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MadridCulture & history

Our most recommended Madrid Culture & history

Madrid: Prado Museum Entry Ticket

1. Madrid: Prado Museum Entry Ticket

Since it opened in 1819, the Prado Museum has acquired a dazzling array of paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and decorative art that cover the history of Spanish art to form one of the finest collections of European art in the world. Based on the former Spanish Royal Collection, the Royal Museum would become known as the National Museum of Painting and Sculpture, and subsequently the Museo Nacional del Prado. The collection currently comprises around 7,600 paintings, 1,000 sculptures, 4,800 prints and 8,200 drawings, in addition to a large number of historic documents. With your full-day ticket, you will have access to more than 1,300 works currently on display in the main building. The size of this collection can cause headaches for visitors trying to choose what to see, but the Prado has organized 3 routes that focus on its masterpieces, dating from the Romanesque to the 19th century. Once inside, you can purchase an audio guide (not included in ticket cost) to quickly lead you to works by artists such as Bartolomé Bermejo, Pedro Berruguete, Sánchez Coello, El Greco, Ribera, Zurbarán, Murillo, Alonso Cano, Velázquez and Goya.

Madrid: Segovia and Toledo Tour, Alcazar, and Cathedral

2. Madrid: Segovia and Toledo Tour, Alcazar, and Cathedral

Discover the historic cities of Toledo and Segovia on a guided day tour from Madrid. Admire the imposing Alcázar of Segovia, the Cathedral of Toledo, as you stroll through both cities learning about their fascinating history. Depart Madrid and journey first to the city of Segovia. See the UNESCO World Heritage Roman aqueduct. Marvel at the iconic 1st-century monument, considered the most important example of Roman-era civil engineering in Spain. Visit the royal palace of the Alcázar of Segovia, built on a rocky crag above the confluence of 2 rivers near the Guadarrama mountains. Continue to the imperial city of Toledo. Once in Toledo, discover the medieval neighborhoods and historical monuments of the city on a walking tour and learn why it is called the City of Three Cultures. Depending on the option selected, finish with a guided tour inside Toledo Cathedral. Return to the center of Madrid at the end of your tour.

Madrid: Royal Palace Fast-Access Admission Ticket

3. Madrid: Royal Palace Fast-Access Admission Ticket

Enjoy fast access to the Royal Palace of Madrid, the official residence of Spanish royalty. Enter through an express security check and explore one of the world’s largest palaces. Wander the corridors that have witnessed centuries of Spanish history. Admire the architecture and decoration of the salon rooms, including frescoes by famous artists. Enter the private apartments of monarchs, visit the throne room, and stroll through the banquet halls. Witness the Hall of Mirrors from the reign of Charles IV. See artworks by painters such as Caravaggio, Juan de Flandes, Francisco de Goya, and Velázquez. Visit the Royal Armory and discover its exhibits of porcelain, watches, furniture, silverware, and more. Explore the heritage of Spain’s monarchy at the Royal Palace.

From Madrid: Escorial Monastery and the Valley of the Fallen

4. From Madrid: Escorial Monastery and the Valley of the Fallen

Embark on a guided tour to the Monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial and enjoy skip-the-line entry. Explore the Basilica of the Valley of the Fallen and hear the history behind each turn from your guide. Leave Madrid in the morning and travel 50 minutes to San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Visit the baths upon arrival and then begin the tour of the San Lorenzo Monastery. Learn the long history of Spain, specifically the reign of Felipe II. See the building that best summarizes the ideological and cultural aspirations of the Spanish “Golden Age” and is named a World Heritage Site. See places like the Patio de Reyes, Cloister, Chapter Rooms, The Basilica (except on Sundays), The Pantheon of Kings and Infants, and the Royal Rooms. Travel to the Valley of the Fallen located in the Peña de Cuelga Muros after leaving San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Visit its surroundings and the basilica carved into the rock, and the burial place for 33,847 people who died in the Spanish Civil War. Be amazed by the great granite cross that is visible from kilometers away.

Madrid: Royal Palace Tour with Optional Royal Collections

5. Madrid: Royal Palace Tour with Optional Royal Collections

Embark on a guided 2-hour tour of Madrid's Royal Palace. Admire art pieces by Giordano and Goya while exploring the palace at a peaceful time of day alongside an expert guide with in-depth knowledge about the home to Spanish Royals past and present.  Start at the Opera Metro Station in Plaza de Isabel II, home to the Teatro Royal, where you will meet your guide. After a picturesque walk through Plaza de Oriente, enjoy skip-the-line privileges before entering the palace. Relish visits to the Throne Room, Banquet Hall, and Private Royal apartments. Be amazed as to how these rooms are brought to life in an engaging and fascinating way by your professional guide. Marvel at exclusive works of art by Giordano and Goya, as well as historical articles such as historic tapestries, suits of armor, and ornate swords. Take in in the building's 19th-century design and beautiful floral layout, which serves as an excellent backdrop for memorable photos. Depending on the option selected, continue with a guided tour inside Royal Collections Gallery. This museum has the most important collections from the Crown of Spain. You will visit all the rooms where you can enjoy paintings and tapestries of very important painters such as El Bosco, Titian, El Greco, Ribera, Velázquez or Caravaggio. You will also visit the Royal Armory, one of the most important in Europe, and enjoy thousands of pieces of royal furniture, musical instruments and games that show you the daily life in the Palace.

Madrid: Avila and Segovia Day Trip with Tickets to Monuments

6. Madrid: Avila and Segovia Day Trip with Tickets to Monuments

Take a day trip from Madrid to visit two of Spain's oldest cities, Avila and Segovia. Explore the rich history of these UNESCO-listed cities with a guide. Admire Avila's walls, cathedral, and Basilica of San Vicente. Then continue to Segovia's Roman aqueduct, Gothic cathedral, and Alcazar fortress. Drive for an hour from Madrid and find yourself in Avila. See the stunning 11th-century walls surrounding the city. These fortifications are the most complete in all of Spain. Next, visit the interior of the Basilica of San Vicente to see the best examples of Romanesque architecture in the country. Pass by the Plaza Mayor and the Cathedral. At your next stop, enter the church-convent of Saint Teresa of Jesus that was built by the Order of the Discalced Carmelites in the 17th century, supposedly in the same place where Saint Teresa of Avila was born. Following the visit to Avila, enjoy free time to have wine, beer, soft drinks, and an aperitif, or continue exploring the city on your own. Regroup at 2 PM to head to the city of Segovia. Begin your tour of Segovia with a visit to its main symbol, the Roman Aqueduct, as evidenced by its presence on the city's coat of arms. Pass by the Casa de los Picos, Plaza de Juan Bravo and Plaza Mayor. Arrive at the cathedral dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption and of San Frutos. Enter to see its size, elegance, and blend of late Gothic style and Renaissance features, to understand why it's called the Lady of the Cathedrals. Finally, go into the Fortress of the Alcazar of Segovia, a medieval castle, located on a rocky crag at the confluence of 2 rivers near the Sierra de Guadarrama. Witness one of Spain's most distinctive castle-palaces by virtue of its shapes, such as the bow of a ship. After the visit, start the trip back to Madrid in a comfortable bus.

Madrid: Prado Museum Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket

7. Madrid: Prado Museum Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket

Discover the Prado Museum and experience in a unique setting full of art and beauty. The emblematic Prado Museum is the center of the beautiful monumental complex known as the "Paseo del Arte de Madrid", a privileged place in the heart of the city surrounded by trees and very close to the Retiro Park. The worldwide recognition of the Prado Museum is due to its vast and invaluable art collection. See essential paintings by the most famous Spanish and European artists from the 14th to the 19th centuries, including Velazquez, El Greco, Goya, Titian, Rubens, Bosch, Raphael, Tintoretto and Van Dyck, among others. Discover some some of the most spectacular collections in the world, such as Velazquez's Meninas, Goya's Black Paintings, or El Bosco's Garden of Earthly Delights. Admire the works of the best painters from Italy, the Netherlands or Germany, of various styles and periods from the Gothic to the Baroque of Rubens, from the Romanesque to the Renaissance or Neoclassicism, knowing the context in which they developed their different techniques. paintings that were so influential after his artistic periods.

Madrid: Royal Palace & Cathedral Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

8. Madrid: Royal Palace & Cathedral Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

Visit the interiors of Madrid's Royal Palace and optionally the Almudena Cathedral with one of our expert Tour Guides without having to wait in long lines to buy tickets. Visit the interior of Madrid's Royal Palace. Be accompanied by an expert tour guide who helps you travel back in time visiting the most spectacular places in the Palace. More than 3.000 rooms and a historical and artistic heritage of incalculable value await you in what was the Residence of the Kings of Spain until Alfonso XIII. This is still the Official Residence of the Monarchs even today, although the Royal Family does not use it as their habitual residence. The Holy Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Santa María la Real de la Almudena, better known as Almudena Cathedral, is a cathedral of Catholic worship, dedicated to the Virgin Mary under the name of Almudena, and episcopal seat of Madrid.

Madrid: Reina Sofía Museum Entrance Ticket

9. Madrid: Reina Sofía Museum Entrance Ticket

Visit the Reina Sofía Museum which represents an intersection of spaces, objects, and times: a place where narratives are woven together and stories told, rendering every intersection meaningful as it leads off in one direction or another, turning it into an intense experience of discovery and knowledge. This is why everything that is exhibited, in all its strangeness, all its questions, has to actually touch the visitor’s everyday reality, bringing about a genuine learning experience. The Museo Reina Sofia’s presentation of its collection posits a multi-narrative journey, which adopts a definite standpoint and not only keeps the mystery inherent in art alive, but also strengthens resistance towards the single, fixed reading. Traditional genres coexist side by side with photography, film, sound and dance. With your full-day ticket, you will have access to more than 21,000 works currently on display in the main building.

From Madrid: El Escorial and Valley's Basilica Half Day Tour

10. From Madrid: El Escorial and Valley's Basilica Half Day Tour

On this 5-hour tour from Madrid, you’ll begin with a visit to the Monastery of El Escorial. It was built under the reign of powerful King Philip II as a residence for Spanish kings, a monastery, and a royal pantheon. It became a symbol of the great power of the Spanish Empire at that time. The monument was declared to be of artistic and historic importance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Valley of the Fallen was built in 1936, about 9 kilometers from Escorial, as a memorial to those who died during the Spanish Civil War.  Situated in a beautiful valley in the Guadarrama Mountains, this impressive work features a cross standing more than 150 meters high, as well as a basilica and crypt built into the hard rock under the mountain. The tour includes admission to the Valley as well as a visit to the basilica’s interior.

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What people are saying about Madrid

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 7,531 reviews

Disorganization for the entrance of the visitation. The visit has been scheduled for 1:00 pm and admission will be cleared at 2:30 pm. The queues of the disorganized schedules of the professionals responsible for the museum did not correctly indicate the queue. Long waiting time to enter the palace

Just gorgeous. I felt like crying in every new room because each is breathtaking. We had a lovely guide and I enjoyed every second of the tour. Highly HIGHLY recommend

Absolutely fantastic. Nacho was very knowledgeable and amazing. We really enjoyed the tour and we’re exhausted by the end of it! Would high recommend this tour

Worth to visit , the palace is beautiful inside but it’s not allowed to take photos, pls respect the rules .

Interesting and enjoyable tour of the Royal palace.