A Guide to Madrid for Art Enthusiasts (10 Things to Do)

From world-renowned art museums to sculpture gardens and street art, Madrid is an artistic paradise. The city of around 3.4 million people takes artistic expression to new levels. No matter if you’re a first-time visitor or a local madrileño, there’s always something new to see and experience. Take your time to explore the museums, stroll through the parks, and relax in the beautiful galleries throughout the city. Below are ten must-see destinations for art lovers. After visiting, take your time to explore the neighborhoods surrounding them.

1. Experience Madrid’s Museo del Prado

The Prado is one of Europe’s top museums and a must-see for any art enthusiast. Along with the Museo Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, it makes up Madrid’s popular Golden Triangle of Art. The museum is located inside a striking neo-classical building designed by world-renowned architect Juan de Villanueva in 1785. It was originally built to be the King’s Natural History Cabinet, but soon found a better use as a museum space.

Today, it houses over 2,300 paintings, including some of the world’s most celebrated works. Here, you can see masterpieces such as The Countess of Chinchón by Francisco Goya, El Greco’s The Flight to Egypt, and Judith at the Banquet of Holofernes by Rembrandt.

In addition to the timeless paintings, the Prado also has an extensive sculpture gallery. Works from ancient Rome and Egypt, as well as Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces, are displayed in this famous museum.

2. See the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza

Just a short walk from the Prado in Madrid’s famous Golden Triangle is the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. The museum was originally built as a mansion. In 1992, it was opened as a museum. The European art collector Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza and his son, Hans Heinrich, began the collection. They moved the family’s collection to Spain at the insistence of Hans Heinrich’s Spanish wife, Carmen Cervera.

This beautiful museum houses art from the 13th to 20th century done in various mediums. The largest collection features works of Baroque, Renaissance, Rococo, and Romanticism. Masterpieces such as Hans Holbein the Younger’s Portrait of Henry VIII of England and Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s Woman with a Parasol in a Garden are just some of the classics that you can see. Works belonging to other movements, such as Pop art, Impressionism, and avant-garde art, are also displayed in permanent exhibits. Masterpieces like Salvador Dalí’s surrealist Gradiva rediscovers the Anthropomorphic Ruins make the museum a must-stop for any lover of art.

3. Visit the Reina Sofia

The third museum in Madrid’s must-see Golden Triangle is the fantastic Reina Sofia. This beautiful space began in 1990 and has since been one of Europe’s most influential and beloved centers for modern art. In its halls, you’ll find Spanish masterpieces such as Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, Juan Gris’ Carafe and Book, and The Face of the Great Masturbator by Salvador Dalí. There are over 20,000 other works in various mediums on display. In addition to the paintings by some of Spain’s most famous contributors to fine art, the museum also has priceless photographs and memorabilia from the Spanish Civil War. A major part of its mission is to chronicle the horrible atrocities and long-lasting social effects of the destructive civil war.

4. Non-Stop Art at the CaixaForum

For the ultimate destination for modern art and artistic expression, don’t miss the CaixaForum. Here, you can experience some of Madrid’s best modern art collections, art events, and lectures. The CaixaForum is located across from the Prado Museum. It houses rotating exhibits, events, and a vertical garden. On top of the modern architecture and spacious grounds are the exhibits, which range from avant-garde to contemporary works that look deep inside Spain’s social fabric and history. When you visit, remember to check the space’s official website to see what’s going on. Throughout the year, there are lectures, art shows, movie screenings, and concerts to enjoy. After visiting, remember to take in the iconic building itself.

5. Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando

Since 1752, the beautiful and grandiose Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando has housed some of Madrid’s finest art. You’ll find some of Spain and Europe’s most celebrated works in thirty-five well-curated rooms. The museum houses works such as Francisco Goya’s The Inquisition Tribunal and over a dozen other works by the famous artist. Other masterpieces include Still Life of Lemons by Juan de Zurbarán and Jusepe de Ribera’s grim The Head of John the Baptist. In addition to its immense collection of paintings, the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando also houses drawings, sketches, prints, and decorative art by European masters. If you love enjoying classic European art in a historical setting, it is hard to beat.

6. Explore Parque de El Retiro on Foot

As parks go, El Retiro Park was specifically created for art lovers. Its expansive grounds are full of ornate fountains and sculptures hidden amongst the trees. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best outdoor art spaces in Spain. It features structures such as the 19th-century Fountain of the Fallen Angel and the statues of the Paseo de las Estatuas. Two beautiful buildings, the cast-iron Velázquez Palace and Glass Palace, house art collections and events run by the Reina Sofia museum. Don’t miss the exteriors of the palaces to see ceramic tiles designed by the famous Spanish ceramist Daniel Zuloaga.

7. Enjoy the Light of the Sorolla Museum

The Spanish painter Joaquín Sorolla was one of a kind. He mastered the use of light, and his paintings are considered to be some of the greatest works of art from Spain. Although he was from coastal Valencia, Soralla lived for much of his later life in Madrid. His home is a unique and colorful space that is now a museum dedicated to his work.

Inside the museum, you can appreciate the open spaces and fixtures that seem to grab light the way he would capture it. You’ll get to see his masterpieces such as Strolling along the Seashore, Sketch for the Decoration of the Hispanic Society, and The Slave and the Dove. Soralla’s original furniture and belongings are also on display. You’ll see portraits dedicated to his wife Clotilde García del Castillo, his family, and his original home of Valencia. After you’ve seen the exhibits, take your time to enjoy the outdoor spaces and the Andalusian-style courtyard.

8. Experience the City’s Architecture

Madrid is one of Europe’s most famous architectural hotspots. From palaces to modern high rises, the city’s buildings are a feast for the eyes. Start in the Plaza Mayor, a late 16th-century square built when King Phillip III moved the Spanish capital to Madrid from Toledo in 1561.

From the monumental Plaza Mayor, make your way west on Calle Mayor, one of Madrid’s most iconic streets. Take your time to enjoy the beautiful architecture and historic buildings such as Torre de los Lujanes and Casa de Calderón de la Barca. At the end of Calle Mayor is the Baroque cathedral, Catedral de la Almudena. This is the historic heart of the city, where you’ll find the original Moorish walls and the extravagant Royal Palace of Madrid.

9. See Madrid’s Street Art 

As Spain emerged from decades of dictatorship and oppression, street art became a way of expressing frustration. Throughout the capital, murals, graffiti, and other forms of street art took off, covering the city with colorful art and socially conscious images. The most famous artist to form the Madrid style of street art was Muelle. Muelle’s tag was a moving arrow that would flow between his pieces. Following influential artists such as Muelle, many young artists took their work to the streets and, soon, to the galleries and museums. When looking for street art, any visitor should start in the neighborhood of Lavapiés. Here, you can enjoy murals and endless street art. The center of the neighborhood’s movement is the Tabacalera Art Promotion, a large open museum and gallery where street artists share their work and create.

10. Visit Madrid’s Private Galleries

Madrid is a thriving artistic community with both local artists and internationally renowned superstars. From painters to fashion designers, you’ll find creative people and their spaces throughout the city. Many of Madrid’s quintessential galleries are located in the Justicia and Salamanca neighborhoods. Here, some of the city’s top artists curate their work and host art events, lectures, and public events. Some of the top galleries include Álvaro Alcázar Gallery, a world-renowned space with contemporary art, and La Fiambrera Art Gallery, one of the city’s best places for artistic merchandise.

From the major galleries, you can head to the lesser-known private galleries to experience the city’s up-and-coming artists and private collectors. These small but exciting spaces are located throughout the city and are worth exploring. Madrid’s galleries are perfect for finding on foot. Arrive at the Justicia, Salamanca, and Lavapiés neighborhoods, and you can set aside a day to explore the beautiful galleries. You’ll also learn about the artists at the center of the city’s art world and have a chance to join them at their events.