Architecture tour Gran Vía from its best rooftops 20thC
5
Architecture tour Gran Vía from its best rooftops 20thC
By architoursmad
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About
We propose you learning something else about Gran Vía and surroundings from the urban, historical and architectural point of view since it was conceived more than 100 years ago until its recent last reform. We will start on the rooftop of the Círculo de Bellas Artes, projected by Antonio Palacios, where you will enjoy the best views of the city. Likewise, we will know the history of other buildings such as the new headquarters of the City Council or the Cervantes Institute, Torres Blancas or Colón Towers. After going down the impressive staircase of the Círculo de Bellas Artes and visiting the building inside, we will start walking the first stretch of Gran Vía, stopping at Loewe, the luxury brand where Ava Gardner bought his exclusive bags before going to celebrate the premiere of his films at Museo Chicote with a cocktail together with bullfighters like Luis Miguel Dominguín, as Almodovar has done later in the 80`s. We will visit the Telefónica Building, the first Madrid skyscraper, whose cultural Foundation we will access together. We will continue the journey through the second section of Gran Vía, knowing the old Paris-Madrid Mall, the first luxury shopping center in Madrid. Later we will remember the missing Hotel Florida in Callao where Ernest Hemingway shared nights with international correspondents covering the Spanish Civil War. From here you will enjoy the views of the third section of Gran Vía with its cinemas and musical theaters that we will walk together to Plaza de España where we will finish at the last rooftop. A secret corner where we will have a drink while I tell you the project that will change this square with the Casa de Campo, Sabatini Gardens and the Royal Palace in the background.
Other things to note
Access to the first rooftop is not included (+5€/pax).
It is offered as an option to finish the tour on the rooftop of the new Hotel Riu Plaza de España on the 27th floor with amazing views.
Access MON-FRI +5€/pax till 6pm (no queue) +10€/pax from 6pm (queue of 20-30min).
SAT-SUN +10€ ALL DAY (queues in the afternoon-evening)
I offer other rooftops at the end of the architous without paying an entrance.
The acces to all the rest of the buildings is included.
You can have something to drink on the rooftops where we will stop at the beginning or at the end of the architour as an option.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 11-99, max of 10 per group
Duration: 190–210 minutes
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Spanish
More
- 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.
What's not included- Circulo de Bellas Artes rooftop+building entrance +5.50€
- Option to finish rooftop RIU HOTEL M-F 11am-5pm + € 5 M-F 5pm-23pm +€10 SAT-SUN-BANK HOLIDAYS + € 10 all day
- Drinks on the rooftops are not included
- Entry/Admission - Circulo de Bellas Artes
- Entry/Admission - Plaza De España
- Start:
- Azotea del Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid, C. del Marqués de Casa Riera, 2, Centro, 28004 Madrid, SpainWe will meet in fron of the entrance to the building at Calle de Marqués de Casa de Riera, 20
End:- Plaza de España, Pl. de España, Moncloa - Aravaca, Madrid, SpainWe 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.
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 148549P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 148549P1
From
$167.22
per adult (price varies by group size)
Select date and travelers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- Azotea del Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid, C. del Marqués de Casa Riera, 2, Centro, 28004 Madrid, SpainWe will meet in fron of the entrance to the building at Calle de Marqués de Casa de Riera, 20
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- Pl. de España, Moncloa - Aravaca, Madrid, SpainWe 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.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- amyeC8205CL0 contributionsBOOK this tour with Emilio! 10/10 recommend. Choose your walking shoes carefully! :)Wonderful tour! Emilio had so much breadth and depth of knowledge around the history, politics and architecture of these neighborhoods. We SO appreciated his energy and enthusiasm and because of him we were able to see and appreciate many spots that we would have otherwise missed or perhaps seen but without contextualization. Our daughter is studying architecture and was in Madrid for the semester, we did this tour when we visited during her last month there. I wish she'd been aware of and able to go with Emilio for his other tour(s)-so much to learn about this beautiful city. Highly recommend booking this tour and wear your most comfortable walking shoes!!!Written June 18, 2024
- YP00000 contributionsTop notch tourOur tour with Emilio was even better than we had hoped, and we have high standards. Emilio’s knowledge of history (which is what we were most interested in) was extremely thorough and he wove together the clear connections between the history of the city and the architecture around us. Some tour guides deliver facts in a way that can be hard to follow, but Emilio’s sequencing of events flowed seamlessly and coherently. Very highly recommended.Written May 29, 2024
- fedebillie0 contributionsA great addition to your trip to MadridGreat 3h30m tour of the Lavapies district, full of insights and fun facts. Emilio was a very knowledgeable guide. Would certainly recommend.Written November 23, 2023
- 243marcelinel0 contributionsExcellent tour of MadridOur guide was attentive, knowledgeable and professional. Despite the heatwave and the small number in the group (4 of us) he was great in his delivery and took some great pictures of us. Thank you for giving us such great memories. I would recommend this tour.Written September 1, 2023
- Camper514190 contributionsExcellent tourExcellent tour and overview of the history of old Madrid! The tour brought the origins of the city to life. As a first time visitor to Madrid, it was a great start to understanding the city.Written January 4, 2023
- Jjb3620 contributionsFriendly and knowledgeable tour guideGreat tour, Emilio was friendly and knowledgeable and the tour was a good length of time taking in a range of sites around Madrid.Written October 5, 2022
- Lopez00FL0 contributionsDigging Deep into the history! AmazingVery interesting information about Madrid ! Went to places even the locals don’t know about, digging very deep into this city’s history.Written November 14, 2021
- Linda D0 contributionsDistinguishing Madrid's Neighborhoods' with ArchitectureEmilio was a wonderful guide and his perspective as an architect provided tremendous insight beyond the traditional historical information of a walking tour. He also provided a tailored experience for us, since we will be returning to Madrid with a group of students. We were just off the airplane from California, but he kept us moving and interested in a neighborhood I had not spent much time in before. We enjoyed his lunch and museum recommendations as well. Muchas gracias Emilio!Written October 5, 2021
- aroanativa0 contributionsAs pictured!This avenue with the iconic Schweppes luminous sign is everything a photographer can ask in this beautiful city. This is literally the Spanish "5th. Avenue"Written September 8, 2020
- JDamianGBG0 contributionsNot to be missed!A must when in Madrid. For tourists and locals alike. Discover Madrid while strolling around visiting off the beaten tracks places or well-know places with another, really interesting twist. Your guide will give you full details of each building along with information about the history of Madrid.Written March 5, 2020
- SCason10 contributionsAMAZING AND UNIQUE!We never would have seen any of this without Emilio, and his architectural history taught us so much in a very interactive way as we were seeing it all from the tops of the buildings! WOW! Truly a unique perspective and tour that you should not miss!. Emilio was outstanding.Written February 28, 2020
- puma_ak0 contributionsGreat way to learn about Madrid and LavapiesThis was a great tour - Emilio knows a lot about Madrid, Lavapies district, architecture and politics. He showed us "his neighbourhood" and places we probably wouldn't have seen on our own.Written December 9, 2019
- azucar7250 contributionsFantastic Architectural Tour!Emilio is a knowledgeable and friendly tour guide. His tours don't just point things out; he provides historical and architectural context which really brings the city to life. It's clear that he knows his stuff and can answer anything you throw at him! As an urban planner myself, I loved that he could get into the details of why/how things were built. I took the bike tour of Madrid Rio and it was a fantastic way to learn about this relatively recent area of Madrid while enjoying a leisurely bike ride on trails. In addition, Emilio has great suggestions for other places to visit, restaurants, and shopping. Take one of his tours! It will improve your understanding of Madrid as a city and be a great time.Written November 1, 2019
- jeremyvandermeij0 contributionsAmazing tour!This is not your average boring tour! Emilio was an informed and fun tour guide. As a designer and urban enthusiast I really enjoyed hearing about the long history of city planning, supported by the places we visited and copies of historical plans that he brought on the trip. My tour involved biking along a beautiful green biking trail which was a great break from the city centre where I was staying. Emilio is warm, kind and generous. I highly recommend doing his tours.Written September 10, 2019
- Claudia L0 contributionsLovely!Emilio is a lovely guide who knows pretty much everything about architectures & their history & their development around the area! The park itself was lovely and I was surprised that it was not crowded with people. I learned and enjoyed so much about a part of Mardid that I wouldn't have otherwise without this tour. Highly recommend it!Written July 10, 2019
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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56 reviews
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Jhon VK
1 contribution
Dec 2019
This tour hosted by our guide Emilio was the perfect way to get to know the lively area of the Gran Via of Madrid. From breathtaking bird eye views atop the terraces of some of Madrid's most iconic buildings to the discreet little boutiques where we discovered hidden architectural gems, every aspect of this grand avenue was commented and put in a historical context by our guide.
Emilio is passionate about his city and he drew the overall picture but he also pimped up his tour with entertaining anecdotes and insiders' information.
I would certainly recommend Architour for anyone interested in knowing the city better and from a different perspective, be it local, tourists from Spain or from abroad. Well worth the money, can't wait to book another tour on my next visit!
Emilio is passionate about his city and he drew the overall picture but he also pimped up his tour with entertaining anecdotes and insiders' information.
I would certainly recommend Architour for anyone interested in knowing the city better and from a different perspective, be it local, tourists from Spain or from abroad. Well worth the money, can't wait to book another tour on my next visit!
Written January 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks a lot for your review, Jhon. It was a pleasure to show you a small part of my city sharing the evening with you all, including the chat with drinks in the last rooftop. Happy to know you enjoyed the views from some of the best rooftops in the city and our secret hidden gems not so populars than the most touristic ones but we love you love them. See you
soon in another of my architours in Madrid.
Written February 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Fidel S
Levallois-Perret, France1 contribution
Dec 2019
The visit starts with an excellent overview of the history of the city of Madrid. It is done with very nice and didactic slides at an exceptional place to view the city, the terrace of the "Circle de Bellas Artes". The visit has great stops such those at LOEWE and Telefonica where some hidden gems are viewed and some visits to great terraces. The end of the visit having a drink on some fantastic (and in some cases very well hidden that add a sense of discovery to the visit) terraces is really a great closure to a great tour".
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks a lot for your review, Fidel. It was a pleasure to show you a part of my city , including the chat with drinks in the last secret rooftop. Happy to know you enjoyed the views and our secret hidden gems not so populars than the most touristic ones but we love you love them. See you
soon in another of our architours in Madrid.
Written February 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Diep T
Hanoi, Vietnam2 contributions
Sep 2022 • Friends
Great experience! Emilio was very knowledgeable, not only about the city’s architecture but also its history. I went on 4 different tours in Madrid (tuktuk, walking tour, etc.) and I learned the most on this tour.
Now keep in mind Emilio’s accent is a little thick, so if you’re not good with accents it might be a little difficult to follow along in the beginning, but after 15 mins we get used to it. Plus he brought along a book of slides he made on the topic making it much easier to follow along.
Now that we are visiting other cities on the trip, every time I look up at a building I would wonder what kind of architecture this is, does that mean it was built in century XX, etc. Emilio taught us not only about the architecture of Madrid, but also how to look at every city in Europe you go to through the lens of architecture. I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting Madrid 😊
Now keep in mind Emilio’s accent is a little thick, so if you’re not good with accents it might be a little difficult to follow along in the beginning, but after 15 mins we get used to it. Plus he brought along a book of slides he made on the topic making it much easier to follow along.
Now that we are visiting other cities on the trip, every time I look up at a building I would wonder what kind of architecture this is, does that mean it was built in century XX, etc. Emilio taught us not only about the architecture of Madrid, but also how to look at every city in Europe you go to through the lens of architecture. I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting Madrid 😊
Written September 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your review, Diep. I am glad to know that you learned and enjoyed our experience together. It was a pleasure to share with you the afternoon, discovering the history of my city through its architecture. I am really happy knowing that you have started visiting every European city, going to through the lens of architecture. It is a great way to learn about the histoty of every city, as I try to do it with Madrid. Next time, if you had any problem with my acccent, do not hesitate to let me know it, please.
Written October 28, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bea
28 contributions
Sep 2021 • Solo
Emilio was our guide. He has extensive knowledge of the historical use of buildings along Gran Via as well as architectural expertise. We started and ended the tour on rooftops with spectacular views on each end of Gran Via. He spent a lot of time with us (more than expected). The tour was extremely interesting if you love architecture and urban planning.
Written September 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your opinion. I really appreciate that you enjoyed the views from the rooftops and all the contents related with architecture, urbanism and history. It was a pleasure to share the afternoon with you discovering my city for you.
Written October 10, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jose G
Mülheim an der Ruhr, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany4 contributions
Highly recommendable. Great opportunity to experience Madrid in a different way with a personalized tour, we were only 4 people. Lots of details and interesting facts to know about the history and development of one of the most emblematic streets in Madrid and the urban development of Madrid itself. Very professional and caring, we actually finished way behind schedule because of the amount of details and things we saw. Indeed we had the chance to see an exhibit for free. Great value for money.
Written July 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christopher J
Atlanta, United States51 contributions
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.
Written March 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to write a review, Chris. I am glad to know that you enjoyed the experience. I hope to meet you again in your next visit to Madrid in other of our architours.
Written May 30, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Adomvatik
Tel Aviv, Israel375 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
I consider it as "must do walking seminar" in order to understand the background of the streets, the buildings and the history of the city!
Our guide Emilio was great. His English was good. The tour and info provided accompanied us in the rest of days we stay in Madrid. We were a group of 4 and book a private tour (a little more expensive than booking in a group, but more convenient).
Don't miss!
Our guide Emilio was great. His English was good. The tour and info provided accompanied us in the rest of days we stay in Madrid. We were a group of 4 and book a private tour (a little more expensive than booking in a group, but more convenient).
Don't miss!
Written June 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Juan V
1 contribution
Dec 2023 • Couples
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 !
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 !
Written January 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dennis J
1 contribution
Aug 2021
Emilio is fantastic. I took a tour with him actually before the pandemic, but the site doesn't allow me to go that far back. I've owed him this review for a long time! He is personable, knowledgeable, accommodating, and patient. He went out of his way to gain special access to a tall building's rooftop. He's known and respected in the area. The views were fantastic. Emilio shared with me a fair amount of the history of Gran Via, the development, the redevelopment, the economy. It was all very interesting -- It was in the 90s F, so it was pretty hot. I highly recommend him!
Written August 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Than you very much for you review, Denis. It was a pleasure to share the day with you.It is really nice when someone as you show interest in all the info and stories I tell during the architour. Hope to meet you soon enjoying other of my architours in Madrid.
Written September 18, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lena J
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Solo
The tour was a total charm and unique experience, being able to see Gran Vía from above and below. I recommend this tour to anyone interested in architecture and urban planning. Thanks to Emilio for all the information and impulses about the development of the city, both in the past and present, that you have shared with us. I returned home with tired feet and a full and happy mind :)) until next time!
Written October 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tiene tour para hoy en la mañana. 28 deoctubre ?
Written October 28, 2021
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