Madrid does not have the density of monuments of Rome or Barcelona, but what it has is extraordinary, starting with its museums. Here are the must-sees, with a three-day itinerary. For an introduction to the city see our Madrid guide.
15 things to see
- Prado Museum: one of the world's most important art galleries, with Velázquez's Las Meninas, Goya's Black Paintings and Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights.
- Reina Sofía Museum: twentieth-century art, with Picasso's Guernica, Dalí and Miró.
- Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum: eight centuries of European painting, from Duccio to Hopper.
- Royal Palace: over three thousand rooms, of which the state rooms can be visited; the changing of the guard takes place on some Wednesdays and Saturdays.
- Plaza Mayor: the great seventeenth-century arcaded square, with its bars and calamari sandwiches nearby.
- Puerta del Sol: kilometre zero and the statue of the bear and strawberry tree, the city's symbol.
- Retiro Park: the boating lake, Crystal Palace, rose garden and street musicians.
- Gran Vía: the early twentieth-century boulevard, with the Metrópolis building, theatres and rooftop terraces.
- Temple of Debod: an Egyptian temple from the second century BC, with the city's best sunset.
- Mercado de San Miguel: an iron-and-glass market turned gourmet food hall.
- Almudena Cathedral and the Sabatini gardens.
- Puerta de Alcalá, Cibeles and the Palacio de Comunicaciones, now City Hall, with its viewing terrace.
- Barrio de las Letras, with literary quotations set in the pavement and Lope de Vega's house.
- El Rastro, the Sunday-morning flea market.
- Santiago Bernabéu stadium, with the Real Madrid tour and museum.
Three-day itinerary
- Day one: Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Mercado de San Miguel, Royal Palace and Almudena; afternoon at the Temple of Debod; evening tapas in La Latina.
- Day two: morning at the Prado; lunch in the Barrio de las Letras; afternoon in the Retiro and Crystal Palace; Puerta de Alcalá and Cibeles; evening in Malasaña or Chueca.
- Day three: Reina Sofía or Thyssen; stroll along Gran Vía and a rooftop drink; or a day trip to Toledo or Segovia.
Tips
The Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen have free hours on certain days, usually evenings, but with long queues; buy tickets online. The Paseo del Arte Card gives combined entry to all three. Many museums close on Mondays. For the evening see Madrid nightlife and for food eating and drinking in Madrid.