10 Museums in Paseo del Prado That You Shouldn't Miss

May 18, 2022 Jeremy Dunfee

So many of Madrid’s buildings look like castles, you’ll think you’ve stumbled into a fairytale. Even City Hall is astounding, with its white pinnacles and neo-Gothic features. A self-guided architecture tour can begin by the great bear statue in the central Puerta del Sol. Wander by the fanciful Royal Palace before absorbing the natural beauty of Retiro Park, then visit one of the city’s many museums. You could happily cap off each day by nibbling on forkfuls of paella while sipping Spanish rioja.
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1. Prado National Museum

Calle Ruiz de Alarcon 23, 28014 Madrid Spain 913 30 28 00 [email protected] http://www.museodelprado.es
Excellent
74%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 56,733 reviews

Prado National Museum

The Prado has one of the largest art collections in the world, and is best known for its diverse assortment of works by Velasquez, Goya and El Greco.

Reviewed By EricM59cc - Miami Beach, United States

Must see attraction in Madrid, beautifully organized and great collection from Spanish masters and some extra bonus with masterpieces by Bosh, Rubens,... Highly recommended.

2. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia

Calle de Santa Isabel 52, 28012 Madrid Spain +34 917 74 10 00 [email protected] http://www.museoreinasofia.es/index_en.html
Excellent
54%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 16,159 reviews

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia

World famous modern art museum featuring a diverse collection of 20th century Spanish art, from Picasso to Solana.

Reviewed By psdunner - Bethesda, United States

Wonderful collection of modern art the video, long, of the history from the Civil War on is fascinating and a unique way of learning history. The works of modern Spanish artists is incomparable.

3. Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza

Paseo Prado 8, 28014 Madrid Spain +34 917 91 13 70 [email protected] http://www.museothyssen.org/thyssen/home
Excellent
72%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 16,537 reviews

Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum offers visitors an overview of art from the 13th century to the late 20th century. In the nearly one thousand works on display, visitors can contemplate the major periods and pictorial schools of western art such as the Renaissance, Mannerism, the Baroque, Rococo, Romanticism and the art of the 19th and 20th centuries up to Pop Art. The museum also features works from some movements not represented in state-owned collections, such as Impressionism, Fauvism, German Expressionism and the experimental avant-garde movements of the early 20th century. In addition, it boasts an important collection of 19th-century American painting not found in any other European museum institutions. Permanent collection hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 10.00 to 19.00 Monday: 12.00 - 16.00* *Free entry with the sponsorship of Mastercard.

Reviewed By barryb487

On a prior visit to Madrid, I'd toured the Prado and Reina Sofia, both of which are excellent and well reputed museums. However, the "Thyssen" proved to be my favorite art museum in Madrid for two reasons: 1) The quality of the private collection housed here is superb; and 2) The galleries within the museum are ideal for displaying the collection, light, bright, fresh...a truly pleasant experience. As an inveterate international traveler who also loves art, this was a welcome respite from many larger and somewhat overwhelming museums.

Paseo del Prado 5, 28014 Madrid Spain +34 915 23 85 16 [email protected] http://www.fundacionmuseonaval.com/
Excellent
57%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,830 reviews

Naval Museum

** This place is temporarily closed**The Madrid Naval Museum is a State institution which belongs to the Ministry of Defense. The Museum is under the organic command of the Admiral Chief of Naval Staff and is governed by a Board of Trustees (Real Patronato). The Naval Museum is a living institution opened to the public. Its curators not only study, look after, exhibit and acquire new objects, but use it as an instrument of communication, education and dissemination of the maritime history of Spain and its traditions. The following are some of the research fields: History of the Spanish Navy Naval shipbuilding Nautical science and auxiliary sciences like cosmography, cartography and nautical instruments. History of maritime voyages and discoveries. Underwater archaeology Maritime heritage

Reviewed By dicod712 - Oslos, Denmark

What a fantastic and interesting museum depicting Spain's history as the supreme naval power . Not huge like some of Madrid other world class museums. Alot more manageable.

5. Caixa Forum

Paseo Prado 36, 28014 Madrid Spain +34 913 30 73 00 http://caixaforum.es/es/madrid/home
Excellent
51%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,995 reviews

Caixa Forum

A postmodern art gallery, it also exhibits retrospectives of artists from earlier time periods.

Reviewed By terryo493

Whenever we're in Madrid, we always make a stop at CaixaForum. There's always something worth seeing there, and some of the exhibits are truly world class. The building is fantastic, outside there's a terrific vertical garden, a nice plaza, easy walk to Prado and Botanical Garden. So it's easy to work into your day. And the exhibits are curated in a stimulating way. Highly Recommended as a stop during your travels in Madrid.

6. Golden Mile Museums

Paseo del Prado, Madrid Spain
Excellent
73%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
18%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 11 reviews

Golden Mile Museums

7. Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas

Calle Montalban 12, 28014 Madrid Spain +34 915 32 64 99 http://museoartesdecorativas.es
Excellent
33%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
8%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 150 reviews

Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas

A popular museum dedicated to what is sometimes known as the "lesser arts:" furniture, rugs and glassware.

Reviewed By 598marisap - Dallas, United States

This is a great museum close to El Retiro Park. It is free on Thursdays in the afternoon. It has a great permanent exhibition on decorative house items such as cookware, desks, kitchens bedrooms from different time periods. I really love the nativity scene from Italy, a piece from the 18th century, and also one of the kitchens from the 19th century.

8. Fundacion ICO

Calle Zorrilla 3, 28014 Madrid Spain +34 914 20 12 42 http://www.fundacionico.es
Excellent
27%
Good
53%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 15 reviews

Fundacion ICO

9. El Cason del Buen Retiro

Calle de Alfonso XII 28, 28014 Madrid Spain +34 902 10 70 77
Excellent
23%
Good
45%
Satisfactory
27%
Poor
5%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 22 reviews

El Cason del Buen Retiro

Reviewed By 750dimitrisl - Sydney, Australia

We only walked past this lovely building as we were running short of time, and did not manage to return. We did not know what it was at the time and only found out later. El Cason del Buen Retiro is part of the Museo del Prado and it houses various conference rooms and a library. Interestingly originally it was meant to be a ballroom, and later served as a museum of 19th century paintings belonging to the Prado. It also housed Picasso's Guernica until it was moved to the Reina-Sofia museum. It was built in 1637 as part of the Buen Retiro Palace.

10. Van Gogh Alive - The experience

Calle de Alcala 42 Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid, 28014 Madrid Spain +34 911 19 63 93 http://www.vangogh.es/es
Excellent
9%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
16%
Terrible
56%
Overall Ratings

2.0 based on 113 reviews

Van Gogh Alive - The experience

Reviewed By Cumbriafamily - Cumbria, United Kingdom

A fantastic exhibition. We were unsure what to expect but found the whole display creative and full of insight. Total immersion in the art work and Van Gogh’s life. Would really recommend it. Take a seat if you can and let the exhibition move around you. Instructions in English would have helped us.

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