Madrid: Hop On Hop Off Bus 24-48 Hours & 3 Routes

Three Routes Through Madrid, Stop Whenever You Want

You board a double-decker bus and choose your own stops across three routes covering Historical, Modern, and Present-day Madrid for 24 or 48 hours. The audio guide in ten languages narrates what you're seeing, and you can switch routes freely without extra cost. Optional guided walking tours are available onboard, and the buses are wheelchair accessible with reserved spaces and automatic ramps.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Madrid on hop-on hop-off bus

• Board double-decker sightseeing bus
• Take Route 1 to see Historical Madrid
• Admire Royal Palace and Paseo del Prado
• Take Route 2 to explore Modern Madrid
• See Puerta de Alcalá and Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
• Take Route 3 to discover Present-day Madrid
• Visit Malasaña and Gran Vía areas

The experience

You're climbing aboard a double-decker bus at one of Madrid's main stops, and the city starts moving past you in a way that's different from walking. The bus climbs toward the Royal Palace, and you can see the whole layout of Historical Madrid spreading out: the Paseo del Prado, the Habsburg architecture, the Temple of Debod catching light on the hill. The audio guide in your headphones (pick from ten languages) is telling you what you're looking at, but you're in control. If something catches your eye, you get off at the next stop. If you want to stay on, you stay on. That's the whole point of the hop-on hop-off format. You're not locked into someone else's schedule.

The three routes split Madrid into layers. Route 1 (Blue) is the historical circuit. It's the one that takes you through the art triangle and past the major monuments. Route 2 (Green) shows you Modern Madrid: the KIO Towers, the Santiago Bernabéu, Puerta de Alcalá, the contemporary side of the city that most visitors miss on their first trip. Route 3 (Orange) is Present-day Madrid, and it's the one that feels alive right now. You're moving through Malasaña with its street art and independent shops, past Casa Árabe, through the Goya district, and then onto Gran Vía where the energy shifts completely. You can switch between routes whenever you want with the same ticket: 24 or 48 hours, depending on which you pick.

The buses themselves are open-top with sliding roofs and air conditioning, so you're not choosing between fresh air and comfort. Headphones come with every ticket, and the audio guide runs in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and five other languages. If you want a guided walking tour instead of doing it solo, there's a two-hour option available onboard. You reserve it using a QR code and tip the guide directly. The whole thing is built so you can move through Madrid at whatever speed makes sense to you, whether that's stopping every ten minutes or riding a full route without getting off.

What’s included

Your ticket includes the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus across all three routes, headphones with an audio guide in ten languages, and access to the open-top double-decker buses with air conditioning and sliding roofs. An optional two-hour guided walking tour in English or Spanish is available onboard, which you can reserve using a QR code and tip the guide separately.

Options for this experience

2 options

Hop On Hop Off ticket valid for 24 hoursNo fixed timeLasts 1 day

Hop On Hop Off ticket valid for 48 hoursNo fixed timeLasts 2 days. Note: the ticket must be used on consecutive days.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 100 · max 9 per booking

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Julia Travel

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see Madrid's main landmarks and neighborhoods without planning a route or buying separate transit tickets: the three routes and unlimited stops mean you move through the city on your own rhythm, and the audio guide handles the context so you're not guessing what you're looking at.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).

Can I get off the bus and get back on later with the same ticket?

Yes. Both the 24-hour and 48-hour tickets allow unlimited hop-on hop-off across all three routes for the duration you choose.

What languages is the audio guide available in?

Ten languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and five others.

Is the guided walking tour included in the ticket price?

No. The two-hour walking tour is optional and available onboard. You reserve it using a QR code and tip the guide at your discretion.

Are the buses wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Buses have automatic access ramps, reserved wheelchair spaces with safety clamps, and a kneeling system to make boarding easier.

What if there are events or celebrations happening in Madrid?

The itinerary may be altered due to cultural events, sports events, official acts, or construction works. Check with the operator for any changes on your travel dates.

Can I bring a stroller or pram on the bus?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and infants can sit on an adult's lap.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are permitted on the buses.