Madrid
Full day in Madrid with a local
Flexible Full-Day Discovery • 8 hours
4.9
(7)
Full day in Madrid with a local
Mercado de San Fernando, an Egyptian temple at sunset and Baroque boulevards.
What makes this experience special
Key highlights
- Spend a day with your host falling in love with Madrid and its vibrant energy - it’s inevitable
- Explore the city's iconic attractions - if there are any famous spots like the Royal Palace or Plaza Mayor you’d like to see, let us know and we’ll do our best to make it happen
- Take a leisurely stroll through an expansive, manicured park like El Retiro, snacks in hand of course!
- Enjoy lunch at a locals’ spot, or graze as you go - with markets, churro shops, and tapas bars you won’t go hungry!
- Get tips and recommendations from your host for the rest of your trip, they’re happy to answer your 101 questions
What to know before you go
Here’s everything you need to know before your day unfolds.
8 hours
Fully tailored to your preferences
English Other languages may be requested
What’s included
8-hour experience
Private and personalized
Start when you like (an early start beats the crowds, but later means you’ll have longer for tapas!)
Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options)
Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)
What’s not included
Additional food and drink
Tickets to any attractions
Transportation costs
Gratuities (optional)
Meeting point
Your hotel/apartment or any other central locationCancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experienceWhat to bring
- We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and carrying a light bag for your essentials.
- Public transport may be used during the experience - please bring a travel card or small amount of cash for fares.
How your day could unfold
A flexible, unscripted experience designed entirely around your interests. Your host will adapt the day based on what excites you mostWhat you’ll do
You’ll spend the day with one of our local Madrid hosts, discovering for yourself the city’s vibrant energy and all-around passion for life. Sounds like the kind of place we want to be. Let us know if there are highlights you’ve been dreaming of seeing for yourself, like Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, or the Museo Nacional del Prado, to name just a few.
But we want to show you some of the city’s more obscure destinations too, you know, the ones that aren’t in guidebooks (those things are heavy anyway, who wants to carry that around with them?) Maybe that’s seeing iconic spots like the Temple of Debod local style (at sunset, with some drinks), stopping for churros at the locals’ go-to spot, or exploring a local market like the Mercado de San Fernando.
From the manicured splendor of El Retiro Park and the grandeur of Baroque boulevards to an alternative art museum inside an old tobacco factory and hipster neighborhoods like Malasaña, there’s a side of Madrid you’ll love, and your host can’t wait to experience it with you!
1. Select a date
2. Select start time
3. Tailor your experience
Answer a few quick questions to help your host craft the perfect day tailored to you.
1. What’s your preferred hosting style?
2. How would you like the pace of your day?
3. What’s your walking comfort level?
4. Are you celebrating something special?
Real Stories, Real Connections
See our hosts and guests creating memories
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recommended by 99% of travelers on google
recommended by 99% of travelers on tripadvisor
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What travelers think of this experience
Kim,
Dec 2024
Let me tell you about the incredible time I had with my tour guide, Lisa, in Madrid! From the very moment we met, it was like reconnecting with an old friend who was very knowledgeable about this amazing city. Lisa was a lot of fun and brought the energy I was looking for in a guide. I wanted a flexible agenda for our 6 hours together since I was only in Madrid for part of a day. The tour was a masterclass in personalization. It wasn’t about a script or a schedule—it was about me. What I wanted to see, feel, and experience. And somehow, Lisa just knew exactly how to craft the perfect day. We had an amazing connection and by the end, I wasn’t just saying goodbye to a guide—I was saying goodbye to a new friend. If you’re thinking about exploring Madrid, Lisa is the guide you need.
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Shigetsu,
Aug 2024
We talked via email about what I wanted to do and why and she tried very hard to call her friends and acquaintances so I can see and experience first hand what I wanted to see and learn. Also she reccomended some food which was really great and some of the best food I have had in Madrid.
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Sarah,
Jul 2023
Marina was a lovely tour guide. We learned a lot about the city, and the landmarks. We only had one day to tour Madrid, and felt like we saw many highlights on our tour. A much better experience than trying to navigate the city alone, and attempt to understand the significance of the buildings and history in such a short time. Would highly recommend!
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Bill,
Apr 2023
Marina was very knowledgeable and showed me the highlights of the city, as well as some that not all tours see and only the locals, know about.
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Joy,
May 2019
Wondering typical neighborhoods, sipping coffee in a local shop, discussing the joys and challenges of today's Spain, sharing life experiences over delicious food in an authentic Spanish restaurant - these were all part of our amazing day with Silvia. Through Silvia we learned so much about life in Spain and its people, one of our primary motivations for travel. This was our first experience with CityUnscripted and it was much more like meeting up with a friend of a friend instead of a tour guide. We signed up for an 8-hour day which I thought may be too long. But the day flew by as we wandered, ducked into neighborhood stores and churches, watched children running through parks, and got to know Silvia, an innovative entrepreneur and journalist with a insatiable curiosity about everything around her and a perpetual twinkle in her eye, and her life. We also did some touristy things but saw them through the eyes of a local. Now back home, when we think of Madrid we do think of the Prado and the Palace and the churros. But we especially think of Silvia and how she lovingly shared with us the city she knows and loves. We will definitely seek out other experiences with CityUnscripted in our future travels. Highly recommended!
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Alissa,
Apr 2019
We had a 3 person tour (myself and my 2 kids, ages 8 and 12) with Silvia. She was great. She showed us everything we wanted to see with some extras too. We walked a lot but also had time to rest in a beautiful park or shop. Silvia is friendly and spoke easily with my kids. Her English is perfect. I would definitely recommend her.
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