Do you recommend any of the free Madrid walking tours? Are they worth it? The ones that I checked online are 3.5 hs long. Any shorter ones?

Thanks,
Clau

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If you're referring to the "tours for tips", then no, I can't recommend them. They are not locals nor are they licensed tour guides. The Tourist Office of Madrid offers excellent tours at a very reasonable price. There are also several licensed tour guides available, should you want somerhing more personal and informative.

As mentioned above, the tourist office offers tours for what, 10 or 12 eu- we enjoyed the tour. There were quite a few people, but we could see and hear pretty well. If it's too long for you, you can always leave it early, but the time went by quickly. We loved it there, have fun!

I would also recommend the tours given by the tourist office. Last year we took the one beginning at the Plaza Mayor and the guide was very good.

Ditto for the Plaza Mayor TI Office tours. Offered in English and in Spanish.

Check out the official website at www.esmadrid.com.
Click on the section "Always". There you will find a listing of all of the tourist office tours. They are excellent as others have mentioned.

I learned something new-the free tours are offered by Sandemans! I had never heard of them!
I have enjoyed the tours offered by the Madrid tourist office-just under 4 euros-a bargain.The guides are professionals-they have to pass a rigorous test.If you understand some Spanish,there is a great selection of tours offered.They keep changing the tours so it's best to stop at the tourist office in Madrid for the latest info.
My favorite tour,no longer is offered, was the one that took us into the Botin and Lhardy restaurants and the oldest shops in Madrid.

You can read about Sandemans here http://www.neweuropetours.eu/ Comments about the company blanket the Internet. But it is certain that tips are
expected on these "free" tours, especially since the volunteer guides have to pay a fee to Sandemans -- or so several sources have told me.