Madrid | Capital Times!

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Steeped in history & culture, Madrid's magnificent palaces and museums combined with the passion of Flamenco, stylish nightlife & fantastic food make this an ideal City Break destination!

Day 1: Arrival in Madrid

On arrival in Madrid, make your way to your selected hotel for check-in. An optional arrival transfer is available on request. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax or start exploring Spain's capital city on your own. From famous museums & monuments to traditional eateries, excellent shopping opportunities, grand avenues and sprawling parks, Madrid has much to be discovered. 

Day 2: Madrid & Royal Palace

In the morning, following breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Madrid's main historic, cultural & artistic sites, followed by a visit to the Royal Palace. Madrid shows the multiple contrasts inherited through history and during this guided city tour you'll see some of the most important sights of this beautiful city including Plaza Mayor, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Cibeles, Puerta del Sol, and the Bernabéu Stadium while getting personalized information & tips from an expert local guide. Check-in at our office and join us on the first part of the tour, a one-hour walking tour through the streets of the historic city center of Madrid. Discover emblematic places you cannot miss! Stroll around Plaza de la Villa, the famous Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and Plaza de Oriente. Then board an air-conditioned motorcoach for a panoramic drive through the city, with some stops to take pictures along the way. Leaving Plaza de Oriente, the tour heads to the magnificent Puerta de Toledo. Did you know its construction dates back from the Napoleonic era? See the oldest bridge in Madrid and drive along the Manzanares River from where you will enjoy great views of the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral. Pass by Mayor Street, Puerta del Sol square, and the Las Cortes quarter on your way to the Paseo del Prado, then admire the architecture of Old Madrid arriving into the Las Letras Quarter.  Driving by Cibeles Fountain, where Real Madrid fans celebrate their team's victories, we continue to Puerta de Alcalá, the most famous of the five ancient gates into the city. The last sights on our panoramic tour are the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, Paseo de la Castellana street and Colon square. Certainly, the highlight of this tour is a visit to the Royal Palace, the former residence of the Spanish Monarchy from 1765 to 1931. Built in the XVIII century upon the ancient Baroque Italian-style fortress of the Habsburg, this magnificent palace is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved palaces in Europe and a symbol of permanence and consolidation of Madrid as the capital of the Kingdom. With your skip-the-line ticket and accompanied by our guide, marvel at the beautiful tapestries & elegant furniture. Follow your guide through the Grand Staircase, the Throne Room, and the Banqueting Hall, among others. Once your guided visit finishes, you can stay inside the Palace and go to the Royal Armory on your own. The afternoon is free to spend as you please. (B)

Day 3: Prado Museum

Today discover the Prado Museum and enjoy a guided tour without queues, your Skip-the-Line entrance is included. During the visit, you will see some of the most important artworks from renowned artist such as el Bosco, El Greco, Velazquez and Goya. At the end of the guided visit, you will be able to stay inside the museum as long as you like. The building that today houses the Prado National Art Museum was designed by the architect Juan de Villanueva in 1785. It was constructed to house the Natural History Cabinet, by orders of King Charles III. However, the building's final purpose - as the new Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures - was the decision of the monarch's grandson, King Ferdinand VII, encouraged by his wife Queen Maria Isabel de Braganza. The Prado National Art Museum opened to the public for the first time in November 1819 and now holds one of the most important art galleries in the world. The current exhibition features more than 1.000 paintings from four different centuries, including such masterpieces as The Garden of Earthly Delights by Bosch, The Nobleman with his hand on his Chest by El Greco, Las Meninas by Velázquez and The Family of Carlos IV by Goya. The guided tour lasts approximately 1 hour 30 minutes and, once finished, you can choose to stay in the museum to continue exploring on your own. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)

Day 4: Madrid

Following breakfast at your hotel, check-out and transfer independently to the airport. Alternatively, you can book optional transfers through CIT Tours for added convenience. (B)

Daily Departures

Some excursions included in this City Break do not operate daily and literary will be modified to suit.