Paseo del Prado is one of Madrid’s most iconic streets, spanning a large portion of Madrid’s city center. There’s plenty to do along this beautiful tree-lined boulevard, so we’ve created a brief guide to help visitors narrow down what they might enjoy most.
One of the most popular tourist attractions is Madrid’s Museo del Prado, housing many famous paintings by artists like Francisco Goya and Diego Velázquez. Make sure not to miss the angels and clouds of El Greco’s idyllic paintings and Hieronymous Bosch’s infamous Garden of Earthly Delights, depicting many of life’s delights and sins.
Museo del Prado, Paseo del Prado, s/n, Madrid, Spain +34 913 30 28 00
Madrid’s most famous modern art museum sits at the edge of the Paseo del Prado. With an impressive collection of Salvador Dali’s work as well as one of Picasso’s most famous paintings, La Guernica, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía is not to be missed. Make sure to ride the glass elevator up and look out to see the city of Madrid from above.
Museo Reina Sofía, Calle de Santa Isabel, 52, Madrid, Spain +34 917 74 10 00
Taking a stroll down the Paseo del Prado is a perfect way to spend a sunshine-filled afternoon. When walking, make sure to stay in the green area in the middle, where you’ll spot plenty of monuments, statues, fountains and people walking their dogs or enjoying an afternoon stroll. The entire street is closed to cars on Sundays from 9.00am-4.00pm to encourage pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy the street without traffic.
Madrid’s botanical gardens sit behind the Museo del Prado and provide a glance into some of Spain’s loveliest flora. April or May are the best months to visit, when the massive tulip, rose and lily gardens are usually in full bloom. However, the gardens are still fun year-round, where you can visit the tropical greenhouse to see venus fly traps or check out the bonsai tree garden.
Real Jardín Botánico, Plaza de Murillo, 2, Madrid, Spain +34 914 20 30 17
Check out some flowers at the Botanical Gardens | © Maxim Peremojnii
The Caixa Forum is one of Madrid’s newer museum additions. Sponsored by La Caixa bank, the space has an interesting background and plenty of cool exhibits. Besides compelling art exhibitions, the cultural space also hosts music and poetry festivals, cinema, debates about current affairs and politics, social events, educational workshops and events geared toward family and children. Next to the Caixa Forum entrance, there’s actually a giant wall covered in grass which is a unique spot for taking photos.
Caixa Forum, Paseo del Prado, 36, Madrid, Spain +34 913 30 73 00
The Wall of Grass and Caixa Forum | © Madrid Destino Cultura Turismo y Negocio
Some of Madrid’s most famous statues and fountains can be found along the Paseo del Prado, such as the Cibeles fountain, which is a statue of the Greek goddess Cibeles in a chariot led by two lions, or the Neptuno fountain, which features Greek God Neptuno.
Cibeles Fountain, Calle de Alcalá, 3, Madrid, Spain +34 914 29 49 51
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