Madrid is the holy land of art museums and is home to many of the world’s most well-known works of art from greats such as Picasso, Goya, Dali and everyone in between.
You can basically find any type of art from all time periods. With over 17 museum options all over the city, there’s something for everyone from major art buffs, to amateurs, to families and kids. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular and worth-seeing museums of the city.
Museo del Prado
Paseo del Prado, s/n, 28014 Madrid, España (map, website)
14 euros for general entry, free for students under 25 and children under 18
Prado is of course the most famous museum in Madrid, and is comparable to the Louvre in Paris in terms of size and significance (the Prado has its own Mona Lisa, albeit a copy of the original by one of Da Vinci’s students). The Prado is monstrously huge so you probably shouldn’t expect to walk through the whole thing and see everything in one day. Religion is the overarching theme in the Prado, so expect to see lots of classic depictions of saints, Jesus and scenes from mythology. The wonderful thing about the Prado is that it’s located right next to Retiro Park so you can head over to lounge and rest once you’re done gawking at classic masterpieces.
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia
Calle de Santa Isabel, 52, 28012 Madrid, España (map, website)
8 euros for general entry, free on Sunday afternoons and nights 7-9PM Monday to Saturday
Reina Sofía is also one of Madrid’s best known museums, as it houses the gigantic original canvas of Picasso’s Guernica. Reina Sofía is much more about modern art, similar to what you would find at the LACMA museum in L.A. The building itself is a wonder as it houses a large, stylish library, 3 vast floors of artworks, an amazing terrace up top with a view and even a trendy outdoor bar outback where they host DJs and block parties.
Caixa Forum
Paseo del Prado, 36, 28014 Madrid, España (map, website)
4 euros for entry
The facade of the building perpendicular to the Caixa Forum exhibition hall on Paseo de Prado is one of Madrid’s prettiest and most impressionistic buildings and museums. It’s a popular venue that hosts cool temporary art exhibits throughout the year. The current Pixar exhibition, which runs until June 22, has been incredibly popular and the photography series of geographies is amazing as well.
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Paseo del Prado, 8, 28014 Madrid, España (map, website)
10 euros for general entry, free on Mondays between 12 – 4PM
This one is my favorite museum—like ever—because, not only is the building luminous and beautiful, but it has many recognizable contemporary works in their original forms by favorite artists such as Mondrian, Dali, Picasso and Van Gough. It’s the perfect size as it’s not overwhelmingly huge like the Prado and you can get your fill of classic masterpieces without all the religious overtones.
Museo del Romanticismo
Calle San Mateo, 13, 28004 Madrid, España (map website)
3 euros for general entry, free on Saturday afternoons after 2PM
This pretty little exhibition space is truly a gem. The Museum of Romanticism which is located away from the museum district and the places mentioned above, is a lovely old, aristocratic house full of historical objects and paintings that capture the aesthetic of romanticism from the 19th century. The rooms are beautifully decorated with classic artwork, furniture, textiles and tools that display the opulent lifestyle of the European elite back in the day. Walking through the house is incredibly pleasant as each room is a different color and serves a different function, and the museum’s café has a lovely garden that’s a wonderful place to spend your afternoons.
