Madrid

The collection is an opportunity to explore Western art from the late 12C to the present day. — Michelin Guide

Superlative collections of Western art from the 13th century to the present day, built up by the Thyssen-Bornemisza family and housed in a neo-classical palace. Highlights include... — The Telegraph

The private collection of the late Baron Hans-Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza is widely considered the most important in the world. — Time Out

The Thyssen’s pieces, purchased by the Spanish state from a private collector in 1992, represent a tremendous breadth of European painters from the 14th to 21st centuries. — Travel + Leisure

The collection of works housed in this 18th-century palace represent the lifetime pastime of Swiss collector Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza and his Spanish wife Carmen. — goop

Off the beaten path from the so-called Golden Triangle comprised of the Thyssen, El Prado, and the Reina Sofia, this private collection is well worth the side trip. Beyond the individual... — goop

Imagine 37 rooms in a superbly renovated 19th-century mansion bulging with artworks, including many by the most famous old masters of Europe. — Frommer's

The dazzling collection brought together by José Lázaro Galdiano...there are excellent reasons to visit this little-known museum. — Michelin Guide

Located off the typical tourist route in Salamanca, the little-known Museo Lázaro Galdiano displays more than 12,000 works of art. — Travel + Leisure

This stately mansion of writer and editor José Lázaro Galdiano (1862–1947)...has decorative items and paintings by Bosch, El Greco, Murillo, and Goya, among others. — Fodor's

The landscape of Plaza Mayor's artists—performers and painters—is ever-changing. New life is breathed into the corners by dancing goats, mimes, pianists, and the occasional traveling... — Afar Magazine

All around you, the theatre that is Spanish street life buzzing through the plaza provides a crash course in why people fall in love with Madrid. — Lonely Planet

Built by Juan Gómez de Mora under Philip III (1619), this square, formerly used for autos-da-fé, bullfights, theatre performances etc, is the heart of Habsburg Madrid. — Michelin Guide

The heart of Habsburg Madrid, where heros were heralded, kings made proclamations, heretics were judged... where bullfights were held and royalty was entertained. — Condé Nast Traveler

Begun under the reign of King Felipe II after he established Madrid as the capital of his empire, the Plaza Mayor evolved over the next few centuries to its present and rather impressive form. — Travel + Leisure

As the Prado has filled the role of repository for traditional art in Madrid, the Reina Sofía, nicknamed the "MoMA of Madrid," has provided for the world of modern art. — Frommer's

The permanent art collection features 1,000 works on four floors... and, despite concentrating on painting, puts a much higher emphasis on other art forms such as photography and cinema. — Fodor's

Picasso’s Guernica, depicting Franco’s bombing of civilians in Guernica during the civil war, one of the most celebrated antiwar paintings of all time, makes its permanent home here. — Travel + Leisure

The Reina Sofía, the Golden Triangle of Art’s southernmost leg, offers visitors a refreshing break from Madrid’s neoclassical artistic tradition. Its four floors of collections and... — Let's Go

Home to Picasso’s Guernica, arguably Spain’s single most famous artwork, and a host of other important Spanish artworks. — Lonely Planet

This impressionist artist...was unequalled in knowing how to convey the dazzling light of the Mediterranean coast. — Michelin Guide

Museo Sorolla is a must-see for art lovers; prior knowledge of Joaquim Sorolla not necessary. — Let's Go

This delightful little museum, housed in the mansion built for the artist in 1910 to spend his latter years, has been recently restored and boasts 250 works. — Time Out

Native painter Joaquín Sorolla was a contemporary and friend of John Singer Sargent, and the parallels in their paintings are immediately apparent. — Travel + Leisure

The former house of Joaquín Sorolla is now a museum dedicated to his life. — Afar Magazine

One of the few vestiges of the 17th-century Palacio del Buen Retiro, this somewhat austere building overlooking the Parque del Buen Retiro is run as an academic library. — Lonely Planet

<span class="m_first-letter">O</span>riginally the gardens of a royal palace, the Retiro is now Madrid’s main park, with a boating lake, cafés and exhibition venues. Particularly popular... — The Telegraph

Madrid's crowning park is a vast expanse of green encompassing formal gardens, fountains, lakes, exhibition halls, children's play areas, outdoor cafés, and a Puppet Theater. — Fodor's

Originally a playground for the Spanish monarchs and their guests, this park extends over 140 hectares (350 acres). — Frommer's

A green space where... you can row on the (artificial) lake under the indifferent gaze of King Alfonso XI, or join the locals running along the pathways. — Michelin Guide

Stone by stone, second-century BC Debod Temple was reconstructed in Spain in an effort, called to action by UNESCO, to save its demise when the site was threatened by the construction of... — Afar Magazine

No matter which way you look at it, there’s something incongruous about finding the Templo de Debod in the Parque de la Montaña northwest of Plaza de España. — Lonely Planet

More than 2,000 years old, this Egyptian temple was given to Spain in thanks after Spanish archaeologists helped save Abu Simbel from flooding when the Aswan Dam was built. It stands on... — The Telegraph

This Egyptian temple near Plaza de España once stood in the Valley of the Nile, 31km (19 miles) from Aswan. — Frommer's

An ancient Egyptian temple in the middle of Madrid, Spain.  — Atlas Obscura

You don't have to condone bullfighting to appreciate the architecture of this 1929 example of neo-Mudejar design in Madrid. — Afar Magazine

It's not all bulls and blood in this monumental Neo-Mudéjar-style (mock Arabic) 1920s Plaza de Toros -- the largest in Spain. — Frommer's

More than 22,000 spectators can catch a bullfight in this, Spain's largest arena, completed in 1929. — Time Out

The colossal arena can seat 22 300 spectators... It is here that reputations are made and lost. — Michelin Guide

East of central Madrid, the Plaza de Toros Monumental de Las Ventas (often known simply as Las Ventas) is the heart and soul of Spain’s bullfighting tradition. — Lonely Planet

This collection of fantastic, if occasionally brutally themed, religious art, including pieces by Peter Paul Rubens, is in an appropriately creaky and forbidding 16th-century working convent. — Travel + Leisure

Its plain, brick-and-stone facade hides paintings by Francisco de Zurbarán, Titian, and Pieter Brueghel the Elder. — Fodor's

The grim, prisonlike walls of this one-time palace keep modern Madrid at bay and offer no hint that behind the sober plateresque facade lies a sumptuous stronghold of the faith. — Lonely Planet

In the mid-16th century, aristocratic women -- either disappointed in love or "wanting to be the bride of Christ" -- stole away to this convent to take the veil. — Frommer's

Home to a remarkable museum of religious art... also includes numerous canvases by Zurbarán, Bruegel the Elder. — Michelin Guide

Located on the site of a ninth-century Moorish fortress, the Palacio Real (Royal Palace) is the official residence of the Spanish royal family. — Travel + Leisure

An Italianate baroque colossus with some 2800 rooms, of which around 50 are open to the public. — Lonely Planet

The palace where General Franco lived and performed his duties as head of state for 35 years (till his death in Nov 1975). — Frommer's

The Royal Palace awes visitors with its sheer size and monumental presence that unmistakably stands out against the city's silhouetted background. — Fodor's

Though its permanent collection is a who’s who of modern Spanish art, including major works by Picasso—his Guernica is the museum’s Mona Lisa—Miró, Dalí, Eduardo Chillida, and Antoni... — goop

Pablo Picasso’s great masterpiece Guernica draws the biggest crowds at Madrid’s vast modern art museum, but there is a lot more to see, including excellent works by Salvador Dalí, Joan... — The Telegraph

As well as leading names in international art, it also boasts a collection of 20C Spanish painting and sculpture. — Michelin Guide

Set in a massive 18th-century hospital building dramatically expanded by architect Jean Nouvel a decade ago, Spain’s official modern and contemporary art museum can seem like a daylong... — Travel + Leisure

Glass elevators take visitors floor to floor for stunning exhibit after exhibit. — Afar Magazine

Some visitors liken Puerta del Sol to New York’s Times Square, but we think that’s a canard because Puerta del Sol is smaller and friendlier. — Frommer's

It is here that victories are celebrated and where masses of people come to greet the New Year. — Condé Nast Traveler

Spain’s Kilometre Zero, the point from which all distances in Spain are measured, is located in Puerta del Sol. You certainly can’t get more “el centro” than the center of the Spanish... — Let's Go

It is here that the heart of the city beats. — Michelin Guide

Crowded with people but pedestrian-friendly, the Puerta del Sol is the nerve center of Madrid. — Fodor's

The Decorative Arts Museum houses more than 15,000 objets d'art, furniture and tapestries from all over Spain, plus many from China. — Time Out

Those who love sumptuous period furniture, ceramics, carpets, tapestries and the like will find themselves passing a worthwhile hour or two here. — Lonely Planet

In 62 rooms spread over several floors, this museum, near the Plaza de la Cibeles, displays a rich collection of furniture, ceramics, and decorative pieces. — Frommer's

This property is currently undergoing renovations. This palatial building showcases 60,000 textiles, pieces of furniture—including some installed in... — Fodor's

A beautiful collection ranging from Mudéjar tapestries and unadorned Castilian writing desks to modernist furniture. — Michelin Guide

Spanish art from the Golden Century is widely represented here... but it is Goya who takes the lion's share with his self-portrait in front of the easel. — Michelin Guide

The go-to gallery for Goyas; including two of the artist's self portraits, as well as paintings by Ribera and Velázquez. — Concierge

Designed by José Churriguera in the waning baroque years of the early 18th century, this museum showcases 500 years of Spanish painting. — Fodor's

The site of Spain’s main art academy for centuries is today a pretty comprehensive museum for anyone interested in Spanish art history. — goop

An easy stroll from Puerta del Sol, the Fine Arts Museum is located in the restored and remodeled 17th-century baroque palace of Juan de Goyeneche. — Frommer's

The easiest and most fun way to get to this huge nature park is to take the cable car. The park is located beyond the Manzanares River, in an area reforested on the orders of Philip II in... — Michelin Guide

The largest urban park in Europe, its more than four thousand acres hold plenty to do for everyone. — Condé Nast Traveler

Sometimes called the ‘lungs of Madrid’, this 17 sq km stand of greenery stretches west of the Río Manzanares. — Lonely Planet

Children love the zoo and the Parque de Atracciones... both in this park. — Frommer's

If Parque del Oeste or Retiro Park are too tame for you, Casa de Campo offers a more sprawling experience. You won’t find well-kept, lawn-ready grass to lounge on here; the fauna of Casa... — Let's Go

Every July 27, it is said that the blood of St. Panthalon, held in a crystal orb, visibly liquefies. It is not entirely clear that St. Panthalon was in fact a living, breathing (and... — Let's Go

Located in one of the busiest areas of Madrid, this convent founded by the daughter of Charles V for the ladies of the aristocracy is now home to a remarkable museum of religious art.... — Michelin Guide

Central Madrid's other royally endowed Habsburg monastery is quietly nestled in a charming little square between the Royal Palace and Plaza España. — Frommer's

Once connected to the Royal Palace by an underground passageway, this Augustinian convent now houses less than a dozen nuns. — Fodor's

Founded by Empress Margarita de Austria, this 17th-century mansion built in the Madrid baroque style... is still inhabited by nuns of the Augustine order. — Lonely Planet

This stately mansion is a storehouse of artifacts from the prehistoric to the baroque. — Frommer's

The finest archaeological museum in Spain. — Michelin Guide

The showpiece National Archaeology Museum contains a sweeping accumulation of artefacts behind its towering facade. — Lonely Planet

The biggest attraction here is a replica of the early cave paintings in Altamira (access to the real thing, in Cantabria Province, is highly restricted). — Fodor's

The most impressive room is dominated by a huge mural-map that traces the routes taken by Spain's intrepid explorers; in front of it are two equally impressive 17th-century giant globes. — Time Out

This museum will appeal to those who love their ships or who have always wondered what the Spanish Armada really looked like. On display are quite extraordinary models of ships. — Lonely Planet

Anyone interested in... naval novels or in old vessels and war ships will be bouncing off the walls experiencing the 500 years of Spanish naval history displayed. — Fodor's

The history of nautical science and the Spanish navy, from the time of Isabella and Ferdinand until today, comes alive at the Museo Naval. — Frommer's

This place is made for landlubbers, old seadogs and budding admirals! As explorers at heart, you cannot fail to be moved by the precious chart made by Juan de la Cosa around 1500. — Michelin Guide

This immense house of worship was completed in 1760... tradition has it was founded by St. Francis of Assisi himself in 1217. — Frommer's

One of the grandest and most distinctive structures in Madrid is often overlooked by most tourists. — Let's Go

In 1760 Carlos III built this impressive basilica on the site of a Franciscan convent, allegedly founded by St.Francis of Assisi in 1217. — Fodor's

Sabatini designed the façade of this circular church, most of which is by Francisco Cabezas. All that would scarcely have been of interest, had the Chapel of Saint Bernardino not been... — Michelin Guide

This imposing and recently restored baroque basilica is one of Madrid’s grandest old churches. Its extravagantly frescoed dome is, by some estimates, the largest in Spain. — Lonely Planet

Madrid’s zoo, in the Casa de Campo, is a fairly standard European city zoo and is home to about 3000 animals. — Lonely Planet

One of the most comprehensive zoological parks in Europe, Madrid's zoo houses a large variety of animals. — Fodor's

With its wide variety of species... it is considered one of the most interesting zoos in Europe. — Michelin Guide

This modern, well-organized facility allows you to see about 3,000 animals from five continents. Most are in simulated natural habitats, with moats separating them from the public. — Frommer's