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Hidden Madrid: History, Secrets and Stories — Small Group Tour

24 Reviews 4.79 out of 5 stars Based on 24 reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 96% of reviewers
96% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
|
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards. Madrid, Spain
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from $30.65 per person

Lowest Price Guarantee
Hidden Madrid: History, Secrets and Stories — Small Group Tour Image 1
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Hidden Madrid: History, Secrets and Stories — Small Group Tour Image 5
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 27 (0) days in advance.
2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

Overview

We will explore both Madrid’s famous landmarks and its hidden gems, bringing the city’s extraordinary past to life along the way. As both a driving force and a mirror of Spanish history, culture and art, Madrid has also played a significant role in the history of Europe.

You will discover how a ninth-century Muslim fortress became the capital of a global empire. From its Islamic origins to the austere world of the Habsburgs and the elegance of the Bourbons, Madrid is a fascinating mixture of cultures and contradictions.

Every corner has a story to tell. This is the city from which a large part of the world was once governed; a city that produced some of history’s greatest artists and writers, but also endured crime, popular uprisings, Napoleonic occupation and civil war.

My aim is not only to show you some of Madrid’s most beautiful and meaningful places, but also to help you understand the events, ambitions and unexpected twists of history that shaped its unique character.

What's Included

  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Private walking tour with a cultural journalist. Personal recommendations and a flexible pace.
  • Admission ticket to Royal Palace
  • Food, drinks, transport and admission tickets. No paid entry is required for the standard route.
See 2 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

Plaza de Puerta Cerrada
Centro, 28005 Madrid, Spain

Show on Google Maps

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Safe & secure Easy breezy Hassle‑free

Plaza De Puerta Cerrada

We meet in this little square between Latoneros and Cuchilleros with a very old story
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Basilica de San Miguel

Rising unexpectedly among narrow streets, this 18th-century church brings the theatrical energy of the Baroque to old Madrid. Its curved façade and dramatic proportions were revolutionary in their time, a declaration that faith could also be spectacle. Built under the Bourbons, it reflects a new vision of beauty and power — lighter, more European — in contrast with the austere spirit of the Habsburg city that surrounds it.
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Monasterio Del Corpus Christi

Hidden behind an unmarked door, this 17th-century convent of Corpus Christi preserves a way of life that has barely changed in four hundred years. The cloistered nuns, who rarely see the outside world, bake traditional biscuits known as galletas de las Carboneras. They sell them through a small revolving window — a quiet ritual that connects today’s Madrid with its most secret past.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Calle De Codo

Just a few steps from the Plaza de la Villa lies one of Madrid’s narrowest streets, a silent curve that still follows the line of the medieval city. Its name, the Elbow Street, comes from its sharp bend. The irregular stones, the shadows and the stillness make it one of the places where you can feel the atmosphere of a vanished Madrid
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Plaza de la Villa

One of Madrid’s oldest squares, where centuries of power and beauty converge. The façades show the coexistence of Mudéjar, Plateresque and Habsburg architecture, a visual chronicle of the city’s evolution. Look closely at the coat of arms of King Charles II, the last Habsburg monarch, carved into the stone — a symbol full of secrets and the end of an era.
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15 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Calle Mayor

The Palacio de Consejos was built in the early 17th century, this palace reflects the austere style of the Counter-Reformation, where architecture served faith and discipline. Its brick walls and slate spires, typical of Habsburg Madrid, project sobriety rather than opulence — the image of a monarchy that sought moral authority as much as political power. From here, under the Catholic kings’ legacy, the Royal Councils administered the empire, blending religion, governance and ideology in the very heart of the city.
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Royal Palace of Madrid

From this small hill, the Royal Palace reveals its full grandeur — a vast rectangle of white stone rising above the valley of the Manzanares. It was built in the 18th century by the Bourbons to replace the old Alcázar of the Habsburgs, which burned down in 1734. Seen from here, the palace dominates the landscape like an emblem of absolute power, conceived to rival Versailles and proclaim Madrid as the heart of a modern empire. The view is magnificent — one of those moments when history and beauty coincide perfectly.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Museo de la Catedral de la Almudena

Although it looks ancient, the Cathedral of the Almudena was completed only in the late 20th century. Its neo-Habsburg façade, designed during the Franco era, deliberately imitates the sober architecture of the 17th century to create a sense of historical continuity.
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

El Huerto de Las Monjas

Tucked away behind high walls, this secluded convent garden is one of Madrid’s most intimate corners. Once cultivated by nuns in the 17th century, it remains a rare oasis of silence in the heart of the city. From Monday to Friday, visitors can step inside and breathe the calm of another century — on weekends, the gate stays closed, protecting its timeless peace.
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8 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Plaza de la Cruz Verde

In medieval Madrid, this square was the place where the Inquisition held public executions before moving them later to the Plaza Mayor. The green cross that gives the square its name was the emblem of the Inquisition itself — a symbol carried at the head of its solemn processions. Today, peace and silence have replaced those scenes of fear. It’s also a good moment for a short pause: nearby cafés offer coffee and restrooms before we continue our walk through old Madrid.
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15 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Iglesia de San Pedro El Viejo

Dating from the 14th century, this modest church is the second-oldest building in Madrid. Its brick tower, with delicate arches and simple geometry, is one of the few remaining examples of mudéjar architecture in the city — Christian in purpose, Islamic in influence. It stands as a silent witness to the centuries.
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Jardin del Principe de Anglona

Hidden behind high brick walls, this 18th-century garden once belonged to the palace of the Prince of Anglona. Its symmetry, shaded benches and scent of jasmine inspired poets and lovers during the Romantic era, when Madrid began to look at its own ruins with nostalgia. Few places capture that mood so well — the sense of beauty touched by time, where silence itself seems to remember.
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Plaza De La Paja

We will see the Vargas Palace. Built in the 16th century, this palace belonged to the powerful Vargas family, the feudal lords of Madrid before it became a royal capital. The Vargas played a prominent role in the conquest and administration of the Americas, extending their influence far beyond the city walls. According to tradition, San Isidro, now Madrid’s patron saint, worked here as a humble servant. The contrast between the saint’s simplicity and the family’s power reflects Madrid’s dual soul — spiritual and worldly, humble and ambitious.
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7 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Calle De La Cava Baja

Discover Cava Baja, a lively street in the historic La Latina neighbourhood, known for its traditional taverns, old inns and Madrid’s tapas culture.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Show 13 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Frequently Asked Questions (8)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Hidden Madrid: History, Secrets and Stories — Small Group Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CET).This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

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Activity code: C-382694P1

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.79
24 reviews

Average 4.79 out of 5 stars based on 24 traveler reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
22
4 stars
1
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
1
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 27 (0) days in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (8)

Activity name

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Balloon Tours customers.

Filter by:

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Hidden Madrid: History, Secrets and Stories — Small Group Tour?
A:
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CET).
  • This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • All Fees and Taxes.
  • Private walking tour with a cultural journalist. Personal recommendations and a flexible pace.
The following is NOT included:
  • Admission ticket to Royal Palace.
  • Food, drinks, transport and admission tickets. No paid entry is required for the standard route.
Apr 2025
Q: What is the weather cancellation policy?
A:

This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the Hidden Madrid: History, Secrets and Stories — Small Group Tour is as follows:

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Kona Hawaii Fishing/Snorkel Large Group Private Charter on OE will be included in your confirmation email from City Balloon Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024
Q: How long does a refund take to reach my card, and can I get it faster?
A:

Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.

Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.

If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.

Oct 2026

What's Included

Activity name

  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Private walking tour with a cultural journalist. Personal recommendations and a flexible pace.
  • Admission ticket to Royal Palace
  • Food, drinks, transport and admission tickets. No paid entry is required for the standard route.

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

Report Product Issue

Activity name