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Best Attractions in Madrid (2026)

Madrid's main sights fall into two clusters, and planning around them saves a lot of walking. The first is the Paseo del Prado, the tree-lined boulevard that, together with the Retiro park, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2021. Here the Museo Nacional del Prado, the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía sit within a few minutes of each other. Trying to see all three in one day is exhausting, so spread them out: the Prado for Velázquez and Goya, the Thyssen for a sweep through Western art, and the Reina Sofía for Picasso's Guernica. All three offer free entry at certain times, but queues build quickly, so a timed ticket is usually the better choice.

The second cluster is the old town to the west. The Royal Palace, the Almudena Cathedral and the Royal Collections Gallery stand side by side, and the Plaza Mayor is a short walk along Calle Mayor. Book palace tickets online and check for official events, which can close it. End the day at the Temple of Debod for sunset over the Casa de Campo, and save the Parque del Buen Retiro for a slow morning. Football fans should book the Santiago Bernabéu tour, which is a metro ride north of the centre.

10 places · Updated November 12, 2026

Our top 3 attractions in Madrid

  1. Museo Nacional del Prado Art museum, Paseo del Prado (Retiro)Spain's national art museum, opened in 1819 on the Paseo del Prado, with masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Bosch, Titian and Rubens.
  2. Royal Palace of Madrid Royal palace, Palacio (Madrid de los Austrias)The official residence of the Spanish royal family, built from 1738 on the site of the old Alcázar, with 3,418 rooms and a lavish state apartment route.
  3. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía Modern and contemporary art museum, Atocha (Embajadores)Spain's national museum of modern and contemporary art, home to Picasso's Guernica, with major works by Dalí, Miró and Juan Gris.

Attraction

6. Plaza Mayor

Historic squareSol (Madrid de los Austrias)

Madrid's arcaded 17th-century main square, finished in 1619, with 237 balconies, the painted Casa de la Panadería and a statue of Philip III.

View details — Plaza Mayor

Attraction

9. Temple of Debod

Ancient Egyptian templeArgüelles (Parque del Oeste)

A 2nd-century BC Egyptian temple given to Spain in 1968 and rebuilt stone by stone in a park near Plaza de España, famous for its sunset views.

View details — Temple of Debod