Madrid Guide

Madrid is one of the major cultural centres of the world. In this section you will be able to explore the possibilities in the city, ranging from concise but sometimes unknown aspects of our larger museums to visits to other museums, smaller but fascinating, as well as art galleries, theatres, auditoriums, foundations… All so that you know where to find culture.

THE PRADO MUSEUM

From its privileged location surrounded by trees and some of Madrid´s greatest monuments, the National Museum of the Prado is one of the most visited attractions in the capital. The museum is home to the most important Spanish painting collection in the world.

THYSSEN-BORNEMISZA MUSEUM

The Thyssen-Bornemisza, with almost 1,000 works of art, is extraordinarily located in a cultural and artistic itinerary that is unique in the world. Come to the museum and enjoy a privileged tour of seven centuries of European painting, from its origins in the 13th century to the end of the 20th.

REINA SOFÍA MUSEUM

Works by Dali, Miró and Juan Gris join Picasso's Guernica on a fascinating journey through the history of contemporary art. The new scheme that commenced in 2009 contrasts works from different painters, origins, periods and subjects, thus illustrating different facets of the avant-garde.

The night is mythical. So is the sky, the street life, the way inhabitants welcome visitors. Yet... which concepts best define the city? Read these lines... and get ready to take the plunge and discover Madrid.

LIFE. The Trendy Neighbourhood

During the 1980s this neighbourhood epitomised the Movida, Madrid's in scene, full of pubs that stayed open all night long, concerts and gigs. The nocturnal and somewhat tongue-in-cheek spirit of the streets that converge around the Plaza del Dos de Mayo -Pez, Espíritu Santo, Divino Pastor-, lives on, but those former characteristics are not the only attractions in this contemporary Malasaña. The neighbourhood is swinging during the day as well now: any curious minds who want to do something special, should come here to do it.

Nowadays, vintage clothes shops, New York-like restaurants, cultural associations, venues where rising designers sell impossible handbags and t-shirts made from remnants have started to pop up among houses with traditional tiles and stores that opened ages ago. The new neighbours of this area are the trendiest people in Madrid... and they live in perfect harmony with the inhabitants that have been living here forever.

NIGHT . A Terrace with a View

With chill out music in the background, laughter rings out among the groups that party many metres from the ground, almost touching the sky. It's midnight: time to look upwards. Madrid's most chic terraces are always open... whichever the season.

They're not located outdoors in squares, though. If you want to order a “Tapas” or a soft drink here, of historical places and of buildings in the city centre, in Tirso de Molina, in La Latina-, which all offer spectacular urban views. Reach for the stars, without waiting for summer to arrive.

Bullfighting is an integral part of the Hispanic imagery, and is seen at its greatest in Madrid. It is not without reason that Madrid is home to the most important bullring in the world, la Monumental de Las Ventas, which hosts the great names of this art in May of each year, during the San Isidro festivities.

Don’t forget the purest Flamenco, and the newest twists to the tradition. The cante jondo (the “deep song” of Flamenco) and the new dance shows that are taking the world by storm. The fusion of the roots with fashion and current trends. All of this on stage in Madrid, a city where locals and foreigners soon learn the traditional hand movements involved in this art.

Must See and Do