Big Bus Madrid Hop on Hop off Tour

Madrid, Spain

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Booked 5+ times in 12 hours.

1 hour 20 minutes (approx.)
Offered in: English

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Overview

What's Included

24 - 48 hours Hop on hop off on
See all the top landmarks of Madrid
An open-top double decker bus
Audio Commentary in 10 languages
3 Central Routes

Admission Fee - Royal Palace of Madrid

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

Select a meeting point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours

Select your preferred tour option to see hours.

Itinerary

Plaza Mayor (Pass By)

Puerta de Alcala (Pass By)

Plaza de Cibeles (Pass By)

Royal Palace of Madrid (Pass By)

Templo de Debod (Pass By)

Plaza Colon (Pass By)

Plaza De Espana (Pass By)

Fuente de Neptuno (Pass By)

Museo Nacional del Prado (Pass By)

Real Jardin Botanico (Pass By)

Estacion de Atocha (Pass By)

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (Pass By)

Lavapies (Pass By)

Biblioteca Nacional de Espana (Pass By)

Gran Via (Pass By)

Chueca (Pass By)

Malasana (Pass By)

Cibeles Fountain (Pass By)

Paseo del Prado (Pass By)

Real Basilica de San Francisco el Grande (Pass By)

Catedral de Sta Maria la Real de la Almudena (Pass By)

Parque del Retiro (Pass By)

Las Ventas Bullring (Pass By)

Calle De Serrano (Pass By)

Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

3.8

based on 295 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

If GUY On A Microphone Get Off

Robert_S, May 2026

We were given earphones and were listening to the purple loop on 16th May then Fron got on a microphone . I ignored him and was listening. It said coming up to stop 5 was a red light. I stood up to take a photo the bus took off I fell. We were half way to stop 6. The bus was driving at his own pace with the guy who thought he was a comedian. I really wanted to see the Royal Palace and he gave no notice. Oh look the palace as the bus zoomed past and all Ai have is my memory. If Ai had over again I would have got off at stop 2 and got on another bus. I asked the lady at Neptune. I said why give headphones. She had no idea there was someone with a microphone on board trying to do a commentary. He ruined my tour. I left. I will look at other options in future.

Nice tour

Shannon_L, May 2026

Nice tour but not enough info given on headsets compared to other hop on hop off tours we’ve taken in other cities

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad you enjoyed the tour and appreciate your comments about the audio. We’ll share this with our team as we’re always looking to improve the experience Florin @ Big Bus Tours

What to do in Madrid on a rainy day

maryjane_c, May 2026

Took all 3 routes & it really covered the city well. The audio was some of the best I Jane experienced it timed up well with the sites.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for your great review! We’re delighted to hear you explored all three routes and felt they provided a thorough way to see the city. It’s especially wonderful to know you enjoyed the audio commentary and found it well timed with the sights. We’re so glad you had such a positive experience and hope to welcome you on board again soon! Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

Room for improvement

John_S, May 2026

Buses do not seem to meet any schedule and depart whenever 'convenient'. number of buses appears to be limited. Once you get on, you don't really want to get off.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that the service did not feel as regular or flexible as expected and understand how this can affect your experience. We truly appreciate your comments about frequency and scheduling, as they are important to us as we continue to improve. We’re glad you were able to enjoy the tour once on board and thank you for choosing Big Bus Tours. Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

It's okay

Edward_E, May 2026

Everyone wants to do the Purple route, so the lines are long for that bus! Overall, it's a good experience.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for sharing your feedback! You’re absolutely right — the Purple route is very popular, which can sometimes lead to longer wait times. We’re glad to hear that overall you still enjoyed the experience, and we appreciate your understanding. Your comments help us continue improving our service, and we hope to welcome you back on board again soon. Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

Great way to see...

Penny_B, May 2026

Great way to see historical places and get a feel for the city. I always do this in every city I travel to.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for your kind feedback! We’re glad to hear the tour helped you discover historical highlights and get a real feel for the city. It’s wonderful to know that hop‑on hop‑off tours are part of your travel routine, and we’re delighted Big Bus Tours could be part of your journey once again. Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

Worth it, a must do

Michelle_C, Apr 2026

Loved that there were three different lines you could use to see the whole city. The audio was pleasant and informative.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for your feedback! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the flexibility of having three different routes to explore the city and that the audio commentary was both pleasant and informative. We’re glad the experience helped you see the city your way and hope to welcome you back on board again soon. Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

Fun but confusing

Jordan_S, Apr 2026

We had fun however we felt it was confusing and not productive that you had to start at stop 1 and validate there too. It wasn’t convenient at all and maybe this is something they should change.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re glad to hear you still had fun, and we appreciate your comments regarding the requirement to start and validate tickets at stop 1. We understand how this could feel inconvenient, and your suggestion has been noted and shared with our team as we continue to review ways to improve clarity and flexibility for our guests. Thank you for taking the time to let us know. Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

Longer waiting time

Serge_K, Apr 2026

The experience was good, the only thing i did not like is the waiting time between buses. While other companies (competitors) had buses every 10osh minutes the Big Bus tour had longer waiting time

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the overall experience, and we appreciate your comments regarding the waiting times between buses. We understand that frequency is an important part of the hop‑on hop‑off experience and your feedback has been shared with our team as we continue to review schedules and demand across our routes. Thank you for taking the time to let us know. Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

A way to see Madrid if you gave not a lot of time .

Charmaine_A, Apr 2026

Lots of road closures due to events . Traffic bad. Bus stops not marked . Tickets avail for senior discount on bus

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that road closures and heavy traffic affected your experience, and we understand how unclear bus stop signage can add to the frustration in such conditions. We appreciate your note about senior discounts being available for purchase on board and will continue working to improve stop visibility during busy event periods. Your comments have been shared with our team and are valuable to us as we work to enhance the guest experience. Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

After 5 attempts to get...

James_B, Apr 2026

After 5 attempts to get on a bus we gave up! Each bus that stopped shade they were full. Waste of money. There is another bus company that has what seems twice the amount of buses running. Go with them instead.

App not reliable

James_C, Apr 2026

The app is not reliable. The bus does not stop where it says it will stop on the app. However, once on the bus, it’s great and I recommend this as a way to see the city. The solution is to always start at the first bus stop because the driver must start/stop at that location each time.

Madrid history

Brent_B, Apr 2026

Lots of information offered. Opportunities to get off and get on again. Good photo opportunities,especially from upper deck.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi Brent_B. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are happy to learn that the tour was insightful and enjoyable. We hope to have you back soon. Best, Vlad from Big Bus Tours.

Lacked co-ordination as map was incorrect.

Geoffrey_S, Mar 2026

Long wait for bus. Map provided was not the same as the route we travelled which meant the experience was not up to scratch. Sound track was fine after a while but did not relate well with what we were seeing .

Not as good as other Hop on/Hop off

Kirk_W, Mar 2026

The tour was one hour up and down (north/south) on mostly the same avenue. Little historical value offered beyond last 100 years.

Informative Tour

Fiona_W, Mar 2026

If you have not visited Madrid before, this is a great tour to get to know the City and it's history. The hop on hop off system meant you could get off and visit any area in more detail. Headsets provided means you can plug into your own language to hear the commentary. The best views are from the top deck, however, wrap up warm if it's a cold day.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Greetings Fiona, Thank you for your kind review. We are pleased to learn that you enjoyed our tours. We look forward to welcoming you again soon. Best regards, Ana from Big Bus Tours.

See The City Basics

Shanika_B, Mar 2026

It's an easy way to see the sights around the city but don't expect a lot on board. While the guides on Route 2 made attempts to provide additional context, help and interact with riders, Route 1 was lack luster, riding in silence aside from the preset audio guide. Make your last hop off on Gran Via or Plaza Mayor near San Miguel market to explore of Madrid.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Hello Shanika! We appreciate your feedback. It's wonderful to know that you liked our tours on route 1, and we regret that route 2 didn't meet your expectations. We look forward to seeing you again soon! Best, Ana from Big Bus Tours.

Would not waste my time on this one!

Richard_E, Mar 2026

Recorded narration doesn’t clearly identify what it’s talking about so it’s kind of worthless. Never sure what we were seeing. Went on 2 of 3 tours and we’re not impressed with either. Went on a supposed historical tour and very little history as expected, passed a lot of the same spots.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Hello Richard! Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to learn that you didn't enjoy the narration. Please feel free to reach out to us through live chat or email, and our team will be ready to help you with your booking. Looking forward to seeing you soon! Best regards, Ana from Big Bus Tours.

Ok to spot on the city but not worthy

Vaibhavi_C, Mar 2026

Really good one to just roam around the city. No hop-on hop-off allowed. Single route bus for 60-90mins depends.too windy to seat on top unless its scorching summer and most of description said about the place and tourist spot you won't be able to hear as its too noisy and English is not clear. The lady will sit at lower floor of bus and keep on speaking in Spanish and (not so clear) English. No headphones provided or no radio facility to hear about the places.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Hello Vaibhavi! Thank you for your feedback. We're glad to know that you had a wonderful time on your tours. Since we have live guides on the bus, we do not offer headphones, but we value your input. We look forward to seeing you again soon! Best, Ana from Big Bus Tours.

Good overview!

Jessica_P, Feb 2026

Great overview of the major landmarks of the city, and Daniel was great about pointing out the best times to take a photo/video as the bus was driving by

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Hi Jessica! Thank you for your review. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your tours with us and that our staff member Daniel was great. We hope to see you soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.

I just took the Madrid...

Andy_W, Feb 2026

I just took the Madrid Big Bus tour and I want to especially praise our guide Daniel. He was very professional, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. His commentary was easy to understand and full of fascinating stories about Madrid’s history and culture. One of the best guided bus tours I’ve experienced.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Hello Andy, We are really happy that you enjoyed our tour in Madrid, and we hope that this experience has brought you great satisfaction. We are really happy that Daniel has created a nice experience for you while on tour. We are grateful for the positive feedback and the commentaries on the insights and knowledge about Madrid. We ensure you that we always do our best to make our customers happy and would really enjoy if you would use our services in the future. Best regards, Andrew at Big Bus

Almost a joke

brian_g, Feb 2026

Check if the guide actually speaks English. Our guide obviously thought he could speak English but none of us could understand him. The trip was a complete shambles, waste of time and money.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Hi brian_g. We are saddened to learn that your experience was not favorable and that our live commentary was not aligned with your expectations. Please reach out to us directly via email or live chat so that we can gain further insight into your recent visit and assist you accordingly. We hope to have the opportunity to improve your experience. Best wishes, Razvan from Big Bus Tours

Madrid at Night

Heather_D, Feb 2026

Nice way to see the sights at night without walking all around. Hard to take pictures but otherwise great

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Hi Heather_D, Thank you for your feedback! We're happy to hear that you had fun with us! We prioritize ongoing training for our team to ensure you receive outstanding service. We hope that we will see you again riding with us in the future! Best wishes. Cristian T, Big Bus Tours

Wonderful way to get...

Elizabeth_C, Feb 2026

Wonderful way to get acquainted with the city. Easy to find, and it was perfect for us traveling with a senior person.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Hi Elizabeth! Thank you for your review. We are happy to hear that you had a wonderful tour. We hope to see you soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.

Madrid Big Red Bus - Worth it !

Vincent_C, Jan 2026

It doesn’t stop due to Madrid traffic regulations. It’s a very good 90 minutes of touring the City hitting points of interest and historical facts. Definitely worth doing it!

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Hi Vincent_C. Thank you for your feedback! We're so happy to hear that you had a great time exploring the city with us. Looking forward to your next visit! Best wishes, Razvan from Big Bus Tours.

Big Bus Madrid

Sally_E, Jan 2026

Very comprehensive. Great history. Ability to cover large territory and some areas busy with traffic easily and safely. Alfaro, our guide, was superb. Hop on/off NOT available and would have improved the experience

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Hello Sally_E. Thank you for your feedback! We're thrilled to know you enjoyed your time exploring the city with us. Looking forward to seeing you again soon! Best, Razvan from Big Bus Tours.

Good over view of the...

neberhardt999, Jan 2026

Good over view of the city. Daniel was a good tour guide. I would recommend the tour. Requested Daniel

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Hello neberhardt999! Thank you for your review. We are happy to hear that you had a great time and you'll recommend the tour. We hope to see you soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.

Useful

Natalia_P, Jan 2026

It’s nice to get overview of the city and come back to places you like. The guide was nice, real one, not on the radio, so was able to answer any questions

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Hi Natalia! We appreciate your review. We are happy to hear that you had a lovely time with us in Madrid. We hope to see you soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.

Lack of clarity and information.

Julie_C, Jan 2026

Guide spoke in Spanish and English. I found his accent very difficult to understand. He was not very informative nor particularly interesting. He played a Spanish song during the tour but neglected to explain it s significance. There were many lapses where nothing was said. I’ve always taken a city bus tour to get a feel for the place I’m travelling to but this particular one was a waste of money. The only redeeming feature was I got to see different parts of Madrid.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Hi Julie! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We're really sorry to hear that the audio experience on the bus affected your enjoyment of our tours. Just a reminder, you can always get in touch with us via live chat, and we would love to assist you. Hope to see you again soon! Warm regards, Ana from Big Bus Tours.

Heat way to know the city

Elaine_M, Jan 2026

Great way to know the city around. It’s not a hop in and out bus. A bus will leave every 15 minutes so you get there whenever is convenient.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Hi Elaine! Thank you for your review. We are happy to hear that you had a great time exploring the city with us. We hope to see you soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.