- 1 map
- €11.99 per group
- ~2 h 30
Madrid was born on a hill above the Manzanares river, around an Arab fortress. Later it became the city of kings and the capital of Spain. The historic centre is easy to explore on foot, among squares, palaces and gardens. With Piracity you discover it as you walk, like a treasure hunt for the whole family.
Stops to discover
Puerta del Sol
The Puerta del Sol is the heart of Madrid and the meeting place of the madrileños, as locals are called. Here you find the New Year's Eve clock and kilometre zero of Spain's roads.
Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor is the great enclosed square of Habsburg Madrid. Juan Gómez de Mora completed it in 1619, and for centuries it hosted markets, festivals and ceremonies.
Plaza de la Villa
The Plaza de la Villa is a little square in medieval Madrid. It brings together three buildings from three different centuries, including the historic seat of the city government.
Cattedrale dell'Almudena
The Almudena Cathedral is Madrid's main church. It took a hundred and ten years to build, from 1883 to 1993. It stands on the hill of the old Arab citadel.
Palazzo reale di Madrid
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the kings of Spain. It was built in the 1700s on the site of the old castle, destroyed by a fire.
Plaza de Oriente
The Plaza de Oriente is a square of Baroque gardens in the centre of Madrid. In the middle stands a bronze equestrian statue from the 1600s, surrounded by twenty stone kings.
Teatro Real
The Teatro Real is Madrid's opera house. It opened in 1850, and today it is among the most important opera houses in all of Europe.
Plaza de España
The Plaza de España is a large green square at the end of the Gran Vía. Between two historic skyscrapers stands the monument to Miguel de Cervantes.
The sights along the route
The route takes in eight places in the centre, all close to each other. You pass through the Plaza Mayor, the great square that hosted festivals, markets and ceremonies for centuries. You climb to the Almudena Cathedral, on the oldest hill in the city. You arrive in front of the Teatro Real, the opera house. The rest you will discover stop by stop: palaces, gardens and statues of kings.
It is about 3 km on foot and about 3 hours of play, plus your breaks. The route does not return to the starting point and ends near the metro.
History and culture, lived through play
Every stop tells a piece of history. You will meet the kings of Castile and of Spain, the Italian architects called to court, sculptors and musicians. There are questions on art and traditions, riddles, anagrams and little logic puzzles. The questions are designed for children aged 9 and up and for their parents.
You don't need to know everything already. Many answers are found by looking carefully at what is in front of you, others by reasoning together. That way a walk becomes a challenge to play as a team.
An adventure that continues
Once the hunt is over, Madrid still has plenty to offer families. The Retiro park has avenues, lawns and a big pond with rowing boats. Next to the Parque del Oeste stands the Templo de Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple that Egypt gave to Spain.
You can also walk along Madrid Río, the large riverside park on the Manzanares, with playgrounds and cycle paths. Every neighbourhood has its own story: the next hunt is waiting for you.
Frequently asked questions
€11.99 per group. One purchase unlocks the map on one phone and the whole group plays together, as many of you as you like. You get access by email right away and the map stays valid for 1 year.
About 2.5–3 hours on foot, at an easy pace, including stops to solve the puzzles. Each map's page shows its stages, distance and estimated time.
No, you can play straight from the browser: Piracity is a web app (PWA) you add to your home screen in two taps.
Recommended from age 8; younger children play as a team with their parents.