Things to do in

Aranjuez

Visit the 16th-century Royal Palace of Aranjuez with its lavish decoration, halls, and private rooms. You'll learn about the history of its royal inhabitants and their legacies from your knowledgeable local guide. This tour grants you access to many of the palace's rooms and areas, including private chambers. You'll pass through the Queen's Guard Room, the Music Room, and the Throne Room, where royals received private audiences. Get a glimpse of noble life as you enter the Queen's office and bedroom, and learn about their history and customary usage. You'll also enter the Porcelain Room, an astounding space completely lined with white porcelain and Rococo decoration. Then, gain exclusive access to the Moorish room, with its bronze and crystal chandelier and neo-Nasrid decoration. Finally, the tour will take you through the grand Reception Hall and the extraordinary Royal Chapel of the Palace.

Embark on an exclusive and unique journey through the history, culture, and flavors of Madrid in a premium small group experience. Spain's soul is intertwined with its wines, each bottle a testament to time, tradition, and terroir. Our 7-hour tour from Madrid promises not just a tasting, but a deep dive into this vinous legacy. Our adventure begins in the charming traditional village of Chinchón, renowned for its picturesque Plaza Mayor and authentic atmosphere. Immerse yourself in its rural charm as you explore cobblestone streets and historical monuments. Next, we head to Aranjuez, a UNESCO World Heritage city famed for its magnificent gardens and majestic Royal Palace. Stroll through the lush gardens, soaking in their beauty and tranquility while learning about the rich history that surrounds them. To culminate this unforgettable experience, we will visit a prestigious winery with a Designation of Origin from Madrid. And here, in its heart, is Finca El Regajal, an extensive 400-hectare estate in Aranjuez, a UNESCO World Heritage City, where you will discover 14 hectares of organic vineyards featuring Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, and Petit Verdot grape varieties, cultivated using environmentally friendly biodynamic practices. Our small, state-of-the-art winery crafts artisanal wines aged in French oak barrels. Experience the essence of nature in every bottle. Here, we will enjoy a wine tasting session featuring various varieties, each paired with a selection of traditional tapas from authentic Spanish rural cuisine. Delight your senses with the exquisite flavors of local wines and freshly prepared tapas.

Discover the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, a former Spanish royal residence located nearly 50 kilometers south of Madrid. This breathtaking structure, built using red brick and white limestone, has been home to the royal family of Spain for nearly four centuries. Inside, you'll find 20 rooms showcasing a diverse collection of clocks, a testament to King Charles IV’s fascination with horology. The palace grounds are equally captivating. The King’s Garden, with its manicured hedges and vibrant flowers, centers around a quaint fountain, one of many within the palace. The Island Garden offers tranquility, highlighted by the Hercules fountain, a fixture since 1661. Numerous other intricate fountains dot the landscape, powered by a reservoir and lead pipeline crafted in the mid-1500s, still operational today. Conclude your visit with a deeper understanding of Spain's royal history and an appreciation for the timeless architecture and gardens of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez.

Experience Spain's diverse heritage on a full-day tour from Madrid to Chinchón, Aranjuez, and Toledo. Begin in the picturesque town of Chinchón, known for its medieval charm and colourful Plaza Mayor. Next, journey to the royal city of Aranjuez to admire its magnificent Royal Palace and gardens. Conclude your adventure in the ancient city of Toledo, the 'City of Three Cultures,' and wander through historic streets, visit awe-inspiring landmarks like the gothic cathedral, Alcázar de Toledo and Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, and soak in centuries of cultural heritage. The tour includes an English and Spanish speaking live guide, comfortable transportation from Madrid to all destinations and back, guided walking tours in Chinchón, Aranjuez and Toledo, entrance to the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, free time to explore Toledo, and a panoramic bus tour in Toledo.

Learn all about the history of Aranjuez and marvel at its breathtaking natural landscape, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Stroll through the town with a knowledgeable guide leading you to the most important sites. The walk includes entry into one of Spain’s largest gardens, the Prince’s Garden.  On the tour, you’ll start at Plaza de Parejas, passing by cultural landmarks including impressive squares, important and historical civil structures like the Casa de los Infantes built by Carlos III, and the charming town market.  Once you enter the Prince’s Garden, your guide will lead you through one of Spain’s most enchanting spots. Marvel at its historic orchards, tree-lined walks, mythical gardens, and monumental fountains. All the while, learn about its botanical, historical, and cultural background.

Dive into the dark and mysterious stories behind the construction of the top highlights in the city of Aranjuez on this guided walking tour. Find out about its connection to sacred architecture, occultism, and freemasonry. Admire sights like the Fountain of Apollo and the Stairway of the Statues. Meet your guide at the beginning of the Palace Avenue and listen as your guide explains why the landscape was modified prior to the completion of the royal palace with tree-lined avenues creating geometric figures that were only visible from the sky. Immerse yourself in the city's hidden mythology, secret architecture, and haunted houses as you hear stories about the mutiny of Aranjuez, deaths of queens, conspiracies, alchemy, impalement, maddened kings, secret tunnels, and apparitions. View the other side of the Royal Palace at the Plaza de Parejas and pass thorugh Plaza de la Parada and Plaza de Abastos. Admire the lush Garden of the King and Queen, Garden of the Parterre (French garden), Garden of the Island, and the Garden of the Florist.  See fountains that are based on myths like the Fountain of Hercules and the Hydra, the Apollo Fountain, the Clock Fountain, the Diana Fountain, the Venus Fountain, the Boticaria Fountain, the Nereids Fountain, the Ceres Fountain, the Hercules and Antaeus Fountain, and the Thorn Child Fountain.  Be transported back in time as you stroll by the Baroque Church of San Antonio, the 18th century House of Trades and Knights, the House of Infantes (Carlos III), the local Market, and the Town Hall.  Watch as the stories come to life thorugh images, videos, and well-crafted tales. Uncover the secrets that wise initiates have kept hidden in Aranjuez since the reign of Philip II. Aranjuez.  Peel back the layers of this World Heritage Cultural Landscape that was created as a temple of nature based on mathematical principles related to a supreme power dating back to the Egyptians. 

This guided tour of one of Spain’s largest gardens will reveal the botanical, historical, and cultural significance of these enchanting grounds, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Cultural Landscape. See the most important and beautiful areas of the garden, including its famous array of fountains, the Swiss Mountain viewing point built in the 18th century, and the American and Asian Islands.  From here, you’ll marvel at the Pond of the Chinescos. Known as the garden’s seventh wonder, it houses the iconic gazebo designed in traditional Chinese architectural style.  Along the way, you’ll learn from your guide about the logistics of bringing foreign seedlings into the gardens, the introduction of cinnamon into Aranjuez from the Philippines, and the role the gardens have played in political battles throughout history. 

An easy and fun way to get to know the most emblematic places in Madrid is a Segway tour. Tour the Lavapies neighborhood, an extramural neighborhood from the 15th century and one of the most traditional and multicultural in Madrid, inhabited mainly by the lower classes. We will walk through its medieval streets full of street works and murals that make the area an urban art gallery mixing a wide range of Indian restaurants and traditional Spanish taverns giving that special flavor to the neighborhood. Surrounded by cultural centers such as La Tabacalera, where avant-garde exhibitions and events are organized that contrast with the nearby Reina Sofía Museum, famous for masterpieces of modern art such as Picasso's "Guernica". We will also pass through the lively San Fernando Market, where it is possible to buy clothes, cheeses, books and craft beers while you browse its fruit, vegetable and traditional butcher shops. In short, a neighborhood that breathes flavor and culture throughout its entire route.