A guide to the museums in Madrid | SmartRental
A guide to the Madrid museums
Visiting the museums of Madrid is one of the essential activities if you are staying in the Spanish capital for a few days. The city is full of art in all its corners, from the famous Art Triangle to a great variety of original and unique museums. These will delight you with their permanent collections and temporary exhibitions. Discover them!
Art museums in Madrid
The artistic heritage of Madrid’s museums is practically endless. The city is known for hosting some of the most iconic works and artists in the history of art. These are some of the most famous art museums in Madrid that you must visit:
Museo del Prado
With over 200 years of history, the Prado holds some of the best artistic works in the history of art, by authors such as Goya, Rubens, Velázquez, Titian, Bosch, Caravaggio… The great artists of the Spanish and Italian schools are in this museum, which has a valuable collection of 8,600 paintings.
Museo Reina Sofía
The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía is another of the most visited museums in Madrid. It contains a large collection of works of Spanish contemporary art by artists such as Picasso, Dalí and Miró.
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
The Thyssen collection is one of the most valuable of Spanish art, and is housed in the beautiful Villahermosa Palace. Van Gogh, Caravaggio and Munch are some of the painters represented in this museum.
Caixaforum Madrid
More than a museum, this is a cultural center where you can see temporary art exhibitions, as well as attend workshops, cinema sessions, and other cultural events. The building’s vertical garden is also a marvel worth seeing.
The best themed museums in Madrid
National Museum of Natural Science
At the Natural Science Museum of Madrid, you can walk through an incredible collection of meteorites, dinosaur fossils and other prehistoric creatures. It’s such a great opportunity to learn about our origin!
Railway Museum
This museum is located in one of Madrid’s emblematic stations, Delicias. Here you will find old locomotives and passenger carriages that you can ride on to transport you to the past, reliving the history of the railroad.
Museum of America
The Museum of America in Madrid is responsible for recovering the heritage of the peoples who inhabited the American continent before the Spanish colonization. Its collections are unique in the world, with pieces from the pre-Hispanic and later periods.
History Museum
Travel through the history of Madrid through paintings, sculptures, models, photographs and other pieces that tell the evolution of the city since prehistoric times.
Wax Museum
Like others in the world, the wax museum of Madrid represents prominent figures of Spanish and international history and current affairs. Soccer players, artists, politicians, fictional characters… Find your favorites and take a picture with them!
Free museums
You can see some of the most important artworks in Madrid for free. There are many museums opening their doors to the public for no cost on specific days, you only need to know when and save the date!
You can also enter for free in most museums in the city on May 18, International Museum Day, and on some holidays such as Columbus Day, October 12.
Find accommodation in Madrid
If you are planning a cultural visit or a getaway to Madrid, your best accommodation option is the SmartRental holiday rental apartments. These are in the best areas of the city and within walking distance of the main Madrid museums.
We have spacious and modern apartments to rent in the centre of Madrid, in the area of Gran Via, Puerta del Sol, Atocha, La Latina and Chueca. They are fully equipped properties with all the amenities you need to feel right at home.
Choose the apartment you like the most and book your stay with SmartRental!