Eco Tuk Tuk Tour of Madrid
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Madrid's historic center in an eco-friendly Tuk Tuk
- Discover the elegant Salamanca district's architecture
- Learn about Madrid's rich history from a local guide
- Enjoy a personalized 60-minute private tour
- Experience Madrid's vibrant culture up close
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Private 60-minute eco-friendly Tuk Tuk ride
- Expert local guide providing historical insights
- Visit to Madrid's historic center and Salamanca district
- Food and beverages
Itinerary
Pass by: Opened in May 1916 as a food market, this centennial establishment becomes in May 2009 the first gastronomic market in Madrid. During 2018 the market experiences a period of consolidation of much of its gastronomic content, with renowned chefs nationally and internationally.
Pass by: Atocha station is a railway complex located near Plaza del Emperador Carlos V, in Madrid (Spain). It serves as a railway hub, making it the busiest station in the country, as well as one of the main stations in Europe.
Pass by: The Palace of the Spanish Courts, was built on the site of the former convent of the Holy Spirit that was used as the seat of Congress between 1834 and 1841. On the main facade, a staircase ascends to the neoclassical porch, with six imposing striated columns, of a Corinthian order, on which the triangular pediment decorated with reliefs of Ponciano Ponzano rises. The emblematic lions that flank the entrance are the work of the same sculptor and were cast with the iron of the cannons captured during the war in Africa. Under the pediment, the chiseled bronze door opens only on very marked occasions. Among the rooms of the building, symmetrical, highlights the well-known Session room, but also the library or the Conference room, better known as the "lost steps" room.
Pass by: Both gods occupy prominent positions within the Greek mythological hierarchy and rival in the sports field, since the fans of Atlético de Madrid celebrate their victories in the square of the god of the sea, while that of Real Madrid does so in that of Cibeles. As part of the original Ventura Rodríguez project, both sources were initially confronted, looking at each other on the side of Paseo del Prado. Both Cibeles and Neptune experienced restructuring and transfer processes at the end of the 19th century, finally occupying the center of the Cibeles and Cánovas del Castillo squares, respectively.
Pass by: Singularly rich in paintings by European masters from the 16th to the 19th centuries, according to art historian and hispanist Jonathan Brown "few would dare to doubt that it is the most important museum in the world in European painting." Its main attraction lies in the wide presence of Velázquez, El Greco, Goya (the most widely represented artist in the museum), Tiziano, Rubens and El Bosco, of which he has the best and most extensive collections that exist worldwide, a what should be added outstanding sets of authors as important as Murillo, Ribera, Zurbarán, Fra Angelico, Rafael, Veronese, Tintoretto, Patinir, Antonio Moro, Van Dyck or Poussin, to name just a few of the most relevant.
Pass by: Popularly known as "Los Jerónimos", its official name is that of Parish Church of San Jerónimo el Real. It is located next to the Prado Museum, at the back, and is late Gothic with Renaissance influences from the early 16th century. Although there is little left of the original building, it has been remodeled and restored many times over the centuries. His name refers to his special relationship with the kings of Spain, to begin with it was built by order of the Catholic Monarchs and throughout history it became the place of spiritual retreat of several monarchs. In addition, for centuries it has been the scene of royal investiture in the absence of a cathedral and the wedding of Alfonso XIII was also held here, for which the great stairway leading to its door was built in 1906.
Pass by: This monumental door, built by mandate of Carlos III to replace a previous one dating from the 16th century, was inaugurated in 1778. Designed by Francesco Sabatini, it is a granite arc of triumph of neoclassical style, the first built in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire, a precursor to others known as the Arc de Triomphe in Paris or the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Unlike the Puerta de Toledo or San Vicente, it has five openings instead of the usual three. The two facades of which it is composed show different decorations, making the inner face easier (initially the one facing the city, which includes the four virtues: Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Fortress) than the exterior, chaired by the royal shield and with greater decorative wealth, which was what those who entered Madrid saw. It receives its name for being located next to the road that led to Alcalá de Henares.
Pass by: Surrounded by the buildings of the Palacio de Buenavista (Army Headquarters), Palacio de Linares (Casa de América), Palacio de Comunicaciones (formerly the Post Office headquarters and currently the City Council of Madrid) and Banco de España. The fountain represents the Roman goddess Cibeles, symbol of the land, agriculture and fertility, on a car pulled by two lions, the mythological characters Hipomenes and Atalanta. The goddess and the lions were carved in marble and the rest in stone. The sculpture of the goddess is the work of Francisco Gutiérrez. The two lions have been sculpted by the Frenchman Roberto Michel. The goddess is an icon for the followers of the Real Madrid football team, since the Madrid team titles are celebrated, as well as the successes of the Spanish soccer team.
Pass by: All a decorative waste, awarded at the National Exhibition of Fine Arts of 1884. The building was built with the aim of providing the National Bank with a seat more in line with the importance of its functions, such as the single issuance of coins and bills for everything Spanish territory The interior of the building can only be visited by groups of educational centers and universities. Exceptionally, also by non-profit cultural and associative entities.
Pass by: Plaza de Santa Ana is an open space in the Cortes neighborhood, in the Centro district of Madrid. It dates from 1810 and throughout its history it has undergone numerous urbanization processes that have modified its appearance with varying degrees of success.
Pass by: The Almudena Cathedral is the most important religious building in Madrid. On June 15, 1993, it was consecrated by Pope John Paul II, becoming the first consecrated cathedral outside Rome. The Almudena Cathedral Museum gathers dozens of objects that tell the story of the diocese of Madrid. In the twelve rooms that the museum has you will see from mosaics to episcopal shields and ornament.
Pass by: Today the palace is used exclusively for receptions, ceremonies and official events since the kings of Spain reside in the Palacio de la Zarzuela. The Royal Palace is also called the Palacio de Oriente. The construction of the Royal Palace began in 1738 and the works lasted for seventeen years. Shortly after its completion, in 1764, Carlos III established his habitual residence there. The location of the palace was the same one that occupied the Palace of the Austrias, destroyed by a fire during Christmas Eve of 1734. The Palacio de Oriente is surrounded by the Campo del Moro gardens and the Sabatini gardens. The first, to the west, date from the Middle Ages; the latter were created in the twentieth century and are in the north. The Campo del Moro can be visited during the day.
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour is conducted in English; please ensure you understand the language.
- The Tuk Tuk is private; only your party will be on the tour.
- The tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for the weather.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable clothing and footwear suitable for a short ride.
- Bring a camera to capture the scenic views and historic sites.
- Ensure your smartphone is fully charged for photos and navigation.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
- Infant Seats Available
Good to know
- Minimum age two (2) years (babies not allowed)
- Minimum weight required: 9 kg
- In case of customer delay the activity will be reduced according to the lost time, which may cause a change in the route set. The activity will be cancelled if the delay is longer than 15 minutes and no refund of the amount paid will be made
- Tour itinerary may vary by closed streets or demonstrations on the day of the tour
- Tuk-tuks are reserved privately, and the price is set according to the number of tuk-tuks needed for the group, being the legal maximum of 4 passengers per tuk-tuk.
- Tuk-tuks do not have trunks, so you can not carry strollers, wheelchairs, suitcases or large packages.
- For security reasons, pets and pets are not allowed.
- Tours take place in rain or heat, and can only be cancelled under extreme conditions.
- Tours cannot be modified, nor can stops for photographs. These stops will be made in the prearranged places.
- The vehicles are suitable for older people, and our drivers will help them get on if necessary.
- The pick-up point is located in the bus station (underground) of the Plaza de Oriente, right next to the Royal Palace. Although there is no number 4 on Calle Bailén (28013), searching for “Calle Bailén 4” or “Puerta del Príncipe” on Google Maps will mark the exact location of the “Puerta del Príncipe”. Just opposite the “Prince’s Gate”, you will find the stairs to access the station. There, you will see our Eco Tuk Tuk signage to get to the exact pickup point. You can contact us by phone or write to us by WhatsApp (+34 696 99 78 89) at any time.
- In case of mobility problems, to go downstairs from the pick-up point, please contact us by phone or WhatsApp (+34 696997889), or by email (hello@ecotuktuk.com) so that we can help you access the meeting point by elevator.
Traveler reviews
Disappointing for the...
Disappointing for the price. Drove thru many streets, but learned very little. Would not recommend to anyone.
We had a great time seeing the sights with Amanda!
Our driver Amanda went above and beyond. One of our group left her phone in a cab and Amanda helped coordinate with the driver to get the phone back on the tour! Barcelona is a lovely city!
Perfect for family groups
Would absolutely recommend Eco TukTuk to anyone visiting Barcelona. Our guide Samuel really brought the city and its history to life for us and was very knowledgable. A really fun introduction to Barcelona that gave us lots of ideas for things we’d like to explore more. The two-hour tour was just right for our group (adults and children 11 and 14).
Tour guide was wonderful
We had a very difficult time locating the meeting point. Original location was changed in the middle of the night. The company did contact us to notify of the change. Extremely difficult for us to locate the new location. GPS didn’t work correctly and locals had no clue where we were trying to go. However the tour guide was very helpful and spoke our language and was helpful and informative.
Great experience in a short timeframe
Juan was great - really friendly and interesting. We got a great feel for Madrid so we could revisit what we liked the best .
