Madrid Essentials: Royal Palace, Prado Museum & Retiro Park Triangle
Madrid's historic core focusses on three must-see sights that create the city's cultural triangle: the Royal Palace, the Prado Museum, and El Retiro Park, which showcase Spanish royal lineage, artistic legacy, and urban green space.
The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real) was built in the 18th century by French-born Philip V as Spain's answer to Versailles. With nearly 2,000 rooms, it is still Western Europe's largest operational royal castle, albeit the current royal family lives abroad. The palace replaced the ancient Alcázar, which was destroyed by fire in 1734.
Guided tours (avoid the queue is encouraged) Explore the Throne Room, which features crimson velvet and gilded stucco, the Hall of Mirrors, the Royal Chapel, and rooms filled with artwork by Goya, Velázquez, Caravaggio, and Tiepolo. The Royal Armoury houses one of Europe's most impressive armour collections. The Sabatini Gardens and Campo del Moro offer peaceful green spaces around the palace.
Opening hours are generally 10:00-18:00 October-March, 10:00-20:00 April-September (closed for official ceremonies). Tickets range from €13 to €15, with audio tours costing an extra €5. Location: 3.8 kilometres from Retiro Park, accessible via Metro Opera.
El Retiro Park, which covers 125 hectares, served as a royal retreat from its 17th-century inception until 1868, when it was opened to the public. In 2021, the park will be designated as part of the "Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro, a Landscape of Arts and Sciences" by UNESCO.
The Estanque Grande (Great Pond) is a popular sight, featuring a monument to Alfonso XII and rowboat rentals available. The Crystal Palace (Palacio de Cristal), a beautiful glass pavilion erected in 1887, features modern art exhibitions. The Velázquez Palace, Rose Garden, several fountains, and tree-lined promenades provide calm respites. Street performers, puppet shows, and impromptu concerts regularly liven up the park.
The Prado Museum, one of the world's most prestigious art institutions, holds the finest collection of Spanish art from the 12th to the early twentieth centuries. The collection focusses on Spanish Golden Age masters such as Velázquez's "Las Meninas," Goya's "The Third of May 1808" and his haunting "Black Paintings," as well as works by El Greco, Ribera, Zurbarán, and Murillo. The museum also features Flemish and Italian masterpieces by Bosch, Rubens, Titian, and Tintoretto.
Monday through Saturday: 10:00-20:00; Sundays and holidays: 10:00-19:00. Admission is free for two hours each day and all day on Sundays (except for crowds). Standard tickets are €15; audio guides cost an extra €6. The museum offers skip-the-line guided tours (1.5-2 hours) that provide expert context for masterpieces.
One-day itinerary: Visit Retiro Park (9:00-11:00) and explore the gardens and Crystal Palace. Visit the Prado Museum (11:30-14:00) with skip-the-line access and emphasis on Velázquez and Goya. Lunch break (14:00-16:00) at adjacent tapas restaurants. A guided tour of the Royal Palace will be provided in the afternoon (16:30-18:30). This route reduces transportation time while seeing Madrid's key cultural highlights.
