Madrid · SELF-GUIDED TOURS
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 self-guided tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Walk through Madrid’s Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas at your own pace with an audio guide in 10 languages. Step into the arena, visit the bullfighting museum, and try the virtual matador game. Allow under an hour for the main route, or up to two hours if you read everything.
“It is an attraction typical for Madrid and Spain. Don't want to miss it.”
Meet Naturanda staff by the Goya statue, collect your Prado ticket, and spend about 90 minutes with an in-app audio guide in six languages. See Las Meninas, Goya, El Greco, Caravaggio, Rubens, and more at your own pace. Bring headphones, since they are not included.
“Easy to enter from skip-the-line. Audio guide was a bit limited but value for money if short on time. Very enjoyable”
Walk through Madrid’s Las Ventas bullring at your own pace with an audio guide available in 12 languages, then visit the bullfighting museum and try a virtual bullfighting game. Allow 30 minutes to 1.5 hours, or longer if you stop for the videos and exhibits.
“I am not in favour of the public killing of bulls, but visiting these bullring is very interesting indeed. The building is beautiful. There is a great virtual reality experience that puts us in the shoes of a bullfighter for a minute. The tour lasts 1h30 to 2h with the audio guide.Auto-translated”
You’ll collect your ticket at Plaza de España 9, then explore Madrid’s Royal Palace at your own pace for about 1.5 hours. Skip-the-line entry leads you through grand state rooms, art, tapestries, and the Stradivarius collection. Download the audio guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French, or German, and bring your own headphones.
Visit Madrid’s Reina Sofía at your own pace with a one-day ticket and optional app audio guide in English, Spanish, French, or Italian. See Picasso’s Guernica, Dalí, Miró, and 20th-century Spanish art. Bring headphones, arrange internet access, and allow time to download the guide before entering.
“Dans l’ensemble pas mal mais ce n’est pas indiqué qu’il y a des rénovations et un étage qui n’étais pas disponible à visiter”
Use your phone to follow an English or Spanish audio walk through El Retiro Park, beginning at Saint Jerome Church. The route brings you to the Parterre Garden, Galapagos Fountain, Casita del Pescador, Casón del Buen Retiro, and Crystal Palace. Download it first, then walk, pause, and restart as you wish.
“Thank you for your review! We're glad you had a good experience and hope to welcome you back again soon. Best, Stephanie”
Visit Madrid’s Archaeological Museum at your own pace with a $6 adult ticket and English audio guide on your phone. Hear stories about the Lady of Elche, the Diadem of Caravaca de la Cruz, the Priest of Cádiz, and other major objects. Download the app and offline content before arrival.
“I purchased ticket yesterday (20 Feb) for the same day. The app mentioned that I can buy ticket till 6 pm. I bought the ticket with audio tour. The company did not issue the ticket. I waited at the museum for 30 mins and at last need to buy ticket on the counter. This is so bad. Now they tell customer service is available till 4 pm. Please don’t sell ticket if you can not issue it.”
Enter Madrid’s Prado Museum with admission, a digital audio guide in five languages, and a meeting point by the Goya Monument. You use your own phone and headphones. The ticket can save queue time, but handoff problems and limited app commentary make preparation important.
“The person to give us the voucher never showed up and we were 15 minutes early and waited 20 minutes. I even chatted with the agent to ask where they were.”
Pick up a bike at Rent & Roll Madrid near Retiro Park, then follow a map to the Crystal Palace, Puerta de Alcalá, Fallen Angel Fountain, Cecilio Rodríguez Gardens, Parterre, and Alfonso XII monument. You ride independently, stop for photos, and return the bike to the shop.
“Park was beautiful and they did a really good job with highlighting areas. Some of the roads look like they go one way but go another so just be mindful, but its definitely worth it. Getting set up with bike was really simple quick process, I finished everything within the 2 hours but I feel like an add-on option for more hours would be great for people like me who want to meander a bit. Overall I definitely recommend!”
Pick up a city bike at Trixi near Puerta del Sol and explore Madrid on your own schedule. You get a helmet, lock, phone holder, map, and local route advice. Adult, child, and electric bikes are available, with child seats costing €5 extra.
“Great bikes. Easy online booking. Great price. Easy and fast and seemless service. Easy to find. Would definitely rent from them again!”
Spend eight to nine hours visiting Toledo from Madrid by air-conditioned bus, with an official guide, a tourist wristband covering seven monuments, and time to explore independently. Expect steep streets, bilingual guidance on some departures, and a full day of walking.
“Toledo was amazing. Our tour guide Aranxa, I think that’s how it was spelt, was very knowledgeable and super friendly. Such a beautiful and amazing city with a ton of history. The tour we took with the tourist wristband got us in to two locations in the city that we visited. We had to pay 15 euro per person to get in the cathedral but it was totally worth it. I think it’s typically 10 euro to get in the cathedral and they give you a guided tour with a headset but paying the 15 euro to have Aranxa being your tour guide was much better. I saw another review…”
Use the Questo app to follow clues from Zocodover Square through Toledo’s medieval streets. Solve puzzles at the Mosque of Christ of the Light, Santa María la Blanca, Museo del Greco, sword shops, and other landmarks before finishing near the Alcázar. Go at your own pace, take breaks, and play offline.
“Visite auto guidée par le biais du jeu, dommage qu’il n’y avait pas plus de langue ! Nous avons pu découvrir les différents sites de Tolède grâce à ce jeu. Cependant petit bémol, certes le jeu n’est pas cher mais il n’était pas indiqué que pour l’utilisation d’un appareil il fallait payer 15 euros pour 1 téléphone.”
Pick up an electric bike near Puerta del Sol and spend up to eight hours exploring Madrid at your own pace. You get a helmet, lock, city map, and phone holder, plus route advice from Trixi Bike Tours Madrid. The experience is self-guided and limited to adults 18 and older.
“Very easy process and bikes were a fun way to see the city. The battery easily lasted all day. You should do it.”
Explore Madrid at your own pace with the TravelMate app, featuring 84 audio tracks and 250 minutes on landmarks, museums, food, and neighborhoods. Listen online or offline, read each script, and use the quiz in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, or Russian.
“The app was interesting, but 2 out of the 4 reserved could not be installed on our phones.”
Visit Madrid’s Lázaro Galdiano Museum at your own pace with a $20 adult ticket and English audio tour from Clio Muse Tours. Download the app before you go, then explore works by El Greco, Goya, Meléndez, and Johannes Hispalensis without a live guide.
“This museum features genuine masterpieces! The audio tour truly enriches the experience.”
Pick a gallery, a kitchen or a coach out of town.
