Full-Day Private Tour in Madrid

This large square next to the Casa de Correos (Post Office building) is a popular meeting place that is significant both to the city and the country.
Almost every Spaniard will recognize the clock atop the Casa de Correos, as it displays the televised countdown on New Year's Eve.
There is also a tricky ritual: with each chime, you are supposed to eat one lucky grape (12 in total). The square is also home to the statue El Oso y El Madroño, a symbol of Madrid since the Middle Ages.

If you want to get a feel for the city, a stroll along the Gran Vía is an excellent place to start.
It is Madrid's entertainment, shopping and cultural nerve center, a bustling street that is often alive until dawn.
During the day, it teems with shoppers visiting the many shopping centers, high-street stores such as H&M and Zara, and luxury boutiques.
In the evening, couples walk arm in arm to the cinema or a musical.
And after dark, the street pulses with many of Madrid's best nightclubs.
Among the sights to discover during your stroll is the huge Telefónica building, built in 1928 and an early example of a skyscraper.

Another Madrid must-see, Plaza Mayor, is a charming Renaissance square laid out in the early 16th century and completely surrounded by historic three-story residential buildings.
There are nine entrances to the square, and several cafés are located in the arcades at the base of the buildings.
Order a coffee (overpriced, but necessary because of the location!) at an outdoor table and watch Madrid in action for a few minutes.
Afterward, you can walk to the 400-year-old bronze statue of King Philip III, who was in power at the height of the Spanish Empire.

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest in Western Europe and one of the largest in the world. With over 135,000 square meters and 3,418 rooms, it bears witness to centuries of Spanish history. It is one of the few official residences of a head of state that is open to the public. Almost 2 million visitors come each year to discover its unique rooms, works of art and treasures.

The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is a football stadium in Madrid, Spain. With a current capacity of 81,044 seats, it has been the home stadium of Real Madrid since its completion in 1947. It is the second-largest stadium in Spain and the largest in the Community of Madrid.
The Santiago Bernabéu is one of the most famous football stadiums in the world. It has hosted the final of the European Cup/UEFA Champions League four times: 1957, 1969, 1980 and 2010. The finals of the 1964 European Nations' Cup and the 1982 FIFA World Cup were also held at the Bernabéu. This makes it the first stadium in Europe to host both a UEFA European Championship final and a FIFA World Cup final.

This is one of Madrid's liveliest, most famous, and most beautiful squares, home to emblematic landmarks such as the Cibeles Fountain and the palace. This is a visit you should not miss on any trip to the city.
At the center of the square stands the Cibeles Fountain, a symbol of Madrid. This sculpture, the goddess of nature and protector of the city, was designed by Ventura Rodríguez in 1777. An interesting fact is that Real Madrid fans gather around this monument to celebrate their team's major victories.
The square is also home to Cibeles Palace (now the City Hall), which houses the cultural space known as CentroCentro (with an exhibition hall and an auditorium, as well as an observation deck offering excellent panoramic views of Madrid); and the Glass Gallery, a space open to everyone (designed as an event venue) featuring a spectacular glass vault.
Other famous buildings include the Bank of Spain, Linares Palace, and Buenavista Palace

The Basílica de San Francisco el Grande was built in 1761 by Carlos III for a Franciscan monastery. The church was designed by Francisco Cabezas, who based its Neoclassical architectural plan on the Church of Santa Maria in Campitelli in Rome. Construction was completed in 1784 by Francisco Sabatini.
Inside is an inspiring 58-meter-high dome, larger than the dome of Saint Paul's Cathedral in London. Magnificent paintings adorn the basilica's chapels, including masterpieces by the Spanish Old Masters.

This grand Neoclassical triumphal arch was commissioned by King Carlos III to celebrate the arrival of monarchs in the Spanish capital. The monument was designed by Francesco Sabatini and built between 1769 and 1778.
The nearly 30-meter-high gateway, made of elegant granite, makes an imposing impression. The façade is adorned with sculptures, capitals, and decorative reliefs.
Directly below the monument, at Calle Alcalá 54, is Madrid's chicest pastry shop, VAIT Pastelerías, offering exquisite cakes, cookies, pastries, chocolates, and hot chocolate.

The Museo Nacional del Prado is a truly world-class museum, with a collection of more than 8,000 paintings and 700 sculptures. Its extensive selection of artworks includes many masterpieces, including famous paintings that can rival the most renowned works in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
The Prado Museum displays around 2,300 pieces from its collection in more than 100 rooms across three floors. Trying to see everything in one visit can be daunting, but it is possible to focus on a specific itinerary featuring masterpieces. The Prado suggests "routes" (self-guided tours) featuring specific works.