In the Autonomous Community of Madrid, especially in the capital, you're never far from a museum. There's something for everyone!

The Prado Museum is the most visited sight, with works by artists such as Goya, Velázquez, El Bosco and other renowned painters.

The Reina Sofía Museum, founded in 1992, displays a large collection of contemporary Spanish art, including Pablo Picasso's Guernica.

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is also surprising, as it has around 1,000 works that the State bought from the Thyssen-Bornemisza family.

There are also others that are not so well-known, with very varied themes, such as the Firefighters Museum with vehicles from the last 400 years; the Royal Armoury of Madrid, with a significant collection of weapons and armour from the Royal House; the National Museum of Anthropology, which proposes an overview of the different cultures in the world; the ABC Museum of drawing and illustration; the National Mint, where the history of money is on display; the Geominero Museum, with a large number of fossils and minerals etc.

The youngest members of the family - and their parents - will enjoy the Railway Museum, the Ratón Pérez Museum and the Cinema Museum.

Over 400 kilometres you can take a tour of the monastic heritage comprising spectacular palaces that will take you back in time and make you feel like a king or queen.

The Royal Palace of Madrid, in the capital, is one of the largest in the world, with the royal armoury, the royal pharmacy, the impressive works of the halls and, of course, its beautiful, peaceful gardens.

The Royal Palace of Aranjuez is also a must-see. It has been restored on several occasions and the current building is from the Bourbon period, with outstanding halls and gardens.

The Royal Monastery and Palace of San Lorenzo de El Escorial will take you back to the 'Golden Age'. It is regarded as the eighth wonder of the world and it's no wonder... it's amazing from any angle!

The Royal Palace of El Pardo has notably been the Official Residence of Foreign Heads of State since 1983 and is related to the hunting world of Monte de El Pardo.

Other highlights include the Palacio del Marqués de Linares, now Casa América; Gaviria Palace, near the Puerta del Sol; Cibeles Palace, where the Madrid City Council is situated; and the Crystal Palace, amongst others.

Madrid is a community full of art and innovation, with a very broad cultural offer of varied themes such as photography, painting, contemporary art, sensory and immersive experiences... So, if you're a real culture vulture, you'll always have something planned in the capital of this Autonomous Community!

There are multiple spaces that, throughout the year, host very interesting exhibitions, such as Matadero Madrid, CaixaForum, CentroCentro, Sala Alcalá 31, La Casa Encendida, Espacio Fundación Telefónica Madrid, Fundación Mapfre, Círculo de Bellas Artes… and, of course, the many museums and palaces of the city. Even in the streets you can admire highly varied exhibitions.

The travelling exhibition 'Without words, voices and silences in contemporary art', on display until December 2022, is a good choice for all lovers of artistic and literary innovation. For lovers of painting, the collective watercolour exhibition 'Renacer', at the Centro Cultural Ciudad Pegaso, is another must-see.

Before travelling to Madrid, check the exhibition calendar, as many of them are temporary and you may risk not arriving in time to see them.

There are so many options to choose from! Select your favourites and enjoy. 😉

Have you ever wondered what the sky over Madrid looks like? There is no one single sky that characterises this wonderful destination, since there are a wide range of hues that colour the Madrid sunrise and sunset.

Blue, red, orange, pink... In summer it is reddish and in autumn it takes on a metallic colour. When spring arrives, the sky has small scattered spots and in winter all its colours disappear and it takes on a cold, dark tone. Its views and landscapes are one of the main reasons to get away to this Autonomous Community.

To kick off the day, there's nothing like watching the peaceful, beautiful sunrise in the city of Aranjuez.

At the height of the day, at noon, nothing beats going up a tall building in the capital to observe the beautiful brown roofs with a spectacular blue sky as a backdrop.

In the afternoon, the sky is reflected in a perfect navy blue on the Crystal Palace lake, in the central El Retiro Park. And, what better way to see the sunset than from the wonderful Temple of Debod.

Get your camera ready to snap the best shots and upload them to your social networks!

Travelling with children is not always easy. However, if you're looking for activities they can enjoy, you can have a great time. The Autonomous Community of Madrid has a wide range of fun, educational programmes to enjoy with the family: attractions, shows, outdoor sports, science, technology, parks, animals... The possibilities are endless!

Here are some of the best activities.

Micropolix, in San Sebastián de los Reyes, is a real city made to scale for children between 4 and 14 years old, and games are played which convey values such as effort and independence.

Those who prefer to spend a day in a theme park have several options at their fingertips: the Amusement Park, the Warner Park, Faunia - an animal park that is so much more than a zoo or an aquarium -, and the Zoo Aquarium of Madrid.

The Ice Palace is the perfect place for children and adults to go ice skating together. It doesn't get any more fun than this!

If your children are already nature lovers, they'll love the Enchanted Forest of San Martín de Valdeiglesias with more than 300 living sculptures and over 500 vegetal species.

Just 65 kilometres by car from the centre of Madrid is the spectacular Regional Park of La Pedriza. It is one of the most visited and popular areas of the Sierra de Guadarrama. If you are an outdoor sports lover, this is definitely your ideal destination! In addition to hiking, you can do other physical activities such as climbing its walls and cliffs; mountain biking, canyoning... In summer, you can cool off in the water of the Manzanares River and play water sports such as canoeing, kayaking and diving.

The perfect point of departure to explore the area is the La Pedriza Visitor Center, located in the town of Manzanares El Real. There you'll receive all the information you'll need so as not to miss any of the highlights, and you can visit the permanent exhibition 'Journey to the Sierra de Guadarrama'.

In this town you can take the opportunity to admire other points of tourist interest such as its castle, the best preserved in the whole Autonomous Community; the Plaza del Pueblo square and the Town Hall, the hub of local social life; the Church of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves; the Old Bridge or the Royal Canyon and so much more.

120 kilometres north of the centre of Madrid, in the municipality of Rascafría, there lies this natural space with the highest peak in the entire Sierra de Guadarrama, at an altitude of 2,428 metres above sea level.

Its beauty is so unique that in 1930 it was declared a Site of National Interest and in 1990 a natural park. It has great ecological value thanks to the proper conservation of its high mountain ecosystems, its great variety and quality of landscape and the enormous diversity of its species of flora and fauna.

It also has a series of glacier lagoons. Although there are hiking trails with different degrees of difficulty, you don't need to take them to visit the lagoons.

Two of the small lagoons stand out. Firstly, the Laguna Grande de Peñalara, a glacier lagoon located at the bottom of the Peñalara glacier circle and in the central area of the mountains. Secondly, the Pájaros Lagoon, one of the most popular routes that takes you to the northeast of the Peñalara massif.

Climbing enthusiasts can go to the Peñalara Massif, where there are more than 150 routes.

Located very close to San Agustín de Guadalix are the Hervidero waterfalls, which are a fairytale excursion. These are two waterfalls that form the course of the Guadalix River itself. You can access them and the lagoon that precedes them via a stone staircase. Take care! Tread firmly to avoid falling.

In addition to the sound of the water falling, the vegetation stirring in the breeze, the birdsong and the tranquility of this spot, you can spend the day here and have a wonderful picnic as a couple, with your family or with friends.

The complete route from the nearest town is about a 5.5-kilometre round trip and it is known as the Camino del Brincadero. Passing through it is quite amazing because you can make several stops to behold the wonderful nature and the Guadalix River.

During the journey, you'll come across three surprises: an old mill that you can make out in the distance, a small dam and the Becerra waterfall.

Get away from the hustle and bustle of Madrid's capital and enjoy a day of true relaxation in this spectacular natural landscape.

In Manzanares El Real, alongside the Sierra de Guadarrama, in the northwest of the Autonomous Community, there is the Santillana Reservoir, a paradise for nature lovers and, more specifically, for bird watchers, since it is one of the epicentres for the nesting, protection and migration of water birds.

Although when it was built in the late 19th century it was intended to supply electricity and water to all the towns in the area, it was also designed to serve as a monument - in Renaissance style - and a symbol of the municipality of Manzanares El Real. To recognise its importance today, UNESCO declared it a Biosphere Reserve in 1993.

In this area you can carry out different nature-related activities such as hiking, climbing, cycling and, of course, bird watching. Here you'll have the chance to spot black storks, kingfishers or booted eagles, and much more, so get your binoculars ready and don't miss a thing!

You can take advantage of the visit to go to the New Castle of the Mendoza, a medieval fortification dating from the 15th century, regarded as one of the best preserved in Europe.

Covered by a dense, vast mantle of wild pine, the Fuenfría Valley, in Cercedilla, is one of the most outstanding nature-related destinations in the Madrid region. To visit it, there are numerous well-marked itineraries that will allow you to make the most of the excursion.

One that is highly recommended starts at the Fuenfría Valley Environmental Education Centre, where you can get all the information that you need to discover the area. In addition, you can visit a permanent exhibition comprising interpretive panels and a video that will show you everything you need to know.

From here, you'll start the route stretching almost seven kilometres, passing through natural pools, perfect to cool off in summer; an old Roman road with bridges from that period, a forest track that will take you to the Ducha de los Alemanes waterfall, about two metres high and formed by the Navazuela stream; the Poets' Vantage Point from which you can behold amazing views; and the sundial in honor of Camilo José Cela, located in the Navarrulaque Prairie which marks the end of the route.

Don't forget to stock up on food and drink for the whole trip, especially in summer time.