Sightseeing bus in Madrid - routes. Bass tourist in Madrid Bus tour of Madrid in Russian
If you come with a child, don’t like to walk, or simply your stay in Madrid is only a couple of days, but you want to see everything at once, tourist bus- this is the ideal way to get to know the Spanish capital.
The rhythm of the metropolis, the rush - even the residents of Madrid themselves need to stop and look around at the beauties of the city that surround us. How many times, while running along Gran Via (yes, just running), it doesn’t even occur to us to stop and look at the carved figures of gods supporting the roofs of buildings, or to examine in detail the fountain in Plaza Cibeles. How many lions are harnessed to the Goddess's chariot? More than half of the residents will say: “Four!”, but there are only two of them. So, it doesn’t matter whether you are a tourist or a Russian-speaking resident of the capital - we recommend taking a tour bus at least once and looking at Madrid with different eyes.
In the capital, as in most other cities, tourist buses have two floors. The first, or inner zone, is equipped with air conditioning in summer and heating in winter; the second, or external, located at the top of the bus, has no walls (heating and air conditioning, respectively), but gives full review 360 degree view of the city. Surprisingly, even in January and with strong wind, on the second floor you can see flocks of Japanese tourists bravely photographing Madrid.
All seats on the buses are equipped with audio guides (including in Russian), but it’s not just sightseeing and interesting stories that make tourist buses so attractive. The main advantage is that the traveler is completely spared from getting to know the capital's public transport, which saves enormous time and money. Are you interested in a specific place? You can leave the bus and get back on the next one when you get on to continue your route. The number of your trips is unlimited, it all depends on the tariff you choose, for 1 day or two.
Today there are several companies providing sightseeing tours of Madrid, but the most convenient routes are offered by Madrid City Tours . Although there are only two directions: Historic Madrid and Modern Madrid, there is a fairly simple route scheme, a large number of stops and traffic intensity will help you see almost the entire city in a matter of hours.
You can buy tickets for a tourist bus both on the bus itself and in the centers tourist information or kiosks located near its stops. For those who like to plan all the details of their trip in advance, you can purchase tickets on the official website madridcitytour.es while still in Russia.
The ticket price depends on the number of days and your age:
Adults: 21€ (one day), 25€ (two days);
Youth (7-15 years old) or over 65 years old: 10€ (one day), 13€ (two days);
Groups of 2 adults and 2 teenagers (7-15 years): 53€ (one day). Children under 6 years old do not pay for travel.
You should also pay attention to the bus schedule and traffic intensity:
From March to October, bus schedule is from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (interval 8-9 minutes)
From November to February from 10 to 18 hours (traffic interval 14-15 minutes).
Both routes start near the Prado Museum and have several common stops where you can easily move from line to line.
Twice daily (16.40 and 20.40) this route extends slightly, going down to the Madrid Río and continuing to the Moncloa area, where you can see the modern buildings of the Spanish Air Force, the Moncloa lighthouse and the modern Arc de Triomphe.
Route 2 (Ruta 2) “Modern Madrid”
Acquaintance with modern Madrid, as on Route 1, begins with a stop near the Prado Museum. Here you will see young Madrid, the center of the country's financial and political power. Along the wide six-row boulevards of Castellana, Prado and Recoletos, the bus will take you to the financial center of Asca, the New Ministries district (by the way for fashionistas, a series of the largest buildings of the El Corte Inglés shopping center of the capital are very close), and, of course, there will be a stop at the foot of the famous Santiago Bernabeu stadium, a real Mecca for football fans. The bus also passes through the Salamanca area, home to the famous Golden Mile boutiques - a true shopping paradise.
Twice a day (16.50 and 20.50) this route also slightly increases its usual traffic pattern: along Boulevard Castellana the bus reaches four famous Madrid skyscrapers and Plaza de las Ventas.
Still thinking about going or not? Here interesting video about this theme:
The fastest and easiest way to explore the key sites of the Spanish capital is to buy a Madrid City Tour bus ticket.
There are two ways to visit the sights of Madrid: by public transport or by Hop on - Hop off sightseeing buses. It is impossible to say for sure which option is better - everyone chooses for themselves. We have already written about how, so now let’s talk about tourist buses.
What are bus typeHopon –Hopoff?
Similar excursion buses are found in many tourist cities. They take passengers to all the key points that every tourist must see. In this case, you can get off at any stop, take a walk, and then catch another similar bus and continue your journey.
In Madrid, these buses are called Madrid City Tour. If you want to be able to visit the Royal Palace, the Prado Museum, as well as the Retiro Park in one day, then this is your option. There is no need to puzzle over how to get to each of these attractions. And if you add up the cost of all the trips to the same cultural monuments by metro, then the Hop on-Hop off bus will also turn out to be profitable.
Where to buy a ticket for the Madrid City Tour?
You can buy tickets for the Madrid City Tour bus at newsstands with the company logo. It is impossible not to notice them: they are located in popular tourist places and have bright red stripes on them.
For example, in Puerta Square del Sol you can find several such kiosks at once. You can also hop on a bus here: stop No. 17 on the blue line and No. 15 on the green line.
How to find a stop?
Madrid City Tour bus stops are indicated by signs with route information. Sometimes they coincide with stops public transport, but can also be located separately from them.
More detailed map routes
Travel rules
At the time of buying bus tour At the kiosk you receive a ticket, which will be collected on the bus and exchanged for a receipt. The latter must be carefully stored as long as you use this type of transport. This is your bus pass and must be presented each time you board.
You will also be given a route map and headphones on the bus. All this is given once, so don’t lose or throw anything away. The transport provides an audio guide service, which is included in the fare. Simply insert the headphones into the special hole in the seat in front of you and select your language from 14 possible (Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Dutch, Chinese, Arabic, Catalan, Basque and Galician).
Why is it worth buying a bus ticket?
Using such buses is very convenient, especially if you come to Madrid for just a couple of days. If you have plenty of time, the Hop on – Hop off buses are still worth a ride. Firstly, from the second floor it opens great view to the city. Secondly, with their help you can visit all the main attractions in a short time, and you will still have plenty of time to explore the non-tourist part of Madrid on your own.
Price
The cost of tickets depends on the age of passengers and the period for which they are purchased (1 or 2 days). For example, 1 adult ticket for 2 days will cost 25 euros. If you buy tickets through the Madrid City Tour website, they will cost a few euros cheaper.
— Bus traffic is carried out all year round.
— Winter time work (November, December, January and February) from 10.00 to 18.00. Summer schedule, other months, from 9.00 to 22.00.
— Tickets are valid for all routes and valid for one or two days, depending on the option you choose.
— The bus moves at intervals of 8-15 minutes. This interval is approximate as it depends on city traffic conditions.
— Animals are not allowed, with the exception of guide dogs.
— The average duration of Route No. 1 is 80 minutes, and Route No. 2 is 65 minutes.
— Tickets can be purchased at buses, hotels, travel agencies, Madrid City Tour information centers and other sales points.
— The ticket must be kept until the end of the trip, as it can be requested by company employees at any time. Losing a ticket means the inability to access the services or continue to use them.
Madrid Historic Route
From the square near the Prado Museum, the bus moves along Felipe IV and Alfonso streets, along Independence Square, past the Alcala Gate, along Velazquez and Goya streets, and along Columbus Square. Continue along Boulevard Recoletos, Plaza Cibeles, Gran Via, Plaza España, Princess and Ferraz streets, Oriental Square, Bailen Street, past the Toledo Gate, past Plaza Mayor, then to Puerta del Sol, along San Jeronimo Street, Prado Boulevard and past Emperor Charles V Square.
Madrid Modern Route
From the square near the Prado Museum (from the corner of Plaza Canovas del Castillo next to the park of the Ritz Hotel) the bus moves along Prado Boulevard, passes along Recoletos and Castellana boulevards, Concha Espina Avenue, Serrano Street, Independence Square past the Alcala Gate, then along Cibeles Square and the street San Jeronimo.
Buses run daily from 10:00 to 19:00 with an interval of 20 minutes. Seats on the buses are equipped with audio guides in 8 languages (including Russian), introducing tourists to the sights along the route.
You buy tickets for one or two days and get off and return to the excursion bus as many times as you like.
Madrid City Tour Video:
The buses have two floors – a closed lower floor and an open upper floor. Equipped with free Wi-Fi and an information board showing stops.
Audio guides are offered in 14 languages, including Russian.
From experience, let’s say that the quality of the Russian audio guide in Madrid bass tourism is at its best.
Working hours
Routes:
Historical and Modern.
Summer: 01/03 – 31/10. From 09:00 to 22:00 every 8 - 9 minutes.
Winter: 01/11 – 28/02. From 10:00 to 18:00 every 14-15 minutes.
Extended Historical.
Summer:
01/03 - 31/10 at 10:05 and 18:05.
Winter:
01/11 – 28/02 at 10:10 and 14:30.
Advanced Modern.
Summer:
01/03 - 31/10 at 12:15 and 16:05.
Winter:
01/11 – 28/02 at 12:00 and 16:30.
Night
16/06 - 15/09. Two night tours from 22:00.
At the stops there are special signs with the Madrid City Tour logo. They indicate the arrival time of the tour bus and the stop number. If routes intersect at this point, change trains.
Cost of tickets for bass tourist
Tickets to tourist hop on hop off buses are sold in two types: for one and two days. Children under 6 years old travel for free. However, you must purchase a ticket for your child.
Ticket prices are indicated without discount.
One ticket is valid for all routes, including night routes, without restrictions.
Tour bus tickets
Tickets are sold directly from the conductor on the bus.
For those who want to save 10% of the cost, purchase tickets for the Madrid City Tour online. Buy for rubles on official service in Russian.
Present the printout at the entrance to the tourist bus. In exchange, you will receive headphones (you take them with you), a booklet with advertising and a map of stops.
We offer to buy tickets to museums and attractions online.
Below we give photos of queues for excursion buses and remind you once again - save time and money!
Madrid City Tour routes
Number of stops – 52.
Three options are offered: Historical (No. 1), Modern (No. 2) and Night.
Please note that routes 1 and 2 have extended options. In this case, the bus, in addition to daily traffic, goes to monuments and attractions located far from the city center.
No. 1: Historical (blue)
Start of movement: 10:00
End of movement: 18:00
Start of the Bass Tourist Madrid City Tour from the Prado Museum:
Bus stops
Prado Museum (Museo del Prado)
The Prado Museum is visited by millions of tourists every year. The museum's collections include works by Spanish and Italian artists, including Velázquez's "Maids of Honor" and Goya's "The Third of May 1808."
The Museo del Prado collections include 9,000 paintings and 700 sculptures.
Puerta de Alcala
Puerta de Alcalá was built by Sabatini in 1778 during the period of restoration of the city's decoration promoted by Charles III. Made from granite, it exemplifies proportion, harmony and elegance.
Barrio de Salamanca
Salamanca is a district of the capital. Don José de Salamanca y Mayol, Marquis of Salamanca, gave his name to the area due to his involvement in the area's project in 1860.
Nowadays, the Salamanca area is the area of the rich and streets such as Goya or Serrano are part of the most expensive streets in Spain.
We recommend getting off the tourist bus and taking a walk around the area.
Plaza de Colon
The statue in honor of Christophe Columbus was built between 1881 and 1885 to celebrate the marriage between Alfonso XII and Maria de las Mercedes of Orléans. This monument fits perfectly into the square in which it is located, with a beautiful grassy area, ponds and a large waterfall.
Plaza de Cibeles
It is a lively square and home to monuments such as the Fuente de Cibeles and the Palacio de Cibeles. Fuente de Cibeles, the symbol of Madrid, stands in the middle of the square.
Gran Via, 14
One of the most important and emblematic arteries of the center of Madrid. Thousands of residents and tourists fill the sidewalks every day. Being located in the lively center of Madrid there are many souvenir shops. Driving along the street on a tour bus, you can see everything and outline places to return to later.
Gran Via, 30
Gran Via is a thoroughfare offering leisure, tourism and shopping.
Gran Via, 54
Madrid Gran Via was planned as a recreation and entertainment area. The segment between San Luis and Plaza de Callao features historic buildings housing fashion stores of world famous brands.
Plaza de España
Plaza de España - big square and a popular tourist spot located in the center of Madrid. In the center of the square is a monument to the Spanish novelist, poet and playwright Miguel de Cervantes.
Templo de Debod
This design dates back to the 2nd century BC, brought to Spain as a gift from Egypt. The monument is surrounded by gardens with a fountain and is considered the oldest in Madrid.
Opera Teatro Real
Located in Plaza de Oriente. Valued by connoisseurs of opera music for its unrivaled acoustics. The building was begun by Ferdinand VII in 1817 on the site of an old theater, the work was completed in 1850.
Palacio Real
The Palacio Real was built in the 18th century by order of Philip V on the site of the old Alcazar fortress, a former Moorish castle. Sachetti began work in 1738 and the building was completed in 1764. Sabatini designed the southeast wing and the grand staircase. Don't forget that the tour bus operates on a hop on hop off basis - stop and explore the palace.
Puerta de Toledo
19 meters high, opened in 1827, it is a modern monumental gate built in the city. The magnificent granite structure was begun in 1812 by order of Joseph Bonaparte.
San Francisco el Grande (San Francisco El Grande)
The Basilica of San Francisco El Grande, an 18th-century Classicist building, is built on an old monastery said to have been founded by San Francisco de Assisi in the 13th century. Notable feature appearance building - a dome with a diameter of 33 meters.
Catedral de la Almudena
At the end of the 19th century they began construction works on the Catedral de la Almudena, which was built on the site old church Santa Maria la Mayor, to commemorate the Virgin of Madrid.
The first stone of this monument was laid in 1883, but the construction process was slow. In 1993, the cathedral was consecrated for the veneration of Pope John Paul II.
Plaza Mayor
Plaza Mayor is the symbol of Madrid. The square was opened in 1620 and has a rectangular shape, with arcades around the edges. Previously, the square hosted public events such as bullfights, processions and festivals. Under the arcades there are traditional shops, as well as bars and restaurants. Don't forget that bass tourists travel at intervals of 5 to 25 minutes. Take a leisurely stroll through the symbol of the capital of Spain and continue your journey through the city.
Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol is not to be missed. Several attractions in one place, such as the statue of the Bear and the Trunks. Near Alcalá Street is the equestrian statue of Charles III, standing at a height of nine meters.
Circulo de Bellas Artes
This impressive building on Alcalá Street was designed by the architect Antonio Palacios and is a prime example cultural life. The distinctive decoration includes sculptures of the goddess Minerva and others.
Thyssen-Ornemis Museum (Museo Thyssen)
Architect Rafael Moneo rebuilt and renovated the Villahermosa Palace, an early 19th-century building, for the museum. The museum is said to be a complement to the Prado and Reina Sofía by filling gaps in their respective collections.
Reina Sofia Arts Center (Museo Reina Sofía)
The Museo Reina Sofía opened its doors to the public in 1990 with a collection of Spanish and international art spanning the period from the late 19th century to the present day.
#2: Modern (Green)
Movement interval: 10 – 15 minutes.
Start of movement: 10:00
End of movement: 18:00
The beginning of the bass tourist movement from Neptune Square:
Bus stops
Neptune Square (Plaza de Neptuno)
Fuente de Neptuno is located on Paseo del Prado. By order of King Charles III, Juan Pascual de Mena began building this marble statue in 1780. In 1786, student José Rodriguez completed the project.
Plaza de Cibeles, Plaza de Colon
See blue route.
Museum of Sculptures (Museo de Esculturas)
The Museo de Arte Público is the former Museo de Esculturas. Located under the overpass connecting Juan Bravo and Eduardo Dato streets, it houses a fine collection of Spanish abstract sculpture.
Museum of Natural Sciences (Museo de Ciencias Naturales)
The museum hosts events to raise awareness of diversity natural world. The collections number more than six million specimens, making the museum one of the main reference centers not only for Spanish fauna, but also for other Mediterranean areas. Most likely, the Madrid City Tour discount booklet will contain a discount coupon for this museum.
Nuevos Ministerios (New Ministries)
Where the Hippodrome was once located is now located architectural complex Nuevos Millioris. In 1929, Secundino Zuazo y de Jansen began construction of the Nuevos complex, but construction was not completed until the 1940s.
Santiago Bernabéu (Real Madrid FC Stadium)
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is the home stadium of the Real Madrid football team. Named after the man who was president of the club for 35 years.
After various remodeling projects, today it is classified as an elite stadium and has the most highly appreciated UEFA five stars.
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Superior Council of Scientific Research)
The Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas is the largest public research institution in Spain and the third largest in Europe.
Museo Lázaro Galdiano (Lazaro Galdiano Museum)
The works presented in the museum were collected by José Lazaro Galdiano, a passionate collector. The collection contains more than 12,600 paintings, sculptures, silver objects, precious stones, enamel and marble items, textiles, weapons... from the 6th century BC.
Serrano, 61
Serrano Street takes its name from Francisco Serrano y Dominguez, a Spanish soldier and politician.
The building looks more like a palace than a factory. Now this building is a shopping and cultural center.
Serrano, 66
Serrano Street is famous for its luxury boutiques. One of the most expensive in the capital. While driving along it in a comfortable bus tourist from Madrid City Tour, don’t forget to check in. Let them envy.
Museo Arqueológico (Museum of Archaeology)
The museum arose in late XIX century and aims to bring together and exhibit objects related to archaeology, ethnography, decorative arts and coins from different institutions.
Puerta de Alcalá
See blue route.
Alcalá, 17
Calle Alcalá is the longest street. Along this street you can find landmarks such as the Banco Bilbao Vizcaya at number 16, the former discotheque Alcalá 20 at number 20, the Edificio Metrópolis, the Unión y el Fénix Español building at number 23.
Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol is not to be missed. It has several attractions, such as the statue of the Bear and the Trunks, next to Alcalá Street, and the equestrian statue of Charles III, standing at a height of nine meters.
Plaza de las Cortes
This is one of the most famous squares, as it consists of the Congresso de los Diputados, Palace Hotel and a magnificent statue of Cervantes.
On the main façade of the Congreso de los Diputados, a staircase rises to a neoclassical portico.
Night
The night line operates from June 16 to September 15. You can see the beauty of Madrid at night. The bus will take you along the “Historic Madrid” route, but without stops.
Have a great experience!
We remind you, buy your tickets online and skip the queues for the Madrid City Tour!
Text: (c) Oleg Koloshin
Other cities
A tourist bus or “Bus Tourist” is a very popular way to independently explore the sights of European capitals. Behind last years, in almost every big city In Europe, there are tourist buses that run on different city routes and cover numerous city attractions. The Spanish capital was not left out either, where there is also an option - “tourist bus in Madrid”.
Using a "bass tour" when exploring a city is a great way to quickly visit all the most popular tourist places, learn their history and related amazing facts, this is especially true among travelers with limited time. So, what is this “tourist bus in Madrid”?
To enjoy the beautiful views of Madrid, you just need to buy a ticket for one of the routes of the “Madrid Bass Tourist”, get on the bus at any of the stops on its route, put on the headphones issued with the ticket and you can enjoy the wonderful city views. At any time, you can get off at the stop that interests you to take a closer look at the attraction located there, then, after waiting for the next bus, continue your acquaintance with the same ticket. You are allowed to get off the bus without limiting the number of trips.
There are two main routes in Madrid tourist bus. They are completely independent from each other, they are united only by the fact that they start from Felipe Fourth Street, at the stop located opposite the famous Prado Museum.
Madrid Tourist Bus route no. 1 - Blue, covers historical Center Madrid, passing by its main attractions: Royal Palace, Square of the Sun - “Puerta Del Sol”, Prado Museum, Plaza Cibeles, Gate of Toledo and so on. Approximately the entire route takes eighty minutes, if you do not get off at any stop, but only passing by the main interesting places, listen to their description and short excursion into history. But for those who have free time, you can take an extended version of this route; it is offered to tourists twice a day: at 16:40 and at 20:40. In this case, you will visit the new Madrid leisure park - Madrid Rio, as well as the urban area of Moncloa.
Madrid Tourist Bus route No. 2 is “Green”, it is shorter in time than the first route and takes about sixty-five minutes, covering modern center of the Spanish capital, including the Paseo de Recoletos boulevard, the Nuevos Ministerios zone, passes through Train Station Atocha and . This route also has an extended version, which can be traveled twice a day: at 16:50 and at 20:50. This route passes by Plaza Castile, where you can get off and walk to the four famous towers of the business center of the city of Madrid, and then the route goes to the Madrid bullring "Las Ventas".
A bus touristic ticket in Madrid can be purchased for one or two days. And, as mentioned above, the ticket allows you to use each subsequent bus an unlimited number of times: get on and off at any stop or even change the route. For example, having known the historical part of Madrid well enough, go on a route through the modern part of the capital.
When purchasing a ticket, you will receive headphones through which you will listen to an audio guide that broadcasts in different languages: English, Spanish, French, Russian, Japanese, Danish, Chinese, Arabic, Catalan, Basque and Galician, and you will also be given a map of both tourist bus routes, in addition you will receive a discount book with discounts on city tours and visits to interesting events.
There are three ways to buy tickets for a tourist bus in Madrid: 1. This is the most economical option - buying a ticket online in Russian. With such a purchase, a confirmation with a voucher will be sent to your email, which you will print out and present at the entrance to the “bass tourist”; 2. Buy a ticket on the bus at the entrance, but keep in mind that banknotes over one hundred euros are not accepted, so take care of smaller bills, or even better, the exact amount without change; 3. Purchase at a kiosk or information center Madrid City Tour, located at Calle Felipe IV, opposite the Prado Museum, right next to the bus stop. You can buy a ticket at the registration desk - reception of your hotel or at any travel agency Madrid.
Ticket price for " tourist bus in Madrid" A one-day ticket costs twenty-one euros; discount ticket for children from seven to fifteen years old and adults over sixty-five years old - ten euros. Two-day ticket – twenty-five euros; preferential – thirteen euros. Family ticket - for two adults and two children aged seven to fifteen years - fifty-three euros for one day. Travel for children under six years of age is free.
Madrid tourist bus schedule. High season, from March to October - from nine in the morning to ten in the evening. In the low season, from November to February - from ten in the morning to six in the evening. Bus frequency: in high season- every seven to ten minutes, in low season - every fifteen minutes.
We strongly recommend that you take advantage of this excellent chance to quickly get acquainted with the most significant places of the Spanish capital, for relatively little money and in a short time, in order to highlight for yourself a list of places that are worth getting to know more closely in the future, and with which a “casual” acquaintance is enough for you.