🖼️ Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum Madrid: must-see masterpieces, guided tour and practical information
Just steps from the Paseo del Prado, in the heart of Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum showcases an exceptional collection of Western paintings, from the Italian Renaissance to contemporary art. This gem, housed in the former Villahermosa Palace, perfectly complements the Prado and the Reina Sofía, offering a unique journey from the 13th to the 20th century.
A true journey through art history, the Thyssen appeals to both art lovers and curious visitors: Flemish and Dutch masters, English Romanticism, French Impressionism, German Expressionism, all the way to modern American works and pop art icons like Roy Lichtenstein. Thanks to its clear and dynamic layout, each gallery becomes an essential stop to understand the artistic evolution of Europe and the world.
In the following lines, let yourself be guided through the fascinating history of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and explore the treasures around it, from the Fountain of Neptune to the monument to Miguel de Cervantes. Then, discover all the practical information to plan your visit — opening hours, ticket prices, virtual tours — before diving into a curated selection of 15 must-see masterpieces from both the permanent collection and the Carmen Thyssen collection. Finally, enjoy my suggestions for nearby foodie breaks and an exclusive interactive map bringing together all the places mentioned, available transport, and much more. Get ready for a true artistic immersion in the very heart of Madrid.
📑 Table of Contents
📜 Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum: from private collection to national treasure
The history of the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza is that of an exceptional family collection, patiently assembled over generations of art lovers, before becoming one of Spain’s cultural jewels.
It all began in the 20th century with Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza (1875–1947), a German-Hungarian steel magnate and enlightened collector. Heir to a cosmopolitan aristocratic lineage, he gathered an initial set of Old Masters, mainly Flemish, Italian and German works. But it was above all his son, Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza (1921–2002), who gave the collection its global scale. Married to Spanish socialite Carmen Cervera (the Baroness Thyssen), he expanded the holdings spectacularly: English painting, German Expressionism, 20th-century American art… nothing escaped his eclectic eye.
By the late 1980s, while the United States and other countries were courting the collection, Spain seized the opportunity. Thanks to skillful negotiations led by the State and the Baroness, the main collection was acquired in 1993, with a complementary agreement for part of Carmen Thyssen’s personal works (still displayed in rotation).
The museum’s setting matches the prestige of its collection. The main building is the Palacio de Villahermosa, an 18th-century urban palace built in the Madrid neoclassical style. Once an aristocratic residence, it was carefully renovated between 1989 and 1992 by architect Rafael Moneo, winner of the Pritzker Prize. The challenge: to create a fluid dialogue between history and modernity, natural light and museum conservation.
The result is remarkable: a clear chronological layout, airy volumes, warm wood paneling, marble and parquet floors, and subtle lighting that guides visitors without ever overshadowing the artworks.
Today, the Thyssen consists of three main sections:
- The permanent collection (at the heart of the museum), purchased by the State.
- The works from the Carmen Thyssen collection, presented on rotation.
- The temporary exhibitions, often bold and cross-disciplinary.
This triptych, unique in its kind, makes the museum a place of artistic continuity, but also of contrast, where the old fearlessly flirts with the contemporary.
🌟 What to see around the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum before the visit
Even before stepping through the doors of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, three monumental elements catch the eye and deserve a moment’s attention: they form a sculptural and symbolic prelude to the visit.
A ⛲ Fountain of Neptune — The god of the seas in the heart of Madrid
Located just below the museum, on the Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo, the Fountain of Neptune (Fuente de Neptuno) is one of Madrid’s most iconic landmarks. Commissioned at the end of the 18th century under the reign of Charles III, it belongs to a group of monumental fountains dedicated to the gods of Antiquity.
Created between 1780 and 1786 by sculptor Juan Pascual de Mena, the fountain depicts Neptune, god of the seas, standing on a shell-shaped chariot pulled by two sea horses. In his left hand he holds a trident, while his right grips a sea serpent — symbols of his dominion over the waters. The circular basin is adorned with dolphins and mythological creatures.
Today, it is a well-known gathering place for Atlético de Madrid supporters, as well as a central landmark of the Art District, surrounded by three major institutions: the Prado, the Reina Sofía… and the Thyssen.
B 🕊️ Monument to Those Who Died for Spain — A sculpted memory
On the sidewalk just opposite the museum’s main entrance stands a discreet yet profoundly meaningful ensemble: the Monumento a los Caídos por España, or Monument to Those Who Died for Spain.
Inaugurated in 1840 and modified several times since, this monument honors Spanish soldiers who died in battle, regardless of the war. It consists of a vertical stele decorated with garlands, topped with a cross, and often adorned with flowers or flags during official ceremonies.
Simple, sober, almost silent, it invites reflection and blends into the museum’s surroundings as a reminder that art and history are also mirrors of a people’s struggles, hopes, and sacrifices.
C 🟢 Statue of Miguel de Cervantes
Right in front of the entrance to the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, on the Plaza de las Cortes, proudly stands the statue of Miguel de Cervantes, a tribute to the greatest Spanish writer of all time. Inaugurated in 1835, this bronze work by Antonio Solá depicts the author of Don Quixote standing, his left hand holding a scroll in a gesture to his readers, while his gaze seems to scan Spain’s intellectual horizon.
The granite pedestal bears a plaque dedicated to “Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra”, with literary symbols in relief, in a sober yet solemn style. The monument is set on a small tree-lined square that provides a contemplative atmosphere, at the heart of the literary district, the Barrio de las Letras. Just steps from the museum, it creates a bridge between the pictorial culture of the Thyssen and Spain’s literary genius.
👉 Don’t miss: the perspective from the Calle del Prado, with the elegant façades of the Congress of Deputies in the background — a setting that reinforces the civic dimension of this emblematic monument.
ℹ️ Visiting the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum: info and tips
A ticket to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum opens the doors to its permanent collection and the works of the Carmen Thyssen collection — a unique journey from the Middle Ages to contemporary art. It also includes the current temporary exhibitions. Between universal masterpieces and surprising discoveries, each visit is an opportunity to explore Madrid through centuries of art history, in a prestigious setting.
ℹ️ Visiting the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid: Practical Information
- 🕒 Opening hours:
Monday: 12:00–16:00
Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00–19:00
12 October: 13:00–19:00
24 and 31 December: 10:00–15:00
Closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December - 💶 Regular price:
General admission: €14
Admission + Audioguide: €19
Paseo del Arte Card (Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum + Prado Museum + Reina Sofía Museum): €32.8 - 🏷️ Reduced price: €10
(Students and people over 65) - 🆓 Free admission:
Every Monday
Saturday from 21:00 to 23:00 (temporary exhibitions)
Youth and children under 18
18 May and 12 October - 🎟️ Tickets: On site or online
- ⌛ Suggested visit duration: Between 1h15 and 3h30
- 💡 🎥 Virtual tours:
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum offers free, interactive virtual tours: explore the rooms online, zoom into the works and admire each masterpiece from home.
🖼️ Permanent collection 🎨 Carmen Thyssen Collection
🎨 15 Must-See Masterpieces at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid
Dive into the heart of Madrid’s Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum with this guide dedicated to 15 unmissable masterpieces. Before you start your visit, discover an illustrated map of the route indicating the room and floor where each painting is located. This handy tool helps you plan your itinerary, better visualize the layout of the works, and even enrich your virtual visit from home.
Follow this step-by-step tour of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum: each gallery transports you to a different era and style—from Italian Gothic to modern art—via Flemish and Dutch masters. A unique immersion in the history of Western painting, as if accompanied by a private guide.
- 1Portrait of Giovanna degli Albizzi Tornabuoni
- 2Portrait of Henry VIII
- 3Young Knight in a Landscape
- 4Christ among the Doctors
- 5Grand Canal from San Vio
- 6Family Group in a Landscape
- 7Self-Portrait with Cap
- 8Tilting Ballerina (Green Dancer)
- 9The Vessenots in Auvers
- 10Seated Man
- 11Harlequin with a Mirror
- 12Woman in the Bath
- 13Piazza Navona, Rome
- 14Road to Versailles in Winter
- 15Mata Mua (Once Upon a Time)
1 ⭐ Portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni
Upon entering Room 5 — a bright space with light marble floors and cream-colored walls — a serene atmosphere sets in, inviting reflection. Facing you, the young Giovanna Tornabuoni, frozen in profile, captures your attention. Painted in 1488 by Domenico Ghirlandaio, she bears the signs of a vanished Florentine nobility: the two embroidered “L” of her husband Lorenzo, a brooch delicately set with rubies and pearls, and a coral rosary — a symbol of piety and divine protection.
⭐ Portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni
Tempera on panel, 77 × 49 cm
📍 2nd floor, Room 5 – Renaissance Portraits section
The work, painted shortly after her death in childbirth at the age of twenty, blends material refinement (gilded brocade, a delicate silk handkerchief) and spiritual depth (an open book of hours, a Latin inscription in the manner of an epigram). Ghirlandaio’s message is crystal clear: to eternalize Giovanna’s memory through both beauty and virtue.
2 ⭐ Portrait of Henry VIII of England
Still in the same room, turn slightly toward another, equally imposing power: Henry VIII, standing face-to-face with you. This masterful portrait by Hans Holbein the Younger embodies Tudor might — the sumptuous costume, broad shoulders, firm stance, and the clear stylization typical of the Northern Renaissance.
⭐ Portrait of Henry VIII of England
Tempera on panel, approx. 183 × 105 cm
📍 2nd floor, Room 5 – Renaissance Portraits section
Holbein captures the king’s presence — with an almost geometric line — while conveying his psychology: hand on hip, direct gaze, the assurance of a monarch who dissolved the monasteries to consolidate his rule. This portrait epitomizes Art as a reflection of absolute power and political identity.
3 ⭐ Young Knight in a Landscape
A short step from Room 5, Room 7 opens before you, its walls in soft tones, suggesting the start of a journey. Here stands a full-length, ample, enigmatic portrait: Young Knight in a Landscape by Vittore Carpaccio. What strikes you first is the subject’s stoic presence: clad in armor, a light cap, hand resting on his sword, he seems the guardian of a timeless realm.
⭐ Young Knight in a Landscape
Oil on canvas, 218.5 × 151.5 cm
📍 2nd floor, Room 7 – 16th-century Italian Painting section
Around him, a silent cortege of animals — peacock, deer, heron, dog — and luxuriant vegetation, each bearing a moral symbol (immortality, fidelity, purity), unfolds a complex symbolic world. The cartellino reads: Malo mori quam foedari (“Better to die than be dishonored”), heightening the chivalric and tragic dimension. According to the Thyssen, this work, dated 1505–1510, is the very first full-length portrait preserved in Europe. It underwent a restor…
4 ⭐ Christ among the Doctors
Crossing the mezzanine, Room 8 comes alive with a human, intense biblical scene: Christ among the Doctors, a painting by Albrecht Dürer, created in just five days during his trip to Venice in 1506.
⭐ Christ among the Doctors
Oil on panel, 64.3 × 80.3 cm
📍 2nd floor, Room 8 – German Painting, 15th–16th century
Your eye is immediately drawn to the moment of tension: the twelve-year-old Christ, standing at the center, debates with the sages of the Temple. Dürer, an inspired humanist, contrasts the purity of youth with the sometimes caricatured wisdom of the doctors — some look startled, others perplexed, their exaggerated gestures sharpening the contrast. A subtle detail: the open hand resting on the ancient text, suggesting that divine word can also be embodied in writing. The soft lighting and compact composition make the scene both dramatic and intimate, true to the early 16th-century Northern style.
5 ⭐ The Grand Canal from San Vio, Venice
Entering Room 17, you are greeted by the peaceful atmosphere of 18th-century Venice. Before you stretches the Grand Canal, seen from the Campo San Vio, painted by Canaletto, the unrivaled master of the vedute. Acquired in 1958, the canvas is among his earliest views — recognizable by its elevated perspective and the near-photographic precision of the architecture.
⭐ The Grand Canal from San Vio, Venice
Oil on canvas, 140.5 × 204.5 cm
📍 2nd floor, Room 17 – “Venetian Vedute” section
The clear sky, the marbles of the Procuratie and the gentle reflections of the water beneath the buildings create perfect visual harmony. St Mark’s Campanile rises vertically, breaking the horizontal line of the façades. You can make out a woman at a window, a man cleaning a chimney — details that bring the scene to life. An interactive showcase also features an animation on conserving Venetian ornamentation.
6 ⭐ Family Group in a Landscape
In Room 23, bathed in diffused light, this family portrait by Frans Hals brims with life. Unlike the formal portraits of his time, Hals opts here for a more relaxed, almost spontaneous composition. The father, slightly turned toward his own, looks at the viewer with kindness. The mother, seated, wraps a protective arm around a mischievously smiling child.
⭐ Family Group in a Landscape
Oil on canvas, approx. 175 × 255 cm
📍 1st floor, Room 23 – Dutch Baroque Portraits
The scene unfolds outdoors, a verdant countryside in the background, like a natural extension of family harmony. Hals’s quick yet precise touch captures the vitality of expressions, gestures, and fabrics. He manages to imbue the canvas with an almost cinematic quality, where each figure seems to breathe. It is a rare testimony to Dutch bourgeois intimacy in the Golden Age, imbued with warmth and humanity.
7 ⭐ Self-Portrait with Cap and Two Chains
In Room 27, an intense gaze pierces you: that of Rembrandt, portraying himself with quiet dignity. Wearing a brown velvet cap and adorned with two gold chains — symbols of artistic prestige — the artist offers an introspective portrait halfway between grandeur and vulnerability.
⭐ Self-Portrait with Cap and Two Chains
Oil on panel, 71 × 55 cm
📍 1st floor, Room 27 – Dutch Masters of the 17th Century
Painted at the height of his career, this self-portrait blends rigorous line with supple handling of paint. Shadows coil around the face; Rembrandt’s signature chiaroscuro shapes the wrinkles, the doubts, the wisdom. He does not seek to flatter his image: he scrutinizes, he questions. It is a mirror painting — both confession and assertion. The pose draws on Italian state portraits, yet the truth it conveys is profoundly human.
8 ⭐ Tilting Ballerina (Green Dancer)
In Room 33, the lightness of paper echoes the lightness of step. This ballerina in motion, caught mid graceful imbalance, is one of Edgar Degas’s most sensitive figures. Unlike his ensemble scenes, here a single dancer is visible, frozen mid-movement as if by miracle. The other figures are sketched, evanescent, off-frame.
⭐ Tilting Ballerina (Green Dancer)
Pastel and gouache on paper, 64 × 36 cm
📍 1st floor, Room 33 – French Impressionism
The tutu’s vibrant green contrasts with the pale pink ground, creating chromatic tension. The pastel’s texture, laid on in thin or thick layers, evokes the suppleness of fabric and the warmth of the body. Degas, fascinated by the world of ballet, seeks to render the instant — the fatigue, the suspended leap — rather than an idealized portrait. It is both a study of movement and a tribute to ephemeral beauty.
9 ⭐ The Vessenots at Auvers
A few weeks before his death, Van Gogh painted this landscape of Auvers-sur-Oise, not far from the inn where he lived. The canvas, stretched like a frieze, is crossed by waves of yellow and green fields, modest houses with orange roofs, and isolated trees — a rural world captured in its simplicity.
⭐ The Vessenots at Auvers
Oil on canvas, 49.5 × 93.5 cm
📍 1st floor, Room 34 – Post-Impressionism
Yet beneath this apparent tranquility pulses a powerful emotion: each brushstroke feels like a breath, each form a heartbeat. Here, Van Gogh paints silence, rootedness, the end of the road. The horizontal composition suggests almost a final glance. It is a painting of uneasy peace, of luminous solitude — profoundly moving.
10 ⭐ Seated Man
In sober, silent Room 41, an anonymous man sits frontally, like a sculpted figure. His gaze seems absent, or turned inward. In his final years, Cézanne sought to deconstruct reality into stable geometric forms — here, crossed legs, upright torso, massive shoulders.
⭐ Seated Man
Oil on canvas, 92 × 73 cm
📍 1st floor, Room 41 – Toward Cubism
The palette is pared down to essentials: blues, browns, beiges. Each brushstroke builds rather than describes. Background merges into figure; contours blur or are emphatically stated. No longer a mere portrait, it’s a balancing act between observation and abstraction, foreshadowing Picasso’s Cubism. A work both quiet and revolutionary.
11 ⭐ Harlequin with a Mirror
In this striking canvas from his Neoclassical period, Pablo Picasso revisits the figure of the harlequin — one of his favorite subjects — and endows it with an almost introspective quality. Arlequín con espejo (Harlequin with a Mirror) centers a theatrical character in a colorful costume, holding a small circular mirror in one hand, while his gaze seems lost in a silent reverie. Behind the seemingly cheerful mask lies a portrait steeped in melancholy. The painting has often been interpreted as a symbolic self-representation of Picasso, at a time when he turned toward a more monumental, classical style influenced by his post–World War I trip to Italy.
⭐ Harlequin with a Mirror
Oil on canvas, 100 × 81 cm
📍 1st floor, Room 45 – 20th-Century Painting (Interwar)
The work combines a rigorous formal structure with painterly handling that evokes ancient sculpture. The composition is frontal, almost still, as if the harlequin were posing for a photograph frozen in time. The mirror in his right hand may symbolize a quest for identity or a reflection on the artist’s own image. This painting fuses the legacy of Cubism with a more pared-down approach, marking a key stage in Picasso’s stylistic evolution in the early 1920s. It is among the major pieces of the Colección Carmen Thyssen and aptly concludes the series of interwar works in this room.
12 ⭐ Woman in Bath
The final step in the permanent collection before entering the Carmen Thyssen collection: Roy Lichtenstein propels you into a comic-book panel magnified to museum scale. A stylized woman, nude in her bath, frames her face with an outstretched hand. Her gaze is fixed, almost dramatic, yet the Ben-Day dots, bright colors, and neutral style prevent any real emotion.
⭐ Woman in Bath
Acrylic on canvas, 152 × 122 cmm
📍 1st floor, Room 52 – Pop Art
It is precisely this paradox that gives the painting its power: Lichtenstein plays with superficiality, extreme stylization, the illusion of narrative. Water is rendered by blue strokes; shadows are flat planes. He détournes the codes of the female romance comic and elevates them to conceptual art. A brilliant way to close the visit, confronting the viewer with mass imagery, manufactured emotion, and industrial aesthetics.
13 ⭐ Piazza Navona, Rome
You step into a light-filled room devoted to Grand Tour city views. There, before you, opens one of Italy’s most famous squares: Piazza Navona, painted in 1699 by Caspar Adriaansz van Wittel, better known as Vanvitelli. A Dutch painter settled in Rome, he is regarded as the forerunner of Italian vedutismo, well before Canaletto.
⭐ Piazza Navona, Rome
Oil on canvas, 56 × 132 cm
📍 Floor 0, Room A, Carmen Thyssen Collection
The scene unfolds like a panoramic photograph: the baroque church of Sant’Agnese in Agone rises on the left, the Fountain of the Four Rivers stands at the center, and a lively market bustles below. Vanvitelli uses rigorous perspective and meticulous realism while capturing the vibrant atmosphere of 17th-century Rome. You can feel the breath of the Eternal City, between religious splendor and everyday life.
14 ⭐ Road from Versailles to Louveciennes, Winter Ground and Snow
The mood shifts: snow muffles sound, the sky hangs low, the trees are bare. In this winter scene painted by Camille Pissarro, a pioneer of Impressionism, the road from Versailles to Louveciennes seems deserted, almost suspended. Brushstrokes are swift, almost blurred, rendering the pallid light of snow-covered ground under a veiled sun.
⭐ Road from Versailles to Louveciennes, Winter Ground and Snow
Oil on canvas, 54 × 92 cm
📍 Floor 0, Room D, Carmen Thyssen Collection
This work is one of the rare testimonies to Pissarro’s period before the Franco-Prussian War, which forced him to flee to England. It perfectly sums up his ability to capture rural tranquility — the fleeting impression of a frozen moment of silence. To be contemplated slowly, like a winter breath upon the canvas.
15 ⭐ Mata Mua (Once Upon a Time)
Finally, in a room with deep red walls, one painting draws every eye: Mata Mua (Once Upon a Time), a masterpiece by Paul Gauguin and one of the most precious works in the Carmen Thyssen collection.
⭐ Mata Mua (Once Upon a Time)
Oil on canvas, 91 × 69 cm
📍 Floor 0, Room F, Carmen Thyssen Collection
Mata Mua is also at the heart of a museum saga: long on loan from Carmen Thyssen to the museum, it was temporarily withdrawn from display before being reinstated. It embodies, all by itself, the tension between private collection and public good — and one of the high points of modern Symbolism.
🍴 Food & Drink Picks near the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
After admiring the masterpieces at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, nothing beats a tasty break to extend the experience. The neighborhood is full of friendly spots, from sunny terraces and traditional taverns to creative brunch places and refined steakhouses. Here’s a selection of restaurants and cafés just steps from the museum, chosen for their quality, ambience, and ability to offer a true immersion in Madrid’s art of living. Whether you want a quick bite or a longer pause, these venues promise a moment as delightful as it is delicious.
🥩 La Vaca Argentina – The art of Argentine beef in the heart of Madrid
Just a few steps from the Paseo del Prado, La Vaca Argentina Ventura invites you to a flavorful stopover where the warmth of Buenos Aires meets Madrid elegance. Inside, soft lighting glides over dark woodwork, brick walls, and crisp white tablecloths, creating a cozy atmosphere that’s both chic and welcoming. Smiling, discreet servers guide guests through a true ritual around meat, with special attention given to doneness, house sauces, and a selection of Argentine wines.
It’s paradise for grill lovers: the Argentine ribeye—tender and juicy—is the undisputed star. But the menu also holds pleasant surprises like provoleta (herb-melted cheese), empanada criolla, and generous sides. In the dining room or on the terrace, you’ll savor powerful, authentic cuisine in a calm, refined setting that contrasts with the bustle of the center. An ideal spot for a quality lunch after visiting the Thyssen.
🥩 La Vaca Argentina
🍳 Brunchit – Las Letras – A vitamin-packed pause in a bright loft
Two streets from the Thyssen, tucked in the literary district of Las Letras, Brunchit is a favorite among lovers of generous brunches and specialty coffee. Past the understated façade lies a vast space bathed in natural light, where pale wood, hanging plants, and contemporary art create a decidedly on-trend urban chill vibe. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, with a mix of curious visitors and loyal madrileños.
Come for the generous avocado toasts, fluffy pancakes, perfectly sauced eggs Benedict, and freshly pressed juices. The flat white is velvety, and the colorful bowls rival in looks and flavor. It’s the perfect spot for a healthy, stylish, and indulgent break between cultural visits, or to linger under a skylight sipping a plant-based milk latte.
🍳 Brunchit – Las Letras
🍕 Lamucca de Prado – Bohemian spirit and hearty fare steps from the museum
Located just opposite the Botanic Garden, Lamucca de Prado immediately catches the eye with its glass frontage and lively terrace. Inside, a space that’s both rustic and urban blends exposed brick, industrial lighting, and vintage furniture in a warm, eclectic atmosphere. The place hums from morning until late, welcoming groups of friends as well as visitors looking for a good meal after the Thyssen.
The wide, crowd-pleasing menu highlights wood-fired pizzas, generous salads, house tartares, and flavorful burgers. Special mention for their truffle-and-mushroom pizza, often cited among Madrid’s best. Service is swift, the ambience relaxed, and prices reasonable for such a pleasant setting. A spot that’s both simple and stylish—ideal to recharge while staying close to the city’s buzz.
🍕 Lamucca de Prado
🌿 Las Terrazas del Thyssen – An elegant pause in the museum gardens
Set on a broad esplanade in the heart of the Thyssen’s gardens, Las Terrazas del Thyssen uniquely blends culture and relaxation in a green setting. In the shade of parasols and surrounded by contemporary sculptures, enjoy the discreet luxury of an open-air café in one of Madrid’s most beautiful districts. The view over the Paseo del Prado, the gentle breeze, and the calm of the place contrast with the urban bustle.
The menu offers light, well-crafted dishes perfect for lunch between visits: fresh salads, creative tartines, homemade desserts, and a wide selection of wines and cocktails. Service is attentive, tables are well spaced, and the vibe is peaceful. It’s the ideal spot to extend your museum visit by simply taking your time.
🌿 Las Terrazas del Thyssen
🍰 Lola Si Mola – The sweet corner that wins hearts
A few minutes’ walk from the Thyssen, tucked away on a quiet street in Las Letras, Lola Si Mola is a pastel-colored haven of sweetness where you feel at home from the first moment. This charming, retro café-bakery bets on joyful décor, fresh flowers, and a display case filled with homemade cakes that instantly make you want to sit down.
It’s the perfect spot for a post-museum treat: moist carrot cake, creamy cheesecake, seasonal fruit tarts, colorful latte coffees, and artisan infusions. The atmosphere is friendly, service thoughtful, and every pastry is made with love. Come to indulge, to chat, or simply to savor a suspended moment in a cozy place.
🍰 Lola Si Mola
ℹ️ Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum Madrid: access & useful info
📍 Address
P.º del Prado, 8, Centro, 28014 Madrid, Spain🚇 Metro
Line 2 – Banco de España station🚆 Cercanías
Lines C3 and C4 – Madrid-Sol station (10 min walk via Calle de S. Jerónimo)🚍 Bus
Lines: 10 - 14 - 27 - 34 - 37 - 45 - C03stop: Neptuno (opposite the museum)
🚲 BiciMAD bikes
Calle del Marqués de Cubas💡 Photo tip
To make the most of your visit, start with the permanent-collection rooms on the upper floors, then work your way down to the temporary exhibitions and the Carmen Thyssen Collection on the ground floor.🗺️ Interactive map of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum: plan your route
To enhance your on-site experience or plan your route from home, I’ve designed a comprehensive interactive map that’s intuitive, useful, and geolocatable. This map goes beyond the museum itself: it covers the entire surrounding neighborhood and services useful to visitors. You’ll find:
🖼️ The Thyssen Museum is, of course, at the center, ready to welcome you.
🚇 The nearest metro stations and bus lines, with all useful connections
🚉 Cercanías Renfe stops and BiciMAD stations for bike lovers
🏛️ Landmark monuments to discover on foot, within a 10-minute walk of the museum: fountains, squares, historic buildings
🍽️ A selection of restaurants tested or recommended for their location, atmosphere, or specific options
🗺️ And, with one click, the ability to display the exact transport lines that pass nearby
For the best on-site experience, open the interactive map in full screen. You’ll be able to enable geolocation, follow your position in real time, and navigate easily between points of interest and transport.
👉 Open the interactive map in full screen on MapHub
🌇 Conclusion: A palette of masterpieces in the heart of Madrid
Whether you’re a lover of Old Masters, passionate about modern painting, or simply curious in search of beauty, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum opens the door to a world teeming with emotions and styles. From Renaissance portraits to the boldness of Pop Art, each room is a stop through time, each work a singular encounter. Enriched by the Carmen Thyssen Collection and framed by the wonders of the Paseo del Arte, this museum isn’t just visited—it’s experienced.
Take the time to stroll, to observe details, to linger over a painting that calls to you—and don’t forget to savor the moment, in the shade of nearby terraces or by continuing the adventure in the quarter’s other museums. The Thyssen is far more than a museum: it’s a bridge between eras, an intimate journey through art history.
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