Big Bus Madrid Hop on Hop off Tour

Madrid, Spain

Very popular!

5+ bookings in the past 6 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
3 Central Routes
Audio Commentary in 10 languages
An open-top double decker bus

Admission Fee - Royal Palace of Madrid
Tips (Optional)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

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End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours

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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

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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

3.7

based on 331 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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It was a great way to be...

Jolene_H, Jul 2026

It was a great way to be introduced to Madrid. We did most of all 3 routes. It was hard to know exactly where the pickup points were without the app as there were no signs at the stops. We also wish the buses had been more frequent. Once we got the app, it was easier to navigate and we could see where the individual buses were.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Hi Jolene, Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're delighted to hear that the tour was a great introduction to Madrid and that you had the chance to explore all three routes. We also appreciate your feedback regarding the visibility of the stops and bus frequency. We understand how much easier the experience should be from the moment you start your tour, and we're glad the app helped you navigate the routes and follow the buses along the way. Thank you for exploring Madrid with us, and we hope to welcome you aboard again for another city adventure! Madalina@BigBusTours

It was a good experience...

Sasha_V, Jul 2026

It was a good experience for the one day trip in Madrid. I would recommend it. If your not getting off anywhere, you will have enough time for all tree route.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Hello Sasha_V. Thank you for sharing your feedback with us! We are thrilled to learn that you had a wonderful experience on our bus tour, and we hope to see you on board again soon. Best regards, Razvan @BigBusTours

Do not recommend

Nancy_K, Jul 2026

This tour was terrible. Unsure where the bus driver was going. The audio never matched the places we were and at one point it felt as if he was lost. The audio said we were passing a palace on the left. Looking to the left it was an adult sex store! Do not recommend

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Hi, Nancy! Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the audio commentary did not match the route and that your experience did not meet your expectations. We understand how disappointing this must have been and would appreciate the opportunity to better understand what happened. If you would like to provide us with any further details, please feel free to contact us directly. Alexandra@BigBusTours

Didn’t get what was promised

Joshua_S, Jul 2026

We purchased a ticket online after the tour operator’s website. First bus was scheduled for 9:30. When we arrived, we learned the first bus was at 10:00. Bus was advertised as running until 7:00 pm. Due to a city parade, last bus was 2:00 pm. There was no warning of this on the website, and no refund was offered. We were offered a future ticket, but were only in town for a day. Nice people. Very poor communication and lack of service after the sale. Would not recommend this company.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re very sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating it must have been to arrive expecting a 9:30 departure, only to discover a later start time. We also recognize how disappointing it would be to learn that service hours had been significantly affected by a city parade, particularly when you had planned your day around the published schedule. Clear and timely communication regarding service changes is essential, and we regret that you were not made aware of these disruptions before your visit. We understand that when customers have limited time in a destination, unexpected schedule changes can have a significant impact on their plans. While we appreciate your kind comments about our team members, we are sorry that the overall experience left you feeling dissatisfied. Your feedback regarding communication and service information will be shared with our operations and customer experience teams so that we can improve how route changes and event-related disruptions are communicated in the future. Thank you again for bringing this to our attention. Flavius@BigBusTours

Never again in Madrid

Barbara_S, Jul 2026

Bus stops are impossible to locate. I had bought a 2 day pass and were only able to finally find on the second day. There is no street signage and the maps on our phones were not accuate.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Hi, Barbara! Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're very sorry to hear that you had difficulty locating our bus stops and that this affected your ability to make the most of your two-day ticket. We understand how frustrating this must have been. We're also sorry that you found the stop information and maps on your phone to be inaccurate. Your comments are greatly appreciated and will be shared with the relevant team as we continue working to improve our signage and the information available to our customers. Thank you again for bringing this to our attention. We hope we'll have the opportunity to provide you with a much better experience on a future visit. Andreea@BigBusTours

Not bad but could use some tweaking.

Ernest_A, Jul 2026

Informative, organized, clean. The purple line is more historic, however we found a way too many trees to see structures. The yellow line, was more enjoyable however the person given the earphones locked customer serviceabilities. If you were to compare this to Barcelona customer service, Barcelona wins. Although the person given the actual ticket initially was from Venezuela and he seems very polite polite including informative

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Hi, Ernest! Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We're delighted to hear that you found the tour informative, well organized, and that you appreciated the cleanliness of our buses. We're also pleased to know that our team member who welcomed you was polite, informative, and made a positive first impression. We're sorry to hear that the Purple Route did not offer the views you were hoping for and that your experience with one of our team members when collecting the earphones did not meet your expectations. We appreciate you sharing these comments and will ensure your feedback is passed on to the relevant local team for review. Thank you again for your valuable feedback. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on board again and provide you with an even better experience in the future. Andreea@BigBusTours!

Too Hot!!!

Bethanne_S, Jun 2026

TOO HOT! Your busses are in desperate need of air conditioning or more windows to open- I can’t I understand why your buses don’t have windows that can open not every person wants to sit up top. Our Guid on the bus did not offer maps or headphones we had to ask, should be a standard for them to offer as you board the bus.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Hello. Thank you for your honest feedback. We are very sorry to hear that your trip has been disrupted by the extreme heat and bus comfort. We will ensure ACs will be present in more and more buses as soon as possible. We hope to see you again back on our trips. Razvan@BigBusTours

Not good

Rashika_D, Jun 2026

It was VERY hot to enjoy, no air con felt very rushed as they passed by everywhere.. we really struggled. Also the bus stops had no signage etc

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Hi, there! Thanks for reaching out, and I am so sorry to hear that the intense heat and lack of signage at the stops made your experience so stressful and rushed. We want all of our guests to have a comfortable and smooth tour, so we take your feedback about the heat and stop visibility very seriously to help us improve. We would really love to look into this for you and make things right. Could you please send us an email with your booking details or ticket number? Alina@BigBusTours

Great tour bus

Nilda_M, Jun 2026

Bus a pretty punctual every 30 mins. Very friendly and helpful guides. The stops are in great areas to hop on and off giving you enough time to walk around and take some pictures.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Hi Nilda! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great time on your Madrid tour, thanks to our punctual schedule, friendly staff, and hop-on-hop-off service! We truly appreciate your feedback and can't wait to welcome you back for your next adventure! Alexandra I. @ Big Bus Tours

Good service but Madrid is not best seen by bus.

Teresa_S, Jun 2026

The staff and bus rides were fine. I think you need to plan to hop off a lot, because many things cannot be seen well from the streets.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad to hear that you found the staff and bus rides to be positive overall. You’ve made a great point about hopping off throughout the route. Many of the city’s highlights are best explored up close, and the flexibility to get off and explore is a key part of the experience. We appreciate you sharing this helpful tip for future guests and hope you were still able to enjoy many of the sights along the way. Thank you again for your comments! Alex@BigBusTours

Get to know the city and opt for a live narration if possible.

Virginia_H, Jun 2026

The Big Bus was comfortable and had multi-language options for the tour. We took all three of the Madrid tours to understand the layout and main sections of the city. With one tour we had a live narration, which was much better than the recording option. The staff was friendly and helpful. The recordings did not have the vibrancy of a live tour guide, and the wording sounded like AI.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for your detailed feedback! We’re glad you found the buses comfortable, the staff friendly, and the multi-language options useful as you explored Madrid. It’s great you were able to try all three routes, and we appreciate your comments on the difference between live narration and recorded audio—we’ll certainly take this into account as we continue improving our tours. Raul@BigBusTours

Highly recommended if you...

Edna_C, Jun 2026

Highly recommended if you want to get a glimpse of what to do in Madrid sprinkle with a little bit of history. I was able to see the three routes offered, hop on and hop off in different places and the service was always on time. Drivers and staff were always very friendly and helpful. If this is your first time visiting, you most definitely should take this tour.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Hello Edna! We truly appreciate your kind review. It makes us so happy to hear that you will recommend our tours and that you enjoyed the 3 different routes. We're glad our drivers and staff made a positive impression on you. We can't wait to welcome you back! Warm regards, Ana from Big Bus Tours.

Big Bus Tour

kshearmire, Jun 2026

It was great until we ended up in a traffic jam and had to turn around and drive back the long way. Our one hour route took two and a half hours!

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that traffic delays affected your experience and extended the tour time significantly. Unfortunately, traffic conditions can sometimes be unpredictable, but we understand how frustrating this must have been. We appreciate your patience and will share your comments with our team. Florin @ BigBusTours

That the buses number...

Mehdi_R, May 2026

That the buses number seems to be not sufficient to make more frequent trips. The convenience of the buses can be improved especially during the hot season to provide at least a small fan.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for your feedback. We appreciate your suggestion regarding bus frequency and onboard comfort, especially during the hot season. We understand how important it is to have convenient service and a comfortable experience, and your comments will be shared with our team for consideration and improvement. Florin @ BigBusTours

First visit to Madrid

Bernie_h, May 2026

Enjoyable and imformative Some better communition to customers when iterneries change e.g no mention that cable car closed. No mention that the Yellow tour yesterday afternoon could not go full route We only found out when we asked why the tour had been shortened We were then told this was due to an accident.This should have bee announced on the bus

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad to hear you found the tour enjoyable and informative overall. We appreciate your comments regarding communication when itineraries change. We understand how important it is to be informed in advance about route adjustments or closures, and we’re sorry this was not clearly communicated during your experience. Your feedback has been shared with our team so we can improve how we notify our guests of any changes. Thank you for taking the time to let us know. Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

Buses are not as frequent...

Pam_M, May 2026

Buses are not as frequent r as you would have thought or told . Transfer to another color was not easy or convenient.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for taking your time to share your feedback with us. We're truly sorry to hear that your experience in Madrid did not meet your expectations, particularly regarding the frequency of our buses and the difficulty you faced when transferring between routes. We always aim to provide a seamless and convenient service, so we take your comments very seriously and we'll share them with our Local Operations Team to help us improve. We appreciate your honesty and we hope you'll give us another chance to provide you with a much better experience in the future. Valeriu @BigBusTours

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.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re very sorry to hear about what happened on board, especially your fall, as your safety and comfort are extremely important to us. We understand how upsetting this must have been. We also regret the confusion caused by overlapping commentary and the lack of clear announcements for key landmarks like the Royal Palace. This is not the experience we aim to provide, and your feedback has been shared with our team to help improve coordination and communication on board. We truly appreciate you bringing this to our attention and are sorry that your tour was impacted in this way. Ciprian @ Big Bus Tours

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 .