Your legs still think they're on the plane, it's your first afternoon in Madrid, and a red open-top double-decker rolls past Puerta del Sol with people waving from the top deck. Tempting. So is the Madrid hop-on hop-off bus worth it? Yes, if you have one or two days, small kids, tired knees or a date with the Bernabéu. No, if you're staying three days or more and happy to walk, because the historic centre is far more compact than the bus map makes it look.
The sightseeing bus is brilliant at covering the parts of the Spanish capital that are spread out. It's much less brilliant crawling down Gran Vía in traffic when you could have walked the same street in ten minutes. Here's how to work out which kind of traveler you are, and how to squeeze two half-days out of one ticket if you go for it.
Is the hop-on hop-off bus in Madrid worth it for you?
It depends almost entirely on who's travelling and for how long. Find your row.
| If you are... | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| On a first visit with one or two days | Worth it | You see the big landmarks without planning every metro change |
| Travelling with young kids or older parents | Worth it | Nobody has to walk the city for eight hours straight |
| Using a wheelchair or walking with difficulty | Worth it | The buses have a wheelchair space, and you see the main sights without long walks between them |
| A Real Madrid fan | Worth it | The green route runs all the way to the Santiago Bernabéu, well north of the centre |
| Staying three days or more with decent legs | Skip it | Most historic sights are within a short walk of Puerta del Sol |
| On a tight budget | Skip it | The metro gets you everywhere for a fraction of the price |
| In Madrid in July or August, free only at midday | Skip it | The top deck in summer sun is punishing, and the lower deck behind glass isn't much of a view |
| Back for a second trip | Skip it | You've seen the postcard version, so book a food or walking tour instead |
The walking maths is what most bus sellers leave out. Puerta del Sol to the Royal Palace is a 10 to 15 minute stroll along Calle Arenal, and the Prado is 15 to 20 minutes the other way down Calle de Alcalá. Plaza Mayor sits in between. For two people, a taxi across the centre can cost less than two bus tickets.
The three routes of the Madrid bus tour
The main operator, Madrid City Tour, runs multiple routes, all starting from Plaza de Neptuno next to the Prado. Your ticket covers all of them and you can switch routes at any shared stop.
| Route | What you'll see | One full loop |
|---|---|---|
| Blue: Historic Madrid | Paseo del Prado, Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, Templo de Debod, Plaza de España | About 80 minutes |
| Green: Modern Madrid | Puerta del Sol, Puerta de Alcalá, the KIO Towers, Santiago Bernabéu | About 60 minutes |
| Orange: Current Madrid | Casa Árabe, the Goya shopping district, Las Ventas bullring, Malasaña, Gran Vía | About 75 minutes |
Buses typically come every 15 to 40 minutes, depending on the route and the traffic, from mid-morning until early evening. Read through the reviews and the same gripes keep coming up: long waits at some stops, full buses in high season, the odd dead headphone socket. Booking ahead doesn't reserve a seat, so if a bus arrives full, you wait for the next one.
The ticket runs for 24 or 48 consecutive hours from your first ride, not by calendar day. Activate it at 3pm on Monday and it's valid until just before 3pm on Tuesday. Which is useful, if you plan around it.
Local tip
Start your 24-hour ticket after lunch, not first thing in the morning. Ride one full loop of the blue route without getting off to get the lay of the land, then hop off at Templo de Debod before sunset. It's one of the best sunset views in Madrid, with the sky going orange behind the Casa de Campo.
The next morning you still have hours left on the same ticket. Use them for the green route out to the Bernabéu, a trip that's genuinely handy by bus. Two half-days, one ticket, and you skip the hottest hours on the open top.
Ticket options and prices
A standard pass with City Tour Madrid covers all three routes plus an audio guide in 14 languages, including a kids' channel. Headphones and on-board WiFi come with it. So do two extras that most people forget to use: a 2-hour walking tour of central Madrid that leaves daily at 10:45 (tip-based, so pay what you think it was worth) and a free drink at Tablao Flamenco La Quimera near Plaza Mayor.
| Ticket | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| City Tour Madrid, 24 or 48 hours | €29.70 | First-timers who want all three routes |
| Big Bus Madrid, day or night tour | €23.40 | A 70-minute evening loop past Cibeles, the Metropolis building and Gran Vía lit up |
| Bus + Bernabéu Tour & Museum | €72.00 | Football fans who'd ride out to the stadium anyway |
The night tour is the one people underrate. Madrid eats late and stays out later, the traffic eases after rush hour, and the temperature on the top deck finally becomes pleasant in summer.
How to get the most out of your ride
Sit on the top deck, and pack water, a hat and sunscreen from May to September. In winter, bring a layer, because the wind at the top of Gran Vía is sharp.
Don't hop off at every stop. Pick three or four sights a day: the Prado and its world-class museum collection, the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor and Debod make an easy first day on the blue route. Explore the rest of the centre on foot, where the good bars and tiny streets are.
Legend
Look down when you hop off near Puerta del Sol. The Kilómetro Cero plaque in the pavement marks the point every Spanish radial road is measured from. According to local tradition, step on it and you're guaranteed to come back to Madrid. Judging by the queue of people doing exactly that, nobody wants to take the risk.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my luggage on the bus?
Only small suitcases that don't block seats or the aisle, so it's no use for getting from Atocha station to your hotel. Small pets in carriers are allowed.
Which hop-on hop-off bus in Madrid is best?
Madrid City Tour has the strongest reviews of the main operators, and its ticket includes the walking tour and flamenco drink. Big Bus is the cheaper pick and the one to choose if you want the night tour.
Can I eat and drink on the bus?
A bottle of water is fine and wise in summer. Keep proper meals for the stops: you're never more than a few minutes' walk from a tapas bar.
What happens if I miss the bus?
Wait for the next one or walk to a nearby stop. The operator's app shows where the buses are in real time, which saves a lot of standing around.
So, should you book it?
If Madrid is a quick first date, the hop-on hop-off bus is a comfortable, convenient way to see the capital's big sights and work out where you want to spend your time. If you've got a long weekend and good shoes, skip it and discover the city on foot, with a stop for vermouth every few streets. You'll see less from street level, but you'll find more.
