Prado Museum
Edificio Villanueva
Paseo del Prado
(34) 91-330-2900
www.museoprado.es
This is without any doubt the pride of Madrid and is one of the most important museums in the world.    It houses the world’s greatest collection of Spanish paintings. If you were to allow a full day visit you would struggle to see all of its treasures but at the very least you should allow a couple of hours to see the best old masters in the world. Goya, El Greco and Picasso are just a few of those artists represented.

Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Paseo del Prado, 8
(34) 91-420-3944
www.museothyssen.org
Originally a private collection before being taken over by the state, Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza’s collection comprises over 800 paintings. Here we can find exhibits from the 13th century to the present day, and thus follow the most important trends and movements in art over the last few hundred years.

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (MNCARS)
Calle Santa Isabel, 52
(34) 91-467-5062
http://www.museoreinasofia.es/museoreinasofia/live/index.html
The vanguard of the early twentieth century is housed here; Spanish artists from the late 19th century to the Second World War such as Pablo Picasso (including his famous Guernica painting), Juan Gris, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, etc. The second half of the collection shows artistic trends from the 40’s to the early 80’s with works by artists such as Antonio Saura and Eduardo Chillida.

Casa Museo Lope de Vega
Calle Cervantes, 11
(34) 91-429-9216
Dedicated to the writer Lope de Vega, this is the house where he lived from 1610 until his death in 1635.