting and ending point: Stop #1 Neptuno, Paseo del Prado (in front of Monument to Goya)
Route Highlights:
The Purple Route is the main historic circuit. It covers the widest range of central Madrid sights: Neptuno, Plaza de Cibeles, Gran Vía, Plaza de España, Moncloa, Teleférico, Temple of Debod, Puerta de San Vicente, Cuesta de la Vega, Puerta de Toledo, Calle Toledo, Barrio de las Letras, and Paseo del Prado.
This is the route to start with every 30 minutes, along nine kilometres of Madrid’s oldest streets.
Blue Route (Modern Madrid)
- Duration: 75 minutes full loop
- Frequency: Every 70 minutes
- Operating hours: First bus 10:00, last bus 18:10
- Starting and ending point: Stop #1 Neptuno, Canalejas (next to Casa Mira Turrones)
Route Highlights:
The Blue Route heads north through Madrid’s business and sports districts. Stops include Neptuno, Cibeles, Colón, Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Nuevos Ministerios, Museo Sorolla, Serrano, Puerta de Alcalá, and Canalejas.
Less frequent than the Purple Route, worth checking the timetable before committing to this one.
Orange Route (Malasaña & Las Ventas)
- Duration: 60 minutes full loop
- Frequency: Every 60 minutes
- Operating hours: First bus 10:00, last bus 18:00
- Starting point and ending point: Stop #1 Neptuno, Gran Vía (opposite the McDonald’s on Gran Via, near the metro exit)
Route Highlights:
The Orange Route covers the city’s more local east side. Stops: Neptuno, Puerta de Alcalá, Casa Árabe, Goya, Las Ventas bullring, Colón, Bilbao, Malasaña, Callao, Gran Vía. If Las Ventas or the Malasaña neighbourhood are on your list, this is your route.
Red Route (Toledo)
Big Bus also runs a separate hop-on hop-off route in Toledo covering the Alcázar, Puerta de Bisagra, Mirador del Valle, and the historic city center. It operates 10:00–17:00 with departures every 60 minutes. This is a standalone product, not included in Madrid tickets.
Night Tour
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Frequency: Single departure at 20:30
- Operating days: Daily
- Starting point: Stop #1 Neptuno
The night tour follows the same Purple Route but after dark. Your live guide points out illuminated landmarks and shares stories about Madrid’s nightlife and evening culture. Arrive at least 15 minutes early, no-shows and late arrivals are not refunded.
City Sightseeing Routes
City Sightseeing operates three routes, all starting from Neptuno (Fuente de Neptuno, Plaza Cánovas del Castillo). Their buses feature 10-language audioguides and wheelchair accessibility.
Route Maps:
Download the City Sightseeing app to access the self-guided audio tour. Details provided on your voucher.
Historical Madrid Route
- Duration: 90 minutes full loop
- Frequency: Every 35 minutes
- Operating hours: First bus 10:00, last departure 18:45
- Starting and ending point: Neptuno, Paseo del Prado
Route Highlights:
The Historic Route is the main circuit. It loops through Plaza de España, the Temple of Debod, the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, and Barrio de las Letras before finishing back along Paseo del Prado past the Prado Museum.
Stops: Neptuno, Cibeles, Gran Vía, Plaza de España, Moncloa, Teleférico, Templo de Debod, Puerta de San Vicente, Cuesta de la Vega, Puerta de Toledo, Plaza Mayor, Barrio de las Letras, Paseo del Prado.
This route covers more neighborhoods than the other operators. You’ll pass through trendy Chueca and Malasaña where locals hang out.
Modern Madrid Route
- Duration: 65 minutes full loop
- Frequency: Every 35 minutes
- Operating hours: First bus 10:05, last departure 18:15
- Starting and ending point: Neptuno, Canalejas
Route Highlights:
The Modern Route heads north along Paseo de la Castellana to Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, then loops back through Serrano and Puerta de Alcalá. Good for anyone combining the bus with a stadium visit.
Stops: Neptuno, Cibeles, Colón, Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Santiago Bernabéu, Nuevos Ministerios, Museo Sorolla, Serrano, Puerta de Alcalá, Canalejas.
Contemporary Madrid Route
- Duration: 65 minutes full loop
- Frequency: Every 35 minutes
- Operating hours: First bus 10:10, last departure 18:20
- Starting and ending point: Neptuno, Gran Vía
Route Highlights:
The Contemporary Route covers the city’s more local east side, Malasaña, Las Ventas bullring, and Casa Árabe before looping back through Callao and Gran Vía. None of the other two routes go near Malasaña or Las Ventas.
Stops: Neptuno, Puerta de Alcalá, Casa Árabe, Goya, Plaza de Toros (Las Ventas), Colón, Bilbao, Malasaña, Callao, Gran Vía.
Which Operator Has the Best Routes?
For comprehensive coverage: Madrid City Tour wins with three extensive routes that overlap strategically. You can ride Historic, Modern, and Current Madrid back to back in one day and see most of what matters in Madrid.
For convenience: All three operators start from similar central locations near the Prado Museum and Plaza Neptuno. You can’t go wrong with any of them for accessibility.
For unique sights: Big Bus is the only operator that runs a Toledo day trip. If you want to add Toledo to your Madrid visit without booking a separate tour, Big Bus has you covered; it’s a separate ticket, but the same bus network.
For football fans: All three operators include Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on their modern/northern route. The stop and timing differ slightly between operators, so check the schedules if you’re planning around a visit.
For flexibility: City Sightseeing’s 48-hour tickets let you ride multiple times over two days. This gives you chances to see routes at different times of day or repeat favorites.
What to See & Do
Your panoramic bus tour gives you a comfortable overview of Madrid from the top deck of an open-top bus. Here’s what happens during your ride through Spain’s capital.
Listen to Commentary in Multiple Languages
Big Bus uses recorded audio commentary available in 10 languages. Madrid City Tour also offers recorded commentary, in 14 languages including Catalan, Basque, Galician, Arabic, and Japanese alongside the main European languages. City Sightseeing covers 10 languages.
All three use standard headphone jack systems; bring your own earphones or use the ones provided.
See Madrid’s Most Famous Landmarks
Your bus tour passes all the major sights. The Prado Museum houses masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco. It’s Spain’s most famous museum and one of the world’s greatest art collections.
The Royal Palace (Palacio Real) is the largest functioning royal palace in Europe. It has 3,418 rooms, 870 windows, and 240 balconies. The Spanish royal family doesn’t live here anymore, but it’s still used for state ceremonies.
Plaza de Cibeles features the fountain where Real Madrid fans celebrate championships. The Cybele Palace behind it lights up at night.
Gran Vía is Madrid’s main street for shopping and entertainment. Theaters, shops, and restaurants line both sides. Think of it as Madrid’s Broadway.
The Temple of Debod is an actual Egyptian temple from the 2nd century BC. Egypt gifted it to Spain. It looks out of place in Madrid, which makes it interesting.
Pass Through Different Neighborhoods
The routes take you through different areas, each with its own character. The Salamanca district has 19th-century architecture and high-end shopping along Serrano street.
Chueca (on City Sightseeing’s Red Route) is Madrid’s LGBTQ+ neighborhood. Right next door, Malasaña has a bohemian feel with vintage shops and indie cafés.
La Latina (also on City Sightseeing’s Red Route) is known for its tapas bars and Sunday flea market. This is where locals go to eat and socialize.
The modern routes show you Nuevos Ministerios, the government district with contemporary architecture and wide boulevards. It contrasts with old Madrid’s narrow streets.
Watch Madrid Life From the Top Deck
From your seat up top, you’ll see how people in Madrid live. Morning routes show locals grabbing coffee and churros at corner cafés. Afternoon routes reveal the lunch rush, with restaurants packed around 14:00 or 15:00 (Spaniards eat late).
You’ll see office workers taking smoking breaks, elderly couples walking tiny dogs, and teenagers skateboarding in plaza fountains. Street performers entertain crowds on Gran Vía.
Summer routes run under intense sun (bring sunscreen and a hat). Winter routes can be chilly up top, but most buses have sliding roofs for rainy weather.
Spot Real Madrid’s Home Stadium
The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium holds 81,000 spectators and has hosted four European Cup finals. The recent renovation, completed in 2024, added a retractable roof and a wraparound LED facade that transforms the exterior at night.
Even from the bus, the scale of it lands differently when you’re sitting alongside it on Paseo de la Castellana.
Experience Madrid’s Parks and Green Spaces
The routes pass Retiro Park, Madrid’s most famous park with 125 hectares of gardens, fountains, and monuments. The Crystal Palace inside the park catches sunlight.
The Royal Botanical Garden (Real Jardín Botánico) dates from 1755 and contains over 5,000 plant species.
Madrid Río (on City Sightseeing’s Red Route) is a newer park along the Manzanares River where locals jog, cycle, and picnic.
Capture Photos from the Top Deck
The open-top deck gives you clear views for photography. You can shoot the Royal Palace against blue sky, capture Gran Vía’s Art Deco buildings, or photograph the Metropolis Building’s dome.
Sunny days provide the best lighting. Evening tours on Madrid City Tour or Big Bus give you golden hour light.
Sit on the front row of the top deck for completely clear views. The back rows still offer good perspectives but have other passengers’ heads in potential shots.
Join the Free Walking Tours
Madrid City Tour includes a 2-hour guided walking tour through the city centre. This walking tour, also known as a free tour Madrid, is not actually free: there is no fixed price, but at the end of the tour you are expected to pay the guide the amount you consider appropriate, based on your experience. The walking tour is not included in the sightseeing bus ticket.
City Sightseeing and Big Bus do not currently include walking tours with their standard tickets.
FAQs
What’s the best sightseeing bus in Madrid?
Three operators run the city and all charge close to the same fare, so the choice comes down to extras. Madrid City Tour packs in the most: three routes, a 14-language audioguide, a guided walking tour, and a free drink at a flamenco venue. Big Bus Tours runs a live bilingual host and is the only one with a separate Toledo route. City Sightseeing keeps your voucher valid for three months, the most flexible if your dates aren’t fixed.
How many routes are there, and can I hop off along the way?
Between the three operators you get coverage across central Madrid, from the Habsburg old town to the Castellana business strip and the Las Ventas side of the city. Madrid City Tour and City Sightseeing each run three routes, and Big Bus runs three Madrid routes plus a standalone Toledo day trip. Since January 11, 2025, all three operate as panoramic tours with no intermediate stops, so you board at the central starting point near Paseo del Prado and Fuente Neptuno, complete the loop, and come back to where you started.
How long is the bus tour in Madrid?
It depends on the route. The main historic circuits run about 90 minutes for a full loop, while the modern and contemporary routes take roughly 60 to 75 minutes. Times shift with traffic, so leave a little buffer if you have plans afterward. Buses run frequently from a 9:30 or 10:00 first departure, so you won’t wait long between them.
Where can I find the Madrid route map?
The Route Maps & Stops section on this page lays out all four routes across the three operators, with the full stop list and timing for each. For a downloadable PDF and live bus tracking, each operator’s app does the job: Madrid City Tour and Big Bus both offer real-time tracking, and City Sightseeing includes a self-guided audio tour through its app.