Madrid Art Museums

The best art museums in the Spanish capital...

By Damian Corrigan

Updated 12/12/17

Art fans should feel at home in Madrid, where three of the best museums in Europe are located within a ten-minute walk of each other: Museo del Prado, Centro de Arte Reina Sofia and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza.

Madrid's Golden Triangle of Art Museums

Madrid is most famous for its 'Golden triangle' of art museums, the Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen-Bornemisza. 

The most important of the three is the Museo del Prado, which houses the definitive Spanish art of the past 500 years - Goya, El Greco and Velázquez in particular.

But if you'd struggle to name three Spanish artists (getting stuck after Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso) then the Reina Sofia might be more up your street, with excellent modern art from these two titans of contemporary art and many other examples of weird and wonderful art from the past 100 years.

If you are an art newbie and don't know what you want, many would still say you should see El Prado (it is that good, they say). However, I'd say that Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza might be a better compromise, as it covers art from medieval times up to the present day. 

See also:

  • 01 of 09

    Reina Sofia

    The Reina Sofia is perhaps the best art museum in Madrid
    (c) Damian Corrigan

    An excellent modern art collection, the most important piece being Picasso's Guernica, the painter's graphic portrayal of the massacre of an entire village by the Germans during the Spanish Civil War. Also some excellent Dali pieces. Some of the greatest 20th century art you are ever likely to see.

    Address: Santa Isabel 52, 28012 Madrid. Tel: (+34) 91 774 10 00 - Fax: (+34) 91 774 10 56
    www.museoreinasofia.es

    Opening Times: For current opening times, see Reina Sofia Opening Times.
    Closed Tuesdays, Dec 24, 25, 31, Jan 1, 6, May 1, 15, Nov 9

    Entry 6€ (3€ for students with ID, free for under-18s, over-65s)
    Free on Sunday mornings (10am-2.30pm) and on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7pm to 9pm.

  • 02 of 09

    Prado Museum

    Madrid's most famous art museum, the Prado
    Madrid's most famous art museum, the Prado. (c) Damian Corrigan

    Perennially vying with the Alhambra in Granada for title of most visited tourist attraction in Spain, the Prado has all the good art work from before Dali and Picasso - by such luminaries as Goya, Velazquez and El Greco. But one always gets the impression that many of the visitors are there because they have to go, not because they actually want to. 

    Address: Museo Nacional del Prado, Paseo del Prado s/n. 28014 Madrid, Tel.: (+34) 91 330 28 00. (+34) 902 10 70 77 Fax: +34 91 330 28 56
    www.museoprado.es
    museo.nacional@prado.mcu.es
    Opening Times: 9am - 8pm, Monday - Sunday
    Closed Jan 1, May 1, Dec 25, Easter Friday)
    Entry 10€. (3€ for non-EU students). Or take a Prado Guided Tour.
    Free entry: 

    • Mondays to Saturdays from 6pm to 8pm
    • Sundays from 5pm to 8pm
    • All Day on May 2, October 12, November 19 and December 6.
    • Always with the Madrid Card and for the following people: under 18s, EU citizens over 65, EU pensioners between 60 and 65, the disabled, unemployed persons from the EU, EU students under 25, teachers, journalists and Official tour guides. 
  • 03 of 09

    Thyssen-Bornemisza

    The Thyssen-Bornemisza completes Madrid's golden triangle of art museums
    The Thyssen-Bornemisza completes Madrid's golden triangle of art museums. (c) Damian Corrigan

    Completely the triumvirate of great art museums located around the Paseo del Prado, this used to be one of the biggest private collections in the world. 

    Read more about this Madrid art museum: Thyssen-Bornemisza

  • 04 of 09

    Caixa Forum

    More modern art at the Caixa Forum
    More modern art at the Caixa Forum. (c) Damian Corrigan

    Modern art museum with temporary exhibitions.

    More on this Madrid art museum: Caixa Forum Madrid

    Continue to 5 of 9 below.
  • 05 of 09

    Casa Encendida

    Casa Encendida in Madrid
    Casa Encendida in Madrid. (c) Damian Corrigan

    Various temporary exhibitions at this cultural space.

    Read more about the Casa Encendida.

  • 06 of 09

    Escultura Abstracta

    An unlikely location for art in Madrid
    An unlikely location for art in Madrid. (c) Damian Corrigan

    Outdoor museum of abstract sculptures. 

    See more on the Abstract Sculpture Museum in Madrid

  • 07 of 09

    Madrid's Contemporary Art Museum

    Conde Duque always has interesting art in a fantastic setting
    Conde Duque always has interesting art in a fantastic setting. (c) Damian Corrigan

    Madrid's Contemporary Art Museum can be found at the Conde Duque former barracks. The grounds themselves are great to walk around.

    Read more on this Madrid art museum: Conde Duque

  • 08 of 09

    Convento de las Descalzas

    A convent with a famous art collection.

    More: Convento de las Descalzas

    Continue to 9 of 9 below.
  • 09 of 09

    Museo Lazaro Galdiano

    Museo Lazaro Galdiano in Madrid
    Museo Lazaro Galdiano in Madrid. (c) Damian Corrigan

    Private art collection belonging to José Lázaro Galdiano.

    Read more about this Madrid art museum: Museo Lazaro Galdiano