art trip madrid

One week of Madrid’s passionate, artistic soul

Sep 22, 2023 • 11 min read

Why do so many travelers fall irretrievably in love with Madrid? Simple – it’s one of the coolest places on the planet © Eldar Nurkovic / Shutterstock

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When it comes to city breaks, it’s easy to see why people fall for Madrid over and over again. The sun-kissed city, capital of Spain, is one of the biggest and most vibrant in Europe , with leafy green parks, an art scene bristling with energy and elegant winding streets for sunset strolls.

This week-long itinerary will take you through historic hidden plazas that buzz with the banter of locals and throw you into cultural hubs and wonky-beamed bodegas. Kick off with a rollicking tapas tour (taking in the oldest restaurant in the world and Hemmingway’s old hangout), then jump from art A-listers to Egyptian temples to leafy rooftop bars in the flip of a tortilla . Arrive hungry and ready to party – Madrid has it all.

Kick off your visit where art, architecture and history meet, in the gigantic Royal Palace, the largest functioning palace in Europe. The palace, now used for ceremonies by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia among other state functions, is absolute opulent maximalism, from the grand staircase made from one piece of San Agustin marble to masterpieces by Goya and Caravaggio to the sumptuous 18th century tapestries. Visit in the morning to beat the crowds.

Nearby, people flock to Almudena Cathedral to be bewitched by the towering, vaulted ceilings, vivid stained-glass and gold-topped turrets. Soak up the silence surrounded by cool granite from the quarries of Colmenar Viejo and stone from Alicante. Finished in 1993, it's a modern wonder which saw no less than six architects working on it during its construction. Don't miss the crypt, a hidden Romanesque Revival gem, crammed with 400 columns each topped with a unique decoration of lush leaves and biblical figures.

Another must-see near the Royal Palace is the Galeria Colecciones Reales. This innovative new gallery bagged ten architectural awards before it even opened its doors. Pop in to admire impossibly intricate 16th century tapestries, ancient gold crowns, elaborately carved walnut carriages and paintings by the likes of El Greco, Ribera, Velázquez and Caravaggio. Don't miss the original plans for the Royal Palace on floor two, commissioned by the King after a devastating fire in 1734.

Finish the tour of this fascinating neighborhood with a quick stroll to Mercado de San Miguel . It’s more than 100 years old but it was scrubbed up recently with an elegant restoration. This jazzy place is the perfect spot to grab a bite, with everything from jamón to artisan tinned fish to Flintstone-style txuleta steaks from old Galician cows.

Dive into the arts: there’s plenty to peruse. Museo del Prado has a collection so large that only 1/7th is on display at any given time. Short on time? Go find Francisco Goya’s work, a pillar of Prado’s permanent collection. His Black Paintings series is bewitching (some are terrifying), and Perro Semihundido was painted directly onto the walls of his house. Goya adored Diego Velázquez, his iconic Las Meninas is here too. The masterpiece is so densely packed with meaning that people have scarcely stopped studying it since it was painted in 1656.

Get a second art hit with the fantastic Museo Reina Sofía , where Picasso’s Guernica is displayed. Get close enough to see the fissures and craquelure, and don’t miss the museum’s regular free talks, which flesh out the stories behind the acrylic.

Finish the day with a shopping spree on Gran Vía: more than 4,000 feet of brands and boutiques visited by more than 10 million people a year. Want something calmer? Galería Canalejas is a luxurious covered mall with high-end fashion and fine jewelry. And if the budget doesn’t stretch to ​​Hermès and Chanel, the food hall alone is worth a visit for its 13 restaurants, some of which are run by Michelin-starred chefs.

Flamenco is a must in Madrid. The soulful music accompanied by powerful dance has its roots in the Arab, Jewish and traveler communities, and has evolved into an artform admired around the world. Tables at Corral de la Moreria are among the hottest, and get booked months in advance. The venue has lit up with fierce, poetic performances almost every night since its wooden doors were first flung open in 1956.

More raw and fiery shows take place in Tablao de la Villa , set in a beautifully restored 19th century mansion. Guests graze on melt-in-the-mouth jamón ibérico and tender oxtail while dancers stamp and twirl, and cleverly arranged tables means everyone gets a good view. Just across the road, Las Tablas has a more modern feel. Owned by two flamenco dancers, it spearheads the use of theatrical techniques, like lighting rigs and stage design, to highlight the performances.

Rub shoulders with the locals in one of Madrid’s coolest barrios , Lavapiés . Settle in here for the day, traversing narrow streets flanked by colorful houses and filled with the smells of busy restaurants. Ogle conceptual art in the cultural center La Casa Encendida and sip funky wine while listening to records at Bendito Vinos y Vinilos .

Madrid has one of the best food and drink scenes in the world, so take a full- throttle tour of the brilliant tapas bars. The best way to enjoy these small sharing plates is to order the restaurant’s specialty – the especialidad de la casa – and swiftly move on to the next location. Not only is it traditional, but it’s also a fun way to explore the full breadth of the capital’s food culture.

First stop, La Ardosa . Founded in 1892, it has wall to wall tiles, gnarled wooden fittings and antique shelves teetering with ancient bottles of vermouth. Prop up the bar with a slice of squidgy-centered tortilla and a refreshing salmorejo .

On to Casa Labra , where the classic marble tables, coffee-colored wood paneling and gorgeous gold lettering haven’t changed in more than 100 years. Inside, newcomers stand elbow-to-elbow with the locals and feast on croquetas with crusts that shatter like glass.

Dinner is served at Restaurante Botín , and it has been since 1725. The secret to its success is the wood-fired ovens; they’re never put out, and they lend a sultry smokey smell to the place. Order charred peppers, artichokes, and their specialty: whole roast suckling pigs. Hemingway was a big fan – he even mentions its  cochinillo asado in his books. 

Madrid might be big, but it’s no urban jungle. The seductively named Landscape of Light is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and includes the best parks, avenues and monuments in the city. The area evolved with the enlightened idea that everyone should have access to science and the arts, and now public museums and galleries abound.

Start with a walk along Paseo del Prado – it dates to the 16th century and was one of the first tree-lined avenues in Europe open to everyone, no matter their social standing. Admire the grandeur of the Plaza de la Cibeles , home to the iconic fountain with goddess Cybele, before walking through Retiro Park to the quieter, but no less impressive, Real Jardín Botánico to coo over deep purple irises and peachy waterlilies among 5,500 different plant species.   

After a day in the sun, it’s time for fun under the lights. Madrid’s cocktail scene puts the best of the city’s passion and art into a perfect sip. Hit up some of the city’s best spots the way Ernest Hemingway did on his visits (okay, maybe a little more responsibly).

With its bar slicked with silver scales and rippled ceiling like the surface of a river, Salmon Guru is wild and intoxicating, even without its renowned craft cocktails. Argentine spirit-lover Diego Cabrera is the mastermind behind it, and often pours drinks behind the bar. The menu features mixes like Manhattan from the Barrel ; a burnt butter rum bomb with dry vermouth and sherry cream, or Chipotle Chillon made with mezcal and a zippy chipotle syrup. 

Elegant and understated, the popular 1862 Dry Bar in Malasaña serves classics to a tee. It gets its name from the year that the first ever cocktail recipe book was published, written by the famous Jerry Thomas. They’re mad about the history behind each drink, and are known for making a mean Gin Fizz, which they shake up with small batch Gin Xoriguer from Menorca, lemon, egg white and soda.

Go to the restroom at Hotel NH Collection Madrid Suecia and you're in for a surprise. The unassuming lavatory door opens into a secret cocktail den called Clandestine. The speakeasy’s tight menu is perfect for peeling away from the masses and losing track of time. At the sultry, low-lit bar, couples perch on red velvet stools and toast with dry martinis and the signature Suecia 76, made with gin, lime and champagne. The hotel restaurant has a beautiful terrace with excellent views of the city.

One of Madrid’s lesser-known museums is the old home of Spain ‘s legendary artist Joaquín Sorolla. It’s where he created many of his greatest works, and his home was bequeathed to the public to inspire the next generation of artists. Museo Sorolla is a leafy oasis with a relaxing courtyard, paintings that seem to radiate light and an astonishingly preserved studio with the artist’s paint brushes still in their pots.  

Another remarkable house museum is the Palacio de Liria. The Alba family are descended from 12th century nobility and have opened their palatial home to the public for everyone to enjoy the opulent style and impressive art collection built up over the ages. Every corner is meticulously decorated with fine porcelain, iconic art, silk wallpaper and crystal chandeliers. A carefully selected playlist of classical music accompanies every visit; each song is chosen for a historical, sometimes personal, tie to the home and its family. Don't miss Goya's famous portrait of the Duchess of Alba, dressed in a flowing white and red dress. 

Madrid takes its theatre very seriously, nowhere more so than Teatro Real . Open since 1738, it’s been souped up with a €100 million renovation. Intricate overlapping platforms mean this stage can transform in the blink of an eye – it makes for some breathtaking set designs. The theatre is just a short walk from the Puerta del Sol , the central square of Madrid and a buzzy place to end the evening.

Three of the city's most charming neighborhoods are conveniently close to each other and perfect for a morning walking tour. Chueca, Malasaña and Salesas are where the buzziest bars, most atmospheric restaurants and coolest cafes can be found – just take a stroll through the winding, picturebook streets to stumble upon them.

Hop between cutting edge restaurants and ancient tapas bars in Malasaña. Spot bookshops and vintage stores on Calle del Espíritu Santo before strolling along Calle Fuencarral, dotted with big brands and Spanish boutiques. Chueca is full of romantic architecture and lively backstreet bars – thousands flock here every year for an unbeatable Pride Festival.

Traverse the streets – which always seem to be sun-soaked – to find stylish Salesas with its design-led cafes. There's an eclectic line-up of shops scattered around here too, from cool new designers to centuries-old artisans. It's all just a hop and a skip from the center of Madrid, a living museum of elegant Madrileñan architecture, ready to get lost in. 

Time for a spot of sunbathing. Spread over 292-acres, it’s easy to find a quiet corner to lay out a blanket in Retiro Park . There are all sorts of wonders here: the oldest tree in the city, a huge rose garden and even a manmade lake with boats to hire (two of which are wheelchair accessible).

As the sun sets, the best way to see the city is from up high, better yet from an opulent rooftop like the Hyatt Centric Gran Vía Madrid , or La Terraza at the five-star The Principal Madrid . It’s where couples go to drink gin and tonics under rose-red parasols and potted olive trees, while peering down at the crowds on Gran Vía. There are more top views from Ginkgo Sky Bar on Plaza de España, a hidden oasis of ice-cool cocktails, tacos and sushi where you can squeeze enjoyment out of every last hour of the day.

Last chance to fill up on Madrid’s famous tapas. There’s still hundreds waiting to be discovered, so dive into the characterful, bustling neighborhood of La Latina . Juana La Loca has the best tortilla – all gooey with caramelized onions, and Taberna La Concha is a quaint little tavern that’s normally packed. Find space at the marble bar and order briny anchovies and vermouth. 

While in La Latina, don’t miss the miniscule wicker shop Espartaria . Juan is the third-generation owner and his family has been weaving baskets and bottle holders by hand since 1927. Feeling fancy? Buy a merino wool cape from Capas Seseña , a ruby-red fronted shop founded in 1901 which has warmed iconic shoulders, from Picasso to Bruce Springsteen.

There’s an Egyptian temple just a 20-minute stroll away. Templo de Debod is a monument dating to the 2nd century BCE, gifted to Spain by the Egyptian government. It’s a magical spot to watch the sunset, with panorama views over the city.

Madrid is a city full of passion – evident in the warm and welcoming people, vibrant arts, thumping rhythms, daring recipes, beautiful architecture and green spaces, and buzzing nightlife. Why do so many travelers fall irretrievably in love with the city? Simple – it’s one of the coolest places on the planet. 

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Matador Original Series

Art and culture.

With its Art Promenade consisting of three world-class museums filled with works by Goya, Velasquez, and other master painters, and its Royal Palace reminiscent of Versailles, Madrid is one of the greatest European cultural hubs. But the city has more to offer than just classic art — the murals and arts centers found in its trendiest neighborhoods make it a cultural capital for everyone.

Photo: Museo Nacional del Prado /Facebook

El Prado — A 200-year-old institution, El Prado is one of the great museums of Europe. Its collection is comprised of paintings and sculptures by masters such as El Greco, Rubens, and Goya. It is especially famous for holding one of the world’s most well-known and talked-about artwork: “Las Meninas” by Diego Velasquez. Make sure to check out 13 works of the mysterious and weirdly amusing Dutch artist Hieronymous Bosch displayed at the Prado — his paintings are always packed with strange characters doing very odd things and full of hidden symbols. The monumental building housing the art is an eye candy in itself, so take the time to take it in from both inside and outside. The museum is open daily, but if you want to keep your wallet happy, visit between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM from Monday to Saturday or from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Sunday and holidays when admission to see the permanent collection is free.

Photo: Jose Angel Astor Rocha /Shutterstock

Lavapiés street art — Lavapiés has fantastic street art, so lace up your comfy shoes and walk around its maze of narrow streets for a relaxed self-guided tour of its best murals. Make sure to walk by “The Sombrerete Sundial,” a piece depicting a woman hanging out clothes surrounded by an abstract sundial — it is a Madrid must-see. Also, hit the Plaza del Poeta Leopoldo Luis, where you’ll find a mural by local artist Suso 33 , featuring hundreds of miniature human figures creating a large human silhouette.

Photo: Takashi Images /Shutterstock

Museo Reina Sofia — If you’re into art, but El Prado is just too classic for you, the Reina Sofia Museum is the one art venue you should visit. Having opened its doors in the 1990s, it fittingly hosts 20th-century contemporary art, from paintings to installations, paintings, videos, and even performances. Its most famous pieces are Picasso’s “Guernica” and Dali’s “Face of the Great Masturbator.” The museum is located in a former 18th-century hospital on the city’s Art Promenade, but it also has two free-admission venues in El Retiro park: the Glass Palace and the Velasquez Palace.

Photo: Fotoeventis /Shutterstock

The Royal Palace — Although it’s still the official residence of Spain’s Royal family, none of its members actually lives there, so a visit is more about the history of the palace and the country than spotting the King and Queen. The Royal Palace is the most emblematic building in Madrid, so make sure you don’t just admire it from the outside — go in to see some of the 3,000 rooms including the Royal Kitchen, Royal Armory, Painting Gallery, a Hall of Mirrors very similar to the one in Versailles, plus the magnificent gardens. The large courtyard in front of the building is the stage for the spectacular Changing of the Guard, which takes place every Wednesday and Saturday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Photo: TK Kurikawa /Shutterstock

Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza — “ El Thyssen ,” as locals call it, is the third museum on Madrid’s Art Promenade. Formerly Europe’s largest private collection, it has been the property of the Spanish state since 1992. The permanent collection is comprised of about 1,000 paintings from the 13th to 20th century by artists such as Caravaggio, Rubens, Monet, Van Gogh, Gauguin, etc. If you don’t feel like wandering the museum galleries at random, take one of the thematic tours, like “Fashion,” “Inclusive Love,” “Food,” and more. Keep an eye out for the temporary exhibitions scheduled regularly.

Photo: Círculo de Bellas Artes /Facebook

Círculo de Bellas Artes — Located on Calle Alcala, Madrid’s longest street, the Círculo de Bellas Artes is a multi-disciplinary cultural center that hosts exhibitions, music and dance performances, movie showings, workshops, etc. The highlight of this cool spot is the beautiful building’s rooftop, which has the best views of Madrid and a full bar.

Photo: Rudy Balasko /Shutterstock

La Almudena Cathedral — Located right next to the Royal Palace, this grand cathedral renovated in 1993 is the perfect place to visit if you want some peace and quiet. Sit down and take in the ornate columns that support the immense structure, and look up to admire the beautifully painted arched ceilings. Visiting La Almudena is free, but there’s a small fee if you want to visit the church museum and the rooftop for some city views (which you should totally do).

Photo: Sun_Shine /Shutterstock

La Tabacalera — One of the edgier venues in Madrid, this cultural center is an old tobacco factory that now hosts exhibits, dance recitals, concerts, and classes. La Tabacalera is way off the tourist trail, so it’s a great spot to blend in with the locals and check out the city’s underground vibe for free.

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The 13 best museums in Madrid

The Prado, the Reina Sofía, the Thyssen... our pick of the best art galleries and museums in Madrid brims with heavyweights

If you’re an art fan, and you want to explore the best museums in Madrid, you’ve come to the right place. Madrid is practically overflowing with museums and galleries where you can get your much-needed art fix, sometimes even for free . From Spain’s most important collection of paintings in the Prado to the veritable palace of contemporary art that is the Reina Sofía, the Spanish capital is home to many of the greatest works of art by some of history’s most important artists. So you don’t miss anything, we’ve chosen a baker’s dozen of the best museums for you to visit during your time in Madrid.

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best exhibitions in Madrid right now

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Best museums in Madrid

1.  Prado Museum

• Art and design

What is it? This behemoth in every sense is the best-known and most venerated museum in Madrid (and all of Spain). Its massive collection is housed in a gigantic neoclassical building; when it opened in 1819, the Prado became one of the world’s first public art museums.

Why go? For masterpieces by French and Italian artists, Flemish masters, and of course the Spanish, including the impressive Velázquez rooms – with pride of place going to ‘Las Meninas’ – and the Goya rooms. It’s impossible to see everything in one visit, so plan yours well, unless you’re up for spending a few days doing nothing else, which is always an option.

2.  Reina Sofía National Art Museum

What is it? With 20,000 works in its permanent collection, the Reina Sofía is a must for art fans and an essential part of Madrid’s Art Triangle, together with the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums. Spanish artists feature heavily in the collection, and Picasso, Miró, Julio González and Dalí have their own rooms. More recently, works by major foreign artists have been included.

Why go? The jewel in the crown here is ‘Guernica’, Picasso’s impassioned denunciation of war and fascism. The museum also has a packed events schedule, and a top-notch café-restaurant in NuBel, if you’ve worked up an appetite after all that browsing.

3.  Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

What is it? The late Baron Hans-Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza’s private collection of 775 paintings. It’s housed in an early-19th-century palace that was superbly reconverted by architect Rafael Moneo from 1989 to 1992.

Why go? You’ll get a pretty thorough lesson in Western art history if you follow the collection in chronological order. The temporary exhibitions have also been a big hit.

4.  American Museum

What is it? One of the best collections of pre-Columbian American art and artefacts in Europe.

Why go? For the awe-inspiring treasures, among them one of only four surviving Mayan illustrated glyph manuscripts in the world, superb carvings from the Mayan city of Palenque, and the Gold of the Quimbayas. All major pre-Columbian cultures are represented.

5.  Romanticism Museum

• Alonso Martínez

What is it? Your go-to museum for eyeballing how people lived in the 19th-century Romantic era in Spain.

Why go? Because you can’t get enough of period films and want to see for yourself the furniture, paintings, china, pianos, and more from the time. The museum’s quaint Café del Jardín (Garden Café), one of the best-kept secrets in Madrid, only enhances the old-world atmosphere.

6.  National Museum of Natural Sciences

• Science and technology

What is it? Packed with more than 10 million specimens, this museum spans everything from tissue and DNA to plants to the evolution of humans, and yes, dinosaurs.

Why go? To stare slack-jawed at the likes of the 20-metre-long whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling and the Diplodocus replica. Plus, temporary exhibitions are hands-on, interactive and fun for kids, and it’s a top research centre in several fields.

7.  National Archaeological Museum

What is it?  This is where you can find out where we all came from, as the collection traces human cultures from prehistoric times up to the 15th century.

Why go? To remember what the word ‘awesome’ really means, in terms of human intuition, creativity and inventions. Among the artefacts on display are finds from the Iberian, Celtic, Greek, Egyptian, Punic, Roman, Paleochristian, Visigothic and Muslim cultures. Kids really get into seeing the mammoth tusks, which happen to be still attached to the skull.

8.  Sorolla Museum

What is it? A museum dedicated to Valencia-born Joaquín Sorolla, who was all about the celebration of ‘luminism’, also known as the celebration of light.

Why go? To enjoy luminous works of art in what was originally Sorolla’s home and workspace. Bonus: the gardens are not to be missed and add to the sense of calm and cosiness.

9.  Lázaro Galdiano Museum

• Barrio de Salamanca

What is it? An eclectic collection of 15,000 paintings and objects that span centuries, and that was built up over 70 years by financier and bibliophile José Lázaro Galdiano.

Why go? To behold what Lázaro Galdiano managed to accumulate, including paintings by Goya and Bosch, works from the Dutch and English schools, and some incredible Renaissance ornamental metalwork. The mansion that houses the collection and the surrounding gardens are beautiful in themselves.

10.  National Museum of Decorative Arts

What is it? The Decorative Arts Museum houses more than 15,000 objects, furniture and tapestries from all over Spain, plus many from China.

Why go? Because you love admiring lovely objets d’art, feasting your eyes on all things gold and silver, salivating over jewellery that was part of actual treasure, marvelling at 19th-century doll’s houses, and you are dying to see what a Sèvres jug that Napoleon III gave to Queen Isabel II looks like.

11.  Cerralbo Museum

What is it? The fascinating private collection of artworks and artefacts belonging to Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, the 17th Marqués de Cerralbo, still laid out the way the Marqués arranged it himself.

Why go? Private collections are always intriguing, and this one even includes a masterpiece in the form of El Greco’s ‘The Ecstasy of St Francis of Assisi’, as well as pieces by Zurbarán, Alonso Cano and other Spanish masters. Plus, you can see other things the Marqués was into, like European and Japanese armour, weapons, watches, pipes, clocks and more. The luxurious ballroom and garden are the stuff of dreams.

12.  Railway Museum

• Specialist interest

What is it? Madrid’s railway museum boasts an extensive collection of models, old trains, railway equipment and memorabilia.

Why go? Because you love trains nearly as much as Sheldon on ‘The Big Bang Theory’. Or because you have kids to entertain. Or because you’re interested in all aspects of travel and locomotion. Happily, you’re allowed to climb on the trains, and you can even get something to drink in an old restaurant car.

13.  San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts Museum

What is it? Set up in 1794, this museum is one of Madrid’s oldest and most important art institutions.

Why go? For the impressive 13 works by Goya, as well as important portraits by Velázquez and Rubens, and several paintings by Zurbarán. The academy is also home to one of the world’s most significant collections of engravings, including original plates by Goya.

Going to Madrid on a budget?

The best free art in Madrid

Head to an exhibition by a world-famous artist, stroll through the city’s most important museums, discover new and innovative art galleries... In Madrid you can do all this and more without spending a euro.

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36 Hours in Madrid

By Andrew Ferren Updated Feb. 16, 2023

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Madrid has little to prove as a premier art destination. Its central “golden triangle of art”(anchored by the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza museums) makes for a dazzling art lovers’ pilgrimage, and the city is bolstered by cutting-edge cultural foundations like Espacio Solo and Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary . In 2023, Madrid is commemorating the 50th anniversary of Pablo Picasso’s death and the 100th anniversary of Joaquín Sorolla’s with a series of exhibitions dedicated to each artist. Also, few cities have seen such a flurry of hotel openings since the pandemic’s onset — including the Edition, the Four Seasons, the Mandarin Oriental and the Hard Rock. One thing that hasn’t changed is the city’s warm embrace of anyone wanting to join the fun. Since so few Madrileños are actually from Madrid, everyone is welcome.

Recommendations

• Corral de la Morería is a traditional flamenco tablao with one untraditional factor — an eight-seat Michelin-starred restaurant.
• Museo Sorolla is the former home and studio of the artist Joaquín Sorolla.
• Reina Sofía is Spain’s national museum of modern and contemporary art.
• Ecoalf is a fashion label and a store that upcycles plastic bottles and fishing nets to make luxury garments.
• Golda is a cheery cafe with Middle Eastern-accented breakfast fare.
• Frida offers family-friendly breakfast options and outdoor seating.
• The Omar is a brunch spot with the air of a classic European coffeehouse.
• El Jardín de Arzábal is a restaurant in the Reina Sofía Museum with a lush, jungly terrace.
• Kappo serves traditional omakase at a 12-seat counter or in a six-table dining room.
• Urso Hotel sets the vibe with live piano music in its lobby cocktail bar.
• La Vaquería Montañesa has a candlelit ambience and simple yet superb dishes in the Chamberí neighborhood.
• Jack’s Library pours craft cocktails from a hidden spot behind what appears to be a flower shop.
• Lula Club is a nightspot where you can dance, and maybe spot a celebrity.
• Kluster beckons with pulsating music and a dance floor full of shirtless men.
• Plaza de España , which underwent a major renovation, now has tree-shaded promenades and pedestrian paths linking it to Madrid’s biggest attractions.
• The Royal Palace , among Europe’s grandest, is still in use today for state events.
• Santa Bárbara is a grand Baroque church in the Salesas neighborhood.
• Monastery of the Royal Barefoot Nuns offers guided tours to see its treasures, including famous tapestries.
• Museo Geominero offers four stories of mineral and fossil exhibits to delight both children and adults.
• Travesía Cuatro is a commercial art gallery featuring international contemporary artists with an emphasis on Latin American art.
• Alzueta Gallery is a contemporary space with outposts in Barcelona and Madrid.
• Albarrán Bourdais is a commercial art gallery featuring contemporary artists from Spain, Mexico, France and beyond.
• Oteyza sells exquisitely tailored men’s clothing, from handmade sneakers to bespoke suits.
• La Duquesita is a beautiful Art Nouveau pastry shop that is more than a century old.
• Real Fábrica and Cocol are two stores in the historic city center selling regional crafts like mohair blankets and ceramics.
• WOW Concept is a store artfully showcasing international design and fashion.
• Rosewood Villa Magna , newly renovated, is among the city’s most luxurious addresses and near the major art museums and high-end shops of the upscale Barrio de Salamanca. Its three roaring fireplaces in the lobby and bar make it ideal for a cozy winter stay. Doubles from €850, or $908.
• CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha , in an 1850s palace in the historic city center, has some of the most spacious rooms in Madrid, not to mention top-floor suites with large decks and hot tubs. Doubles from about €250.
• Bastardo , a hipster hostel in trendy Chueca, has a buzzing lobby and a variety of room options — from singles to shared rooms to family rooms that sleep six. Doubles from about €90.
• For short-term rentals , the pretty Almagro neighborhood offers quiet streets lined with boutiques, galleries and small restaurants, all within walking distance of many major museums and attractions.
• Madrid is a very walkable city, and streets are surprisingly safe, even in the early hours of the morning. In addition to the city’s fleet of white taxis , ride-hailing apps like Uber , Bolt and Cabify are popular. The city’s metro and buses are reliable, clean and air-conditioned.

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Paris: A different side of the French capital reveals smaller museums, under-the-radar spots in Montmartre and a diverse performance scene .

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Glasgow:  Take in Gothic architecture, green riverside walks and a global banquet  in Scotland’s largest city.

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Beyond The Prado: 10 Best Museums To Experience In Madrid

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Spain’s Prado Museum routinely ranks among the best attractions in Madrid and the top ten museums in the world. With good reason: Its collection of Spanish and European art dating back to the Medieval period is unmatched and includes the likes of Titian, Hieronymus Bosch, Francisco Goya, El Greco, Peter Paul Rubens, and Diego Velázquez. The building is housed in a stunning, sprawling Neoclassical structure that dates back to 1819, a work of art in itself. But the Prado’s popularity — it hosts more than 3 million visitors per year — can often be its biggest drawback. Where can you go in Madrid to get the museum experience without the crowds?

Spain’s capital city has more than 40 museums, running the gamut from maritime history to animation, from the ancient to the uber-modern. If you’re looking for an alternative to the Prado , start with these fascinating museums.

1. National Archaeological Museum (Museo Arqueological Nacional, Or MAN)

13 calle serrano.

I visited this massive museum last year and could not get over the wealth of artifacts and art it contains. It has entire wings dedicated to prehistory; ancient Greece , Rome , and Hispania; and Egypt . You’ll find stone statues and carvings, coins, pottery, funerary objects, and jewelry. The modern portion of the museum is equally vast, spanning the mid-15th through the mid-19th centuries. Its collection includes scientific instruments, weapons, furniture, textiles, and more.

Any trip to the MAN must include a visit to La Dama de Elche. The pride and joy of the museum, this 4th-century sculpture of a resplendently dressed woman was discovered in the Valencian countryside by a farm worker. While her identity is unknown, researchers believe she was an Iberian aristocrat. The sculpture was originally multi-colored, but her pigments have faded to a uniform and lovely sand tone.

2. Reina Sofia Museum

52 calle santa isabel.

Like the Prado, the Reina Sofía Museum is housed in a large, beautiful Neoclassical building. Its collection focuses on contemporary Spanish art, including one-name wonders like Picasso and Dalí, as well as other Spanish and international geniuses — Joan Miró, Juan Gris, Ferran Adrià , and Diego Rivera, to name a few.

Its pièce de résistance is Picasso’s Guernica . At 25 feet wide and 12 feet tall, it’s a stunning depiction of a bombing in the eponymous Basque town during the Spanish Civil War. Picasso sent the piece to the Museum of Modern Art in New York for safekeeping during World War II, specifying that it should return to Spain only when democracy had been returned. That happened in 1981, after the fall of the Franco regime.

The Reina Sofia Museum has four venues, including two buildings in the Atocha district and two in Retiro Park, the city’s phenomenally pretty green space. Walking between the two locations takes about 20 minutes. The main venue’s Nouvel Building is also home to an open-to-the-public collection of 100,000-plus art books.

3. Sorolla Museum

37 calle general martínez campos.

My first acquaintance with Spanish painter Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida came via my husband, who to this day keeps a framed print of the artist’s Two Sisters . Next to the MAN, this little gem is my favorite museum in Madrid. It displays 1,200 of Sorolla’s paintings and illustrations , and has been added to over the years, thanks to additional purchases by the state. Even if you’re not a fan of Impressionist work, there’s no denying the charm of Sorolla’s former home and studio.

The manor itself is wonderfully preserved, and located in a quieter neighborhood. The home displays all its original décor, plus a large collection of objects amassed by the artist himself — clothing, jewelry, sculptures, ceramics, and photographs. Save some time for quiet walking and contemplation in the outdoor garden, also designed by Sorolla. You’ll feel like you’ve exited a time machine into early-20th-century Madrid.

4. Naval Museum

3 paseo del prado.

Military history buffs, this one’s for you. Madrid’s stately Naval Museum features objects from the Middle Ages to today, all with a link to maritime history. The 12,000-piece collection is laid out in easy-to-follow chronological exhibits. View a variety of navigational instruments, weapons, and model Armada ships, as well as uniforms and medals, and the supplies and personal effects of sailors. I’m not usually a big fan of military history, but the map collection — including a circa-1500, exquisitely illustrated parchment document by Spanish cartographer Juan de la Cosa — left me speechless.

In recent years, the museum has introduced themed “routes” through its collection, to give context on related items from different time periods. These include Illustrious Seamen, Naval Shipbuilding, and Cultural Exchanges.

Pro Tip: Many of Spain’s best museums are free to the public. During the pandemic, most have required reservations. Check websites in advance for potential admission fees and ticketing. Parking in the city is difficult, so your best bet is to use Madrid’s excellent Metro system to get to places that are farther apart.

5. Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

8 paseo del prado.

Billed as “Everyone’s Museum,” the Thyssen-Bornemisza is based on the private collection of a single Swiss family. Dedicated solely to Western painting, it was designed to be broad in scope. The collection includes most European and American styles, from the 14th through the 20th centuries, from artists like Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Pablo Picasso, Vassily Kandinsky, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Jackson Pollack.

Unlike the vast majority of art museums, the Thyssen-Bornemisza trades the standard white gallery walls for clay pink. This gives it a warmer, friendlier feeling. It also boasts colorful terraces with views of the garden, and a restaurant that serves delicious sandwiches, smoothies, and aperitifs.

6. Casa De La Moneda Museum

36 calle del dr. esquerdo.

Like money? Me too, especially when it allows me to travel to unexpectedly fascinating museums like this one. Casa de la Moneda , or “Money House,” chronicles the history of currency. Its permanent exhibition shows how money has evolved in different cultures, from ancient to the modern. You’ll find coins, stamps, bills, notes, and other forms of payment, and the machinery and tools used to create them.

Casa de la Moneda is a leader in its genre, with one of the largest cash collections and scientific study facilities in the world. On my visit, signage was only in Spanish, but you can use the in-house Wi-Fi to connect to an English audio guide.

7. Museum Of Romanticism

13 calle de san mateo.

Like the Sorolla Museum, the Museum of Romanticism is a period-manor-turned-art-museum. Built in the late 1700s, it uses décor, furniture, and art from the Romantic period (late 1700s to mid-1800s) to recreate the lives of the Spanish bourgeoisie.

The massive collection of 17,000 paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculptures, and furniture can be overwhelming, so be sure to pick up a guide at the reception desk to help you choose a plan of attack. I loved the ceiling murals in the dining room, the dramatic paintings of Leonardo Alenza, and the shapely Ignace Pleyel & Cie grand piano, made for Queen Elizabeth II. Take a break between viewings in the petite garden, which is lush with live greenery and flowers from spring through fall.

8. CaixaForum Madrid

36 paseo del prado.

A combination museum and cultural center, CaixaForum is located across the street from the Prado. It has an unusually large scope, covering ancient, modern, and contemporary art, music, poetry, fashion, and more. Somehow, it all seems to work.

With about 21,000 square feet in a repurposed power station, CaixaForum hosts various rotating exhibits, from the traditional to the sociopolitical. It also offers lectures, workshops, conferences, and concerts. These have included talks on modern cinema and current affairs, and multimedia art and poetry festivals. Spend some time admiring the vertical garden, a living wall of more than 250 plant species.

9. Canal De Isabel II Exhibition Hall

125 calle de santa engracia.

Located in a decommissioned elevated water tank from the early 1900s, this unusual museum is as eye catching from the outside as it is on its interior. The circular brick building has a porthole-pocked metal dome with elaborate geometric designs in the stonework below.

Inside, Canal de Isabel hosts temporary exhibits on contemporary photography from both Spanish and international artists. Each year, during Madrid Fashion Week in March, it features a special show on fashion design. You might not guess it from the large circular staircases, but this museum is fully accessible, with two elevators to help you get from floor to floor.

10. Cerralbo Museum

17 calle de ventura rodriguez.

Although it’s considered one of the most important museums in Madrid, the Cerralbo is perhaps its most under-the-radar. Opulently designed and decorated, the late-19th-century Italian-style mansion was the home of Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, the 17th Marquis of Cerralbo, and his family.

A well-traveled group, the Cerralbo family amassed thousands of objects and pieces of art from around Europe. The collection includes furniture, glass, ceramics, sculptures, paintings, drawings, clocks, armor, and a variety of archaeological artifacts. Baroque tapestries and paintings? You’ll find excellent examples here. Fine-cut glass and gilded chandeliers? Got those too. From rooms painted with elaborate ceiling murals and carvings clad in gold leaf, to a carved staircase so spectacularly architectural it makes Buckingham Palace look like a velvet-covered wannabe, this is quite possibly the house museum to shame all house museums.

Pro Tip: There are few display signs around the Cerralbo. Pick up a museum guide at the entrance for context on the different art and objects.

If you’re looking for other getaways in Spain , check out these articles:

• Why This Will Always Be The Most Unforgettable Meal I Had In Madrid
• How To Spend A Luxurious Weekend In Vejer, One Of Spain’s Prettiest White Villages
• 8 Reasons You’ll Fall In Love With Spain’s Historic Soria Region

A specialist in coastal travel, the northeast U.S., and Spain, Robin is a travel journalist and the writer behind the travel blog Once More to the Shore . Her work has appeared in National Geographic , Travel + Leisure , TIME , Smithsonian , Conde Nast Traveler , AFAR , Hemispheres , and a range of other publications, both national and regional.

A New Englander by birth now living in the Hudson Valley, Robin understands the call of the sea, and the allure of rock-strewn beaches and shrouded forests. She also knows that a Maine-style lobster roll — the one true lobster roll — is best paired with a crisp hard cider, and that nothing beats a Rhode Island clam cake.

An honorary Spaniard by marriage, Robin visits Spain at least once a year, and has never met a town or tapa she didn’t like. When she’s not writing about travel, she can usually be found exploring regional lakes in her inflatable kayak, hiking the Taconics, or attempting to snap the perfect photo of the wildlife around her home.

• Madrid S 10 Contemporary Art...

10 Madrid Galleries for Contemporary Art Lovers

In Madrid’s dynamic cultural district, veteran galleries share the spotlight with creative spaces devoted to contemporary art. The art scene in the Spanish capital is continually evolving, and the city is home to interesting urban events as well as traditional art fairs. Read on to discover the most interesting contemporary galleries in Madrid.

1. Mad is Mad

Art Gallery

2. Mondo Galeri­a

3. travesía cuatro, 4. rafael pérez hernando, 5. galería elvira gonzález, 6. heinrich ehrhardt, 7. juana de aizpuru, 8. sabrina amrani gallery, 9. elba benítez, 10. galería marta cervera.

Galería Marta Cervera has been an important part of Madrid’s art scene since it was founded in 1996. The contemporary art space has moved a few times since, but has been in its current location since 2013. Here, it shows contemporary works by both Spanish and international artists, including James Welling, Raha Raissnia and Ludovica Carbotta.

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Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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Artrip Hotel is located literally among the major art galleries in the world: Prado Museum, Thyssen Museum and Reina Sofia Museum. Its brilliant location makes it the perfect hotel to enjoy a close encounter with Velazquez, Rubens, Gauguin, Monet, Dalí or Picasso. On top of that, Art Trip is the perfect choice to live Madrid like the natives: wandering around the pebbled streets of Lavapies neighborhood, enjoying its tapas bars, discovering the Rastro flea market were you can buy exotic antiques or taste the typical mid-morning appetizer “aperitivo”, visiting the major city landmarks (Puerta del Sol, Palacio Real, Plaza Mayor) and all within walking distance. Not only this, but if you stay at Artrip Hotel you will be able to go walking to Atocha Train Station and take the high speed train (AVE) to the main Spanish capital cities. Come to our hotel and discover the wonders of this artistic city.

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In the center of the Art Triangle formed by the Prado Museum, the Thyssen Museum and Reina Sofia Museum.

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In the whole hotel building thanks to the high speed fiber optic cable

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Football, flamenco, restaurants, tapas tours, exhibitions, the best suggestions for a memorable stay.

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Discover secrets of Madrid, 2 hours walk aprox. Private and adaptable. Engaging and free.

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Madrid 3 Day Itinerary – Ultimate Guide and Travel Tips

Madrid is the historic and cultural capital of Spain, the heart of the nation and a place that’s literally teeming with life and energy. This is the largest city in Spain and the third largest in the European Union, but even with so much to see and so much to do, the Spanish capital makes for a great city break and 3 days in Madrid will give you ample opportunity to delve into local life.

With this Madrid itinerary, you can explore most of the city center, visiting the country’s best museums and art galleries to get a great feel for Spanish history.

You’ll have plenty of time to eat and drink, enjoying the cafe culture during the day as you stroll through grand plazas and along famous avenues, before jumping into the nightlife by ordering great wines with even better tapas to accompany it.

There are palaces, markets, and much, much more to see in during a stay in Madrid. It will be an action-packed few days, but you’ll leave with a taste of the Madrid lifestyle that will stay with you forever, and you may find yourself returning for another visit, sooner rather than later.

To inspire your trip to the Spanish capital, here’s our guide to spending 3 days in Madrid.

Don’t leave home without: Lonely Planet Spain (Travel Guide)

3 Days in Madrid: Day 1

Table of Contents

Your first of 3 days in Madrid will see you getting quickly acclimatized to local life, as you explore the heart of the city. Centro is the main, central district in Madrid, and here you can spend the day walking from one sight to the next.

In sticking to this area, you will delve into the country’s history, visit royal palaces and enjoy the lively, vibrant streets of the capital.

Plaza Mayor

The Plaza Mayor is the central square in Madrid, and it makes for an excellent starting point for your 3 days in Madrid. Plaza Mayor literally means ‘Main Square’, and here you can find a huge public space that dates back hundreds of years.

The square is surrounded by grand architecture, and if you ever get lost during your wanderings through the city, just try to head back here to get orientated again.

Our top recommended tours of Plaza Mayor:

• Madrid Walking Tour at Night with Optional Flamenco Show
• Madrid Authentic Tapas and History Lunch or Dinner Walking Tour
• Madrid at Night Bike Guided Tour
• Downtown Madrid Custom Guided Walking Tour

Royal Palace of Madrid

A short walk from the Plaza Mayor, you can find the Royal Palace of Madrid, one of the most impressive buildings in the city. The palace is still an official royal residence and it is in fact, the largest royal residence in Europe.

The current palace dates back to the early 18th century, and although it looks marvelous enough from the outside, you can actually take a guided tour through the interior, to see the vast corridors, stately rooms and artwork inside too.

Our top recommended tours of Royal Palace of Madrid:

• 3hr. Best of Madrid Tour by bike
• Private Custom Madrid Tour & optional Skip the Line Prado Museum Ticket
• Private Group Walking Tour: Secrets of Madrid

From the Royal Palace, continue your stroll through Madrid, as you connect with the Gran Via. This is the main avenue that cuts through the city and is one of the liveliest parts of Madrid. Along the route, you can find bars, restaurants, shopping centers, galleries, and museums.

Our top recommended tours of Gran Via:

• Streets Of Madrid 1-Hour Tuk Tuk Tour

Puerta del Sol

Before heading off to find some tapas and a few local drinks, finish your first day in Madrid by visiting the Puerta del Sol. This major square is close to Plaza Mayor, and you will have walked full circle through the Centro by the time you get here.

This is actually kilometer zero, where all distances in Spain are measured from, and it’s a square which has a special place in the heart of locals.

Our top recommended tours of Puerta del Sol:

Madrid Itinerary: Day 2

Your second day in Madrid will see you getting much deeper into the local history and culture, as you tour the different museums and galleries of the city. From the Museo del Prado to the Reina Sofia Museo, there’ s a lot to see.

Museo del Prado

The Museo del Prado is one of the highlights of a trip to Madrid, and locals will tell you that this is one of the most important museums in the country. It’s predominantly an art museum, but an extensive one that has one of the largest collections in Europe.

There’s an enormous range of works by Goya, as well as Diego Velaquez, and you can spend the entire morning walking through the exhibitions.

Our top recommended tours of Museo del Prado:

• Buen Retiro, Madrid’s favorite park, & Skip-the-Line ticket to Prado Museum
• Expert Led Prado Tour with Skip-the-Line Tickets
• Prado Museum 3-hour Private Tour with Skip-the-line

Reina Sofia Museo

The Reina Sofia Museo is another excellent art gallery and museum in Madrid, but rather than a focus on historic artists, you can see more of Spain’s modern art culture, with a particular focus on the 20th century.

The museum is home to many wonderful works by the likes of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali, and again, you can spend several hours enjoying the exhibitions here too.

Our top recommended tours of Reina Sofia Museo:

• Museo del Prado with Optional Reina Sofia Museum
• Skip-the-Line Madrid Guided Tour: The best of Prado, Reina Sofia & Thyssen
• Reina Sofia Museum Guided Tour in Madrid
• Skip the Line: Reina Sofia Guided Tour

Retiro Park

After a day of culture and history, when it’s cooler outside, head across to the nearby Retiro Park, one of the most extensive public parks in Madrid. The park is a real escape from the city, and you can find large areas of trees and greenery, as well as sculptures, fountains and more hidden within the city.

Our top recommended tours of Retiro Park:

• “Magical” Retiro Park Segway Tour
• Private Madrid Walking Tour: Famous Retiro Park
• Guided walking tour in the famous Retiro Park in Madrid
• Bike Tour- Madrid Retiro Park

Weekend in Berlin: Day 3

The last of your 3 days in Madrid will be spent immersing yourself in the culture, as you visit markets, enjoy local food and if you are a football fan, explore the iconic stadium of the world-famous football club, Real Madrid.

Mercado San Miguel

In the morning, head to the lively Mercado San Miguel, a covered market in the city center that has for the last century been a popular place to shop and to eat.

It has changed since its early days as a fresh produce market and is today focused more on local food, and you can enjoy some great breakfasts or local brunches, as you soak up the local atmosphere and shop for a few souvenirs too.  

Our top recommended tours of Mercado San Miguel:

• Early Entrance Royal Palace with Madrid City Tour & Rooftop View
• Early Entrance Royal Palace Full-Day Madrid Tour with Prado Museum and Tapas
• Madrid Highlights Guided Segway Tour

The Bernabeu Stadium

Spain is home to some of the world’s most popular football teams, and in Madrid, you can visit the vast home ground of Real Madrid. The Bernabeu Stadium is enormous and can host over 80,000 spectators.

If you can find tickets to a game if you’re in the city on match day, then you’ll have a loud and lively sporting experience, but most other days of the week you can also join guided tours of the ground too, to learn more about Real Madrid and their importance in local history.  

Get you entry ticket to Bernabeu Stadium today with Viator.

Flamenco Show

Flamenco is an iconic Spanish dance that is found across the country. It didn’t originate in Madrid, but locals have over the years adopted the dance themselves and become masters in their own rights.

Spend your last evening in Madrid enjoying the colorful and vibrant dance at a local performance. It will be a fantastic way to end your 3 days in Madrid.

Our top recommended tours of Flamenco Shows:

• Flamenco Show in Madrid at La Taberna de Mister Pinkleton
• Tapas and Flamenco Show
• Flamenco Show at Corral de la Morería in Madrid
• Flamenco Show with Dinner and Workshop in Madrid

Madrid Travel Tips

Where to Stay in Madrid

Madrid is a big city, but the city center where the majority of the touristic attractions are found is still surprisingly compact, so you’ll want to make sure that you’re within easy reach of this area, and not too far out in the suburbs, so you can spend more time exploring and less time commuting.

Madrid has a huge range of accommodation options too, which is to be expected from an important tourist center, and you can find a suitable hostel, guesthouse or hotel for almost any budget.

Centro is the best area to stay when you have 3 days in Madrid, as this will ensure that you are mostly in walking distance of all the best sights that need to be seen on a first time trip to the city. Centro though can be more expensive than other areas, although if you don’t have a budget then you can also find the best hotels here.

If you are on a budget and don’t mind being in a neighborhood a little further out, then you can consider staying in Lavapies, which is home to some of the best museums and markets anyway.

If you are interested in nightlife, then the best area to base yourself for 3 days in Madrid is Chueca, where you can find some of the city’s best bars, taverns, and clubs.

Read reviews and check prices with our Hotel Search Engine , that gives you the best hotel deals found on the web. Our search engine pulls results from all of the major booking places, including Expedia, Hotels, Booking and more. All the options, all the deals, all in one place and just for you.

• Top luxury hotel we recommend in Madrid: Gran Melia Palacio de los Duques
• Top mid-range hotel we recommend in Madrid: DoubleTree by Hilton Madrid-Prado
• Top budget hotel we recommend in Madrid: Ibis Madrid Aeropuerto Barajas
• Top hostel we recommend in Madrid: Hostal Mister Ramiro Madrid

Where to Eat in Madrid

Madrid is a gastronomical haven and regardless of whether or not you’re big on food when traveling, you’ll find plenty of unique and exciting dishes in the city to tantalize your taste buds.

With 3 days in Madrid, you’ll have plenty of time to sample a wide range of dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and make sure that you find the time to indulge an evening of tapas.

Head to the local eateries and bars, where more often than not a glass of wine will be accompanied by some unique tapas dishes, finger food that will keep you satisfied as you enjoy a few drinks.

For breakfast, indulge in Churros y Chocolate sugar-coated pastries served with thick chocolate dipping sauce. You’ll want to try Huevos Rotos, ‘Broken Eggs’, a Madrid special that takes fried eggs and french fries alongside chorizo and other meats.

Despite being landlocked you can also get some great seafood in Madrid, especially Calamares, while the city has some excellent hearty stews that are served with meat and potatoes.

Related Article: The Best Madrid Restaurants and Museums

Recommended Multi-Day Tours:

• G Adventures Spain & Portugal on a Shoestring:  Take an incredible 10 days to experience the best travel highlights of Spain and Portugal: art, culture, food (hello tapas!), and nightlife. Leave the typical big tour bus behind and reach these unforgettable destinations by train. All aboard for some serious (and life-changing) city-hopping through Iberia.
• G Adventures Discover Moorish Spain: Discover the history and romance of Andalucia on this eight-day trip to five amazing cities, with plenty of free time to discover them. Explore Madrid’s famous museums, walk the cobblestoned streets of El Greco’s Toledo with a local historian, take a flamenco lesson in Granada, and embrace the region’s Moorish spirit in Granada and Córdoba. Some 1,300 years in the making, the fascinating culture of Moorish Spain will be sure to leave you wanting more.
• G Adventures Best Of Southern Spain: With some destinations, you always have to compromise on something, whether it’s the cuisine, history, or just things to do. Luckily, in southern Spain, there’s no such thing. This tour covers the major highlights of Andalucia (southern Spain): the ornate palace of Alhambra in Granada, Córdoba (an architectural mainstay of Islamic culture), and the Andalucian capital of Seville, home of flamenco dancing. Pair it all up with time in Madrid and Barcelona, and you’ll never run out of fun things to do, eat, or see.
• G Adventures Classic Spain: In Spain, a country that’s filled with flavor, artistry, and passion, there’s no such thing as going halfway. Start in the south, where the Andalucian capital of Seville will introduce you to the most firey of dances — the flamenco. Head north and get a taste of Spain’s Basque and Catalan provinces: vibrant Barcelona, unhurried San Sebastián, Logroño’s famous cuisine, cosmopolitan Madrid, and the mighty Pyrenees. Each region of Spain has its own distinct character, style, and language to offer. Get it all here.

More on Spain:

• 12 Easy Day Trips from Madrid
• The Best Madrid Restaurants and Museums
• The Ultimate 3 Day Weekend in Barcelona Itinerary
• Best Day Trips from Barcelona
• 15 Sweet Things to Do in Ibiza Besides Drinking and Partying
• The Best of Costa Brava in Spain
• 10 Picturesque Locations in Spain
• Hiking Camino de Ronda From Lloret to Tossa
• 11 Unforgettable Things to Do in Seville, Spain
• 21 Most Beautiful Places in Spain
•   10 Best Day Trips from Barcelona That are Worth the Trip
• Where to Stay in Barcelona: Best Districts & Hotels (2020 Guide)
• 1 0 Adventures for Your Europe Bucket List
• 6 of the Best Hikes in Spain
• 21 Spectacular Things to do in Mallorca, Spain

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Lina is an award-winning photographer and writer that has been exploring the world since 2001. She has traveled to 100 countries on all 7 continents. Member: SATW, NATJA, ATTA, ITWA

1 thought on “Madrid 3 Day Itinerary – Ultimate Guide and Travel Tips”

Wonderful city in Spain. I would like to visit it. I will plan to this city for a trip

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Great location in Lavapies, near museums, tapas bars and other restaurants. Excellent, helpful staff made us feel very welcome. Would stay here again.

The staff was very friendly and professional, always helpful and welcoming. The value was very good for the comfort that is provided by the hotel. The rooms were modern with up-to-date amenities. I highly recommend this place for a few nights in Madrid.

Location very easy to get to downtown with metro nearby. Lots to do around hotel, great restaurants and a young cultural, safe neighborhood.

My friend is handicapped and the staff was exceptional in their assistance. I highly recommend this hotel.

Amazing location for those who like Lavapies, which I do. They upgraded my room. It was quite large. Staff were accommodating

price/quality ratio is good. clean&chic staff was very helpful and friendly. especially thanks to Roberto😃

Great little hotel walking distance to the train station. Stayed here our last night in Spain before catching our flight home. Front desk ordered a cab for us for early in the morning. Nearby Tiki Taco was a great place for a quick and inexpensive lunch.

Loved everything about this place! Staff were amazing and exceptional tour guides (see the book in room as well); breakfast was delicious and fantastic value; coffee, tea, and cold water available all day, so thoughtful; great location and room was beautiful and very comfortable, laid out really well; overall vibe, very warm, caring, relaxing, family owned and operated, loved it!

Perfect place, perfect location and super friendly staff

The front desk person, Javi, was super helpful and communicative! The hotel is centrally located, near metro/train stations, and about a 15-25 minute walk from popular sights in Madrid. Our room was bright and spacious.

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Located in Madrid’s Lavapiés district, this art hotel offers functional rooms with free Wi-Fi and private bathrooms. It has a 24-hour reception desk and is 10 minutes’ walk from Atocha Metro Station. All air-conditioned rooms at Artrip Hotel have soundproofed walls and are equipped with a flat-screen satellite TV and a laptop safe. Some rooms have a small balcony overlooking the street. The hotel is decorated with a variety of art works and has a small café on the ground level. You will find many tapas bars, restaurants and shops within less than 5 minutes’ walk of Artrip. Reina Sofía Museum is just 1640 feet from the hotel and the Prado Museum is a 15-minute walk away. Staff are happy to give you more information about sights and activities in and around Madrid. An airport shuttle service is available at an additional cost.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.1 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

• Family rooms
• Non-smoking rooms
• 24-hour front desk
• Air conditioning
• Baggage storage
• Good Breakfast

Property highlights

Located in the heart of Madrid, this hotel has an excellent location score of 9.1

Want a great night's sleep? This hotel was highly-rated for its very comfy beds.

Breakfast Info

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Hotel area info

Amenities of artrip hotel great facilities review score, 9.

• Toilet paper
• Private Bathroom
• Free toiletries
• Wardrobe or closet
• Alarm clock
• Electric kettle
• Refrigerator
• Clothes rack
• Temporary art galleries
• Flat-screen TV
• Satellite channels
• Coffee house on site
• Wine/Champagne Additional charge
• Parking garage
• Shared lounge/TV area
• Wake-up service
• Wake-up service/Alarm clock
• Invoice provided
• Fire extinguishers
• CCTV in common areas
• Smoke alarms
• Key card access
• Smoke-free property
• Private entrance
• Laptop safe
• Soundproof rooms
• Ironing facilities
• Upper floors accessible by elevator

See availability House rules

From 3:00 PM

Until 12:00 PM

Cancellation/ prepayment

Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodations type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room.

Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

Children 3 and above will be charged as adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

The number of cribs allowed depends on the option you choose. Check your selected option for more info.

There are no extra beds available at this property.

All cribs are subject to availability.

Age restriction

The minimum age for check-in is 18

Pets are not allowed.

When booking more than 3 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

Accepted payment methods

Cash Artrip Hotel accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival.

The fine print Must-know information for guests at this property

Please note that for reservations of 6 nights or more, special conditions and additional charges may apply.

Please note that when booking 3 rooms or more, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

Please inform Artrip Hotel of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

FAQs about Artrip Hotel

How much does it cost to stay at artrip hotel.

The prices at Artrip Hotel may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

What kind of breakfast is served at Artrip Hotel?

Guests staying at Artrip Hotel can enjoy a highly-rated breakfast during their stay (guest review score: 7.7).

What type of room can I book at Artrip Hotel?

What are the check-in and check-out times at artrip hotel.

Check-in at Artrip Hotel is from 3:00 PM, and check-out is until 12:00 PM.

How far is Artrip Hotel from the center of Madrid?

Artrip Hotel is 0.7 miles from the center of Madrid. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.

What is there to do at Artrip Hotel?

The best of madrid, attractions.

• Parque de Atracciones de Madrid

Convention Centers

• IFEMA Convention Center

Institutions

• National Library of Spain
• Gregorio Marañón Hospital
• Royal Palace of Madrid
• Puerta del Sol
• Puerta de Toledo
• Paseo de la Castellana
• Prado Museum
• Temple of Debod
• Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
• Reina Sofia Museum
• Retiro Park
• Casa de Campo

Popular Areas

• Plaza Mayor

Shopping Areas

• Mercado San Miguel

Stadiums or Arenas

• Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
• WiZink Center
• Circo Price Theatre
• Barcelo Theatre
• Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) 8.6 miles
• Madrid-Torrejón Airport (TOJ) 14.7 miles

Subway/Metro Stations

• Plaza de España Metro Station
• Gran Via Station Metro Station

Train Stations

• Atocha Train Station
• Chamartin Station

Most Popular Cities

• Alcalá de Henares
• San Lorenzo de El Escorial
• Fuenlabrada

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Madrid's Art Museums

Madrid Art Museums

The best art museums in the Spanish capital...

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. 

Reina Sofia

TripSavvy / Paula Galindo

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 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  10€ (8€ online; free for students with ID, under-18s, over-65s, and many others) Free on Sundays (1.30pm-7pm) and on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7pm to 9pm.

Prado Museum

Tripsavvy / Paula Galindo

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, Calle Ruiz de Alarcón 23, s/n. 28014 Madrid, Tel.: (+34) 91 330 28 00 www.museoprado.es [email protected] Opening Times : 10am - 8pm, Monday - Saturday, 10am to 7pm Sunday Closed  Jan 1, May 1, Dec 25 Entry  15€. (7.50€ for over-65s). Or take a  Prado Guided Tour. Free entry: 

• Mondays to Saturdays  from 6pm to 8pm
• Sundays  from 5pm to 7pm
• Always  with the  Madrid Card  and students 18-25, under 18s, and the disabled

Thyssen-Bornemisza

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

TripSavvy / Paula Galindo Valle

Modern art museum with temporary exhibitions.

More on this Madrid art museum: CaixaForum Madrid

Casa Encendida

Various temporary exhibitions at this cultural space.

Read more about the Casa Encendida.

Escultura Abstracta

Outdoor museum of abstract sculptures. 

See more on the Abstract Sculpture Museum in Madrid

Madrid's Contemporary Art Museum

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

Convento de las Descalzas

A convent with a famous art collection.

More: Convento de las Descalzas

Museo Lazaro Galdiano

Private art collection belonging to José Lázaro Galdiano.

Read more about this Madrid art museum:  Museo Lazaro Galdiano

Museums in Madrid With Free Entry

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Activities and Sight-Seeing in Madrid's Lavapies District

Madrid's Reina Sofia Museum: The Complete Guide

10 Best Things to Do in Madrid's Malasaña and Chueca Barrios

CaixaForum Madrid: The Complete Guide

Should You Visit Madrid or Barcelona? A City to City Comparison

18 Top Things to Do in Madrid, Spain

The 15 Best Things to Do in Madrid with Kids

The Art Lover’s Tour of Spain: From Goya to El Greco

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• Trip Overview

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

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Countries Visited

Places visited, suggested duration.

During this 13-day art tour of Spain, you will explore the country's renowned museums and galleries, exploring an unrivaled artistic heritage and inimitability. Blur the romance of Goya with the unusual expressionism of El Greco and celebrate the thick seduction of the Golden Age before it merges old masters with influential upstarts like Picasso and Dali. Art masterclasses and art historians will guide you on this tour for art lover’s.

Customizable Itinerary

Madrid – historical introduction the spanish capital.

Arrive in Madrid and the artistic indulgence cascades from townhouse walls. Pastel colors emanate from the Hapsburg Quarter; ancient messages are sculpted into balconies and doorways, while unknown paintings fill the walls of tapas taverns. You're greeted at Madrid Airport and transferred to your hotel in the heart of the city. Freshen up and you're taken through the city on a walking tour, traversing the old Hapsburg and Bourbon quarters before admiring the indulgent baroque style of the Royal Palace. This flexible tour can be shortened or lengthened dependent on your mood after the flight and is a great introduction to the atmosphere of the city.

What's Included:

Madrid – A Day of Fine Art at Museo del Prado - One of the World's Greatest Galleries

Perhaps only the Louvre can rival Museo del Prado for its collection of fine art. Spanning the 12th to 19th centuries the gallery stands unrivaled in its showcase of Spanish artists and the whole morning is dedicated to the Spanish side of the museum. Velazquez welcomes you, one of his bronze statues dominating the promenade entrance and his famous Las Meninas waiting inside. An array of rooms is dedicated to the individualistic brilliance of Spain's most important Golden Age artist. Then, you roam through the imaginative romance of Goya; Museo del Prado containing the greatest collection of his work, including The Third of May . A specialist Spanish art historian accompanies you; the informative tour takes you to the heart of the canvases.

Take a break for lunch and continue the discussions about style and influence, your guide revealing the stories behind lesser-known Spanish artists that flourished under more famous tutors. Spend the afternoon exploring the greatest collection of Italian masters outside Italy and the baroque styles of Rubens and Bosch, Flemish painters who were under Spanish rule at the time. The specialist guide accompanies you all day and will tailor the afternoon towards any distinct interests you have.

Madrid – Two Exceptional Galleries in the Heart of Madrid

The canvases of Goya and Zurbaran gaze from the wall of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts: their thick swishes of color joined by other Spanish masters like Ribera and Murila. Comprehensive commentary comes from your guide, providing context and history to this less-visited collection. Spend the morning here, before indulging in the great Madrid tradition of a long lunch on the Plaza Mayor. While the Royal Academy has structure and direction, the Thyseen-Bornemisza Collection is an ode to the wealth of private collectors. Wander down the resplendent corridors of the 18th century Palacio de Villahermosa, admiring the vibrant shocks and unusual portraits contained in what was one of the world's largest private art collections (the Spanish government bought it in the 90's and made it available to the public). Its highlights span the whole of Europe over eight centuries, offering a sublime snapshot at masterful fine art.

Madrid – An Interactive Art Class and a Journey Through Modern Art

Madrid is calm in the morning light, the streets slowly coming alive with the smells of coffee and chocolate. At this time it barely feels like a capital, more like a giant village for exploring at leisure. Relax, take your time, enjoy the morning, and be guided through the Reina Sofia when you're ready. Spain's premier contemporary art gallery is an astonishing journey through famous names, taking your eye from Picasso to Miro to Dali to Tapies. Like the last two days, a specialist guide helps provide an historical context and helps tie the individual works together, culminating in Picasso's Guernica . Madrid's art scene is almost unparalleled so where better to experiment with brushstrokes? Spend the afternoon on a private art master class, taking inspiration from the Madrid galleries onto the canvas. This art class will be expertly tailored to your own interests, whether that's recreating the Spanish masters or perfecting an unusual personal inclination.

Madrid – Hidden Treasures in an Art Lover's City

The master class of Spanish art continues today with some of Madrid's lesser-known attractions. Goya's frescoes blend across the neoclassical San Antonio de la Florida, cherubs and biblical scenes covering ceilings of enchantment. This is where the artist is buried and there are perhaps no better examples of his work, the paintings curving across domes of resplendence. Continue the day at the Lazaro Galdiano Museum, another lesser-visited Madrid gallery. The museum contains the private collection of Jose Lazaro Galdiano, a man who bought everything from Iberian Celtic sculptures to medieval artistry and carved ivory. Gaze up to sublime baroque painted ceilings then look around to the collection of paintings that include El Greco, Goya's Witches' Sabbath , Bosch, Velazquez, and Zurbaran. Your guide pulls the narrative together from a very diverse collection. The afternoon is free for you to explore Madrid your at leisure, with the opportunity to visit a temporary exhibition dependent on the time of your visit.

Cuenca – Picturesque Journeys Through La Mancha

There's a final Madrid pleasure this morning, the Sorolla Museum containing the sun-dappled vibrancy and dexterity of Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida. Then you leave Madrid, winding into the La Mancha plains and stopping at the surreal timber houses of Chinchon. You're heading back in time, Madrid city giving way to medieval villages and walled towns. Arrive in Cuenca for a long Spanish lunch on the main square, the sounds of the past flickering from cobblestoned corridors. Towering above the valley, Cuenca is one of Spain's most untrammeled towns and a serene place to spend the next two nights. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure, gazing down from the castle ramparts and completely slowing down the pace.

Cuenca – From the 15th to 21st Century in a Single Day

The Cuenca old town feels untouched and unchanged, women still in floral dresses and bakeries emitting idyllic morning smells. Carved wooden ceilings fill the Gothic cathedral while Plateresque portals ensure you're still exploring the 16th century. The town's small museums maintain the archaic musing, works of El Greco hanging amidst the musty smells of yesteryear. But continue the Cuenca tour and Spain's abstract modernism is discovered. The paintings of Saura and the sculptures of Chillida fill a 15th century building that practically crumbles over the gorge. This Museum of Abstract Art seems out of place given the surroundings, yet the remarkable juxtapositions find a strange harmony. Tapies, Zobel, and Munoz are also found here, amongst a rapidly developing collection of over 1,500 works.

Toledo – Gothic Resplendence and Churches Filled with Spanish Masters

Toledo's castle gleams from afar, guiding you towards a city of rich artistic treasure. The spires of a 13th century Mudejar church rise from behind the city walls, a synagogue stands beside the mausoleum of King Ferdinand, and then the monastery of San Juan de Los Reyes stands radiant with its late Gothic decoration. Arrive in Toledo in the mid-morning and spend some time slowly exploring, discovering the rich tapestry of architecture and a rich display of Spanish masters. El Greco's greatest work – the Burial of Count Orgaz - fills the Church of Santo Tome, while Spain's largest Gothic cathedral is stuffed with paintings and sculptures from Valazquez and Titian. Finish the guided tour in the mid-afternoon and enjoy some free time soaking up this fairytale old city.

Toledo - The World of El Greco

Toledo's most famous resident is the focus of today, the life and work of El Greco dotted around the city's fabulous historic buildings. Start outside the city gates, admiring his Spanish renaissance paintings that hang in the Museum of Santa Cruz and the Hospital de Tavera. El Greco, The Greek , achieved his fame when he moved to Toledo and started being commissioned for notable Renaissance churches. His dramatic style struggles to be classified, mixing expressionism with fantasy and marrying disparate ideas. This is best displayed at the El Greco House and Museum, where his early work reveals an eclectic and always evolving style. An El Greco expert is your guide, helping to gradually build a detailed picture of an artist's artist, one that inspired much 20th century expressionism and cubism. Finish the tour at the Convent of St. Domingo, where El Greco's works hang above his burial place.

Cordoba – Exploring Andalusian Architecture and Medieval Europe

A first-class train slices across the La Mancha plains towards Andalusia, endless yellow plains drifting towards the horizon, as you get ready to explore the ancient capital of Islamic Spain. There's a break from classic galleries and museums today, your guided Cordoba tour focusing on the magnificent architecture of what was once the richest city in Europe. The 13th century grand mosque delivers elegant patterns of symmetry, lines stretching around the 16th century cathedral that's built within it. Now the lavish Medina Azahara, ten centuries old yet still symbolic of Cordoba's dedication to artistry. Cordoba's old town has an Eastern exoticism that immediately inspires, the camera snapping away as a local guide provides romantic historical chronicles.

Cordoba – Roman and Arab Art in an Exotic Destination

Cordoba's art presents a narrative of the city's history, starting in the Archaeological Museum with Roman remains and a decadent collection of Arab pieces. It moves forward through the Alcazar and its Roman mosaics to the winding maze of the Jewish quarter, home to synagogues and the delightful ceiling of the Fine Arts Museum. Now the canvases of old Spanish masters join the journey, before the Museo Julio Romero de Torres brings you into a symbolist early 20th century. As always, a local art expert guides you through the day and you visit all of the city's important galleries and museums. When the afternoon sun starts to fade you enjoy another private art class, taken on the terrace of your hotel. Like in Madrid, it's a private lesson that's tailored to your interests.

Malaga – Finishing the Tour in Picasso's Birthplace

Since eying his work at the Reina Sofia, one famous Spanish artist has been notably absent from this itinerary: Pablo Picasso. Take a direct train to Malaga and you're in his birthplace. A local Picasso expert greets you at the station and you start at the house the artist was born in. A few of his belongings are on display and it helps set the scene for the Picasso Museum, home to an astonishing collection of his works. In particular, the museum reveals his early work, allowing you to chart the development of his distinct and highly influential style. After absorbing it all you take lunch at a quaint town square before visiting the final gallery of this trip: the Carmen Thyssen museum. Like this whole vacation, the gallery takes you on a journey through the styles and schools, from the old masters to the flamboyance of 19th century painters and then the surrealist tones of the next generation.

Malaga – Departure

This morning, your transfer meets you at the hotel lobby and takes you to Malaga Airport and your return flight. As you bid farewell you scour through the memories, piecing together the styles and schools that have danced across this vacation.

Trip Highlights

• Spend time in Madrid, visiting some of the world's finest galleries, including Museo del Prado and the Thyseen-Bornemisza Collection
• Be inspired by what you see and enjoy two private art classes with local painters, Spain's myriad of styles embellishing your own canvas
• Marvel at some of the most influential art in world history, including an El Greco dedicated tour of Toledo and a tour of Picasso's birthplace and hometown museum
• Enjoy both Cuenca and Toledo, stunning medieval towns that float on a blanket of old-world charm
• All art tours are conducted by specialist art historians, helping provide a context and history to the famous works that fill the walls
• Discover the artistic treasures of Andalusia and allow the journey to wander into Arab and Roman art, before picking a path to cubism and finishing the tour in Picasso's birthplace, Malaga
• Exceptional and influential works of famous Spanish artists that span the schools and styles: Goya, Velazquez, El Greco, Zurbaran, Ribera, Murila, Dali, Picasso, Miro, Tapies, Sorolla, Titian, Chillida, and many more
• Explore the lesser-known artistic delights, like the Goya frescoes that cover San Antonio de la Florida or the Spanish masters that decorated the Gothic Toledo Cathedral

Detailed Description

Spain's art ripples across the centuries; a dozen styles and schools fill canvases with vibrant blurs and experimental expressionism. The names ignite the imagination, promising splendor and surrealism: Picasso, Dali, Goya, El Greco, and Velazquez. But these are just the start, the famed sons who forever influenced the world of art. Delve deeper and the country is a treasure chest of galleries and locally renowned artists, their work spreading across cathedral domes, convent walls, and world-famous museums. This art lover's tour magnificently represents the great Spanish painters, while also leading the eye through artistic niches and subtle delights. A specialist art historian guides you through every gallery and museum trip, helping to provide a rich context and history to the works. As you travel from Madrid to Malaga you piece together your own narrative of the country's art heritage and distinct style.

Madrid is one of the world's great art capitals and your base for the first five days. Visit the astonishing collections of renowned galleries like the Prado, Reina Sofia, and Thyseen-Bornemisza Collection. But also discover the city's lesser-known delights, like Goya's frescos in the San Antonio de la Florida and Lazaro Galdiano's collection of Velazquez and Zurbaran. For every world-famous canvas, like Picasso's Guernica , there's a local treasure that unveils artists' early work. Madrid is also where you take your first art master class, with another one being enjoyed later on in Cordoba.

Days six to nine are spent in Cuenca and Toledo, quaint medieval towns that you marvel at in the magnitude of their history. The old mixes with the new here, from a day dedicated to the ethereal work of El Greco, to the late 21st century Spanish work found in Cuenca's Museum of Abstract Art. Cathedrals and churches feature staggeringly elaborate frescos, some of the old masters' finest work found in the Gothic and Renaissance monuments of yesteryear. Like Madrid, expert local guides show you around, combining galleries and museums with evocative medieval architecture.

On day ten you travel by first-class train to Andalusia and the exotic remains of Cordoba. The buildings have a distinctively Eastern feel, grand displays of wealth that present an alternative side to Spain's historical art. The Fine Arts Museum and Museo Julio Romera de Torres feature a more classical side to Andalusia before you complete the vacation in Malaga, birthplace of Picasso. The painter's blossoming style can be read in his early work, on display at the Picasso Museum, and another specialist guide helps to unlock the hidden corners of his art.

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$4,051  per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

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13 Best Street Art in Madrid: Urban Art Gallery with Map

Madrid is a fascinating city for art and culture lovers, and only a few tourists realize that it also offers stunning street art. From vibrant murals to elaborate graffiti, street art in Madrid has overtaken the city. 

When planning a trip to any city, I always look for murals because it brings me to off-the-beaten places that are not on the radar of many tourists. I’ve various dedicated street art posts for the cities I’ve hunted down, including my hometown, Tbilisi , and other cities in Georgia, such as Batumi and Kutaisi , but also Polish cities of Krakow, Poznan, and Katowice. So, I needed to include Madrid street art from my collection. 

Street art in Madrid has become an important part of the city’s urban culture. It has given a different dimension to the town, where some of the murals are thought-provoking works and statement pieces. Local and international artists mainly do these murals within a few annual art festivals. 

Madrid graffiti and murals are scattered across the city; many are within the city center and its bordering neighborhoods, while others are a bit far and require public transport but are close to metro stations.  

This urban art gallery post lists some of the most famous street art in Madrid that I managed to look for while wandering the streets. If you prefer to learn more about the artists and their murals, you can join the Madrid street art tour (via GetYourGuide or Viator ), which takes you through the city’s rich street art scene. 

Madrid Travel Essentials

Book a flight: I use Skyscanner or WayAway . The latter also offers cashback with its Plus membership.  Read more here .  Airport transfers: If you want to avoid hassles through public transport, book a private transfer with Welcome Pickups . Reserve a hotel: I use Booking.com to book my hotels or apartments.   Find best-suited tours: book your winter activities in Poland on Viator or Get Your Guide .  Rent a car: DiscoverCars is one of the best car rental aggregators with a wide choice of vehicles.  eSIM: I use Airalo eSIM whenever I travel. Get 3 USD with code: BAIA2592 . Travel insurance: SafetyWing is my go-to travel insurance covering COVID. Now, they have add-ons for adventure sports coverage and electronics theft. 

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Street art in Madrid map 

For a more comfortable way of seeing those murals, refer to this street art Madrid map on Google Maps. Save it and use it whenever you need. If you download the area for offline use, you will not need the data to access the spots

13 of my favorite street art in Madrid 

Please note that these are some of my favorite and famous Madrid murals I collected during my visit. And while there are many others, you might have little time to devote to hunting them down in your Madrid itinerary . Therefore, I present the ones that are easier to see. 

Calle de Embajadores

One place with lots of murals and graffiti in Madrid is Calle de Embajadores, a very long street that cuts through several Madrid neighborhoods, including Lavapiés. 

Beautiful and remarkable art pieces adorn almost every second building, starting from its intersection with C. de Juanelo. Here are a few noteworthy stops; however, several pieces that didn’t make the list are still included in the map above. 

The work of Dean Stockton, a British street artist, also known as D*Face, Run Away incorporates pop art elements typical of his signature style. The mural, created in 2020, is part of a series that focuses on love and romance. 

It features a couple hugging each other, but if you look closer, it’s not hard to notice that the man is already melting and disappearing while there’s a tear just about to drop from her closed eyes. 

Still Live Lavapies

Facing the Run Away mural, Nicolás Romero, or Ever, created another remarkable street art in Madrid. This Argentinian artist does anthropological research before he creates any piece to understand the issues and values of the community he is set to work in. 

Therefore, his rich and colorful Madrid mural incorporates art history references with figurative elements of the ethnically diverse Lavapies neighborhood. 

Using Matisse’s iconic Dance painting motives, Ever tried to symbolize a powerful sense of unity in the neighborhood. Inside the dance circle, he added fruits, flowers, and a range of vintage items referencing the famous Sunday El Rastro flea market. 

Chimpancé (chimpanzee)

The Chimpance combines street art and painting created by Okuda San Miguel and Bordalo II. It is breathtaking with its colorful and bright geometrical patterns that make up the face of a chimpanzee. 

It is very characteristic for Okuda to use geometrical shapes in bold colors, while Bordalo uses recycled materials to make 3D sculpture-like street art in Madrid. 

It is one of the most eye-catching art murals and carries an important environmental message about the necessity of reducing waste and recycling. And since chimpanzees are an endangered species, it is a reminder to protect our planet’s inhabitants. 

Walls of the Tabacalera Art Promotion

The former tobacco factory turned into a cultural space is another spot to see different graffiti and murals in Madrid, which sort of resembles Fabrika Tbilisi. The Madrid Street Art Project initiated the Muros Tabacalera (Walls of Tabacalera) in 2014, where artists had the opportunity to beautify its cement walls. 

Sadly, the space is temporarily closed, and I could only see the art adorning its walls once you make a turn on Calle de Miguel Servet. 

Sun Clock, or El reloj de sol de Sombrerete in Spanish, is one of the oldest and less-known street art in Madrid, created in 1985 by Ángel Aragonés. The piece features a woman hanging out clothes from a balcony in the center while abstract but functional sundials surround her. 

Like Ever, the artist dedicated his mural to the residents of the multicultural Lavapies. 

Cubism-inspired piece (my interpretation)

A work of two artists, Zosen Bandido and Minda Hamada, this colorful mural in Madrid is inspired by cubism and Neo-Fauvism, a poetic painting style of the mid-1920s.

Tercios Españoles

This small mural at 6 Calle de Grafal Street is dedicated to the Tercio, a so-called third military unit of the Spanish Army during the rule of Spanish Habsburgs and Catholic Monarchs.

The unit was an essential and powerful land force of the Spanish Empire, who sometimes fought with the navy. They were the most professional infantries in the world due to the efficacy of their battleground constructions. They were a crucial step in forming modern European armies of skilled volunteers. 

The Pillar in English is a work by Mexican artist Hilda Palafox, who tags her murals under Poni. She was one of the artists at the Urvanity Art Fair 2019. 

On her Instagram account, she explains that her piece was inspired by sisterhood, described as a solidary connection among us, among women, with the firm aim to build networks that push social change to create equality.

Calle Invisible

The mural, translated as the invisible street, painted on the wall of a building, gives the visual impression of a street between two buildings. 

El fabuloso cuento de ser diferente

The Fabulous Tale of Being Different is my absolute favorite street art in Madrid among the ones I have seen. The artist Case Maclaim is one of my favorites, too; he has done a few murals in my hometown, Tbilisi. 

Located in Pasaje de la Caja de Ahorros, close to Puerta de Sol Square, the piece was created in 2021 as part of the Urvanity Art Fair. It is an excellent example of the outstanding talent and originality found in the city’s contemporary art community.

The piece shows a confident, black child in a golden wheelchair, wearing a self-made mermaid costume. It’s striking, emotional, and thought-provoking! 

He believes that the beauty of fairytales is up to our imagination to create how a character moves, looks, or talks, which is not a subject of debate because, like a fingerprint, it is very personal and unique. With this in mind, he gave Madrid a new character of an unknown fairytale, hoping it would encourage people to create their own story where they feel as confident as this kid. 

Swiss artists duo Nevercrew creates the mural in the most lively and gay-friendly Chueca neighborhood. Featuring a pyramid of brown bears was inspired by Madrid’s own emblem – El oso y el madroño – where the last one has a strawberry tree leaf on its nose. 

The artists wanted to call attention to the delicate balance between nature and humanity and how natural space and resources are reduced because of our attitudes and industrial progress. 

A homage to two women

Another beautiful mural in the Chueca neighborhood is the work of Helen Bur, who pays homage to two women – Hyuro, a street artist who passed away a few years ago, and the artist’s mother, a sculptress.

About This Town

Serbian artist Artez is another favorite muralist who created a few street art pieces in Tbilisi . This mural, made in 2019, is dedicated to Madrid itself, the city that attracts people from around the globe to experience its cultural and artistic vibe. 

The mural, located on a pedestrian shopping street, contrasts its location, where a girl holds a pile of books, all essential for Madrid’s culture and history, instead of carrying shopping bags. 

Street art galleries to check out

A few contemporary art galleries in Madrid focus on post-graffiti and urban art. Curators organize monthly exhibitions showcasing established local and international artists and those who have just started. 

Swinton is another one to check out if you are into urban art – it sells a wide selection of adult and children’s books, artists’ designs, clothes, and prints on the upper floor, while the bottom is the art gallery and event space. 

La Causa is an art shop where you can see and purchase prints of international and local artists. Los Artistas del Barrio is an art shop and a gallery focusing on the local art scene. They have some of the most gorgeous contemporary art pieces that range from 10 to 25 EUR. 

Where to stay in Madrid

• Boutique hotel: Hotel Vincci Soho (★8.7) is a modern lodging with a chic design offering a stylish restaurant & a sleek lounge with a terrace bar. 
• Mid-range hotel: Petit Palace Puerta del Sol (★8.7) has streamlined rooms in a laid-back environment, offering Puerta del Sol views and metro access. 
• Budget-friendly hotel: Generator Madrid (★8.1) offers contemporary rooms and dorms in a trendy hostel with a rooftop terrace and a bar. 
• The Hat Madrid (★8.9) has bright rooms and dorms in laid-back lodging, a rooftop bar, and an optional breakfast.
• Luxurious hotel: Four Seasons Hotel Madrid (★9.5) is a sophisticated hotel with restaurants, a spa, an indoor pool, and a rooftop terrace. 
• Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid (★9.4) is a lavish hotel in a grand 1910 property with a caviar bar, afternoon tea, and a posh spa. 
• None of them suit your needs? Here are more hotels in Madrid to choose from. 

More Spain travel guides:

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5 replies to this topic

Have you already thought about an area to stay in? My recommendation is Las Letras.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?hl=en&mid=1BaeEin9IEBn38u84sG2lzBlvQ77iSvY&ll=40.41444422195345%2C-3.6991859530037674&z=17

Retiro Park for parks

For museums is better to do a little research and then ask specific questions, because they are all so different . My daughter likes el Prado , and I like Reina Sofia.

The most famous tapas street in Madrid is Calle Cava Baja. Located in the La Latina neighborhood

Another vote for Las Huertas/Letras.

The Royal Palace armory with its knightly armor is special for teens.

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