Six places here come from my list of saved places in Madrid: two museums, a temple and parks for the sunset, plus a vintage shop in Malasaña to finish. The Prado, the Thyssen and the Palacio Real I added on the advice of travel guides, first of all 34travel; each is checked on Google: still open, rated 4.2 or higher. The descriptions are put together from Google Maps reviews, and I'll add my own notes as I visit.
Most places here are free or cheap, with ticket prices from reviews and guides; hours are from Google, valid as of 7 October 2026. Rate: 1 € ≈ $1.12.
In short
- 20th-century art: the Museo Reina Sofía, with Picasso's Guernica, Dalí and Miró; closed on Tuesdays.
- Free: Contemporánea Condeduque and a walk through Parque del Retiro.
- Sunset: Templo de Debod in the centre, or Cerro del Tío Pío in Vallecas for fewer people and a wider view.
- Vintage: Mucho Vintage in Malasaña, with a sale section at the back.
- The Golden Triangle: the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen are ten minutes apart; the Prado is free in the evening and the Thyssen on Mondays.
- Palace and sunset in one evening: the Palacio Real, then walk to Templo de Debod through the Jardines de Sabatini.
Museums and culture
Museo Nacional del Prado
Paseo del Prado · art museum · Mon–Sat 10:00–20:00, Sun 10:00–19:00
Google Maps · website · Paseo del Prado, s/n
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 157,000+): one of Europe's great art museums — Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Bosch, Caravaggio. The main rooms take two to three hours, and the map from the entrance helps you focus. A ticket is 15 € (≈$17) according to 34travel; buy it online, though you'll still queue a little. In the evening, for the last two hours before closing, entry is free — people line up early and wait 40–50 minutes. No photos, and that's strictly enforced; weekends are crowded, and collecting bags from the cloakroom on the way out can be confusing. 34travel recommends it too (guide).
Museo Reina Sofía
Atocha · modern art museum · Mon, Wed–Sat 10:00–21:00, Sun 10:00–14:30, closed Tue
Google Maps · website · Calle de Santa Isabel, 52
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 72,000+): one of Madrid's big three museums. If the Prado is the classics, this is the 20th century: Picasso's Guernica, early Dalí, Miró, Juan Gris. The main building is a former hospital with a lovely courtyard, plus modern wings with a library and an excellent bookshop. Plenty of people plan an hour and stay four; the route isn't always obvious, so pick your exhibitions in advance. Reviewers mention a ticket of around 12 €.
Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
Paseo del Prado · art museum · Mon 12:00–16:00, Tue–Fri and Sun 10:00–19:00, Sat 10:00–23:00
Google Maps · website · P.º del Prado, 8
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 48,000+): the third museum of the so-called Golden Triangle, along with the Prado and the Reina Sofía. The collection spans eight centuries — from the old masters to the Impressionists, Hopper, Munch, Kandinsky and Pop Art — with rooms arranged by period and genre. It's much smaller than the Prado; one to two hours is enough. On Mondays from 12:00 to 16:00 entry is free: people queue about twenty minutes before opening, and the line moves fast. The downside is a pricey café with unfriendly staff. 34travel recommends it too (guide).
Contemporánea Condeduque
Conde Duque · cultural centre · Mon–Sat 10:00–14:00 and 17:30–20:00, Sun 10:30–13:30
Google Maps · website · Calle del Conde Duque, 11
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 1,700+): a cultural centre in vast 18th-century barracks, with a contemporary art museum over two floors, library exhibitions, a theatre and temporary light and sound installations. Entry to the exhibitions is free. The downsides: few English captions, and the information desk doesn't always speak English.
The palace, parks and sunsets
Palacio Real de Madrid
Ópera · royal palace · Mon–Sat 10:00–18:00, Sun 10:00–15:00
Google Maps · website · C. de Bailén, s/n
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 134,000+): an 18th-century state palace, rebuilt after a fire on the site of the old one — around 3,500 rooms, according to 34travel. The royal family doesn't live here, so you can walk the rooms of collections, furniture and paintings on your own in an hour and a half to two hours. Reviewers advise booking ahead on the official website, and rate the guided tour above the phone audio guide, which is best downloaded in advance. Entry is free in the last two hours for those who qualify. In summer there's hardly any shade in front of the palace. 34travel recommends it too (guide).
Templo de Debod
Parque del Oeste · Egyptian temple & viewpoint · Tue–Sun 10:00–20:00, closed Mon
Google Maps · website · Calle de Ferraz, 1
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 70,000+): a genuine ancient Egyptian temple, moved from Aswan and rebuilt on a hill in the park. The main reason to come is the sunset: open sky, city views, street musicians and the lawns of Parque del Oeste. The temple itself is tiny inside and the upper floor is sometimes closed, so the visit is short. It's an easy walk from the Palacio Real through the Jardines de Sabatini.
Parque del Retiro
Retiro · city park · daily 6:00–0:00
Google Maps · website · Retiro
According to Google Maps reviews (4.8 from 216,000+): a 19th-century former royal park right in the centre, with a boating lake, a rose garden, fountains, statues and a free exhibition pavilion inside. In the morning locals run, do yoga and cycle here; later it's picnics and strolls. Come early before the crowds, and keep in mind that shade is scarce in places on hot days.
Mirador del Cerro del Tío Pío
Vallecas · park viewpoint · open 24 hours
Google Maps · website · Calle de Benjamín Palencia, 1
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 650+): a park of seven hills in Vallecas that locals jokingly call Las Tetas de Madrid, and for many the best place to watch the sun set over the whole city. Reviewers suggest arriving half an hour before sunset and bringing a picnic. It gets busy at weekends, and locals advise not lingering late at night.
Shopping
Mucho Vintage
Malasaña · vintage clothing · daily 11:00–21:00
Google Maps · Corredera Baja de San Pablo, 18
According to Google Maps reviews (4.0 from 150+): a vintage shop in Malasaña with fair prices and regularly refreshed stock; at the back there's a clearance section and a treasure chest where people have found shorts for 5 €. Reviewers like the selection and the playlist. There is also one sharp review about a shop assistant who refused to serve a customer, so service can be uneven.
One last thing
Reina Sofía is closed on Tuesdays and Templo de Debod on Mondays, so a museum-and-sunset day works best Wednesday to Sunday. The Prado and the Palacio Real open daily, but on Sundays the palace closes at 15:00. Get to Debod early for the sunset — it's the city's most popular spot; Cerro del Tío Pío is the option if you'd rather skip the crowd.
More on Madrid: where to eat, bars, coffee and breakfast.