Another visit that was high on the list of things to do in Madrid…read more I bought passes that came with an English guide. I enjoyed having that, but you could easily come through on your own without a guide and be fine. Our guided tour was about 90 minutes, but you could also stay as long after as you desired. We ended up staying about another hour to catch some of the things the tour didn't stop at. Note that you cannot take photos inside. It also seems to get pretty busy early, so it might be a good idea to go fairly early or closer to closing. Would highly recommend the Prado.

This is their national art museum, located in central Madrid, with many magnificent works spread…read moreacross three levels. It's tightly run, with scanners at the entrance. No camera is allowed in the exhibit rooms. We spent quite some time at Goya's 'May 2nd' and 'May 3rd' paintings. We saw the May 2 parade last Saturday; with a few wars going on right now, it was fitting to see the horror of fighting.

The last time Jamie W and I vacationed in Madrid over 15 years ago, we made the big mistake of…read moretrying to squeeze this museum and the Prado into the same afternoon. We had to race through the Reina Sofia without allowing the requisite time to appreciate the masterworks constantly hidden by the crowds. We didn't make the same mistake last week and decided to focus a full afternoon here. There was no avoiding the long line that snaked around the plaza even though we bought the 32,8€ Paseo del Arte passes which covers all three of Madrid's essential museums. We still had to redeem our passes to get our museum tickets. It only took about 25 minutes before we made the beeline to the museum's spotlight masterwork, Picasso's "Guernica" on the second floor. Viewing was packed and unmovable, but it's still the definitive visualization of the horrors of war made striking by the monochromatic palette (Video 1). The building was once an 18th-century hospital before it became an art museum as recently as 1988. It houses Spain's most significant collection of 20th-century art. Along with Picasso, other contemporary masters are also on display here. Artists represented include Salvador Dali (Photos 3 & 5), Joan Miro (Photo 2), and Rene Magritte (Photo 7). Up on the third floor is even more contemporary art dating back only to 1975 including works by Andy Warhol (Photo 6) and Robert Mapplethorpe (Photo 4). This was our favorite of Madrid's Golden Triangle which includes the Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza. Definitely take your time perusing. RELATED - Exploring Madrid? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/qwUK6nAE-z

I was very excited for my visit here as I wanted to see a Picasso piece in person, as well as take…read morein some more modern contemporary art. They had great pieces and I enjoyed my time. The staff were friendly and helpful with my questions and the museum was clean. I was disappointed to find that both the garden and third floor were closed the day I visited, so I felt like I missed out on some things.

One of the golden triangle of Madrid art museums, you need three to four hours for this one. The…read morebest order, if possible, is the Prado the first day (which takes all day) because one can learn so much from the very detailed descriptions there that will help frame the order the art here is arranged in. The collection spans from a couple of pieces from the 13th century to contemporary, with especially good collections of Spanish medieval, Dutch masters, French impressionist, expressionist, cubist, modernism, post abstract realism, and 20th century sculpture. Although we bought tickets for all three when we went to the Prado, we found ourselves in line before Noon on free day Monday. The line was daunting it was so long, but once they opened we were in within about 20 minutes. The crowd wasn't as stifling as in the Prado, but worse than the Sofia, but you just don't want to miss this amazing art musuem just because it's too popular. Lots of sick people cough and sneezing, I would mask up.

This is a highly underrated museum that many people pass up. I get it, the Prado is amazing and it…read moreshould be visited. However, this museum, which is a private collection, should be on your Madrid itinerary. This museum contains a ton of art by well-known and not so well-known artist laid out in a very fluent manner. From 15th century realism to 20th century post-impressionism and everything in between, this museum contains beautiful pieces from Monet, Van Gough, John Sargent, Picasso, and many more. Additionally, it houses a rather large collection of assorted sculptures. The best part of all, you can take as many pictures as you want (unlike the Prado) just no flash. There's a large gift shop at the entrance of the museum and bathrooms downstairs under the gift shop. Be sure to visit...the gift shop that is, unless you need the bathroom then do that too. I recommend booking a tour to get the most out of your trip and money. Our tour guide, Luis, from "Fun and Tickets" booked through the "Get Your Guide" app was incredibly informative and insightful. There's no way we would have seen what we saw and experienced what we did without him. Overall, this is a great museum that needs more people to experience its wonder. Enjoy!

The palace is absolutely beautiful, but it's currently fully under construction. You aren't able to…read moreenter and there's a lot of scaffolding blocking the beautiful views of the large glass windows.

Located inside el Parque del Retiro, this 19th-century conservatory means more to us than the art…read moreexhibit it is currently used for. Though it was closed for renovation when we were there in April 2024, it is OUR special place where we exchanged our first set of rings with intentionality. If in Madrid, come for the nature walk and live music, the beautiful and lush ambience, and the fountain backdrop.

I love history and museums. However, I am not a huge fan of prehistory. I can't get fully onboard…read morewith the objectivity of such subjective items. Nevertheless, this was a good experience and our tour guide made it even better. The museum is packed with objects, most of which are authentic and not replicas. There are even some objects that are on display that are known fakes. There story behind them and how the museum acquired such objects is interesting. The best part was the digital display that overlays a topographical map of the Iberian peninsula. It tells the story of the Iberian migration of peoples over the centuries. Overall, not a bad museum, kind of boring in some areas but still a good experience.

One of the finest archeology museums anywhere. Every artificact here is from the Iberian…read morepenninsula or excavated by Spanish Archeologists. Good explanations from either physical or cultural anthropology, very up to date information on the evolution of humans. The descriptions and explanations are truly excellent. If you start downstairs you can work your way up in time from milliions of years ago to early modernity. Check for free concerts and lectures, I saw an interesting and talented saxophone quartet in the evening.

I wouldn't call this museum a must see, but it is an excellent history museum with some fabulous…read moreart. The history of Madrid is largely told by art, but also maps, sketches models, artifacts, and eventually at the top, photographs. The history ends at industrialization, maybe because that's all they had room for. The grounds and entrance are picturesque. We went on a free day, but it's worth the regular admission. One to two hours, you could easily visit here and the nearby Romantic Museum in an afternoon. A good choice for after the three days of the Golden Triangle of big Madrid art museums. The neighborhood has lots of cafes, pastry shops, affordable dining, bookstores, and Michalin star restaurants so maybe make an afternoon and evening of the Chambri area. If you are staying nearby I think this is a must see stop. Very close to Hotel Sardinero and the Tribunal Metro stop.

What a great museum, highly recommended.it's free and metro station in front. Romanticism museum is…read morenear but this one was my favorite.

This is one of the coolest museums I've ever been in. You're transported back in time, and I am…read moreobsessed with all the clocks, settees, and poufs all over. The colors. The colors!!!!!! I need an emerald green couch now STAT. I'm obsessed. There's no other word for it. My colleague told me to go here and I'm soooo glad she did or I'd have missed out on seeing all this amazing furniture. You think you're on a Bridgerton set, I swear. It's a smaller museum and takes about an hour, if was only a 3€ admission too, and it's so so so worth it! Go go go go go!

Pleasant little museum worth an hour visit in a historic restored house on beautiful grounds…read more Paintings and artifats from late Rennaisance to Victorian Age, its focus is on the Romantic Period, hence the name. It's much easier than the Golden Triangle of Madrid art museums, so it's good on an afternoon jaunt into the Chambri area where you'll find the Madrid history museum right nearby, the Mercado Barcelo and other shops, cafes, restaurants so you can make a whole afternoon of it. Not too from here are the Sorollo museum, the Real Madrid stadium, and a few (!) Michelin star restaurants. This museum is right off the Tribunal metro stop. If you're staying nearby, like at Hotel Saldinero, well then you really should stop by and take a gander. Don't miss the big doll house with the tiny dancer holograms.

The view here is amazing. We had awesome food and drinks but being able to really take in the city…read morewas one of the best parts! Liked - Liked - Liked - Liked - Liked - Liked - Liked - Gambas French toast Cocktail

Though I'm not a native Spaniard, I studied abroad here and visited too- this is one of the best…read morerooftop views in the city! Unless you make a dinner reservation (only way to get food too), tickets are 5 euro to enter the bar and you might wait around 10 min in line to enter. While cocktails are expensive by European standards at 10 euro, tinto de verano (a classic) isn't terrible at 5 euro. Even without drinks, definitely worth it just for the view! Sunsets are amazing. On a chilly evening, they have heaters over some of the lounge chairs. I'd highly recommend to get a great view of the city!

Because nothing says Spanish like a 2nd-century Egyptian temple chilling in a park. Let's check it…read moreout. Found out this was a gift from Egypt, reassembled stone by stone. In the 1960s, Egypt was building the Aswan High Dam, which was going to flood a huge area full of ancient Nubian monuments. UNESCO launched an international campaign to help save them, and a bunch of countries, including Spain, stepped up with money, expertise, and support to relocate temples and preserve cultural heritage. As a thank-you, Egypt gifted the Temple of Debod to Spain in 1968. Other countries got temples too. Italy got the Temple of Ellesyia, the Netherlands got the Temple of Taffeh, and the U.S. got the Temple of Dendur, now in The Met in NYC. See? Kindness is rewarded. You'll get a temple.

We had a nice time walking around outside of it. I'm enjoying the history. It's a pretty cool…read moremonument. It would've been nice to go inside, but we did not plan ahead and we did not have tickets maybe next time.