Prado Museum

Opened in 1819 in a neoclassical building designed by Juan de Villanueva, the Prado holds one of the world's great collections of European painting. The Spanish masters are its heart: Velázquez's Las Meninas, Goya's haunting Black Paintings and the elongated saints of El Greco.

Elsewhere you will find Hieronymus Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights and fine works by Rubens and Titian. A guided highlights tour of about two hours is the best introduction for most travellers. Photography is not allowed in the galleries, so you can simply enjoy the paintings.

The Prado forms Madrid's 'Golden Triangle of Art' with the Reina Sofía, home of Picasso's Guernica, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum. The Retiro Park, behind the museum, is ideal for a rest afterwards.