Electric Tuk-Tuk Tour Madrid: Modern Landmarks & Salamanca

4.63

(60 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed as we zipped along the wide lanes of Paseo de la Castellana was how quiet the electric tuk-tuk felt compared to the city’s usual traffic. Our guide, Javier, pointed out the grand facades lining the Salamanca district—Serrano Street especially stood out with its shiny boutiques and folks in sharp suits ducking into cafés like El Espejo. The air carried a hint of roasted chestnuts from a street vendor near Plaza de Colón, where we paused just long enough to snap a photo of Columbus perched above the busy intersection.

We rolled past La Cibeles—locals just call it “La Cibeles”—with its lion-drawn chariot fountain right in the heart of Madrid. Real Madrid fans sometimes gather here after big wins; you could almost feel that energy lingering in the square. The tuk-tuk made it easy to hop off for quick pictures at Puerta de Alcalá and then again at Gran Vía, where you’ll spot everything from old cinemas turned theaters to international fashion shops. I liked how our guide mixed little-known facts (like why the Prado Museum used to be a natural science museum) with stories about daily life in these neighborhoods.

We cruised by Atocha Station—its old ironwork roof is hard to miss—and caught glimpses of both the Reina Sofía and Prado museums nearby. At each stop, Javier shared just enough history without making it feel like a lecture; for example, he explained how Almudena Cathedral sits on what was once an old mosque and why its crypt feels so different from the main church above. Even if you’re not an art buff or architecture nerd, seeing these places up close gives you a sense of how Madrid blends old and new.