podtour
Barrio de las Letras: Cervantes, Lope and Quevedo
In just a few blocks, the most famous writers in the Spanish language lived, loathed each other and were buried.
From Puerta del Sol to Plaza Mayor: audio walk in Madrid
The heart of Madrid in an hour: a bear that moved house, a clock that gave back the time, a hidden staircase, the Second of May in Sol, the gossip steps of Calle Mayor, and a square that burnt three times and had five names.
See the walkFree route
What this walk is about
You start beside the Bear and the Strawberry Tree and find out how a crossroads worth less than the Plaza Mayor became the point from which Spain's roads are measured: a clock that replaced a bell, a post office with a guardroom where the staircase should have been, the afternoon of the Mamelukes in 1808 and the Kilometre Zero plaque. Along Calle Mayor you reach the mentidero, the steps where Madrid heard all the news, and then walk into the Plaza Mayor: five names, plaque by plaque, a bronze horse that came from Florence and blew up in 1931, the false fire alarm of 1631, and houses eight storeys high standing over the moat of the old town wall. You finish outside a restaurant whose legend has a date of birth.
- Start
- The bear that moved
- Finish
- How a legend is made
- Who it is for
- A good starting point for your first visit. A choice for families with teenagers. You don’t need any prior knowledge.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- The walk has slopes or changes in level. The route notes mention stairs or steps on the walk or its approaches.
The route, stop by stop
An outline of the walk. The full stories are in the app.
Loading the map…
Open a marker to see its page. Use two fingers to move the map on mobile.
- 1
The bear that moved
- 2
The clock that gave Madrid the right time
- 3
The uprising of 2 May in Sol
- 4
The hidden staircase in the post office
- 5
The square that wasn't the centre
- 6
Where Madrid traded gossip
- 7
Five names for one square
- 8
The Florentine horse that burst open
- 9
Fire in the Plaza Mayor
- 10
Eight storeys above a moat
- 11
How a legend is made
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Madrid, before you go
Madrid makes sense square by square. Leave room for a terrace, an unexpected slope and a proper break when the sunshine gets strong.
More walks nearby
Good to know
What is Podtour?
An app for self-guided audio walks. Choose a city and a route, then listen to the stories behind its streets. You decide when to start and when to stop.
When can I download the app?
Podtour is coming to iOS and Android. There is no confirmed launch date yet. Join the waitlist and we will let you know when it is ready.
Does Podtour include attraction tickets?
No. Street walks and monument audio tours do not include admission tickets, transport or a guide accompanying you.
Can I listen without an internet connection?
Download the audio in the app before heading out, then listen offline. Loading the online base map and calculating a new route from your location require a connection.
What languages are included?
Every route includes Spanish and British English. The English version is adapted for English-speaking travellers, rather than translated word for word.
How do I get a whole city for free?
Join the waitlist, choose a city and confirm your email address. When the app launches, we will email you with access details. No card is required. You can also try one free route in every city.
Can I buy for myself or for a group?
Yes. Your own access is included and you can choose 0–5 guests: up to 6 people including you. Each guest saves up to €0.50 on a walk, €1 on a pack or €2 on a whole city compared with buying separately. The counter shows the total before you confirm one payment.
How do I share, and when must guests accept?
After paying, share your purchase’s invitation link. Each guest opens it in Podtour and accepts their place on their own iPhone or Android phone. They must redeem it within 30 days of purchase. Unclaimed places then expire and cannot be recovered or renewed. Access accepted in time is kept. Opening the link does not use a place; one account takes just one place, and no more people can join once all places are taken.
Can I add guests after buying?
No. Choose all your guests before confirming the first purchase. Afterwards you can share the places you paid for, but you cannot increase their number or restart the 30-day deadline.
Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist. When we launch, your chosen city is yours to explore.
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A little welcome gift
Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist and get one whole city free when Podtour launches. You choose where.
Podtour manages your launch request with your consent. You can withdraw it and exercise your rights as explained in our privacy policy. Privacy details.
One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.