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Aperitivo, Vermut and  Tapas Lunchtime Tour

NEW!!!!!!

Tapas is normally done at night, and by most people's standards pretty late! If you are not a late-night person, have younger members in your group, or fear you might not have the energy to last the course after a long trip, our new Aperitivo, Vermut and Tapas Lunchtime Tour might just be for you....

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On this lunchtime tour you will get to experience the age-old Madrid tradition "La hora del vermut" or "hour of the Vermouth". This is not actually a single hour but any time between about 11am and 3pm when you will find groups of Madrileños getting together for a pre-prandial drink and an aperitivo, to catch up on news and whet the appetite before lunch,

 

Once we have got you in the mood we will do a bit of a walking tour to see some of the main sights of Madrid, with a stop to sample some Spanish ham and cheese where you will learn to what extent "the pig is King" in Spain, a tapas stop to feast on a selection of some of the best dishes Madrid has to offer, and we will leave you in a bar to finish off with some of the famous "chocolate con churros".

 

The idea of this activity is to give you an overview of the main sights of Madrid and send you home with a real and lasting feeling of what the city and people are all about.

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Duration: Tours last about 3 1/2 hours and start at 12pm, ending around 330pm

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Meeting Place: Tours start from between the 2 metro entrances of Metro Opera in Plaza Izabel II (Map). Our tapas experts will arrive holding a bright yellow Adventurous Appetites flier to easily identify them.

 

Availability: Every Day (except Sunday).** 

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Group Size: We try to limit groups to an average maximum of ten (10) people, but this can be bigger in periods of high demand

Pricing: The tour cost is GBP55 (or EUR75 per person if paid in cash on the day of your tour for last minute bookings only.) The price includes the first 'aperitivo' in a traditional Madrileño bar; however, additional food or drink is not included so that you have more control over what you choose to eat and how much you pay at each Spanish bar we visit. 

 

On average, we calculate that you'll spend a total of around EUR35 on food and drink and will have eaten and drunk to your stomach and heart's content! Also, Spanish tapas are made for sharing! So, our tour groups often put their money together in a pot at the start of the tour, as this tends to be the easiest and best value way of doing things. This is decided by individuals on the day of the tour.

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Itinerary

 

1200h: Meet between the 2 metro entrances of Metro Opera in Plaza Isabel II

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Walking Tour:

We will venture past some of the capital’s most important monuments, fountains and edifices. Among other things we will see the Teatro Real (Royal Opera House), the Royal Palace, the Catédral de la Almudena, Puerta del Sol (Madrid’s central hub) and the Plaza Mayor (the main square)  As we walk through the streets, we will give you interesting snippets of information on the history, culture and mythology of Madrid and Spain. and some hot tips on what to see/eat/drink during the rest of your stay

 

c 1215h: 1st Stop - Aperitivo and Vermut

We will stop in a century-old bar  with views over the Palace and Cathedral and introduce you to the all-important Madrid tradition "La hora del vermut". Here we will invite your to a traditional Madrid aperitif, a vermut (or equivalent of your choice) paired with appropriate delicacies. Minimum 1 drink and 3 tastings. They might be crunchy ham croquettes, vinegary anchovies, fresh green olives or flaky pastry packets filled with bull's tail...The idea is to get you warmed up and in the mood before exploring some of the main sights of Madrid.

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c 1315h: 2nd Stop  - Ham and cheese

You will have probably worked up a bit of an appetite by now so we will stop in a bar that is very popular with the locals for its quality price relationship and get you to try that must of Spain - a bit of Iberian ham and manchego cheese, washed down with a cold beer, tinto de verano or soft drink.

Your guide will give you a crash course in Spanish hams, how they are made, preserved, cut and eaten! 

 

c 1415h: 3rd Stop - Tapas

In a very traditional Spanish tavern in the center of Madrid, where you will share various platefuls of tapas. Your guide will tell you all about the traditions of tapas and how tapassing is done Madrid-style. They may well try to expand your culinary boundaries a little and get you to try things you might not otherwise taste! You will try a range of different dishes, it might be anything from little green peppers from Galicia, Spanish black pudding, crispy sticky pork belly, artichoke hearts, steak with figs, deep-fried aubergine with a honey sauce, to octopus or baby clams, all washed down with wine, beer or soft drinks.. Your guide will advise you on the specialties and order according to the likes/dislikes/hunger of the group on the day.

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c 1515h: 4th stop - Chocolate con churros

We will drop you off in one of Madrid's best-known places for something sweet to finish off the tour. Here you can try some of the chocolate con churros (though they also serve liqueurs if anyone needs a digestif!) Here your guide will help order your before bidding you farewell and leaving you to savour this sweet treat.

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WE ADVISE COMFORTABLE FOOTWEAR AS THERE IS A FAIR BIT OF WALKING TO DO, AND MADRID HAS MANY COBBLESTONE PATHS. 

IN THE SUMMER IT CAN GET VERY HOT SO PLEASE BRING A HAT, SUNSCREEN AND WATER

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THIS ITINERARY IS AN EXAMPLE ONLY, TIMINGS ARE APPROXIMATE ONLY AND MAY CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE

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