Hotels near Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

The Thyssen-Bornemisza is the third pillar of Madrid's Paseo del Arte - 1,000 paintings from the 13th to the 20th century, originally the private collection of Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza acquired by Spain in 1993 for USD 350 million. The collection fills the gaps the Prado does not cover - early Italian and Flemish primitives, Hudson River School American landscapes, German Expressionism, and Pop Art.

Entry is EUR 13 (free Mon noon-4pm). Allow 2 hours. The 18th-century Villahermosa Palace was renovated in 2004 by Rafael Moneo. Less crowded than the Prado or Reina Sofia, the Thyssen is the museum to visit first if you want a chronological tour through Western art.

Pro Tip: Skip the Thyssen if you only have one museum day - the Prado is more important. But pair the Thyssen with Mon noon-4pm free entry and a Prado afternoon for an efficient museum day. The Thyssen rooftop terrace cafe overlooks the Paseo del Prado.