3-Hour Electric Sightseeing

Overview

This three-hour electric bike ride starts at Calle de Santiago, 18, and works outward through the oldest parts of Madrid before finishing at the Templo de Debod. Wonder Tours Spain runs it with a bilingual guide, in English and Spanish, and the pedal assistance makes the riding easy on the legs.

The route follows a rough historical arc. Riders first thread the narrow streets around Calle Toledo and Plaza del Conde de Barajas, pass the San Miguel Market, and roll across Plaza Mayor in the old 17th-century core. From there it continues to Casa y Torre de los Lujanes, claimed as the city's oldest civilian building, then to Plaza de Oriente between the Royal Palace and the opera house, with stops at Plaza de la Armeria, the Almudena Cathedral side of the palace, the Sabatini Gardens and the Campo del Moro. The ride then leaves traffic behind for the banks of the Manzanares before the final stop at the Egyptian temple, a gift to Madrid after the Aswan High Dam was built.

It suits travellers who want broad coverage without walking the whole centre. One reviewer found the bike an excellent way to see a big city where you have to cover more territory, and said it gave a feeling of distance from crowded streets. Helmets, raincoats, baskets, locks and a city centre map are all provided.

Itinerary

1. Meet at Calle de SantiagoThe tour gathers at Calle de Santiago, 18.
2. Old town lanesRiders glide from Plaza San Miguel through the narrow streets to Calle Toledo and Plaza del Conde de Barajas, an area known for artisan shops.
3. Plaza Mayor and LujanesThe route crosses the cobblestones of Plaza Mayor and pauses at Casa y Torre de los Lujanes, the oldest civilian building in the city.
4. Royal Palace quarterStops include the view of Plaza de Oriente between the Royal Palace and the Royal Opera Theater, the palace entrance at Plaza de la Armeria, and Almudena Cathedral.
5. Palace gardensThe group visits the Sabatini Gardens within the palace complex and sees the planting of the Campo del Moro.
6. Manzanares riverbankThe ride leaves traffic for a quiet stretch along the Manzanares River, with some freedom to ride at ease.
7. Templo de DebodThe tour ends at the Egyptian temple, given to Madrid by the Egyptian government after the Aswan High Dam was built.

Common Questions