Lonely Planet Experiences: Madrid Tapas Adventure
Madrid, Spain
From USD 138.44
Office phone number: +34 633 344 231
Lonely Planet Experiences: Madrid Tapas Adventure
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
Fact: Spanish people love to eat. If you want to experience the real Madrid, take a tip from us: do as the locals do and nibble and chomp your way through the city. From Madrid’s oldest taverns to its modern hip hangouts, this is your chance to indulge in the most delectable cuisine – tapas. And hey, we’ll even teach you some pro tapas tips along the way, the ultimate souvenir to take home with you! Start practicing your humble brag…
Experience the best travel stories for yourself. Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this city adventure hand-picked by the world's leading travel publisher. Lonely Planet Experiences powered by Urban Adventures bring stories to life in the best-loved cities around the globe.
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Highlights
- Visit the first tapas market in the country and learn all about the importance of Spanish market culture
- Get an introduction to the traditions of the Spanish aperitivo with a traditional vermouth and olive tasting
- Taste traditional recipes with a modern twist in a tiny gourmet tapas bar owned by two dedicated sommeliers (that’s wine experts to you and me)
- Discover the oldest parts of Madrid and stop at some of our favourite heritage taverns to try the house dish in each of them, including the best potato croquettes in the entire city!
- Stroll around the trendy neighbourhood of La Latina and soak up the historic vibes and breathtaking architecture of the old city centre too
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destinations guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks
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Schedule details
- Duration: 4 hours
- Meeting point:
Plaza de la Villa, at the statue in the middle of the square.
Your guide will be holding an Urban Adventures sign
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 7.00 PM
- Ending point:
Puerta del Sol
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, 1 drink and 1 tapas dish at each stop (5 tastings stops - including a cheese and olive tasting, a bocadillo de calamares sandwich, a croquette tasting and a Spanish dessert) plus 6 alcoholic drinks.
Exclusions: Additional food and drink, items of personal nature, tips and gratuities for your guide.
Your tapas adventure begins in Plaza de la Villa, the old main square in central Madrid. After a brief introduction to the city and its tapas credentials, we’ll head towards Mercado de San Miguel, the first gourmet market in all of Spain, for the first of many food tastings. Here we’ll start with an aperitivo, what else?! We’ll try traditional vermouth and we’ll taste some of Spain’s most succulent olives too.
Spain is a well-known cheese producing nation, offering the world such cheesy delights as manchego, mahonand idizabal. We’ll try some delicious Spanish cheese, alongsidea glass of wine of course at one of the best cheese stalls in the market.
Next, we’ll head to the pulsating barrio of La Latina to explore its narrow lanes and fascinating history. This neighbourhood is ultra trendy right now and is popular with locals for its vibrant food and drink scene. We will visit a tiny, off the beaten path restaurant that is well known for their traditional tapas dishes - with a fusion twist. This tiny spot only has 6 tables so it’s always busy and it has a great atmosphere!
From there, we will head back to the oldest part of Madrid, as we walk we’ll continue to chat about the city’s history and food culture and your guide will point out some artisanal stores where you can pick up authentic, handmade souvenirs made by locals. If there’s time and the group are interested, we’ll make a quick stop at one of these shops.
Our next stop, right in the heart of Plaza Mayor is to try the iconic bocadillo de calamares, the famous sandwich of the city. To wash it down, we’ll try some local beer too! Back on the streets, your local guide will point out interesting sights and alternative food and drink stops for you to explore on your own as we head to our penultimate foodie highlight of the day.
Does it get much better than potato croquettes?! The perfect snack at any time of day and with so many different flavours to choose from, croquettes are the best! We’ll try some of Madrid’s most famous croquettes together at a heritage tavern that was originally built in 1860 and only specializes in these special potato treats.
After that, we’ll cross Puerta del Sol, one of the most iconic spots of Madrid and finish our tapas adventure with a local dessert and sweet wine in yet another historic location. This join has been run by the same family for over 100 years, serving a traditional Spanish dessert that might just remind you of something familiar.
Once you’ve finished your dessert, your guide will take you back to Puerta del Sol, where they can help you out with directions back to your accommodation or ideas on where to go next!
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, 1 drink and 1 tapas dish at each stop (5 tastings stops - including a cheese and olive tasting, a bocadillo de calamares sandwich, a croquette tasting and a Spanish dessert) plus 6 alcoholic drinks.
Exclusions: Additional food and drink, items of personal nature, tips and gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: Comfortable clothes and walking shoes are recommended. We recommend that you bring a water bottle, sunscreen, and hat during the summer months.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people
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.
Additional Information: If you have any allergies to certain foods, please let us know in advance by noting it in the ‘Additional Request’ section of the booking or by emailing info@madridurbanadventures.com.
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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