Madrid sightseeing tour by taxi: the route stop by stop and when it pays off

A Madrid sightseeing tour by taxi lets you see the Castellana, Cibeles, the Puerta de Alcalá, the Gran Vía, the Royal Palace, the Templo de Debod, Madrid Río and the Paseo del Prado in a single outing, getting out of the car only at the places that really deserve a stop. It is the most comfortable way to get a feel for the city when you are short of time, travelling with elderly people or children, when it is very hot or simply when you want to see a lot without walking too much.

Madrid lends itself particularly well to this plan, although it is not always the best option: the historic centre is best enjoyed on foot and at rush hour the metro crosses the city faster. Below you will find why a taxi pays off, the full route in the most logical order, where to get out, when to choose another option and how to organise it all if you are arriving from the airport.

Much of what there is to see in Madrid can be admired from outside, along three great avenues, the Castellana, the Gran Vía and the Paseo del Prado, and around squares you drive through, such as Cibeles, Colón and the plaza de España. That lets you get a feel for the city from the window and save your legs for the stretches that are worth it. What is more, taxis can drive in the low-emission zones in the centre, which are restricted for many private cars.

When a taxi makes the difference

• When you arrive and when you leave. Just off the plane, with suitcases and without knowing the transport network, a car that drops you at your hotel door saves you changes and stairs. It is when it is most appreciated.
• If you are travelling as a group. For one person on their own, the metro almost always works out cheaper; between three or four people, the taxi fare is shared and the difference shrinks a lot on short journeys. If there are five or more of you, or you have lots of luggage, there is the option of a 7-seater taxi so you can all travel together.
• At night. After dinner or a show on the Gran Vía, you get back to your hotel with no waiting and no changes.
• In the heat or with reduced mobility. In July and August the middle of the day is hardly inviting for walking, and with elderly people, pushchairs or someone who has difficulty walking, door-to-door travel avoids the corridors and stairs of some stations.
• When time is short. A well-planned journey links the Castellana, Cibeles, the Gran Vía and the Royal Palace in a single outing.

This route traces a large circle around the centre and you can start at any point. We set it out in the order you would follow if you were coming from the airport, which enters the city from the north and east.

Seeing Madrid only from the window falls short. These are the stops we recommend, from most to least essential, to combine the car with short walks:

• Plaza de Oriente and the Royal Palace. From here you can walk to the Plaza Mayor, which is pedestrianised, and the Puerta del Sol, also closed to traffic. Ask the driver to drop you at Ópera or on Bailén.
• Templo de Debod. A walk through the Parque del Oeste and, if you fancy it, the cable car that flies over the Casa de Campo from the paseo del Pintor Rosales.
• The Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop. Where Alcalá meets the Gran Vía, it offers one of the best-known views of the rooftops of the centre.
• Museo del Prado or Reina Sofía. If you have the afternoon free, the Paseo del Prado can keep you busy for hours.
• El Retiro. The Estanque Grande and the Crystal Palace are a short walk from the Puerta de Alcalá.

If you are staying in the centre, the taxi in central Madrid page explains how to order one around Sol, Ópera or Huertas.

A surprise stop next to the airport: El Capricho

Very close to the Barajas terminals, in the Alameda de Osuna, lies the Parque de El Capricho, an eighteenth-century romantic garden created by the Duchess of Osuna, with a maze, a pond, small temples and a little palace. It is the perfect stop to start or end the tour if you are on a layover, because it does not take you far from the airport. It opens on fewer days than other Madrid parks, so check the calendar before you go.

Being honest helps you plan better. The Madrid metro is extensive, frequent and easy to use, and at rush hour it is usually faster than any car for crossing the city from one side to the other. If you are staying near a station and travelling light, it is a great option for getting around day to day: you will find tickets, lines and tips in our guide to the Madrid metro.

The historic centre, on the other hand, is compact: between the Puerta del Sol, the Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, the Barrio de las Letras and the Paseo del Prado you can walk everywhere, and many of its streets are pedestrianised, so there a taxi is only useful for getting there and leaving. If you would rather explore on foot, we suggest a three-hour walking route around the centre along with the city's most visited places.

A weekend combining taxi, metro and walks

1. Friday afternoon: a taxi from the airport to the hotel at a fixed price and a walk around the centre for dinner.
2. Saturday: a morning on foot around Habsburg Madrid and the Royal Palace, the metro to the Retiro or the Paseo del Prado and a taxi back after dinner.
3. Sunday: the Rastro market and La Latina on foot in the morning and, in the afternoon, the taxi circuit in this guide or a trip to a stadium or the Salamanca district.
4. Monday: a taxi from the hotel to the airport, booked for the time you need.

With a taxi from the street or a rank

Madrid taxis use the meter within the city, so you can get into one at a rank or hail one in the street, explain to the driver the route you want to take and pay what the meter shows according to the official fare in force. Ask for an estimate before you start and say clearly where you want to stop. Remember that, as a passenger, you can specify the route you prefer.

If you are arriving by plane

The simplest way is to book the transfer from the airport to the hotel, leave your luggage and start from there. If your accommodation is inside the M-30, the taxi costs €33 per car, not per person, with the Inside M-30 fixed fare, to any terminal and at any time, and on the day you leave you pay the same. With airport pickup you give us your flight number, we check the terminal and confirm the meeting point. For the return, book the pickup at your hotel or at the last point on your route in advance, and plan to reach the terminal two hours before European flights and three hours before international ones.

If you are on a layover

Before leaving the airport, make sure your layover is long enough to leave the transit area, collect or check in your luggage and go back through security with time to spare. If it is, we suggest options in Madrid in 24 hours on a layover; if not, El Capricho is the nearest alternative.

And if you would like more tips on using taxis as a tourist, such as hailing one, paying or recognising an official one, you will find them in seeing Madrid by taxi.