Paseo del Arte Card: Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen

Heighten your appreciation of Madrid with this skip-the-line Paseo del Arte Card and get speedy access to three of Madrid's best art museums; the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen. They're all in close proximity and form what's known as the Golden Triangle of Art – home to the highest concentration of art in Europe.

Get access to the permanent collection of the Thyssen, and the permanent collection plus some temporary exhibitions at both the Prado and Reina Sofía.

Thyssen:

The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum or, for simplicity's sake, the Thyssen, holds an extraordinary private collection of predominantly European art that began curation in the 1920s. Big names and major movements are represented here, from the Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque, and Rococo works, to Romanticism and Pop Art. There's also a fascinating collection of medieval art from the 13th and 14th centuries. It's a guaranteed cultural journey. (Note: Temporary exhibitions of the Thyssen aren't included).

Prado:

Head to the popular street, El Paseo del Prado, to see one of the world's greatest art galleries. The size and scale of the Prado can be daunting, and all the masters are here too, such as Raphael, Rubens, Bosch, etc. But maybe start with its most famous painting – the larger than life Las Meninas by Velazquez, which shows Princess Margarita and her two ladies-in-waiting, plus the artist himself, complete with his palette and brush. Don't miss the daunting works of Goya, whose The Naked Maja was so controversial in its time, he was brought up on obscenity charges.

Reina Sofía:

Named for Queen Sofía and dedicated to late 19th and 20th-century art, this stunning building was enhanced by a modern extension in 2005 by French architect Jean Nouvel to the tune of €92 million. Roughly 20,000 works of art have their home here, with masterpieces by both Spanish and international artists. Don't miss Picasso’s Guernica, the world's most famous anti-war painting, and works by Braque, Miro, and 20 or so pieces by Salvador Dalí.