🖼️ At The Sun Places we know that luxury is also found in art and culture.
That's why we invite you to discover the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, one of the most important art galleries in the world and an essential stop on Madrid's Art Walk.
Its collection, spanning from the 13th to the 20th century, is a fascinating journey through the history of Western painting, with masterpieces by Van Gogh, Monet, Degas, Picasso, Dalí and many other great masters.
The Sun Places invites you to discover this artistic treasure, staying in our Luxury Apartments in Madrid.
The Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum houses one of the world's most important private collections, assembled by the Thyssen-Bornemisza family over several generations.
Its permanent exhibition offers a unique journey through European painting from the 13th century to the late 20th century. Below, we tell you everything you can't miss in this museum.
📜 History of the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum
The history of the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is fascinating. The collection was started by Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza in the early 20th century, and expanded by his son, Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, who turned it into one of the most important in Europe.
In 1985, Baron Hans Heinrich decided to find a permanent home for his collection, and after an agreement with the Spanish government, it was installed in the Palacio de Villahermosa, an 18th-century neoclassical building located next to the Paseo del Prado.
The museum opened its doors to the public in 1992, with a selection of more than 700 works. In 1993, the Spanish State acquired the collection, turning it into a national museum.
In 2004, the museum's expansion was completed with the incorporation of the Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza collection, which added more than 200 additional works.
Today, the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is one of the most visited in Madrid or in Malaga and a reference in world art.
📍 Location and how to visit the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum
The Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is located in the Palacio de Villahermosa, at Paseo del Prado, 8, in the heart of Madrid's Art Walk.
The Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. It remains closed on Mondays, except on public holidays when it is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
From our Luxury Apartments in Madrid in the Salamanca Neighbourhood or near the Las Letras Neighbourhood, you can reach the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum in less than 15 minutes on foot or by taxi.
🖼️ Masterpieces of the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum
The collection of the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is so extensive and varied that it is difficult to highlight only a few works. However, these are some of the most emblematic that you cannot miss:
- Blossoming Peach Trees, by Vincent van Gogh: One of the artist's best-known paintings, with his characteristic expressive brushstroke and vibrant colouring.
- The Pont de l'Argenteuil, by Claude Monet: One of the most beautiful Impressionist works in the museum, with the artist's characteristic light and colour.
- The Dancer, by Edgar Degas: A work that captures the elegance and movement of dance, characteristic of the artist.
- Portrait of a Young Girl, by Gustav Klimt: A masterpiece of Viennese Symbolism, with its characteristic use of gold and decorative patterns.
- St. Mark's Square, by Canaletto: One of the most famous views of Venice, with its architectural precision and luminous atmosphere.
- The Dream, by Salvador Dalí: A Surrealist work that shows the overflowing imagination of the Catalan artist.
- Lady at the Window, by Rogier van der Weyden: A masterpiece of 15th-century Flemish painting.
In addition to these works, the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum has a wide collection of Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Expressionism, Cubism and abstract art, making it an essential museum for art lovers.
🏛️ The Palacio de Villahermosa: architecture and history of the building
The Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is housed in the Palacio de Villahermosa, an 18th-century neoclassical building located on the Paseo del Prado.
The palace was built between 1802 and 1805 by architect Antonio López Aguado, and later remodelled by architect Pedro de Ribera.
During the 19th century, the palace housed the Villahermosa family and, later, the French embassy in Spain.
In the 20th century, the building was acquired by Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza and adapted to house his art collection.
The renovation of the palace was carried out by architect Rafael Moneo, who respected the building's original structure and created a modern and functional exhibition space.
Today, the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is one of the most emblematic buildings on Madrid's Art Walk.
🎨 Temporary exhibitions at the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum in 2026
The Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum has a very interesting programme of temporary exhibitions for 2026. These are some of the most notable:
- Masters of Impressionism: An exhibition bringing together masterpieces by Monet, Renoir, Degas and Pissarro, from museums around the world. It will be on display from 15 March to 15 July 2026.
- Dalí and Surrealism: An exhibition dedicated to the Catalan genius, with works exploring his dreamlike universe and his technique. It will be on display from 15 September to 15 December 2026.
- The Carmen Thyssen Collection: new acquisitions: A show presenting the latest works added to Baroness Carmen Thyssen's collection. It will be on display from 1 May to 30 August 2026.
🎫 Guided tours and VIP experiences
For The Sun Places guests, we recommend a private guided tour of the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum to discover its masterpieces with the explanation of an expert.
The museum offers guided tours of the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, lasting 60 minutes and costing €5.
The Sun Places can arrange ticket purchases without queues, private guided tours outside regular hours and VIP experiences, such as organising a cocktail or dinner at the museum for special events.
🎭 What the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum represents for Madrid and The Sun Places
The Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is one of the pillars of Madrid's Art Walk, alongside the Prado National Museum and the Reina Sofía Museum.
It represents the city's cultural and artistic wealth, attracting millions of visitors each year and projecting an image of Madrid as the capital of art.
It is an essential destination for art and culture lovers, and an example of how a private collection can become public heritage.
For The Sun Places, discovering the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is a natural extension of our philosophy of offering authentic luxury experiences.
That is why our Luxury Apartments in Madrid are located in the most central areas, just a few steps from the museum. Furthermore, the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is connected to other great attractions of the capital that we have explored in other articles: the Retiro Park, the Cibeles, the Las Letras Neighbourhood and the Salamanca Neighbourhood, where the Callejón de Jorge Juan is located.
It is also close to Madrid's great gastronomic temples that we have explored in other articles: DiverXO and Casa Lucio, and a stone's throw from the century-old taverns of Madrid that offer the most traditional cuisine of the capital.
All of this makes Madrid a unique destination in the world, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is one of its artistic jewels.
✨ The perfect plan with The Sun Places to discover the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum
Friday: Arrival and first artistic immersion
- In the afternoon, a walk along the Paseo del Prado and the Retiro Park
- Dinner at Casa Lucio, one of Madrid's most emblematic restaurants, famous for its huevos rotos and traditional cuisine
Saturday: Art day on the Paseo del Prado
- In the morning, you visit the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum with a private guided tour arranged by The Sun Places
- You have lunch at the San Miguel Market, where you can try a selection of high-quality tapas
- In the afternoon, you continue with the Prado National Museum
- In the evening, dinner at DiverXO, the only three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Madrid, and enjoy a unique gastronomic experience
Sunday: Relax and farewell.
- Before you leave, you enjoy a vermouth and tapas in one of the century-old taverns of Madrid, such as Taberna de Antonio Sánchez or Los Gabrieles, to say goodbye as you deserve
- Final walk through the Plaza Mayor and the Cibeles before returning
Ready to discover the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum with The Sun Places?
📞 Contact us and let us organise your perfect artistic getaway.
But if you prefer other destinations, The Sun Places also has prepared for you: Luxury Apartments in Barcelona, Luxury Accommodation in Costa Brava, Luxury Apartments in Seville, Luxury Apartments in Cádiz, Luxury Apartments in Puerto Banús, Luxury Accommodation in Sanlúcar de Barrameda and Luxury Apartments in Córdoba.
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