Big Bus Madrid

The activity lasts from 24 hours to 48 hours

Available in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts.

Guide: English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese

24–hour or 48–hour ticket (depending on selected option) for the Big Bus sightseeing bus ticket
Recorded commentary in English

Guide: English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese

24–hour or 48–hour ticket (depending on selected option) for the Big Bus sightseeing bus ticket
Recorded commentary in English

Embark on an exploration of Madrid aboard the Big Bus sightseeing bus, where you can admire prominent landmarks including Gran Vía and Puerta de Alcalá.

Overview of the Bus Tour

We will convene at the allocated time in Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo, commonly called Plaza de Neptuno. From here, you’ll ascend a modern, double-decker bus to initiate your picturesque journey through Madrid.

While on board, relish the spectacular vistas of the city from the comfort of your seat in the double-decker bus. The journey takes you through the streets of Madrid, complemented by insightful commentary provided in English, revealing intriguing stories about the monuments you will encounter.

As we traverse the city, you'll see renowned sites such as the Prado Museum and glide past the stunning Almudena Cathedral, the regal Royal Palace, and the enchanting Retiro Park. Prepare to be amazed by additional notable locations, including the Royal Botanical Garden and the Las Ventas Bullfighting Ring.

Upon completing this engaging experience of Madrid's highlights, we shall return to the original meeting point after 1.5 hours.

Routes Available

The Big Bus sightseeing tour features three distinct routes:

Orange route (current Madrid): This 75-minute route encompasses 10 stops and navigates by significant landmarks such as the Puerta de Alcalá, Las Ventas bullring, and Casa Árabe.
Purple route (historic Madrid): Lasting 85 minutes with 13 stops, this route showcases famous locations like the Royal Palace, Puerta de Toledo, and the Templo of Debod.
Blue route (modern Madrid): An engaging 90-minute journey encompassing 10 stops, taking you past iconic sites, including Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Plaza de Colón, and the Fountain of Cybele.

For a visual representation of the routes, you can view the map at the link below:

Bus route map

Operating Schedule and Frequency

Orange route (current Madrid): Buses begin at 10 am from Stop 1 (Fountain of Neptune) and run hourly until 6 pm.
Purple route (historic Madrid): Starting at 9:30 am from Stop 1 (Fountain of Neptune), this route operates every 30 minutes until 6:30 pm.
Blue route (modern Madrid): Commencing at 10 am from Stop 1 (Fountain of Neptune) with hourly departures until 6 pm.

Validity of Tickets

During the booking process, you can select between a 24-hour or 48-hour ticket. With these tickets, you can board and alight at any stop along the sightseeing bus route as many times as you wish during the validity period.

Change in Meeting Point

Every Sunday, Paseo del Prado will be closed from 9 am to 4 pm. Consequently, the meeting point for the sightseeing buses will relocate to Calle Alfonso XII, adjacent to the main entrance of Retiro Park.

The meeting point may vary. Always check the tickets we sent you to confirm the final details before the activity.

Meeting point:

Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo

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Instructions

The Madrid tourist bus route from the Big Bus company begins at Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo Square, also known as Plaza de Neptuno Square. You'll find the Big Bus stop in front of the Tourist Office. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the tour.

You can see the route at the following link below:

https://cdn2.civitatis.com/espana/madrid/galeria/01_26mapa%20bigbus[85].pdf

Even though a start date is requested, you can make use of the service for 2 weeks after the original date stated. In the event of wanting to make a change to the date, you must contact Civitatis Customer Service.

After making your booking, you'll be sent a voucher by email, which you will have to present on the bus.

Meeting Point Change

Every Sunday, the Paseo del Prado is closed from 9 am to 4 pm. On this day, the meeting point for the sightseeing buses will be on Calle Alfonso XII, next to the main entrance of the Retiro Park.

Schedule & Frequency

Orange route (current Madrid): departs at 10 am from Stop 1 (Fountain of Neptune) with buses running every hour until 6 pm
Purple route (historic Madrid): departs at 9:30 am from Stop 1 (Fountain of Neptune) with buses running every 30 minutes until 6:30 pm
Blue route (modern Madrid): departs at 10 am from Stop 1 (Fountain of Neptune) with buses running every hour until 6 pm

Please keep in mind that these schedules are flexible and subject to change.

Important Info

As timetables and frequency may change, we recommend downloading the Big Bus Tours app (available for IOS and Android) for up-to-date information on stops, routes and bus tracking.

Additional Info

Due to weather conditions, in some circumstances, the open-top bus may be modified to a bus with a roof to protect passengers.

Sustainable Advice

During the tour, you'll be provided with single-use headphones. To be environmentally friendly and avoid waste, we recommend that you bring your own headphones.

Itinerary Changes

On some occasions, due to force majeure such as traffic interruptions, the route may be slightly modified.

INFORMATION FOR BBT CSR This product has been booked by Civitatis, please scan the QR code. If necessary, seek authorisation from your supervisor quoting the short code on this voucher.