Comfortable Art on Wheels
Do you want to discover Madrid’s most famous museums without long walks? We propose a taxi sightseeing route through the Golden Triangle of Art—the Museo del Prado, Museo Reina Sofía and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. In this practical guide you’ll find an optimised taxi itinerary to explore these three cultural jewels of Madrid comfortably and efficiently. Our suggested route includes every stop, a detailed map, estimated visiting and transfer times, approximate taxi costs and useful tips (opening hours, tickets, accessibility) to make your experience unforgettable. Hop into a Ride Way taxi and get ready for a carefree art-filled day in Madrid!
Taxi Route Map for the Art Triangle
To orient yourself, the three museums form a triangle in central Madrid, very close to one another (less than ten minutes on foot between any pair). By taxi, the journeys are even faster—about 3-5 minutes per leg in normal traffic. The map above shows each museum’s location and the connections between them. We suggest the following logical taxi order:
Stop sequence: Museo Prado → Museo Reina Sofía → Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. This order takes advantage of geography and visitor flow, starting at the Prado (the largest) in the morning, moving to Reina Sofía at midday and Thyssen in the afternoon.
See the route on Google Maps: Taxi itinerary – Art Triangle (suggested route).
Below we describe each stop step by step, with recommended visit times, distances and helpful details.
Stop 1: Museo Nacional del Prado
What to see: The Prado is Spain’s foremost art gallery and one of the world’s most prestigious. It houses masterpieces of European painting such as Velázquez’s “Las Meninas”, Bosch’s “The Garden of Earthly Delights” and Goya’s “The Third of May 1808”. You’ll also find highlights by Rubens, Titian, El Greco and many more—over 1,000 works spanning from the Romanesque to the 19th century.
Estimated visit time: ~2-3 hours for the main rooms. If you focus only on the must-sees, 1.5-2 hours is enough. The museum provides thematic maps and audio guides to help optimise your visit.
Hours: Mon–Sat 10:00-20:00; Sundays 10:00-19:00. (Last entry 30 min before closing.) Closed: 1 January, 1 May, 25 December.
Tip: Entry is free for everyone 18:00-20:00 (Sundays 17:00-19:00), but lines can be long. To avoid queues, buy your ticket online with a time slot or arrive early in the morning. Remember security checks may add a short wait, so plan accordingly.
Next transfer: On leaving, take a taxi at the official rank by the Velázquez gate. Prado → Reina Sofía: ~1 km (≈5 min). Estimated fare ~€5 on a weekday. You’ll reach the next stop in minutes, skipping the downhill walk to Atocha.
Stop 2: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
What to see: The Reina Sofía is devoted to modern and contemporary art. Its star work is Picasso’s “Guernica”, an iconic, moving canvas depicting the horrors of war. You’ll also find masterpieces by Salvador Dalí (“The Great Masturbator”), Joan Miró, Juan Gris, María Blanchard and many other 20th-century artists, ranging from Impressionism and Cubism to Pop and Conceptual art. Don’t miss the courtyard with Calder’s mobile sculpture and the specialised art library.
Estimated visit time: ~1.5-2 hours for the main exhibitions. Guernica draws crowds, so allow time to see it calmly. If your time is limited, focus on the Second Floor (1900-1945 collection, where Guernica is) and Third Floor (1945-1980).
Hours: Wed–Sat 10:00-21:00; Mon 10:00-21:00; Sundays 10:00-14:30. (Closed Tuesdays. Last entry 30 min before closing.)
Tip: Like the Prado, the Reina Sofía is free the last two hours of the day (Mon & Wed-Sat 19:00-21:00, Sun 12:30-14:30). To avoid crowds around Guernica, visit at quieter times (early morning or lunchtime). Monday afternoons are free and sometimes calmer—but remember the museum is closed on Tuesdays. The Sabatini Building (main entrance) has panoramic lifts and is fully wheelchair-accessible; wheelchairs and canes are available on request.
Next transfer: From the Reina Sofía entrance (Sabatini Building, next to the Estación del Arte metro) take a taxi toward the Paseo del Prado. Reina Sofía → Thyssen: ~1.2 km skirting Retiro Park (≈5-7 min depending on traffic). Estimated fare ~€6 (daytime rate). You’ll be dropped at the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza entrance opposite Plaza de Neptuno.
Stop 3: Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
What to see: The Thyssen completes the Art Triangle by filling historical gaps between the Prado and Reina Sofía. Admire masterpieces from the 13th to 20th centuries: medieval panels and Italian primitives, Renaissance and Baroque (Caravaggio, Rubens, Frans Hals), Impressionists (Monet, Degas), Post-Impressionists (Van Gogh, Gauguin) and 20th-century avant-gardes (Kandinsky, Chagall, Hopper, Lichtenstein, etc.). About 1,000 works are on display. Must-sees include Ghirlandaio’s “Portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni”, Hopper’s “Hotel Room” and Picasso’s “Harlequin with Mirror”.
Estimated visit time: ~1.5 hours for the permanent collection. Because it spans so many periods, we suggest following the chronological order of rooms to appreciate artistic evolution. If you’re art-saturated, focus on your favourite movements (e.g. Impressionism and 20th-century modern art) and enjoy them at leisure.
Hours: Tue–Sun 10:00-19:00. (Closed Monday except occasional special openings with reduced hours). Check the website if visiting on a Monday, as sometimes they open 12:00-16:00 with free entry to the permanent collection. Closed: 25 December, 1 January.
Tip: The Thyssen offers audio guides and is generally the least crowded of the three museums—welcome at day’s end. Still, to avoid ticket queues, consider the “Paseo del Arte Pass” (≈€32) for Prado + Reina + Thyssen, which provides fast entry. All Art Triangle museums are free for under-18s, perfect for families. Remember, the Thyssen closes earlier than the Prado, so arrive by 17:00 to have at least two hours.
Total Route Duration and Taxi Fares
Doing this route in one day is feasible with good planning. Adding up the suggested visit times (≈2 h Prado + 1.5 h Reina Sofía + 1.5 h Thyssen) plus breaks and taxi rides, expect around 6-7 hours total. For example, starting about 10:00 at the Prado, you’d finish at the Thyssen around 17:00-18:00, with time for lunch at midday.
Regarding taxi costs, Madrid’s fares are reasonable: daytime flag-fall is ≈€2.50, then ≈€1.30 per km. Since the museum distances are short (~1 km each leg), each ride is about €5 (may vary slightly with traffic and lights). The three trips on this route would total ≈€15. A small price for the comfort of sitting in air-conditioned peace and saving energy to enjoy each museum 😉. (Indicative fares for weekdays; night or holidays have a slightly higher base rate.)
Important: All official Madrid taxis have taximeters and fares regulated by the City Council, so no surprises. Most accept cash or card. Travelling with people with reduced mobility? Request adapted taxis—Madrid has them available, and this route is perfect for avoiding walks between museums.
Final Tips to Make the Most of the Route
- Ticket purchase: Buy tickets in advance (online on each museum’s official site) to save time. The combined Paseo del Arte Pass gives one entry to each museum within a year, saving money and queues.
- Best day for the route: Note the closing days: the Thyssen closes on Mondays, the Reina Sofía on Tuesdays. To visit all three the same day, avoid Mondays and Tuesdays. Wednesday-Sunday is ideal. Weekends are busier; for a quieter experience, try Wednesday or Thursday.
- Recommended schedule: Start early at the Prado (opens 10:00). Spend the morning there, have lunch around 13:30 (the Barrio de las Letras/Huertas has many restaurants), visit Reina Sofía early afternoon, and end at the Thyssen. Since the Thyssen closes at 19:00, arrive by 17:00 to enjoy it calmly.
- Accessibility: All three museums have wheelchair-accessible entrances, lifts and facilities. Taking taxis adds comfort if you have strollers, elderly visitors or mobility issues—door-to-door, no hills or busy crossings.
- Audio guides and tours: Art lovers might rent audio guides at each museum or book a private guided tour. A 3-hour “express” tour of all three museums is available via agencies, but our taxi route lets you set your own pace.
- Time & flexibility: It’s fine to split the route over two days. Although planned for one, each museum deserves dedicated time. You set the rhythm! Taxis let you reorder or pause anytime. Loved the Prado and want to rest at your hotel? Call a Ride Way and resume later or next day—no problem.
Art Within Reach with Ride Way
Touring the Golden Triangle of Art by taxi is undoubtedly one of the best ways to discover Madrid comfortably when short on time or avoiding long walks. In a single day you’ll see humanity’s pinnacle artworks and three world-class museums, all worry-free about transport. With this optimised route you skip the heat and distances, using every minute of your trip wisely.
Now all that’s left is to make it happen. Ready for your art adventure on wheels? Book a taxi with Ride Way and enjoy this unique museum-to-museum route through Madrid. Our service gets you there fast, safe and at the best price. Don’t wait—your taxi art route in Madrid is calling!
Book your taxi now with Ride Way and experience Madrid from museum to museum—without taking a single extra step!
