Free Walking Tour · Night

Haunted Madrid

Madrid Case Files: Witches, Crimes and the Inquisition, Unsolved

Book your spot →4.9 · No.1 on TripAdvisor Madrid

2:15 hours·Max 25 people·Spanish · English·Puerta del Sol

01 · The tour

The Madrid the guidebooks won't tell you

Madrid keeps case files that were never closed. A 19th-century ghost with real recorded voices, executioners who lived among neighbours who never suspected a thing, a statue the whole city mistook for the devil, and a King of Spain convinced he was bewitched.

On this night free walking tour we open the file stop by stop, from Plaza de Pontejos to Cuesta de la Vega. And at Plaza del Biombo it's your turn: you'll solve a real 20th-century crime live, clue by clue, Sherlock Holmes style.

Real buildings, real names, real stories, told after dark.

No.1

TripAdvisor Madrid · 9 years

4.9★

30,000+ reviews

100%

Local Madrid guides

No.1 company on TripAdvisor

Best of the Best 9 years running (2017-2026) · No.1 on TripAdvisor Madrid out of more than 1,200 companies · Top 3 free tour in Europe 2026 · 30,000+ reviews.

Why our tour is special

BEST OF THE BEST on TripAdvisor: 9 years in a row (2017-2026, only 1% of experiences worldwide receive this recognition)
Nº1 on TripAdvisor Madrid: ranked first among 1,200+ tourism companies
30,000+ verified reviews on TripAdvisor, Google, GuruWalk and Free Tour
Top 3 Free Tour in Europe 2026
Over 10 years walking Madrid with travelers from all over the world
Small groups: maximum 25 people per guide
Exclusive audiovisual material: period images, maps and Inquisition archives

02 · The route

Stop by stop

Seven stops, seven cases: the most famous paranormal story in Spain, with a 19th-century ghost and a case still unsolved; the executioners, from the Inquisition's to Franco's; the hunger and misery behind a real case of catalepsy; a satanic ritual in the very heart of the city; a real 20th-century crime you'll solve live; and the bewitched king and the object the Inquisition burned inside his own palace. To close, the witches and the real figures of a witch hunt that changed Europe.

On this tour we don't make anything up. Every stop is documented and every place is still standing. We combine historical accuracy, close storytelling and the atmosphere of Madrid at night to give you a different kind of experience, not just another touristy walk.

01
Plaza de Pontejos · The ghost of Raimundita
Madrid's first great documented paranormal case, the most important of the 19th century.
02
Church of Santo Tomás · The cursed church
The most haunted church in Madrid's history, and the one with the most catastrophes.
03
Callejón del Verdugo
The life of the executioners, from the Inquisition to the Civil War.
04
Pasadizo del Panecillo
Hunger, terror and misery: a case of catalepsy that changed the history of the neighbourhood.
05
Calle Mayor · Air crash
A satanic invocation of the devil in the very centre of Madrid.
06
Plaza del Biombo · Captain Sánchez
A true crime case: solve it live, clue by clue, Sherlock Holmes style.
07
Cuesta de la Vega · The king's spell
Closing the file: a bewitched king, the Inquisition and the witches of Spain and Europe.

2h 15m.Free.The Madrid thatnever sleeps.

Limited spots per group. Booking takes 30 seconds and you pay nothing until the end.

Book my spot →

Book with no upfront payment. No fixed price.

Booking is free. The tour is not. A free tour is a tour with no fixed price: a contribution per person is expected at the end. It covers the guide's work, plus the booking and management costs on our side. In Madrid the usual amount is between 15 and 20 EUR per person, in cash or by card. What matters most is your experience. Enjoy it.

Local Madrid guide Small groups Local recommendations No upfront payment

Important

Recommended for ages 14 and up. We tell stories of the Inquisition, executions and unsolved crimes with historical rigour, so this is not a tour for young children or very impressionable people. It is a sunset tour, so bring a jacket even in summer, as Madrid evenings can be cool.

Exclusive bonus when you book

When you book your spot, you don't just secure a unique night experience. You also get an exclusive secret gift we hand out at the end of the tour, designed to keep dark Madrid alive in your memory long after you leave. Plus, we send you an exclusive WhatsApp guide with the must-see places in Madrid based on how many days you have, other dark-history spots in the centre worth visiting, our picks of historic taverns and bars with legend near the route, and books, podcasts and documentaries to dive deeper into haunted Madrid.

Who is it for?

Who is this tour for?

For lovers of mystery, true crime, hidden history and everything conventional guides skip. For travelers who already know Madrid by day and want to discover it from a completely different angle. For anyone who wants to solve a real case live.

This is not a tour for small children or very impressionable people. We recommend it from age 14 and up. It is also not an escape room or a show: it's a real historical walk with a different focus, told with respect and rigour.

Meeting point

We meet at Puerta del Sol

How to find us

Where: We meet at Puerta del Sol, next to the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree (Oso y Madroño), right in front of the Apple Store. Look for our completely yellow umbrella to spot us easily in the crowd.
The signal: Look for the guide holding the bright yellow Trip Tours Madrid umbrella.
Be on time: Arrive 10 minutes early. The group leaves on time.

Important

Confirm your spot on WhatsApp

After booking you'll get a message. Confirm it to secure your place. Spots are limited and groups fill up, especially on weekends.

+34 642 78 47 32

Before you book

Book in advance. Places are limited to 25 people per guide.
Sunset and night tour: bring a jacket even in summer, as Madrid evenings can be cool.
Recommended for ages 14 and up. We cover stories of violence, executions and the Inquisition with historical rigour, so it's worth knowing beforehand.
The tour runs in any weather. It is only cancelled in case of an official weather alert.
You'll receive a WhatsApp confirmation the morning of the tour with your guide's direct contact.
Each booking takes up to 6 people. For 7 or more, we arrange a private tour tailored to your group.

Reviews of this tour

What past travellers said

5.0· 3,818 reviews

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

No. It is a historical walk through the dark side of Madrid: documented ghosts, executioners, real crimes, witches and the Inquisition. There are no artificial scares or special effects. The intensity comes from the true history itself.

About 2 hours and 15 minutes at the group's pace, with stops for photos and questions.

We recommend it from age 14 and up. We cover themes of torture, executions and the Inquisition with historical rigour, and they can be intense for younger children or very sensitive people.

At Puerta del Sol, next to the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree (Oso y Madroño), right in front of the Apple Store. Your guide will be holding a bright yellow umbrella so you can spot us easily.

English and Spanish, with separate schedules. The tour starts at sunset (later in summer, earlier in winter), so check the booking calendar for the exact time on your date. Select your language when you book.

No. This is a walking tour on foot and outdoors, passing palaces, churches and squares. Entrance tickets are not included. Some of the places we mention can be visited inside on another day, and we recommend them at the end of the route.

Those are daytime walks through Madrid's official history (palaces, monuments, monarchy). This one is a themed night tour: the dark, unofficial side of the very same places. They complement each other perfectly.

Free tours take up to 6 people per booking. For 7 or more, we arrange a private tour with a dedicated guide at your own pace. Fill in the private groups form and we'll prepare a tailored quote.

Private tours for groups →