The territorial capital of Spain is also a cultural capital, hosting some of the best museums in the world. So to bring you a little closer to the art of contemplating art, today we take you to discover the 5 best museums in Madrid , which you should visit at least once in your life.
We often need a rainy day as an excuse to enter a museum. Beep! Big mistake: Nietzsche said that “Art is the only supreme task and metaphysical activity in this life” and who are we to prove him wrong? When it comes to Madrid, the sin becomes even greater.
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The best museums in Madrid
Wait. What? What is “the best”? And even more so when we talk about art, in all its forms? It is difficult, if not impossible, to specify which are the best museums in a place. So we mark and emphasize that those that we will tell you about shortly are our favorite museums in Madrid. Those that, for one reason or another, we believe cannot be missed on a cultural route through the capital of Spain.
That being said… let’s dive into art and history, even if it’s only for the next few minutes 😉 Inside, some of the best museums in Madrid:
1. Prado Museum
We start off on a high note with what is considered a true symbol of art. The Prado opened its doors in 1819 and gradually made its way into the ranks of the great museums of Europe.
Its walls are home to masterpieces by the likes of Las Meninas by Velázquez, The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch and La Maja Desnuda by Goya, artists who are, by the way, well represented in this museum: there are more than 150 of their works.
The most amazing thing is that the Prado offers visitors a collection of some 1,000 works, but in its archives there are another 8,000 pieces that have not yet seen the light of day. 0_O that is A LOT of works.
Its location, halfway between Retiro Park and the historic center, is ideal for making the most of the day and continuing to explore all of Madrid's attractions.
- Price : entrance costs 15€
- Free admission : Monday to Saturday 18:00 – 20:00. Sundays and holidays 15:00 – 17:00
- Official Website of the Prado Museum
2. Reina Sofia Museum
Rober is more of a Prado fan, while Lety is more of a Reina Sofía fan. That's how things are here. And over there? Are you more into modern art or classic masterpieces? Regardless of preferences, it's clear that the Reina Sofía is another of the best museums in Madrid, we have no doubts. And neither are the almost 4 million visitors who frequent it every year, making it the most visited museum in Spain.
It occupies what was once the General Hospital of Madrid, and houses one of the greatest jewels of the art world: Picasso's Guernica , which is worth the entrance fee just to see it. But under the same roof, works by artists such as Dalí, Miró, Magritte, Rothko and Warhol, among others, are also on display.
- Price : entrance costs 12€
- Free admission : Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 19:00 – 21:00. Sundays 13:30 – 14:15
- Buy tickets here
3. Thyssen-Bornemisza
This museum concludes the Holy Artistic Trinity of Madrid, and this art gallery has nothing to envy of the two previous ones. For decades, the Thyssen-Bornemisza family collected works by classical and modern masters, making it not only one of the best museums in Madrid but also one of the most complete and eclectic art galleries in the world.
Some of the works you can't miss here are: The Annunciation by El Greco, Christ and the Samaritan by Duccio di Buoninsegna, Hotel Room by Hopper, Ballerina Tilting (Green Dancer) by Degas, and (pay attention to the name)… Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate a Second Before Dali's Awakening
- Price : entrance costs €9
- Free admission : Monday from 12:00 to 16:00
- Official website of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
4. National Archaeological Museum, one of the most interesting museums in Madrid
We leave aside the paintings but not the magic: at the MAN (National Archaeological Museum) you can see ancient treasures, ranging from prehistoric pieces to archaeological finds from Ancient Egypt , Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome and, of course, relics of civilizations that inhabited Spain.
The great jewel in the crown is the Lady of Elche , but she is not the only one: the Lady of Baza , the Sepulchre of Pozo Moro , the Boat of Zamora , the Coffin of Bak or the Statue of Harsomtusehat are other great reasons to come here.
- Price : entrance costs €1.5
- Free admission : Saturdays from 2:00 p.m. and Sunday mornings
- Official Website of the National Archaeological Museum
5. Sorolla Museum
We complete our top 5 of the best museums in Madrid with the Sorolla Museum, where we can learn more about the life and works of Joaquín Sorolla , one of the most prolific Spanish artists of all time.
The museum is located in what was the artist's last house (a real little house, by the way) and contains about a thousand pieces, including obviously many of his paintings , such as the Walk on the Seashore, the Self-Portrait and White Slavery. But also personal objects (ceramics, letters, paintbrushes and even sculptures, one by Rodin himself). The building itself is also interesting, with a pretty garden and an Andalusian patio.
- Price : entrance costs €3
- Free admission : Saturdays from 2pm and Sundays.
- Official website of the Sorolla Museum
Other museums in Madrid
This concludes our tour of the best museums in Madrid . As we mentioned at the beginning, these lists are never entirely objective, leaving out beautiful and interesting museums that we should all visit at least once in our lives, such as the Museum of Romanticism , the National Museum of Natural Sciences , the Cerralbo Museum or the Naval Museum . There are so many museums!
But we think these 5 are a great start to discovering the more cultural side of Madrid. Do you agree with us? Which are the best museums in Madrid for you?
