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Art & History Abroad Tours

Art Treasures in Madrid

This tour explores some of Spain’s richest artistic treasures, with works that define both the country’s history and its imagination.

At its heart are the great collections of Madrid: the Prado’s unrivalled paintings of the Spanish Golden Age, with Velázquez, Zurbarán and Ribera seen alongside Bosch and Rubens; the personal and political masterpieces of the Reina Sofía, anchored by Picasso’s Guernica; and the wide‑ranging collection of the Thyssen‑Bornemisza, which place Spanish art within a wider European tradition.

These are complemented by other quieter collections – Goya’s frescoes painted directly onto the walls of San Antonio de la Florida, and the tapestries, paintings and devotional objects preserved at Descalzas Reales and the Royal Collections Gallery. Join art expert Dr Marta Cacho Casal on this new tour in 2027.

From

£3,675

per person

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what’s included

At A Glance

  • The Travel Editions Experience
    Our tours are thoughtfully crafted and meticulously planned, with every destination, hotel, excursion and stop along the way having been selected to form a truly memorable experience.
  • Meals Included
    All breakfasts and two dinners.
  • Handpicked Accommodation
    Five nights’ accommodation at the five-star NH Collection Palacio de Tepa, Madrid, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room    .
  • Discover Madrid’s Art Treasures
    Explore Madrid’s world-class art collections with exclusive private early access to the Museo del Prado and a private visit to the Reina Sofía, home of Picasso’s Guernica. From Goya’s frescoes at San Antonio de la Florida to the Thyssen-Bornemisza, Descalzas Reales, Royal Collections Gallery and Lázaro Galdiano Museum, uncover Spain’s artistic riches with expert Dr Marta Cacho Casal.
  • Your Expert Guide
    Dr Marta Cacho Casal     and a Tour Manager accompany the tour throughout.
  • Travel & Transfers
    Airport transfers and full coach touring itinerary and entrance fees as per the itinerary.
  • Travel from the UK
    Return flights from London Heathrow or Manchester to Madrid
Meet Your Expert Guide

Dr Marta Cacho Casal

Marta is an art historian specialising in early modern Spanish and Italian art, with particular interests in prints, drawings and the Renaissance. She brings this expertise to Travel Editions’ Art Treasures of Madrid tour, exploring one of Europe’s richest concentrations of painting and visual culture.

Her approach places individual masterpieces within the artistic networks, ideas and patronage that shaped them. By encouraging close looking while keeping the wider historical story in view, Marta offers travellers a thoughtful and accessible route into the great collections of Madrid.

Meet Our Expert Guides
itinerary & excursions

Your Itinerary

Explore this incredible tour in detail and discover what makes each day so special. Below, you’ll find a full day-by-day breakdown of your journey, from the moment you arrive to your final farewell. Learn more about the highlights you’ll experience, the unforgettable places you’ll visit, and the unique moments that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re drawn by rich history, stunning landscapes or unforgettable cultural encounters, this itinerary gives you everything you need to picture your adventure and look forward to every step of the way.

Day 1: Arrive in Madrid

Depart London Heathrow or Manchester for Madrid then transfer by coach to our hotel for a five-night stay. Free time or take a short orientation walk around Plaza Mayor. Evening welcome drink, dinner with wine and talk from your tour lecturer Marta, ‘An Introduction to the Spanish Golden Age’.

Day 2: The Prado Museum and Monastery of Descalzas Reales

An early, private visit to the incomparable Museo del Prado for masterpieces by Diego Velázquez, Zurbarán, Murillo and their contemporaries. 

We also view later Spanish paintings, and most especially the works of Goya.  Lunch is at leisure.

In the afternoon, visit the Monastery of Descalzas Reales, once a royal residence and convent, where paintings, tapestries and devotional objects remain displayed much as they were assembled by generations of Habsburg women, offering a rare glimpse of private royal collecting.

Day 3: Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando and Goya’s frescoes

This morning’s visit to the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando explores art within the academic tradition. The collection includes important works by Goya, Murillo and Zurbarán, seen within the institutional setting that shaped artistic education in Spain.

After lunch, visit the Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida, for Goya’s frescoes of The Miracle of St Anthony. An evening talk by Marta examines the formation and history of the Prado itself, ‘The Story of the Museo del Prado’.

Day 4: Museo Reina Sofia and Thyssen‑Bornemisza Museum

Begin with a private visit to the Museo Reina Sofía, centred on Picasso’s Guernica, one of the defining works of 20th‑century art. Surrounding works by Miró, Dalí and Tàpies trace Spanish responses to exile, Surrealism and post‑war abstraction.

After lunch, continue to the Thyssen‑Bornemisza Museum for its rich collection of Spanish and European paintings from the Renaissance to the modern period.

Day 5: Royal Collections Gallery & Lázaro Galdiano Museum

The morning is devoted to the Royal Collections Gallery, where tapestries, paintings and decorative arts reveal centuries of royal patronage, including works by Titian, Velázquez and Goya. Continue to the Almudena Cathedral, with time to enjoy views from the dome.

In the afternoon, visit the Lázaro Galdiano Museum, a former private residence housing a richly eclectic collection of paintings, sculpture and objets d’art gathered by one of Spain’s great collectors. Farewell dinner with wine.

Day 6: Departure

Free time in Madrid before the transfer to the airport for our return flight to the UK.

Availability

Choose Your Departure

Date
Departing From
Price From
Availability
03/05/2027
London Heathrow or Manchester
£3,675
Book Now
13/12/2027
London Heathrow or Manchester
£3,275
Book Now
Solo Traveller Supplement From: £790
Destination
Departure Date
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HOTELS

Tour Accommodation

NH Collection Palacio de Tepa, Madrid

This five-star boutique hotel in central Madrid, combines historic architecture with modern luxury. A restored 19th‑century palace located in Madrid’s vibrant Barrio de las Letras, the hotel is just a short stroll from landmarks such as Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace and Puerta del Sol. The hotel facilities include a bar, garden, restaurant, and spa and fitness centre. The comfortable bedrooms offer TV, WIFI, safe, hairdryer, toiletries, and tea/coffee making facilities.
Hotel Website

our regular tours

Mobility Information

This tour has a moderate fitness rating, reflecting a fuller itinerary with a good balance of visits, walking and time spent exploring on foot.

Some visits may involve cobbled streets, uneven paving, slopes, steps, stairs, limited seating, or walking from the coach drop-off point to the entrance of a site or attraction. The exact demands will vary from day to day, and we highlight specific practical details within the itinerary wherever possible.

You should feel comfortable walking at a steady group pace, standing during visits and enjoying a full day of sightseeing. If you are unsure whether this tour is right for you, please contact us before booking.

Mobility Information
Your questions answered

Tour FAQ

If you have a question, we are more than happy to answer it via email or phone, but you may find your answer below more quickly.

Simply complete our online booking form or give us a call on 020 7251 0045 between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday where you can speak to a real person. A 20% deposit per person is required at the time of booking, to book your place. Payments by debit card or credit card incur no charge. 

You must pay for the balance of your holiday at least 12 weeks before departure. Please note: no reminder for balance payments is sent to you and are not receipted unless requested. If you book your holiday within 12 weeks of departure, full payment is required at time of booking. Please note that some tours may require final payment to be paid earlier than 12 weeks, due to financial commitment with suppliers. The exact date will be notified to you at the time of booking. Final joining instructions and documentation will be dispatched approximately 10 days before travel.

In almost all cases, the price includes your accommodation, meals as described in the itinerary, all excursions shown in the programme, and travel arrangements from the UK. Excursions are taken by private coach exclusively for Travel Editions guests. If anything is ever excluded from the price, it will be clearly marked as optional and payable locally, you won’t find any hidden extras on your final bill. Travel Editions operates a firm no-surcharge policy, so the price you are quoted is the price you pay.

The specifics vary by tour and are set out in your individual itinerary, but most of our tours depart from London, either by Eurostar from St Pancras International or by air. For rail tours, we advise allowing at least one hour before the Eurostar departure when planning your journey to London. For flights, all costs are based on economy class unless otherwise stated, and all times shown are local time. For tours in the UK, these often start at the hotel in question.

Flight upgrades and connections from regional airports are available on request and subject to availability, contact us on 020 7251 0045 or at tours@traveleditions.co.uk for details. We strongly recommend not booking non-refundable connecting travel until you have received your final joining instructions, which are sent around 10 days before departure and confirm all timings and meeting points.

Yes, and you’re very welcome. Single room supplements apply on most tours, reflecting the fact that single and double rooms are generally priced similarly by hotels. If you would prefer to share with another solo traveller of the same gender, we are happy to arrange this, simply let us know at the time of booking. Sharing is subject to another traveller in the same situation being booked on the same tour.

Each tour is accompanied by a dedicated tour manager, who in most cases will travel out from the UK with the group. On some tours, the tour manager will meet you at your destination station or airport, with full details being confirmed in your joining instructions 10 days before travel. Many of our tours are also led by expert lecturers or specialist guides whose knowledge brings each destination to life; details of who will be accompanying your particular tour are included in the individual tour pages and itineraries.

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