--- title: "Madrid City Tour Bus: Hop-On Hop-Off Price and Routes" date: 2026-08-09 canonical: https://madridhoponhopoff.com/tours/madrid-city-tour-hop-on-hop-off-bus/ --- # Madrid City Tour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus - Ticket price: From 30 EUR per person (Prices checked 2026-08-09, prices may vary) - Duration: 24 or 48 hours - Best for: Official red bus plus free walking tour - Hop-On Hop-Off Bus - Check availability: https://www.getyourguide.com/en-us/madrid-l46/madrid-panoramic-route-city-tour-t1251/?partner_id=D7H7I6M&utm_medium=travel_agent&cmp=madridhoponhopoff_com_agent_markdown (GetYourGuide · This site contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.) - ★ Officially branded red double-decker bus with three color-coded routes - ★ Free 2-hour guided walking tour included with every ticket - ★ Open-top, air-conditioned buses with sliding roofs - ★ Audio guide and headphones in 10 languages - ★ Stops near the Royal Palace, Gran Via and the Bernabeu Stadium ## Our take Madrid City Tour is the officially branded red bus of the city, and the bundled 2-hour free walking tour is a genuine extra the other operators do not offer. The routes cover the same core sights as the competition, so the walking tour bonus is the real deciding factor. It is not the cheapest option if you only want a quick loop and skip the walking add-on entirely. The **Madrid City Tour hop-on hop-off bus** is the officially branded red double-decker service, running three routes through historic and modern Madrid from EUR 30 for 24 hours. Unlike the competition, your ticket also unlocks a complimentary 2-hour guided walking tour, giving you a second way to see the city on foot at no extra cost. ## What Makes the Madrid City Tour Bus Different? The standout feature is the included 2-hour guided free walking tour, a benefit neither Big Bus nor City Sightseeing bundle into their base ticket. The three routes are color-coded Blue, Green and Orange rather than the Purple, Orange and Blue scheme used elsewhere, but they cover much of the same ground: the Royal Palace, Gran Via, the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and the Malasana neighborhood. ## What Can You Expect from the Madrid City Tour Route? Route 1 (Blue) is Historical Madrid, running from Neptuno through Cibeles, Gran Via, Plaza de Espana, the Temple of Debod and down to the Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor. Route 2 (Green) is Modern Madrid, passing the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, the National Museum of Natural Sciences and the Serrano shopping district. Route 3 (Orange) is Present-Day Madrid, weaving through Casa Arabe, the Goya district, Malasana and finishing at Callao and Gran Via. Open-top, air-conditioned double-decker buses run all three, with headphones and audio guide in 10 languages included. ## Who Should Book the Madrid City Tour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus? Anyone who wants a mix of riding and walking gets the most value here, since the free walking tour adds a guided, on-foot layer to the bus routes without paying twice. First-time visitors short on planning time also benefit: the walking tour guide fills in the local context the bus audio commentary cannot always cover. If you would rather skip walking entirely and just ride, the [City Sightseeing Madrid](https://madridhoponhopoff.com/city-sightseeing-madrid-hop-on-hop-off/) ticket with its live-tracking app may suit you just as well. ## Madrid City Tour Price and What Is Included Tickets run from EUR 30 for the 24-hour pass, discounted from a EUR 33 list price at the time of writing. Included are the sightseeing bus across all three routes, the audio guide in 10 languages, headphones, and access to the 2-hour guided free walking tour. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not part of the ticket, and neither is entry to any museum or the Royal Palace itself. ## Getting to the First Madrid City Tour Stop Central stops sit at Neptuno, near the Prado Museum, and along Gran Via, both a short walk from Sol and Banco de Espana metro stations. Your booking confirmation lists the meeting point and time for the free walking tour separately from the bus stops, so check both before your first morning. ## Insider Tips for Riding the Madrid City Tour Bus Book the walking tour slot early in your trip, since it usually needs a separate time reservation once you activate your bus ticket. Ride the Blue historic route first if it is your only day in the center, since it covers the highest concentration of major sights per stop. Bring a printed or downloaded map of the three color-coded routes, since transferring between them requires knowing which shared stops connect them. ## How Does Madrid City Tour Compare to Other Hop-On Hop-Off Buses? Against [Big Bus Madrid](https://madridhoponhopoff.com/big-bus-madrid-hop-on-hop-off-tour/) and City Sightseeing, the routes and price are close to identical, so the free walking tour is what tips the decision for most travelers who want more than just a bus ride. None of the three operators include Royal Palace entry, so pair whichever bus you choose with a separate [Royal Palace guided tour](https://madridhoponhopoff.com/royal-palace-madrid-small-group-tour/) if you plan to go inside. For a full comparison of all three hop-on hop-off operators, see the [Madrid hop-on hop-off homepage guide](https://madridhoponhopoff.com/), and check current city routes on the official [esmadrid.com](https://www.esmadrid.com/en) tourism site. ## What's included - ✓ Sightseeing bus tour across three routes - ✓ Audio guide in 10 languages and headphones - ✓ Open-top, air-conditioned double-decker buses - ✓ Access to a 2-hour guided free walking tour - ✗ Hotel pickup and drop-off - ✗ Entry tickets to museums or the Royal Palace ## Route and itinerary 1. **Board the Blue route at Neptuno**: Start near the Neptuno fountain, the shared hub stop for all three routes. Validate your ticket and ride the Blue Historical Madrid route first, since it passes the highest density of major landmarks in one loop. 2. **Hop off at the Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor**: Get off near the Royal Palace, then walk the short distance to Plaza Mayor. Both sit close enough together to explore on foot in under two hours before catching the next bus back to Neptuno. 3. **Join the free walking tour**: Use your ticket to reserve a slot on the included 2-hour guided walking tour, usually departing from a central meeting point near Puerta del Sol. This adds local stories the bus audio commentary skips. 4. **Switch to the Green route for modern Madrid**: Ride the Green Modern Madrid route past Colon, the National Museum of Natural Sciences and the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. This loop shows the business and shopping side of the city, a contrast to the historic center. 5. **Explore Malasana on the Orange route**: Take the Orange Present-Day Madrid route through Casa Arabe, the Goya district and into Malasana. Hop off here for the neighborhood's street art, vintage shops and cafes before the bus continues to Gran Via. 6. **Finish at Gran Via and Callao**: End your day at the Callao stop on Gran Via, Madrid's main shopping and entertainment street. Both the Blue and Orange routes pass through here, making it an easy final stop before heading back to your hotel. ## FAQs ### Does the Madrid City Tour ticket include a walking tour? Yes, every ticket includes access to a 2-hour guided free walking tour in addition to the three bus routes, a feature not bundled by the other Madrid hop-on hop-off operators. ### How much does the Madrid City Tour bus cost? Tickets start from EUR 30 for 24 hours, discounted from a EUR 33 list price at the time of writing. Prices can vary by season. ### How many routes does the Madrid City Tour bus run? Three: Route 1 (Blue) for Historical Madrid, Route 2 (Green) for Modern Madrid, and Route 3 (Orange) for Present-Day Madrid, each with its own stop list. ### Is Madrid City Tour the same as Big Bus? No, they are separate operators with different branding and route colors, though the core experience of an open-top hop-on hop-off bus is similar. Madrid City Tour is the only one bundling a free walking tour. ### Do I need to book the free walking tour in advance? It is best to reserve your slot early in your trip once your bus ticket is active, since the walking tour runs on its own schedule separate from the bus departures. ### Does the ticket include entry to the Royal Palace? No, the bus and walking tour cover transport and guided orientation only. You will need a separate Royal Palace ticket to go inside.