Madrid: Tapas Crawl & Royal Palace Walk with Botín Dinner

Madrid's Oldest Bars & Palaces in One Evening

You taste your way through Madrid's oldest bars and neighborhoods in one evening, learning how locals actually go out for tapas while your guide walks you past the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, and centuries-old streets. Nine or more tapas, four drinks, and VIP access to Botín, the world's oldest restaurant, are included, with pickup arranged nearby and dietary options available if you email ahead after booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Plaza Mayor15m
2. Puerta del Sol15m

Tapas and history tour in Madrid

• Begin at historic tavern with tapas and vermouth
• Visit family-run Asturias restaurant and try cider
• Guided walking tour past Royal Palace and Habsburg area
• Enjoy tapas and wine cocktail at historic bar
• Visit Plaza Mayor and learn its history
• See Puerta del Sol plaza and cultural significance
• Try garlic shrimp and wine at 1906 family bar
• Special access tour of Botín restaurant and cellar

The experience

"The secret is not to rush the vermouth," your guide says, setting down the glass at the first stop: a historic tavern in the heart of Madrid where the evening starts. You get a crash course in tapeo, the local art of going out for tapas, and it's not what tourists usually do. The vermouth is Spain's favorite aperitif, and the way it's poured, the way it's held, the way you move from bar to bar. That's what marks the difference between a visitor and someone who knows Madrid. Your guide walks you through it all, and you're already three minutes in before the first tapa arrives.

Then you're off on a 35-minute walking tour through the Habsburg neighborhood, past the Royal Palace (one of the largest royal palaces in the world), and through streets with buildings dating back to the 15th and 17th centuries. This is where the history walk happens, and it's woven between the food stops, not separate from them. You pass Plaza Mayor, where bull fights and public trials once happened, and Puerta del Sol, where your guide explains why these plazas matter to Madrid's story. The walking is moderate pace, and you're moving through real neighborhoods, not a museum.

The tapas stops are the spine of the evening. After the first vermouth, you're at a family-run restaurant that used to be a horse stable, trying Asturian cider poured the traditional way. You'll even pour it yourself if you want. Then a beloved bar in the historic center where locals have been ordering the same dishes for decades. Then the bar that's been open since 1906, where gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp, Madrid's signature tapa) was invented, and you're eating it there with a glass of wine. By the time you reach Botín, you've had 9+ tapas and 4 drinks across the stops, and your feet know the old city.

Botín is the finale, and it's not a regular reservation. Your group gets special access before the restaurant opens to the public. You walk the lower floors, see the wine cellar, look into the oven where the cochinillos roast, pass art and tiled walls that have been there for centuries. This restaurant has never closed, not once, and the only way most people see the inside before dinner service is on a tour like this one. You sit at your table in what feels like a living museum, and the evening ends there.

What’s included

Your evening includes a local English-speaking guide, a 35-minute walking tour past the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, and Puerta del Sol through Madrid's historic neighborhoods, 9 or more tapas across multiple stops, 4 drinks (wine, beer, or soft drinks), and VIP access to Botín, the world's oldest restaurant, including a tour of the lower floors and wine cellar before the restaurant opens to the public. Dietary adaptations (vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, non-alcoholic) are available with advance notice to the Guest Experience team after booking.

Options for this experience

4 options

Tapas, taverns and history tourGuide in English · 12:00, 18:30 and 19:30Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes. Come along on our classic small group tour in English, enjoying local tapas and a fun walk through the history of Madrid's historic center. Starting point: Pl. de las Descalzas, 1, Centro, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Tapas and history tour in SpanishAvailable from 1 Nov · 19:30Take part in this group tour conducted in Spanish to sample local tapas and wander through Madrid's historic center on an enjoyable walk. Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes. Starting point: Pl. de las Descalzas, 1, Centro, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Private tapas and history tourGuide in English · 18 departure times: the first at 12:00, the last at 20:30A private take on our classic group tour, featuring local tapas and a walk through the history of Madrid's historic city centre, conducted in English. Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes. Starting point: Pl. Mayor, 27, Centro, 28012 Madrid, Spain

Tapas and history tour with BotínGuide in English · 18:00Explore Madrid through its most famous tapas and historic bars, with exclusive early access to the world's oldest restaurant, Botín. Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes. Starting point: Monument Calderon de la Barca, Pl. de Sta. Ana, Centro, 28012, Centro, 28012 Madrid, Spain

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day18 departure times: the first at 12:00, the last at 20:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (2 to 14 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Devour Madrid Food Tours

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to eat and walk Madrid's real history in one evening without planning five separate reservations. The guide handles the pacing, the bars, and the stories, and the VIP access to Botín is something you cannot book on your own. Plan for a full evening of moderate walking and standing at bars. That is what lets you cover the old city and taste it at the same time.

Traveler reviews

4.95★★★★★★★★★★

3,681 verified traveler reviews

5 ★3,586

4 ★52

3 ★16

2 ★4

1 ★23

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

In English, with 18 departure times. In Spanish, at 19:30.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 14 years); Infant (under 2): free.

How long is the Madrid tapas tour?

The tour runs for one evening and includes a 35-minute walking section through the historic center, with multiple stops at tapas bars and restaurants spread across the night.

What tapas and drinks are included?

You get 9 or more tapas depending on your option, plus 4 drinks (wine, beer, or soft drinks). Stops include vermouth at a historic tavern, cider in an Asturian restaurant, wine at multiple bars, and a meal at Botín.

Is the tour suitable for vegetarians or people with dietary restrictions?

The tour is adaptable for vegetarians, pescatarians, gluten-free (not celiac), dairy-free, and non-alcoholic preferences. Email the Guest Experience team after booking to arrange your ingredients. Vegans and those with celiac disease cannot be accommodated.

What is the walking difficulty level?

This is a moderate-pace walking tour through Madrid's neighborhoods. It is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments, wheelchairs, or strollers. You should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.

Do I get to see inside Botín before it opens?

Yes. Your group has special VIP access to tour the lower floors, wine cellar, and kitchen before Botín opens to the public. You'll see the roasting oven and the interior before sitting down for your meal.

Are infants allowed on the tour?

Infants are allowed but must sit on an adult's lap. The tour is not suitable for strollers due to the walking and bar environment.

What are the main landmarks visited?

You walk past the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, and through the historic Habsburg neighborhood with buildings from the 15th and 17th centuries.

Can I use public transportation to get to the starting point?

Yes, public transportation options are available nearby the meeting point.

Does the itinerary change based on the option I select?

Yes. The number of tasting stops, tapas, and drinks may vary depending on which option you choose. Review the tour details carefully before booking.