--- title: Architecture tour Gran Vía from its best rooftops 20thC lang: en alternate_de: https://guidekin.com/de/spain/madrid/tours/architecture-tour-gran-v-a-from-its-best-rooftops-20thc/ type: tour city: Madrid country: Spain price: 176 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.96 reviews: 74 duration_minutes: 215 duration_max_minutes: 240 languages: [en, es] free_cancellation: "true" schedule_checked: 2026-10-02 data_updated: 2026-10-12 canonical: https://guidekin.com/spain/madrid/tours/architecture-tour-gran-v-a-from-its-best-rooftops-20thc/ --- # Architecture tour Gran Vía from its best rooftops 20thC **Guidekin's take:** Read Gran Vía's architecture from street and rooftop viewpoints on a private tour for your party. An architect leads the visit using plans and historical photos; rooftop drinks and Circle of Fine Arts admission are excluded. 4.96 from 74 reviews at €176 per person for 3h 35m–4h. ## Overview We propose you learning something else about Gran Vía and surroundings from the urban, historical and architectural point of view since it was conceived more than 100 years ago until its recent last reform. We will start on the rooftop of the Círculo de Bellas Artes, projected by Antonio Palacios, where you will enjoy the best views of the city. Likewise, we will know the history of other buildings such as the new headquarters of the City Council or the Cervantes Institute, Torres Blancas or Colón Towers. After going down the impressive staircase of the Círculo de Bellas Artes and visiting the building inside, we will start walking the first stretch of Gran Vía, stopping at Loewe, the luxury brand where Ava Gardner bought his exclusive bags before going to celebrate the premiere of his films at Museo Chicote with a cocktail together with bullfighters like Luis Miguel Dominguín, as Almodovar has done later in the 80`s. We will visit the Telefónica Building, the first Madrid skyscraper, whose cultural Foundation we will access together. We will continue the journey through the second section of Gran Vía, knowing the old Paris-Madrid Mall, the first luxury shopping center in Madrid. Later we will remember the missing Hotel Florida in Callao where Ernest Hemingway shared nights with international correspondents covering the Spanish Civil War. From here you will enjoy the views of the third section of Gran Vía with its cinemas and musical theaters that we will walk together to Plaza de España where we will finish at the last rooftop. A secret corner where we will have a drink while I tell you the project that will change this square with the Casa de Campo, Sabatini Gardens and the Royal Palace in the background. Other things to note Access to the first rooftop is not included (+5€/pax). It is offered as an option to finish the tour on the rooftop of the new Hotel Riu Plaza de España on the 27th floor with amazing views. Access MON-FRI +5€/pax till 6pm (no queue) +10€/pax from 6pm (queue of 20-30min). SAT-SUN +10€ ALL DAY (queues in the afternoon-evening) I offer other rooftops at the end of the architous without paying an entrance. The acces to all the rest of the buildings is included. You can have something to drink on the rooftops where we will stop at the beginning or at the end of the architour as an option. ## Before you book - Meeting point: We will meet in fron of the entrance to… - Min. 2 to book: not for solo travellers - 4 start times: between 10:30 and 16:30 - Food not included: Drinks on the rooftops are not included - Age 11+: minimum age to join **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €176 per person - Duration: 3h 35m–4h - Rating: 4.96/5 from 74 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Operator: architoursmad - Minimum booking: 2 travellers at this price - Group: Private tour, your party only - Guide languages: English, Spanish - Start times: 10:30, 11:00, 16:00, 16:30 - Booking: mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-02 ## Reviews 4.96 from 74 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 100% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 74 of 74. - 5 stars: 71 (96%) - 4 stars: 3 (4%) - 3 stars: 0 (0%) - 2 stars: 0 (0%) - 1 star: 0 (0%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers praise the architectural detail and rooftop views; some find the tour or its opening talk too long. **Praised:** - Detailed explanations connecting architectural styles with Madrid's history - Rooftop views that put the buildings in their wider city setting - Visits to buildings and spaces travellers might not find on their own - Historic photographs and visual aids that clarify the city's development **Complaints:** - Some found the opening history talk or the overall tour too long Written by Guidekin from the 39 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2019-05-15 to 2025-10-26); last checked 2026-10-04. ## What's included - Fundación Telefónica entrance - The visit led by a local architect who will give you the artistic historical context of the buildings, accompanied by plans and historical photos to understand the urban development of the city in each period. ## Not included - Option to finish rooftop RIU HOTEL M-F 11am-5pm + € 5 M-F 5pm-23pm +€10 SAT-SUN-BANK HOLIDAYS + € 10 all day - Drinks on the rooftops are not included - Circle of Fine Arts ## Itinerary 1. **Circulo De Bellas Artes** (1h 15m) - We will start on the rooftop from where we will explain the urban and architectural development of the city while enjoying the best views of the city. Then we will go down the impressive staircase visiting the interior of the Antonio Palacios building. 2. **We will get into the art-deco atmosphere that Luis Gutiérrez Soto projected i...** (5m) - We will get into the art-deco atmosphere that Luis Gutiérrez Soto projected in 1931, where Hollywood stars such as Ava Gadner to Almodovar have celebrated the premieres of their films in Madrid. 3. **Edificio Telefonica** (20m) - We will visit the interior of the first skyscraper in Madrid, knowing how it was when it was built in 1929 and its last reform in 2012. 4. **Edificio Carrion** (5m) - We will learn about the history of the 1933 building with the famous Schweppes neons and its surroundings in Plaza del Callao. 5. **Plaza De Espana** (15m) - We will finish on a rooftop at Plaza de España with amazing views of the Royal Palace, the Cathedral,. the Royal Theater and Casa de Campo forest. You could stay having a drink while you enjoy the views. ## Schedule - Runs: Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun - Departures: 10:30, 11:00, 16:00, 16:30 - Schedule last checked: 2026-10-02 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. ## Meeting point We will meet in fron of the entrance to the building at Calle de Marqués de Casa de Riera, 20 Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJs-b4dIQoQg0RppCQ716gG_w Ends: We will end up in a secret terrace of a hotel where you can stay having a drink while enjoying the views the Royal Palace, the Cathedral or Casa de Campo forest. ## Good to know - Public transportation options are available nearby - Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap - Suitable for all physical fitness levels Booking asks for: dates of birth ## Cost for your party | People | Total | Per person | |---|---|---| | 2 | €352 | €176 | | 4 | €380 | €95 | | 6 | €402 | €67 | Cheapest option for that party size from the operator's current price tiers; the calendar shows the exact figure for your date. ## More in Madrid - All Madrid tours: https://guidekin.com/spain/madrid/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/spain/madrid/tours/architecture-tour-gran-v-a-from-its-best-rooftops-20thc/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/spain/madrid/?format=md