Madrid Self-Guided Walking Tour: Riddles & Landmarks

Palacio de Cibeles to Palacio de Cristal, one riddle at a time

This self-guided walking scavenger hunt in Madrid uses app-based riddles to lead you from Palacio de Cibeles, the former post office on the city's most famous plaza, through Parque del Retiro and to Palacio de Cristal, a Victorian glass pavilion turned art space. You download the Explorial app, enter a game code, and solve trivia challenges and photo tasks at your own pace over around 2 hours with no fixed start time and no guide. Available in 24 languages including English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

The experience

Palacio de Cibeles anchors the start: the wedding-cake palace built for postal workers, not royalty, its spires and sculptures holding answers to the opening riddles. From there the trail slips into Parque del Retiro, the city's great green escape that once belonged to Spanish monarchs. Instead of following a guide through crowded tourist routes, you navigate shaded avenues where clues lead you deeper into the park's quieter corners.

The Palacio de Cristal waits at the heart of the park: an 1887 glass pavilion originally raised to house exotic plants from the Philippines, now a luminous exhibition space. Photo tasks and trivia challenges mark the stops, and the app keeps score as you move through the group, turning the walk into a low-key competition. Around 2 hours total, but you set the rhythm: pause on a bench whenever you want, take a detour, or linger at a landmark. The app marks your location on a map so you always know where you are.

You'll need a fully charged smartphone with active mobile data and the Explorial app downloaded before you arrive at Calle de Alcalá 48, by Plaza de Cibeles. After booking, you receive a text message and booking-platform message with a 6-digit game code: enter it in the app to unlock the game. All puzzles relate to public areas of the sights, so no entrance fees are required. If weather or illness forces a reschedule, you can move the tour to another day or switch to a different city.

What’s included

• Free download of the Explorial app (iOS or Android).
• self-guided walking tour with interactive riddles, trivia challenges and photo tasks.
• points and scoring system to compete within your group.
• live location map so you always know where you are.
• learn about Madrid's stories, history and local legends.
• total flexibility to start anytime, walk at your own pace and take breaks whenever you want.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (10 to 90 years) · Child (under 10): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Cantonese, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Swedish, Turkish and Ukrainian

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 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Explorial

Is this one for you?This tour suits anyone who wants to explore Madrid's grand axis on their own terms without waiting for a guide or group to move: the app-led riddles and photo tasks turn the walk into a game, so the landmarks become puzzles to solve rather than backdrops to photograph.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

6 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Romanian, Danish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Ukrainian, Czech, Norwegian, Hungarian, Cantonese, Greek, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Finnish, Swedish, Hindi and Turkish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 10): free.

What is the Palacio de Cibeles and why does the tour start there?

Palacio de Cibeles is a grand former post office on Madrid's most famous plaza, built with cathedral-like spires and sculptures that hold answers to the opening riddles of the scavenger hunt. It sits at the start of Madrid's grandest mile and anchors the trail that runs through the city.

Can I start the tour whenever I want, or is there a fixed departure time?

The tour is 100% self-guided with no fixed start time. You choose when to begin. After you download the app and enter your game code, you can start solving riddles anytime that suits your schedule.

What is the Palacio de Cristal and where is it on the route?

Palacio de Cristal is an 1887 Victorian glass pavilion deep in Parque del Retiro, originally built to house exotic plants from the Philippines and now a luminous art exhibition space by the lake. It marks the final major stop of the scavenger hunt.

Do I need to pay entrance fees to visit the landmarks on this tour?

No entrance fees are required: all puzzles relate to public areas of the sights, so you can solve the riddles and complete photo tasks without buying tickets to any of the attractions.

What do I need to bring to start the game?

Bring a fully charged smartphone with active mobile data and the Explorial app already downloaded from your appstore (iOS or Android). Disable any VPN and avoid city Wi-Fi before you start, as these can cause the app to malfunction.

How long does the tour take and can I take breaks?

The tour takes around 2 hours total, but you control the pace. There are plenty of park benches where you can rest, and you can take as many breaks as you want without falling behind a guide or group schedule.