Madrid, Spain’s capital, is an art-lovers paradise. The Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza, and the Sophia Reina make up Madrid’s Golden Triangle of major art museums. Even outside of these museums, art is everywhere. Sculptures grace parks throughout the city; beautiful artifacts fill the former homes of historical figures, and ornate buildings hundreds of years old feature intricate trimmings in their architecture. We thought a Madrid 3 day itinerary for art lovers was in order to help visitors find some of the best.
In honesty, my 3-day Madrid itinerary only scratches the surface of Madrid’s art scene. It is a packed itinerary, so you may want to pick and choose activities to make it more a more unhurried 3-day Madrid itinerary. I’ve included restaurant recommendations that either showcase art, have stood the test of time, or are convenient to the rest of the schedule.
I am Amy Piper, world traveler, and founder of Follow the Piper. I spent several months in Madrid on work assignment, and had lots of time to explore the city. The abundance of art venues was among my favorite aspects of Madrid, and I am excited to share some highlights with future visitors. If you are not an art lover, you will still love Madrid, but you may prefer a broader Madrid itinerary.
Madrid for Art Lovers Day One –
Have Breakfast at the Palace Hotel
9:00 a.m.
Start your 3-day Madrid itinerary with artful surroundings over breakfast at the Palace Hotel. Madrid has designated The Palace Hotel as a cultural heritage site where throughout several hotel renovations, the original architectural style remains. La Rotunda Restaurant sits under a spectacular stained-glass dome. While Spanish breakfasts are generally light, La Rotunda serves an extensive buffet in an elegant atmosphere. On Sunday’s breakfast morphs into the Sunday Opera Brunch with live classical music. It’s said to be the best brunch in Madrid.
While you’re there check out the 1912 Museo Bar. The bar sits in a museum setting so that you can explore the hotel’s historical legacy over a drink.
Plaza de Los Cortes, 7
Explore the Ritz Hotel
On your way to the Prado, walk by The Ritz. Both the Ritz and the Palace Hotel were built to accommodate royals for the wedding of King Alonso XIII and Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg. After returning from a European tour, the King realized there weren’t any luxury hotels in Madrid, so The Ritz and Palace Hotel were his solution. These hotels are indeed fit for royalty.
Today, the façade of the Ritz is a national monument. In 2019, it’s undergoing renovations, so only the exterior is available to visitors.
Plaza de la Lealtad, 5
Visit the Prado Museum
10:00 a.m.
The Prado is the most famous and complete collection of Spanish paintings in the world. With over 7,000 paintings you can easily spend the whole day here. Diego Velazquez’s Las Meninas or Maids of Honor is the most famous painting in the museum. As a Spanish literature major my university classes mentioned this painting repeatedly. The piece takes up much of the wall with its large scale. A lot is going on in this picture. It’s not only a portrait of the Infanta Margarita and her maids of honor; but, also a self-portrait of Velazquez in the process of painting Philip IV and Queen Mariana, as reflected in the mirror on the wall.
- Tip: Most museums in Madrid open at 10:00 a.m.
- Tip: Admission is free Monday through Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sundays from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; however, art-lovers will want to spend longer than two hours at this museum.
- Tip: For those planning to visit the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza, and the Sophia Reina, you can purchase the Paseo del Arte – Art Walk Pass for a lower price of €29,60. The pass allows entrance to all three museums.
- Tip: Also, be aware no photos allowed in the Prado.
Calle Ruiz de Alarcón 23
Grab Lunch at Museo del Jamón
2:30 p.m.
In Madrid, lunch is later in the day than the United States and often lasts more than an hour. Museo del Jamón, the Ham Museum, isn’t a museum at all, but rather the perfect place for a quick meal of traditional Spanish ham. The original location started as a convenience store and morphed into a famous deli. Today, you can have lunch in the restaurant or grab something from the counter and take it to a nearby plaza or park. Large numbers of hams hang from the ceiling and make up the window display. Most types of Spanish ham are available here, including Serrano ham or salt-cured ham.
Various locations – Check their website
Tour Congreso de Los Diputados
4:00 p.m.
After lunch, check out the lower house of the Cortes Generales, Congreso de Los Diputados, Spain’s legislative branch. The Spanish government holds legislative activities in the Palacio de las Cortes, which is a mid-19th-century building. It has a classic portico with six fluted Corinthian columns. Twin bronze lions face the Plaza del Cortes to create an imposing entrance. Artists used iron re-cycled from cannons from the Spanish-Moroccan War to form the lions. Art aficionados will find furniture, portraits, and tapestries, furnishing the building.
- Tip: You can sign-up online for a guided tour of the building, either as a group or individual. Tour timing varies so you may need to switch this tour to the morning and make an adjustment with the time of your visit to the Prado. Typically, there aren’t tours in August as this is vacation time for Madrileños.
Plaza de los Cortes, 1
Take a Walk around the Retiro
For some fresh air after all the indoor activities, rent a rowboat on the lake or meander around the Retiro’s 350 acres. Retiro, meaning “retreat,” initially were grounds around a royal palace; but today it is an elaborate park. Various sculptures and statues decorate the grounds. Ricardo Bellver’s sculpture, El Angel Caido is said to be the only public work in the world of the fallen angel or Lucifer. Other art to look for in the park are the Crystal Palace, the Fuente de la Alcachofa (the Artichoke Fountain) and a monument to Alfonso XII.
Visit the Sophia Reina Museum
7:00 p.m.
The Sophia Reina Museum is a collection of contemporary art from the 20th century to the present day. The museum opened in 1990 in a building that was the former Old Madrid General Hospital. You’ll find Dali, Miro, and Juan Gris here in addition to Pablo Picasso.
Picasso’s Guernica is the must-see painting here. At the beginning of 1937, Pablo Picasso received a commission from the Spanish Government to paint a large canvas for the Spanish Pavilion at the Paris World’s Fair. He struggled for inspiration, and just two months before his deadline, on April 26, 1937, the Spanish Civil War was in full swing. The German and Italian armies bombed Gernika, a city in the Basque Region of Spain, to show support for the nationalists fighting against the Second Republic. This historic event sparked Pablo Picasso to paint Guernica. In just a month and a half, Picasso made over 50 sketches and drawings that resulted in the painting.
- Tip: If you purchased the Art Walk Pass you might want to visit the Sophia Reina on Day Two. Entrance is free from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except for Tuesdays, when it’s closed. On Sundays and public holidays, its entry is also free from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Calle Santa Isabel, 52
Enjoy Dinner at La Paella de la Reina
9:30 p.m.
After exploring the Sophia Reina, it’s time for a traditional Spanish meal. Paella is a dish from the Valencian region, so if you aren’t traveling to Valencia during your trip to Spain, give this dish a try in Madrid. Paella is a rice dish made with various combinations of seafood, meat, fish, and vegetables. Saffron provides the rice with its vibrant yellow color. The perfect paella has a crusty bottom known as soccarat. Prices range from about 15.50 euros for a typical Valencian paella to 24.90 euros for a special seafood paella. Try the croquettes as a starter and finish with one of the house-made desserts.
Avenida Reina 39
Madrid for Art Lovers – Day Two
Have Breakfast at Chocolatería San Ginés
9:00 a.m.
Chocolatería San Ginés has been serving Spain’s traditional chocolate and churros since 1894. They’re almost always open, so no matter when you have that craving for chocolate, it’s your go-to place. If you prefer coffee as your morning caffeine, they also serve that with pastries.
San Ginés Passage 5
Explore Puerta del Sol
10:00 a.m.
After breakfast take time to explore Puerta del Sol. Located in the center of the city, Puerta del Sol is often called Madrid’s Times Square. While you won’t find the flashing neon of Time’s Square, this is where New Year’s Eve merrymakers go to watch the clock strike midnight. It’s tradition to eat a single grape with each strike of the clock for good fortune in the New Year.
Art lovers should look for two statues in the Puerta del Sol. Starting at Calle Alcalá, Madrid’s longest street, you’ll find the city’s official symbol, the famous Oso y Madroño. It’s a bronze statue of a bear reaching for the fruit of a strawberry tree. While the fruit of this tree isn’t strawberries, the red fruit is what created this misnomer. The Oso y Madroño is a familiar meet-up spot.
The other statue in the center of the square is of Carlos III.
Eat Lunch at Café del Circulo de Bellas Artes (La Pecera)
Noon.
The Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid (CBA) is a private non-profit cultural center “Center for the Protection of Fine Arts and Public Utility.” The CBA is known for being open to innovative artistic trends. The Exhibition Halls are a great place for art lovers to explore.
Before lunch, check out the roof of the Círculo de Bellas Artes (CBA) where you’ll find one of the best views of Madrid. To access the roof, the CBA has an elevator with glass doors to the top floor.
This cafeteria has an economical fixed-price menu. While the menu changes daily here, it always includes a variety of Castilian pork, beef, chicken and fresh fish dishes. The large windows offer a view of the activities outside on Alcala Street, and those passing by can easily see inside, resulting in the nickname the “fishbowl.” In the evening, you’ll find a selection of tapas, but no dinner.
Calle Alcala 42
Explore National Archaeological Museum
1:30 p.m.
Queen Isabella II founded the National Archaeological Museum in 1887. While the museum contains artifacts from most of the world’s civilizations, there’s an emphasis on those from the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal.)
One stand-out piece is the Lady of Elche, a primitive Iberian carving from the fourth century B.C. It’s one of the museum’s prize exhibits and the most famous. It is thought to have been a funerary urn. Many of the riches found here were removed from monasteries and churches throughout Spain.
- Tip: Admission is free on Saturdays after 2:00 p.m. and on Sunday mornings.
Calle Serrano, 13
Start a Tapas Crawl
6:00 p.m.
No matter the focus of your trip to Madrid you must eat. The Tapas Crawl will help you make it through until dinner which can be as late as 10:00 p.m. If you start at one restaurant, people will join you as you move to the next.
Tapas started in Andalucia in the 19th century to accompany sherry. Bartenders used a saucer or small plate (tapa) to cover the drink to keep out the flies. This practice evolved to using bread or cheese like Manchego, a sheep’s milk cheese from La Mancha, as the cover and then serving Spanish olives as an accompaniment.
Tapas used to be free when you purchased a drink; but, today there’s typically a charge. On a night I’m unusually tired and not wanting to stay out late for dinner, I’d make a meal of tapas early in the evening and call it a night. On a night when the evening is just beginning, follow the Los Madrileños custom of going from bar to bar, eating the best offerings from each. Eat tapas standing or at the bar. If you choose to eat tapas at a table, expect a supplemental charge. There is usually yet another additional cost if the table is outside.
One of my favorites were the potato croquettes (croquetas) with tiny bits of ham mixed in. Another potato dish is patatas bravas, fried potatoes, paprika, and chili spices. Other typical tapas are Marcona almonds for just a little something to go with your drink.
Heavier tapas include albondigas, meatballs with a spicy tomato sauce or gambas a la plancha, grilled prawns. Another meat favorite is the chorizo, sausage flavored with garlic and paprika. Spanish chorizo is dry which different from Mexican chorizo. It is fried and served warm or cold.
Dine at Botin
9:00 p.m.
Botin, the oldest restaurant in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records, was founded in 1725. The four-story brick building, loaded with antiques, has the building’s original charm still evident. The food is from Spain’s Castilian region, so you’ll find gazpacho and suckling pig. They cook the suckling pig and roast lamb in ovens fired with oak wood.
This restaurant is one of those “if-these-walls-could-talk” kind of places. It’s said that the painter Goya was once a dishwasher here in his youth. Ernest Hemingway, in the final scene of his novel The Sun, Also Rises here, he wrote: “We lunched up-stairs at Botin’s. It is one of the best restaurants in the world. We had roast young suckling pig and drank Rioja Alta. Brett did not eat much. She never ate much. I ate a very big meal and drank three bottles of Rioja Alta.”
Calle Cuchilleros 17
Madrid for Art Lovers – Day Three
Breakfast at Café Gijon
8:00 a.m.
Café Gijon has been around since 1888. This café is full of history. Have some orange juice with your breakfast as it’s especially delicious here.
Paseo de Recoletas 21
Tour the Palacio Real
10:00 a.m.
After breakfast, take a tour of the Palacio Real. The 18th-century Italian-designed palace is no longer home to the royal family. Used for some official ceremonies, it may be closed without notice. About 50 of the palace’s nearly 3,000 rooms are open to the public.
- Tip: See the Changing the Guard every Wednesday and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting (except July, August, and September when it occurs from 10 a.m. to Noon) at the Puerta del Príncipe (Calle Bailén).
Calle de Bailen
Enjoy Lunch at La Pizza è Bella
1:00 p.m.
After a couple of days of typical Spanish food, it’s time to switch things up. On your way to the third art museum in the Golden Triangle, have lunch at La Pizza è Bella. La Pizza è Bella makes some of the best pizza in Madrid. Their dough is unique in that they use a small amount of yeast and let it rise for 48 hours. The process makes the crust light and airy. Try their pizza Margherita for a simple, yet delicious pizza.
Calle de Palos de la Frontera, 38
Since you are going to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, you may prefer the rooftop terrace restaurant there during the summer months. It has a beautiful treetop view. Their food is a mix of traditional continental with a modern twist, like French potato and leek soup with a couscous addition.
Discover the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
2:00 p.m.
Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza and his son Hans Heinrich initially assembled the pieces as their private art collection representing the history of Western art, from Italian and Flemish primitives through Expressionism and Pop Art. The group included masterpieces from Picasso, Van Gogh, Goya, and Titian.
The Baron installed the collection in 1992 in Madrid’s 18th-century Villahermosa Palace and sold it to Spain the following year. In 2004 a new extension opened with an additional 250 paintings acquired by the Baroness Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza. These paintings were primarily from the Impressionist school.
Two of the must-see paintings in this museum are Harlequin with a Mirror by Picasso and The Toilet of Venus by Ruben.
- Tip: Thyssen-Bornemisza is free from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Mondays.
Paseo del Prado, 8
Explore Plaza Mayor
5:00 p.m.
This plaza has a distinct Castilian atmosphere. The rectangular Plaza Mayor, built in 1617 during the reign of Felipe III, could accommodate up to 50,000 people and held bullfights, executions, and trials during the Spanish Inquisition. It was Spain’s Golden Age, when Velazquez, Zurbaran, Murillo, Lope de Vega, and Cervantes were painting and writing.
See the statue of Felipe III on horseback. The Florentine leader Cosimo de’ Medici presented it to Spain. Two Italian artists created the sculpture, Pietro Tacca and Giambologna. Today the Plaza Mayor is a venue for markets and cafes.
Discover the Edificio Metropolis
Walk to the corner of Gran Via and Alcala Street. In 1911, Jules and Raymond Fevrier designed the Metropolis as a French-inspired Neo-Baroque building for the Union y el Fenix Espanola Insurance Company. It has ornate colonnaded upper floors on top of the less showy lower levels. Each pair of pillars is a pedestal for one of the statues representing Commerce, Agriculture, Mining, and Industry. The double-layer dome made of dark slate is then gilded in gold. A sparkling bronze garland encircles the dome.
Be sure to see the small statue of La Violeta, a young woman selling violets, in front of the building’s circular tower. Violet-sellers are to Madrid, what Eliza Doolittle was to Pygmalion. They would sell their flowers to theater-goers after performances.
Metropolis is not open to the public; so no link is available.
Calle Alcala, 39
Eat Some Tapas
6:00 p.m.
As you walk, grab a drink and some tapas at one of the places along the Gran Via.
Take in the Plaza de Oriente
8:00 p.m.
The Plaza de Oriente sits in front of the Palacio Real. Here 44 statues of Spanish kings now line the Plaza de Oriente and are an integral part of the plaza’s gardens. They were initially intended to decorate the roofline of the Palacio Real but turned out too heavy. Today, sitting in the center of the square is a statue of Felipe IV on horseback created by Italian sculptor Pietro Tacca, based on drawing by Velazquez. Sitting opposite the palace on the Plaza de Oriente is Café Oriente.
Eat Dinner at Café Oriente
Choose to sit on the terrace facing the Palacio Real. The view is spectacular as the sun goes down and the ambient palace lights come up. They keep the patio open with heaters and blankets in the winter. The Cafe Oriente serves Spanish cuisine, and while I think the dinner view at sunset is truly magical, they also serve breakfast and lunch.
Plaza de Oriente, 2
If You Go to Madrid
While major art museums remain open over the lunch period, many museums and other attractions close between 2:00 p.m. and 5 p.m. Be sure to check their websites for the days and times you want to visit.
Restaurants usually close one day a week. Verify which day before you set out for a specific restaurant.
There is a multitude of other things to do in Madrid and attractions suiting many other interests. If you are staying longer than 3 days in Madrid, or want to expand beyond art centered attractions, you can find a variety of other tour and ticket options here.
Lodging in Madrid
Both hotels listed below are good locations for the Madrid 3 day itinerary. The Mercure is near the Palacio Real, while the Radisson Blu is near the Golden Triangle Museums.
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Mercure Madrid Plaza de Espana
Calle de Tutor 1, Esquina Ventura Rodriguez, 28008, Madrid, Spain
I found this hotel comfortable for a longer term stay. The staff was helpful, and they have a breakfast buffet with typical Spanish food.
Reserve your room at Mercure Madrid Plaza de Espana now, and get a great price!
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Radisson Blu Hotel Madrid Prado
Calle Moratin 52, Plaza de Platerias
Reserve your room at Radisson Blu Hotel Madrid Prado now, and get a great price!
If neither of these suit your tastes there are several other options within walking distance of all the suggested stops for your 3 days in Madrid, from budget hostels, to 5 star suites. Browse to find lodging that suits your preferences.
Getting Around in Madrid
Many of the activities on this 3-day Madrid Itinerary are within walking distance of each other. The metro is the best way to get around the city; however, it is underground. If you want to see the city’s architecture the city bus service is an economical way to get where you want to go and see the sites too. For a bit more money, taxis are abundant.
Ready to Spend 3 Days in Madrid (or more)?
I hope these art highlights have inspired the art lover in you to consider a visit to Madrid. There is something for everyone in Madrid, but Spain’s capital city has long embraced art as an important part of its culture. With our 3 day itinerary, you will get a good taste of that culture.
If Spain isn’t exactly what you are looking for, try starting with our European destinations.
Pin our itinerary for when you finalize your plans!
Amy Piper is a freelance travel writer, photographer, and blogger. She is a native of Michigan USA who has traveled to 41 countries and 42 states, most recently adding New Mexico to the list. Her aspiration is to travel to Antarctica and finally visit all seven continents. She specializes in multi-generational and food travel. She travels frequently with her husband, daughter, and granddaughter. She has had six-month-long expat assignments in South Korea and Argentina. She has been chased by bomb sniffing dogs in the middle of the night in Bogotá (working late), refused boarding for a plane from Buenos Aires to Paraguay (wrong visa), and Federal Marshals once announced her seat number on a plane while looking for a murder suspect. She had traded seats. It is always an adventure!
She is a member of the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), Travel Massive, TravMedia, and the International Travel Writers and Photographers Alliance (ITWPA). You can find Amy on Twitter @amythe piper, and on Facebook at Follow the Piper.
