Can anyone recommend a good company/person offering walking tours of Madrid?<BR><BR>

Julie,<BR><BR>Although I have not used thier service as yet, I am also planning a trip to Spain and have been looking at www.walksofspain.com and www.viator.com. Let me know if you find any others that look promising!<BR>

If you read 1 or 2 books I think you don't need a walking tour at all, use the public resources you have at hand (like the office for tourism information). I admit that having somebody explaining it to you saves time (although not money)<BR><BR>A Madrid resident

Nicole - thanks for the tip!<BR><BR>Just returned from Madrid and spent an evening on the town with Adres from [email protected] <BR><BR>We visited some tapas bars and a very chill-out flamenco bar that were all fantastic. Sampled the best sangria I've ever had. Admitedly, the tour took me to places I would never have found, nor were they listed in my guide book. A great way to spend an evening.<BR><BR>

Julie,<BR><BR>Great! Sounds like a great tour for us as well! I'll book it!<BR><BR>Nicole

While I often enjoy exploring on my own I really feel that it is worth it to have a guide in many places--even at art exhibits in New York City (where I live) I usually take the tours offered. <BR><BR>A good guide can do more than recite what is in a book. Besides technical issues like proper directions, current opening/closing times, etc. a guide can make the sites seem alive, by telling you not only what is written about a place but what they think about it personally. If you get someone who is alert and responsive it will make the visit far more memorable than just seeing a particular building, painting or street. <BR><BR>The tourist office in Madrid on Plaza Mayor has walking tours available, I took some of them two years ago and was quite happy with their guides.