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Architecture tour Gran Vía from its best rooftops 20thC

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Madrid, ES

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Madrid, ES

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Experience the vibrant history and architecture of Gran Vía like never before with our Architecture Tour. From the rooftop of Círculo de Bellas Artes, designed by Antonio Palacios, you will enjoy breathtaking views of the city. Explore iconic buildings such as the City Council headquarters, Torres Blancas, and Colón Towers. Immerse yourself in the glamour of Hollywood stars at Museo Chicote and discover the first Madrid skyscraper, the Telefónica Building. We will also take you to the old Paris-Madrid Mall, the luxurious Hotel Florida, and the stunning Plaza de España where you can admire the Royal Palace and the picturesque Casa de Campo forest. End your journey at a hidden terrace, sipping a drink while overlooking the majestic Royal Palace and Cathedral. Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to uncover the secrets of Gran Vía's architectural wonders.

About this experience

Free Cancellation For a full refund cancel at least before the start of your booking
Admission Not Included
3 hours 10 minutes - 3 hours 30 minutes
Suitable for 1-10 Participants
Private Tour, Small Group Tour
Guided Experience

Highlights

Enjoy the best views of the city from the rooftop
Learn about the urban and architectural development of the city
Experience the art-deco atmosphere where Hollywood stars have celebrated their film premieres
Visit the first skyscraper in Madrid and learn about its history
Finish the tour on a rooftop with amazing views of the Royal Palace and Cathedral

Included

Fundación Telefónica entrance
The visit led by a local architect who will give you the artistic historical context of the buildings, accompanied by plans and historical photos to understand the urban development of the city in each period.

Not included

Alcoholic beverages
Circulo de Bellas Artes rooftop+building entrance 5€
Option to finish rooftop RIU HOTEL M-F 11am-5pm + € 5 M-F 5pm-23pm +€10 SAT-SUN-BANK HOLIDAYS + € 10 all day

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More about this experience

Introduction

Experience the beauty of Madrid's iconic Gran Vía from a unique perspective with the Architecture Tour Gran Vía from its Best Rooftops. This tour offers a fascinating journey through the urban, historical, and architectural evolution of Gran Vía, a century-old street that has recently undergone a major transformation. Starting on the rooftop of the Círculo de Bellas Artes, designed by Antonio Palacios, you'll be treated to breathtaking views of the city. From there, you'll explore notable buildings such as the City Council headquarters, the Cervantes Institute, Torres Blancas, and Colón Towers. As you descend the impressive staircase of the Círculo de Bellas Artes and step inside the building, you'll delve deeper into its rich history. Your walk along Gran Vía will also include stops at landmarks like Loewe, the luxurious brand favored by Ava Gardner, and the Telefónica Building, Madrid's first skyscraper.

What to Expect

During the Architecture Tour Gran Vía from its Best Rooftops, you can expect to learn about the urban and architectural development of Gran Vía. Led by knowledgeable guides, you'll gain insights into the historical significance and design features of each building. This tour offers a comprehensive understanding of the street that has witnessed important moments in Madrid's history. With a total duration of 190 to 210 minutes, you'll have ample time to appreciate the beauty of Gran Vía and its surroundings.

Who is this for?

The Architecture Tour Gran Vía from its Best Rooftops is perfect for architecture enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone looking to explore Madrid's iconic landmarks from a fresh perspective. Whether you're a local looking to learn more about your city or a traveler eager to uncover the secrets of Gran Vía, this tour is a must-do. The inclusive and engaging nature of the tour ensures that it caters to a wide range of interests and preferences. Everyone, from art lovers to curious explorers, will find something intriguing along the way.

Why book this?

Embark on the Architecture Tour Gran Vía from its Best Rooftops to experience Madrid like never before. This tour presents an extraordinary opportunity to witness the stunning architecture of Gran Vía from unique viewpoints. The rooftop views from the Círculo de Bellas Artes and Plaza de España will leave you breathless, offering panoramic vistas of the cityscape, including the Royal Palace, the Cathedral, and Casa de Campo forest. Each stop along the tour invites you to step inside some of Madrid's most iconic buildings, gaining access to their interiors and discovering their fascinating histories. Led by experienced guides, this tour guarantees an insightful and captivating exploration of Madrid's architectural heritage.

Good to Know

Access to the first rooftop is not included in the tour price, but it is highly recommended (+5€/pax). An alternative option, concluding the tour on the rooftop of the new Hotel Riu Plaza de España on the 27th floor, provides breathtaking views for an additional cost. Access to this rooftop is available from Monday to Friday for an extra 5€/pax until 6pm (with no queue) or an extra 10€/pax from 6pm (with a queue of 20-30 minutes). On weekends, the extra cost is 10€ for the entire day (with queues in the afternoon-evening). Additionally, the tour offers the opportunity to visit other rooftops along the way, where you can enjoy a refreshing drink as an optional add-on.

About this product

How long before the event do I need to book?

You can book at any time before the event

Vouchers accepted in the following formats

Mobile

Is an adult required for the booking?

At least one adult or senior required per booking

Meeting point

End point

We will end up in a secret terrace of a hotel where you can stay having a drink while enjoying the views the Royal Palace, the Cathedral or Casa de Campo forest.

Plaza de España, Pl. de España, Moncloa - Aravaca, 28008 Madrid, ES

Your Itinerary

Circulo de Bellas Artes

We will start on the rooftop from where we will explain the urban and architectural development of the city while enjoying the best views of the city. Then we will go down the impressive staircase visiting the interior of the Antonio Palacios building.

Admission Not Included

Museo Chicote

We will get into the art-deco atmosphere that Luis Gutiérrez Soto projected in 1931, where Hollywood stars such as Ava Gadner to Almodovar have celebrated the premieres of their films in Madrid.

Edificio Telefonica

We will visit the interior of the first skyscraper in Madrid, knowing how it was when it was built in 1929 and its last reform in 2012.

Edificio Carrion

We will learn about the history of the 1933 building with the famous Schweppes neons and its surroundings in Plaza del Callao.

Plaza de Espana

We will finish on a rooftop at Plaza de España with amazing views of the Royal Palace, the Cathedral,. the Royal Theater and Casa de Campo forest. You could stay having a drink while you enjoy the views.

Admission Not Included

Additional information

Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Reviews

(70)

5 (70)

Nadine_F

We enjoyed seeing the beautiful buildings along the Gran Via. The tour guide really knew his subject well. However, we felt that his opening talk about the history of Madrid was too long. To make matters worse, the weather was cold, windy and somewhat rainy. He needed to have a backup place to do his talks where we could be more comfortable when the weather wasn't cooperating. We also would have liked to see the interiors of more buildings and spend less time on the 2 rooftops.

Sepia_F

Circulo de bella artes was definitely a treat! So much history and colorful and brilliant designs and construction through out the tour. Emilio was great and hospitable!

GT_T

Tour guide Emilio was the right guy for this itinerary: an initial overview followed by in-depth walking tour of Gran Via. Architectural highlights placed in historical and geographic context. This one is probably mainly for the aficionado or at least those with a casual interest in details of architectural style presented with social and historical relevance. Some stairs involved, so no good for strollers and probably not for those under about 15 yrs old anyway. This is not a “light overview,” instead is rather specific. Highly recommend for the right travelers.

X8611HVjuanv

El tour de las azoteas de Gran Via es uno de los mejores tours que hemos hecho ultimamente. Emilio es un guia excelente, con un conociento enorme no solo de arquitectura pero tambien de la historia de Madrid y de España. Mi pareja es de Brasil y entonces Emilio nos dedico mas tiempo y nos explico la historia de Madrid desde la epoca Arabe para asi contextualizar mejor la historia y arquitectura de la Gran Via. Recomiendo este tour a todo el mundo, ya se sea de Madrid o de fuera. The Gran Via rooftop tour is excellent. One of the best tours we have done in a long time. Emilio is a fantastic guide. His knowledge of Madrid's architecture and history is impressive. My partner is Brazilian. Knowing that, Emilio made an effort and took extra time to explain the history of Madrid since very beginning (Arabic times) and therefore contextualize better Gran Via's architecture and history. I strongly recommend this tour to anyone either from Madrid or not !

Eugenia_C

Emilio is a brilliant guide, knowledgable and welcoming, and very organised. I found the tour fascinating and would not hesitate in recommending it. I learned so much about Madrid, from major milestones in history to intriguing anecdotes. Thanks Emilio!

Thomas_Q

Emilio is an excellent guide and as an architect and Madrid native is very knowledgeable about architecture but also about Spanish history. This was definitely our most memorable experience in Madrid.

Lisa_K

I gained a new understanding of the history and architecture of the city. I felt very comfortable exchanging ideas. After this tour I looked at the city with different eyes. can’t recommend this tour enough.

Wunderlust27

Emilio gave a very interesting and informative tour. His knowledge and passion for Madrid architecture was impressive and his sincerity makes the tour very engaging. It was very detailed, relevant and very expansive. We absolutely loved the tour and gained so much from it. This is the second tour we have done with Emilio, the first was a tour of the Lavapíes area, and it was as good as the first. I highly recommend Emilio as a guide. Thank you so much

Kristine_M

The tour began on the rooftop, proceeded down Gran Via, ending on a rooftop so we saw buildings from numerous angles. Very interesting and we enjoyed it!! A tad too long.

christopherj91

We enjoyed this tour of Madrid and thought it was a great introduction to the city and learning about its rich history. The buildings we toured were beautiful and we had a leisurely walk enjoying the uniqueness of each one. Emilio took his time with our group and answered all our questions. He provided a wealth of history about Spain and the settlement of Madrid. We especially appreciated the last stop that included a wonderful rooftop view of the city and the forest to the west. We also liked Emilio's booklet with old photos of Madrid so we could see how the buildings looked in prior years. We highly recommend this tour and it's a great way to spend some time in Madrid.

Collected by Evendo, Tripadvisor & Viator

2024-05-09 02:14