Madrid’s art triangle is one of the great concentrations of painting in the world. The Prado holds Velázquez and Goya. The Reina Sofía has Guernica. The Thyssen fills in everything between medieval altarpieces and American pop art. The boulevard connecting them is a story in itself.
This walk follows the Paseo del Prado from Atocha to Cibeles, stopping at the buildings, fountains, and gardens that line the route. It is about the art you see before you buy a ticket — and the city that decided to put all of this in one place.
You do not need to enter a single museum to understand what this stretch of Madrid means. Though you probably will anyway.
What you'll discover
·Guernica was stored in New York for 44 years. The story of how it came home is political thriller material.
·The Prado's least-visited room contains its most unsettling painting.
·4 fountains along the Paseo del Prado, each representing a different season.
·A botanical garden that Charles III built to catalogue the plants of the Americas.
·The Thyssen collection exists because of one woman's negotiation skills.
·A Velázquez painting that changed how every artist after him used a mirror.
Hear what it's like
Stop 5 of Paseo del Arte. Guernica Hall.
“Picasso painted it in weeks. Spain waited decades to bring it home. The story of Guernica is the story of a country.”
Each walk has 8+ stops like this. Sample a few free in the app.
Before you go
Best time
Early afternoon on a weekday. The boulevards are lively and the museum queues have thinned after the morning rush.
Getting there
Start at Atocha metro station (Line 1). The Reina Sofía is a two-minute walk from the exit.
Duration
60 minutes for the walk itself. Add museum time separately — this walk covers the surroundings, not the galleries.
Footwear
Flat paved boulevards. Any comfortable walking shoes work.
€4.99
This walk. 30 days.
Or all 5 Madrid walks for €27.99
Open in app2 devices. One can be a friend's.
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