Madrid Attractions

Museo del Prado (Prado Museum)
Paseo del Prado
28014 Madrid

The Prado is hailed as one of the world’s most important art museums. Its comprehensive collections include works from the 12th to the 19th century with extraordinary religious paintings and royal portraits. Visitors come to the Prado from all over the world to see masterpieces by Goya, El Greco and Velázquez, as well as works by Hieronymus Bosch, Titian, Rubens and others.

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia
52, Santa Isabel
28012 Madrid

The Museo Reina Sofia is Spain’s national museum of modern art. The galleries house masterpieces by the most celebrated artists of 20th century Spain, Gris, Miró, Picasso and Dalí. The Reina Sofia’s facilities include a bar, restaurant, bookshop, library and an exhibition space that hosts music, dance and theatre performances.

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
8, Paseo del Prado
28014 Madrid

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum makes up one third of Madrid’s ‘Golden Triangle’ of museums along with the Prado and the Reina Sofia. In 1985 the Thyssen acquired the art collection of the Thyssen-Bornemisza family that had previously been held at a villa in Lugano, Switzerland. The collection was celebrated as one of the most important private art collections in the world, and formed the basis of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. The galleries that hold the paintings inhabit the converted Villahermosa Palace, an 18th century building adjacent to the Prado. The collection includes works by the European masters spanning the 13th to the 20th century.

Palacio Réal (Royal Palace)
2, Calle de Bailén
28071 Madrid

Last used as a royal residence in 1931 Madrid’s Royal Palace is now used only for state occasions but it remains an impressive and popular attraction. The palace was constructed during the 18th and 19th centuries on a grand scale – it has 2000 rooms! Some of the lavish rooms are open to the public, such as banqueting halls, the throne room, the State Apartments, the Royal Armoury and the Royal Pharmacy, all brimming with antique treasures and objets d’arts.

Plaza Mayor
Madrid

The Plaza Mayor is Madrid’s principal square and has been a focal point at the heart of the city since its construction at the beginning of the 17th century under the reign of Philip III. The square was historically the site of public events including bullfights, tournaments and even the inquisition. The Plaza Mayor is flanked by beautiful buildings and numerous restaurants and cafes that attract locals and tourists in droves. At Christmas time the whole square is converted to a festive market.

Parque del Buen Retiro (Retiro Park) and the Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace)
Puerta de Alcalá
Madrid

Situated behind the Prado Museum Retiro is Madrid’s verdant crowning park and one of the most popular attractions for visitors to the city. It is a vast expanse of lush green gardens, fountains, lakes and cafes. At weekends the park has a carnival-like atmosphere as circus performers, jugglers and fortune-tellers entertain passers by. Retiro Park is also famous as the location of Madrid’s 19th century Crystal Palace. Modelled on London’s Crystal Palace the Palacio de Cristal was originally built to house plants from the Philippines. Nowadays the palace regularly hosts exhibitions of modern art.

Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida (Goya’s Tomb)
5, Glorieta de San Antonio de la Florida
28008 Madrid

Goya’s tomb is contained in the neoclassical San Antonio de la Florida Chapel, built between 1792 and 1798. Goya himself painted the naturalistic frescoes, showing the miracles of St Anthony, which adorn the vaults and domed ceilings. He took 120 days to complete the assignment. Goya’s depictions of everyday street life had never before been used in religious scenes.

Aquopolis-Villanueva
Avenue de la Dehesa
28691 Madrid

One of Madrid’s most popular family days out is the Aquopolis-Villanueva Water Park. The host of exciting attractions include imposing power slides, novelty slides, the black hole, wave machines, children’s activity pools, giant floats and relaxing waterfalls.

Teleférico
Paseo del Pintor Rosales
Madrid

From the cable car strung high over Madrid’s lush parks visitors have spectacular views across the city. The cable car was originally built in 1969 as part of the amusement park at Casa de Campo. The cable car departs from Paseo Pintor Rosales at the eastern edge of Parque del Oeste

Museo de la Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (Royal Museum of Fine Arts)
13, Alcalá
Madrid

The Fine Arts Museum is located in the restored 17th century palace of Juan de Goyeneche. The baroque palace is a fitting backdrop for the collection of over 1500 paintings and 570 sculptures, dating from the 16th century onwards, which include masterpieces by El Greco, Rubens, Velázquez, Zurbarán, Ribera, Cano, Coello, Murillo, Goya, and Sorolla