You have probably seen them all around the European capitals, and some might say that it is a cheesy tourist attraction, but I would like to correct them on that, The Hop-on Hop-off buses are great! In Madrid the bus service was suspended for the last eight months, but the good news is that they are now back and running!
Hop-on Hop-off tour in Madrid
Earlier this year the famous Hop-on Hop-off buses in Madrid where suspended after not having the correct licenses. But now, eight months later and with licenses intact, they are running as usual offering visitors unique views of the Spanish capital on the open double-decker busses. So if have rented a holiday home in Madrid for the weekend, this is what I recommend that you do, take the Madrid bus tour!
The famous buses offer two different tours to choose from covering all the city´s main highlights. Once one has purchased a one day or two day pass, one has the choice to hop on and hop off as many times as you like exploring all the historical sites and monuments at your own pace.
Marvelous Madrid
Keeping in mind the vast size of Madrid, the open double-decker busses are the perfect choice to discover the very best of Madrid; the modern skyscrapers, the historical sites and the famous landmark monuments. Both routes take roughly 80 minutes if you would take the whole tour at once, but as the name states; Hop-On and Hop-Off, and discover the landmarks that appeal to you at a closer glance.
The buses depart every 8 to 15 minutes (depending on the season), and run from March-October from 09:00 to 22:00, and from November-February from 10:00 to 18:00. For a one day ticket the prices are 20€ for adults, 9€ for children, infants go free and senior prices are also 9€. Two day tickets cost 24€ for adults, 12€ for children and senior, and again the infants go free. Buy your ticket here.
These are the sights one can see on the now running Madrid double-decker tours:
Route 1
- Teatro Real
- Palacio Real
- Puerta de Toledo
- San Francisco el Grande
- Catedral Almudena
- Plaza Mayor
- Puerta del Sol
- Círculo Bellas Artes
- Museo Thyssen
- Museo Reina Sofia
- Jardin Botanico
- Museo del Prado
- Puerta de Alcalá
- Barrio de Salamanca
- Plaza de Colon
- Plaza de Cibeles
- Gran Vía
- Plaza de España
- Templo de Debod
Route 2
- Paseo del Prado
- Plaza de Cibeles
- Plaza de Colón
- Museo de Esculturas
- Museo de Ciencias Naturales
- Nuevos Ministerios
- Santiago Bernabéu
- C.S.I. Científicas
- Museo Lázaro Galdiano
- ABC Serrano
- El Corte Inglés
- Plaza de Toros Las Ventas
- Museo Arqueológico
- Puerta de Alcalá
- Las Cortes
The Hop-on Hop-off busses are also found in other Spanish cities; Bilbao, Cadiz, Seville, Granada, and Malaga.
