Madrid Gourmet Tapas & Local Neighbourhoods
Madrid, Spain
From USD 135.25
Office phone number: +34 633 344 231
Madrid Gourmet Tapas & Local Neighbourhoods
Madrid, Spain
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Discover Madrid’s lesser known, historic neighbourhoods and learn about the city’s history and how these areas have changed over time. We’ll explore the hidden gems of these residential areas and together we’ll experience how the locals live — and eat! Along the way, we will stop at a few local spots to sample some of our favourite traditional tapas dishes
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Highlights
- Indulge in a traditional Spanish breakfast in an iconic chocolateria
- Experience the charming local tradition of shopping for sweets in a cluster convent
- Visit one of the most famous gourmet markets in the whole country
- Taste local, organic wines and Spanish olive oil some of our favourite Madrid markets
- Discover the secrets of La Latina and Lavapies neighbourhoods and learn all about the capital’s scintillating history as we wander the pretty streets
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Schedule details
- Duration: 4 hours
- Meeting point:
Plaza Isabel II, at the statue of the woman in the middle of the square, facing the Opera House’s façade(Metro stop: Opera). Your guide will be holding an Urban Adventures sign.
- Starting time: 10.00 AM
- Ending point:
The heart of Barrio de Las Letras neighborhood: Huertas Street corner with Calle del Leon street.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, food & drink samples (hot chocolate with churros, olive oil tasting, wine tasting, cava tasting, 5 tapas dishes).
Exclusions: Additional food and drink, any sweets bought from the cluster convent, items of a personal nature, personal shopping, tips and gratuities for your guide.
Your Madrid gourmet tapas adventure will begin in front of the Opera House, in the oldest part of the city. After setting the scene, your expert local guide will lead you towards one of the most famous chocolaterias in town where we’ll enjoy a deliciously sweet breakfast of hot chocolate and churros!
Energy levels sufficiently topped up, we will take a stroll around the city centre, as your guide shows you some key landmarks including Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Villa and regales you with historic tales about the Spanish monarchy and the people of Madrid over the centuries.
Our second stop will be the first ever gourmet tapas market in Spain, Mercado de San Miguel (built in 1916), where we’ll taste a few different tapas dishes, as we chat about Spanish culinary culture, food traditions and the introduction of gourmet markets to the foodie shopping scene.
Next, we’ll head over to Madrid’s only remaining cluster convent to buy homemade sweets. This is a proud tradition of Spain that’s slowly getting lost as younger generations change their perspective on religion.
After our visit to the convent, we will leave the city centre and make our way to the neighbourhood of La Latina, there you will be surprised to discover hidden historical corners such as the remains of the old walls of Madrid, plus heritage Inns from the 18th century. One or two of these are privately owned but we have exclusive access to visit and admire them.
Our third stop will be the local grocery market of La Latina, where an organic olive oil and wine tasting awaits… We’ll meet the owner who is focussed on helping small producers from all over Spain to promote their wines and olive oils. Spain is the orchard of Europe and its wine and olive oil industries are amongst the largest in the world. The agriculture is moving more towards organic production now, respecting the land and promoting high-quality products. This tasting will help you better understand this organic revolution!
After the tasting, we will walk through the biggest flea market in Spain, El Rastro. Your guide will give you the lowdown on this popular market and for anyone staying in Madrid on a Sunday, we strongly recommend that you pay it another visit.
The Lavapies neighbourhood is next on our foodie agenda, Madrid’s most multi-cultural neighbourhood and home to the original born-and-raised Madrileños, a common name for the people of Madrid. This area has now transformed into an exciting (and tasty) fusion of world cultures. African restaurants rub shoulders with Asian shops and Indian cafés and local traditions mix with what’s hot on the alternative art scene. Along the way we’ll explore an old Inquisition prison and discover its stories. As we’re in a small group, we can enter small places like this without causing much of a disturbance.
Your gourmet tapas tour of Madrid will end in Barrio de las letras, a very bohemian and chic neighborhood in the heart of Madrid. We’ll make a stop at the market of Anton Martin where you will taste organic cava paired with more delicious gourmet tapas dishes. Then we’ll go into the heart of this charming neighborhood where your guide will be happy to orientate you / help you get back to your accommodation and /or give you more tips on what else to see, do and eat in marvelous Madrid
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, food & drink samples (hot chocolate with churros, olive oil tasting, wine tasting, cava tasting, 5 tapas dishes).
Exclusions: Additional food and drink, any sweets bought from the cluster convent, items of a personal nature, personal shopping, tips and gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: Comfortable clothes and walking shoes are recommended. We recommend that you also bring a water bottle, sunscreen, and hat during the summer months.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +34 633 344 231
Email address: info@madridurbanadventures.com
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