THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE OF ART
Madrid has one of the greatest concentrations of art in the world. Here's how to make the most of it.
Madrid's "Golden Triangle of Art" — the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza — forms one of the densest concentrations of great art anywhere in Europe. Within a 10-minute walk of each other, these three museums alone could fill several days. Add the Sorolla Museum, the Naval Museum and the Archaeological Museum and you have a world-class cultural destination that rivals Paris and London.
Spain's national museum and one of the finest art galleries in the world. Home to masterpieces by Velázquez (Las Meninas), Goya (The Third of May, Saturn), El Greco and Rubens. General admission: €15. Free entry Monday–Saturday 18:00–20:00 and Sundays 17:00–19:00.
Book Prado Tickets →Spain's national museum of contemporary art — home to Picasso's Guernica, the most powerful anti-war painting ever created, as well as major works by Dalí, Miró and the Spanish avant-garde. Free entry Monday and Wednesday–Friday 19:00–21:00, Saturday 14:30–21:00, Sunday 12:30–14:30.
Book Reina Sofía Tickets →A private collection covering 7 centuries of European art — from Italian Primitives and Dutch masters to Impressionism, Expressionism and Pop Art. The collection fills the gaps between the Prado and Reina Sofía, making the trio a complete survey of Western art. General admission: €16. Free Mondays (permanent collection).
Book Thyssen Tickets →Paseo del Arte Pass: Covers all three museums (Prado + Reina Sofía + Thyssen) saving up to 20% vs. individual tickets. Valid for 1 year. Highly recommended if you plan to visit all three.
Free hours: All three museums offer free entry at specific times (see above). However, these slots fill up quickly — arrive at least 30 minutes early or book a skip-the-line ticket to guarantee access.
Student discounts: Prado and Reina Sofía offer reduced tickets for under-25s with valid student ID. EU citizens under 18 enter the Prado for free.
Book Paseo del Arte Pass →Start with the Prado — it's the flagship collection and requires the most time (at least 2 hours for the highlights). Save Reina Sofía for the afternoon when Guernica is less crowded.
Yes — all three offer free entry at specific hours. But free slots are in high demand. Arrive early or pre-book to guarantee access.
Yes if you plan to visit all three museums — it saves around 20% vs. buying individual tickets.
Allow 2–3 hours per museum for a proper visit to the highlights. A single full day is enough for the Prado + Reina Sofía.
Yes — all three are fully accessible for wheelchair users, with lifts and accessible routes throughout.