Our location in central Madrid | Hostal La Vera
Calle de Ruiz de Alarcón, 23, 28014 Madrid, Spain
Museo del Prado (Prado Museum)
Spain's leading art gallery and one of the world's great museums. Home to masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Titian, Rubens and Bosch, with a collection spanning the 12th to the 20th century. A must on any visit to Madrid — book tickets ahead and set aside at least half a day.
Address: Calle de Ruiz de Alarcón, 23, 28014 Madrid.
From the hostal: about a 12-minute walk through the Barrio de las Letras.
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Calle de Santa Isabel, 52, 28012 Madrid, Spain
Museo Reina Sofía (Reina Sofía Museum)
Spain's national museum of 20th-century and contemporary art, home to Picasso's Guernica. It also holds key works by Dalí, Miró and Juan Gris, alongside an ambitious programme of temporary exhibitions. Housed in the former Hospital de San Carlos, easily spotted by its striking glass lift towers.
Address: Calle de Santa Isabel, 52, 28012 Madrid.
From the hostal: about an 8-minute walk; the closest museum to the hostal.Dirección: Calle de Santa Isabel, 52, 28012 Madrid.
Desde el hostal: a unos 8 minutos a pie; es el museo más cercano.
Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, Paseo del Prado, 8, 28014 Madrid, Spain
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Completes the "Golden Triangle of Art" alongside the Prado and the Reina Sofía. Its collection spans eight centuries of European and American painting — from the Gothic period to pop art — with works by Van Gogh, Monet, Hopper and Rothko. One of the finest private art collections ever made public, housed in the elegant Palacio de Villahermosa.
Address: Paseo del Prado, 8, 28014 Madrid.
From the hostal: about a 13-minute walk along the Paseo del Prado.
Calle de Bailén, s/n, 28071 Madrid, Spain
Palacio Real de Madrid (Royal Palace of Madrid)
The official residence of the Spanish Crown, today used only for state ceremonies. With over 3,000 rooms, it's the largest royal palace in Western Europe. Highlights include the Throne Room, the Royal Armoury and its gardens, right next to Almudena Cathedral and Plaza de Oriente.
Address: Calle de Bailén, s/n, 28071 Madrid.
From the hostal: about a 20-minute walk, or take the metro to Ópera.
Real Jardín Botánico, Plaza de Murillo, 2, 28014 Madrid, Spain
Real Jardín Botánico (Royal Botanical Garden)
A green haven in the heart of the city, founded in 1755 and a Unesco World Heritage Site. Its neoclassical flowerbeds hold more than 5,000 plant species from around the world, with greenhouses, an outstanding bonsai collection and perfect corners to rest between museums.
Address: Plaza de Murillo, 2, 28014 Madrid.
From the hostal: about a 10-minute walk, right by the Prado Museum.
Plaza de la Independencia, 7, 28001 Madrid, Spain
Parque del Retiro (Retiro Park)
Madrid's great green lung, also a Unesco World Heritage Site. 118 hectares featuring the famous boating lake, the Palacio de Cristal, the Paseo de las Estatuas and the Rose Garden. Perfect for strolling, exercising or enjoying street musicians at the weekend.
Address: Plaza de la Independencia, 7, 28001 Madrid (entrance via Puerta de Alcalá).
From the hostal: about a 12–15-minute walk; the nearest entrance is by Atocha.