Location: Retiro
Top Things to do in Retiro
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7 Museums in Retiro That You Shouldn't Miss
So many of Madrid’s buildings look like castles, you’ll think you’ve stumbled into a fairytale. Even City Hall is astounding, with its white pinnacles and neo-Gothic features. A self-guided architecture tour can begin by the great bear statue in the central Puerta del Sol. Wander by the fanciful Royal Palace before absorbing the natural beauty of Retiro Park, then visit one of the city’s many museums. You could happily cap off each day by nibbling on forkfuls of paella while sipping Spanish rioja.
Restaurants in Madrid
1. Prado National Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 56,733 reviews
The Prado has one of the largest art collections in the world, and is best known for its diverse assortment of works by Velasquez, Goya and El Greco.
Reviewed By EricM59cc - Miami Beach, United States
Must see attraction in Madrid, beautifully organized and great collection from Spanish masters and some extra bonus with masterpieces by Bosh, Rubens,... Highly recommended.
2. Naval Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,830 reviews
** This place is temporarily closed**The Madrid Naval Museum is a State institution which belongs to the Ministry of Defense. The Museum is under the organic command of the Admiral Chief of Naval Staff and is governed by a Board of Trustees (Real Patronato). The Naval Museum is a living institution opened to the public. Its curators not only study, look after, exhibit and acquire new objects, but use it as an instrument of communication, education and dissemination of the maritime history of Spain and its traditions. The following are some of the research fields: History of the Spanish Navy Naval shipbuilding Nautical science and auxiliary sciences like cosmography, cartography and nautical instruments. History of maritime voyages and discoveries. Underwater archaeology Maritime heritage
Reviewed By dicod712 - Oslos, Denmark
What a fantastic and interesting museum depicting Spain's history as the supreme naval power . Not huge like some of Madrid other world class museums. Alot more manageable.
3. Observatorio Astronomico de Madrid
4. Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 150 reviews
A popular museum dedicated to what is sometimes known as the "lesser arts:" furniture, rugs and glassware.
Reviewed By 598marisap - Dallas, United States
This is a great museum close to El Retiro Park. It is free on Thursdays in the afternoon. It has a great permanent exhibition on decorative house items such as cookware, desks, kitchens bedrooms from different time periods. I really love the nativity scene from Italy, a piece from the 18th century, and also one of the kitchens from the 19th century.
5. National Anthropology Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 160 reviews
Reviewed By johnq91 - Limerick, Ireland
It helps greatly if you visit this attraction to be able to read English or Spanish - the information systems used to detail how people lived from pre-history to about 1900 throughout is superb. I would rank this Museum as the best I've ever visited in my lifetime - hence my shock to see it ranked 143rd in the Trip Advisor Reviews of 950 things to do in Madrid. Of course I'm biased I can read English and there was a superb representation of how the Celts lived and lived with Romans, Visigoths, Moors over thousands of years in Spain - far better than anything I have seen in Ireland.
6. Nave de Motores de Pacifico
7. El Cason del Buen Retiro
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 22 reviews
Reviewed By 750dimitrisl - Sydney, Australia
We only walked past this lovely building as we were running short of time, and did not manage to return. We did not know what it was at the time and only found out later. El Cason del Buen Retiro is part of the Museo del Prado and it houses various conference rooms and a library. Interestingly originally it was meant to be a ballroom, and later served as a museum of 19th century paintings belonging to the Prado. It also housed Picasso's Guernica until it was moved to the Reina-Sofia museum. It was built in 1637 as part of the Buen Retiro Palace.
