travelguide195DEENES

Tour · Old town on foot · Madrid

From the Habsburgs to the Gran Vía: Madrid's Old Town on Foot

A day's walk through Madrid's historic center, from the Senate past the Royal Palace and the Moorish city wall to the Gran Vía. All stops are in the Centro district and connected by a few minutes' walk. Lunch near the Puerta del Sol, and a cocktail in the Barrio de las Letras to finish.

Stops
12
Time
10:00–19:00
On foot
approx. 5.2 km
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This tour takes you on foot through Madrid's historic center in a single day. You start at the Senate and the Royal Monastery of the Encarnación, walk across Plaza de Oriente to the Royal Palace, and take a look at the historic palace kitchens. A few steps downhill you'll find the remains of the Moorish city wall – this is where the city's story begins.

Calle Mayor leads you into the Madrid of the Habsburgs, with the Palacio de Santa Cruz near Plaza Mayor. After lunch near the Puerta del Sol, the scene changes: at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes you can see paintings by Spanish masters in a manageable setting, then Calle de Alcalá leads to the Edificio Metrópolis and the Gran Vía with the early skyscraper of the Telefónica. You finish in the Barrio de las Letras, where you pass the Palacio de Santoña and end the day with a cocktail.

All the stops are in the Centro district, and the walks in between usually take only five to fifteen minutes. The tour is a good fit if you're visiting Madrid for the first time and want to experience the city mostly outdoors, away from the big museums. Many stops are viewed from the outside, so you have plenty of time to soak in the squares and streets at your own pace.

Palaces, Walls, and Grand Boulevards

  1. Visit · Historic sites · Centro

    1Palacio del Senado (España)

    Seat of the Spanish Senate in a former Augustinian monastery; the facade on Plaza de la Marina Española is a quiet start to the day.

  2. on foot 3 min · 220 m
    Visit · Monuments · Centro

    2Convento de la Encarnación

    Royal monastery from the 17th century; interior visits are usually by guided tour only, so check times in advance.

  3. on foot 6 min · 490 m
    Visit · Monuments · Centro

    3Palacio Real de Madrid

    Walk around the outside to the Plaza de la Armería with a view over the Campo del Moro; visiting the interior is part of other tours.

  4. on foot 2 min · 170 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Centro

    4Reales Cocinas del Palacio Real

    Well-preserved historic palace kitchens with original equipment; check access and times in advance, as they are often handled separately.

  5. on foot 5 min · 410 m
    Visit · Monuments · Centro

    5Muralla musulmana de Madrid

    Remains of the Moorish city wall from the 9th century, the origin of Madrid; freely accessible in the small park.

  6. on foot 12 min · 990 m
    Visit · Palaces · Centro

    6Santa Cruz Palace, Madrid

    Baroque building from the 17th century, once a court prison, now the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; can only be viewed from the outside.

  7. on foot 7 min · 560 m
    7
    Meal · Spanish · Centro

    7Doña Luz Restaurante

    Spanish cuisine a few steps from the Puerta del Sol; in Madrid, lunch is traditionally eaten from around 2 p.m.

  8. on foot 3 min · 220 m
    Visit · Art museums · Centro

    8Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando

    Compact collection with works by Goya and other Spanish masters; check opening hours and the closing day in advance.

  9. on foot 5 min · 380 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Centro

    9Edificio Metropoli

    The domed building with the winged goddess of victory marks the start of the Gran Vía; the best view is from the corner of Alcalá.

  10. on foot 7 min · 540 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Centro

    10Edificio de la Compañía Telefónica

    One of Europe's first skyscrapers; there are sometimes exhibitions on the ground floor, so check access in advance.

  11. on foot 12 min · 940 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Centro

    11Palacio de Santoña

    Baroque portal by Pedro de Ribera, now home to the Chamber of Commerce; a quick look from the street is enough.

  12. on foot 3 min · 260 m
    12
    Bar · Cocktail bars · Centro

    12Grama Lounge

    A quiet spot for a cocktail at the end of the day, in the heart of the neighborhood around Plaza de Santa Ana.

Good to know

  • Pack comfortable shoes: between the Muralla and Plaza Mayor the route climbs noticeably, partly over cobblestones.
  • For the monasteries and palace kitchens, check opening hours and any guided tours in advance, as access can change at short notice.
  • Watch out for pickpockets around the Puerta del Sol and the Gran Vía, especially in crowds.
  • In summer, bring water and use the midday heat for lunch and a museum visit.

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Automatically compiled from travelguide195 places (as of 11/05/2026). Travel times are estimated from distance; please check opening hours in advance.

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