Royal Palace of Madrid

Where to go and what to see in Madrid to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.

Where to go and what to see in Madrid to get the most from your trip – a 5-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.

Spain’s sunny capital offers up world-class art, super shopping, renowned tapas and late, late nights.

One of the world’s greatest art museums, home to an outstanding collection of art, from 13th-century Italian Gothic paintings to 20th-century Pop Art.

Madrid’s most renowned museum, home to the single best collection of Spanish art and arguably the world’s finest collections of European art, dating from the 12th century to the early 20th century.

Spain’s National Museum of 20th-century art is the third of Madrid’s world-class art museums. Reina most famously contains Picasso’s Guernica, and outstanding collections of Spain’s two greatest 20th-century masters, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali.

A beguiling costume museum, with over 150,000 garments, illustrating the evolution of fashion through history, from the Middle Ages until today.

Opposite the Royal Palace and the seat of Madrid’s Catholic Archbishop. Building started in 1880 and only officially finished in 1993, when it was subsequently consecrated by Pope John Paul II. Inside, it surprises with contemporary chapels, cupolas, statues and décor. Worth a stop if churches are your thing.

Founded in 1818, the enormous, wedding-cake Teatro Real hosts world-class opera, dance and flamenco concerts.

Madrid’s foodie hotspot: a gourmet hub housing 33 shops and street stalls, selling the highest-quality local produce – including more than 100 varieties of cheese. A Madrid institution, the market buzzes from morning until late at night.

Madrid’s big, Baroque main square, completed in 1619, is enclosed by stately symmetrical buildings and porticoed walks. For centuries it was the theatre of city life – witnessing coronations, bullfights, jousts, football matches, beatifications, and executions. Today, it’s Madrid’s beating heart, packed with cafés and restaurants.

The great civilisations of the past have left a legacy of constructions that still stand out and inspire. Built without the wonders of 20th-century technology, many are also monumental feats of engineering; others offer such grace and beauty, that they’ll literally take your breath away.