Five Famous Art Museums in Madrid You Don’t Want to Miss

18 February 2024

Madrid is a wonderful and exciting city. The capital of Spain is a very important economic and cultural center, well-known for its amazing museums and art galleries, so here you will have the unique opportunity to get acquainted with supreme works of art. Here is a short list of five famous Madrid museums you definitely don’t want to miss.

Prado Museum

Photo credit: www.museodelprado.es

Prado Museum The world-famous Prado Museum is, of course, on top of the must-sees in Madrid. The permanent collection comprises a whole range of different styles, time periods and artists. Among the artists exhibited in the Prado, you can find works by such great masters of European painting as Velázquez, El Greco and Hieronymus Bosch. Make also sure to visit the Goya paintings downstairs – they are well worth it!

The Reina Sofía Museum

Photo credit: www.museoreinasofia.es

Reina Sofía Museum The museum Reina Sofia is the modern art counterpart to the Prado. It houses mostly 20th century artworks. Alongside the pictures by famous Spanish artists such as Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, you will also find works of art by some internationally renowned artists like Cindy Sherman, Man Ray and Max Ernst. The museum’s probably most well-known exhibit is Picasso’s enormous Guernica painting that he created to show the horrors of the Spanish Civil War.

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

Crédito Foto: @museothyssen

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum Thyssen-Bornemisza is a wonderful collection that features a great variety of artworks from different periods. Once privately held, it now belongs to the city of Madrid. The pieces hang in chronological order throughout the museum. Many experts consider it as filling in the gaps in the Prado’s and Reina Sofía’s collections. With pictures by El Greco, Picasso, Degas, and German Expressionists, it offers a truly outstanding selection of superb artworks.

Royal Palace of Madrid

Photo credit: www.patrimonionacional.es

Royal Palace of Madrid The palace is the official residence of the Royal Family of Spain. However, nowadays, it is mainly used for state ceremonies. The building boasts hundreds of lavish rooms with costly artworks. Although only a select few are open to the public, even these are enormously remarkable. If you want to learn more about the rich history of the building, you can get an excellent guided tour. The Royal Palace is open to the public from 10 am to 6 pm. There is also a beautiful garden around the palace, which can be accessed for free until 9 pm.

The Sorolla Museum

Photo credit: @museo_sorolla

Sorolla Museum This museum used to be the home of the famous Spanish painter Joaquín Sorolla. Now, it boasts the biggest collection of the artwork by the Valencia-born impressionist artist. Though not very widely known, the museum offers a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Spanish artistic traditions. The rooms are filled with the original furniture and paintings. Moreover, there are also descriptive plaques that outline the history of each room and the artist’s life within it, and the lovely courtyard provides visitors with a remarkable opportunity to sit down and relax on a bench, surrounded by flowers and fountains.

Finally, remember that staying in our comfortable and fully equipped apartments in Madrid, you can easily reach any of these museums. Enjoy an unforgettable, carefree trip with us, make your reservation! After a day exploring museums, if you still have energy to keep enjoying, we invite you to read our blog about "A Perfect Sunday in La Latina." Discover unique plans to end your day in the best way!