museums & arts centres
Madrid is one of the greatest cultural hubs in the world. Here in this section you can find all the information you need about the city's museums, big and small, and some little known facts about their history and the works they house. Discover the myriad of cultural centres including art galleries, auditoriums, theatres and foundations open to the public in the Spanish capital.
From its privileged location surrounded by trees and some of Madrid´s greatest monuments, the National Museum of the Prado is one of the most visited attractions in the capital. The museum is home to the most important Spanish painting collection in the world.
The Thyssen-Bornemisza, with almost 1,000 works, is located in a cultural and artistic itinerary that is unique in the world. Come to the museum and enjoy a privileged tour of seven centuries of European painting, from its origins in the 13th century to the end of the 20th.
Works by Dali and Miró join Picasso's Guernica on a fascinating journey through the history of contemporary art. The modern museum showcases works from different painters, origins, periods and subjects, thus illustrating different facets of the avant-garde.
Here is a simple guide to all those museums you just can't miss when you come to Madrid. From the world famous Art Walk, which is home to the Prado, the Reina Sofía, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and CaixaForum, to hidden treasures like the Temple of Debod and the Garment Museum.
This unique centre welcomes old and contemporary art, music and poetry, debates and even social and educational activities. Housed in a spectacular building which was once Mediodía Electric Power Station, it has already become one of the new landmarks of our city.
Continuing on from the Art Walk, the Paseo de la Castellana is home to important exhibition halls, foundations and institutes, which play a key role in the country's cultural life. Matadero Madrid, Conde Duque and the Fine Arts Circle are just some of the most important ones.
A red spot next to a Picasso print tells you it's already been sold. In the next room, you're greeted by the last word in painting or perhaps a piece of video art soon to hang in a museum somewhere. You're in one of Madrid's many art gallery.
Apart from the major museums on the Art Walk, there are others, located in former small palaces and stately homes, which offer us a more intimate view of history. These include the Cerralbo Museum, the Romantic Museum and the house of Spanish painter Joaquín Sorolla.
This library works to identify, preserve, conserve and disseminate the written heritage of Spain. The museum, which houses over 30,000 manuscripts, around 3,000 incunables and some 500,000 examples of printed matter, is a fascinating journey through the history of the book.
Madrid never rests, not even on Mondays. Although a number of museums and landmarks in the city do take a break on the first day of the week, many others remain open so there is no excuse not to make the most of every day of your stay.
OTHER SUGGESTIONS
What's On: Exhibitions
Find out about all the art exhibitions on show in Madrid.
Paseo del Arte / The Art Walk
A two kilometre-long walk devoted to culture.
CentroCentro
An impressive new exhibition space in the Palacio de Cibeles.
National Archaeological Museum
Discover the secrets of its impressive collection.
Museum shops
Find a special present or memento in the unique shops housed in the city's top museums
San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts
Sorolla Museum
Visit the house museum of the Spanish painter, famous for his beach paintings.
Romantic Museum
Life in a 19th-century palace.
Cerralbo Museum
Step into the only 19th century palace whose interior retains the original spirit of the period.
Museums: fact sheet
Basic information about some 40 venues in Madrid.
Royal Palace and Royal Armoury
Teatro Real
Step into one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world.
Madrid's Museums
Madrid has an attractive range of municipal museums grouped under the brand name Museos de Madrid.
Royal Tapestry Factory
IIt has been producing and restoring hand-woven tapestries and carpets for three hundred years.
Industrial Archaeology
Travel by land, sea and air and discover museums and centres connected to transport and science.
Teatro Circo Price
The new Price’s facilities host Madrid's circus but also stage exhibitions, workshops and concerts.
Matadero Madrid cultural centre
The former municipal slaughterhouse of Madrid hosts one of the largest cultural centres in the city.
Wax Museum
Hundreds of famous cultural figures, sports stars and political leaders from around the globe.
Lázaro Galdiano Museum
A journey through the history of European art.
ABC Museum of Drawing and Illustration
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