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Things to do in Madrid, Community of Madrid: The Best Specialty Museums
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. Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16,537 reviews
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum offers visitors an overview of art from the 13th century to the late 20th century. In the nearly one thousand works on display, visitors can contemplate the major periods and pictorial schools of western art such as the Renaissance, Mannerism, the Baroque, Rococo, Romanticism and the art of the 19th and 20th centuries up to Pop Art. The museum also features works from some movements not represented in state-owned collections, such as Impressionism, Fauvism, German Expressionism and the experimental avant-garde movements of the early 20th century. In addition, it boasts an important collection of 19th-century American painting not found in any other European museum institutions. Permanent collection hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 10.00 to 19.00 Monday: 12.00 - 16.00* *Free entry with the sponsorship of Mastercard.
Reviewed By barryb487
On a prior visit to Madrid, I'd toured the Prado and Reina Sofia, both of which are excellent and well reputed museums. However, the "Thyssen" proved to be my favorite art museum in Madrid for two reasons: 1) The quality of the private collection housed here is superb; and 2) The galleries within the museum are ideal for displaying the collection, light, bright, fresh...a truly pleasant experience. As an inveterate international traveler who also loves art, this was a welcome respite from many larger and somewhat overwhelming museums.
2. Casa Museo Lope de Vega
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 741 reviews
"My little house, my peace, my garden and my study" Such was the way Lope described his house in a letter to a friend. A visit to this house es a testimony, a literary and emotional journey, an invitation to travel through art, literature and history to a bygone Madrid. Access to the museum is via guided group tours (maximum 10 people accompanied by a guide)Tours must be booked in advance by telephone or email.
Reviewed By breezy1435 - Saratoga Springs, United States
Constant Companion and I booked an English Tour several months in advance and hoped for the best! We had tried to visit last year but on the day of our reservation the guide fell ill. Our guide, only two months in his job this year was terrific! I cannot say enough good about him--passionate, humorous, and accommodating! We were the only two on the tour so he showed us all the rooms, told wonderful stories, and provided us interesting insights. Lope de Vega was a contemporary of Cervantes. He wrote many plays, had 17 children, became a priest, had several loves including the "love of his life" in his 40's, an actress! It is this home which he purchased to settle down, to devote time to his gardens, and to outsmart the tax man by "having a military guest in his home"! We completely enjoyed our visit, particularly the living room, the bookcases, and the objects donated by a daughter who became a nun! Very highly recommended Madrid treasure!
3. Museo de Carruajes
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
4. Caixa Forum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,995 reviews
A postmodern art gallery, it also exhibits retrospectives of artists from earlier time periods.
Reviewed By terryo493
Whenever we're in Madrid, we always make a stop at CaixaForum. There's always something worth seeing there, and some of the exhibits are truly world class. The building is fantastic, outside there's a terrific vertical garden, a nice plaza, easy walk to Prado and Botanical Garden. So it's easy to work into your day. And the exhibits are curated in a stimulating way. Highly Recommended as a stop during your travels in Madrid.
5. Museo Del Romanticismo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,052 reviews
Reviewed By sheepygold
This museum is set in a house built in 1776 and is decorated and contains a huge collection of paintings and furniture from the Romantic period which occurred in the middle of the 19th century. You can walk around quite freely an be immersed in the period. There are lots of security personnel watching you however. There is a lot to take in so allow 2 hours. There is an English guide which is very worthwhile and many of the artefacts have an English translation if you can read the tiny font. The temporary exhibition covers the changing fashion in hairstyles. There is a very pleasant cafe too. Entrance is a bargain 3 Euros but it is free on Saturday afternoon and all day on Sunday.
6. Museo Del Tarot
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
7. Espacio Fundacion Telefonica
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 321 reviews
Reviewed By 266annettep - Melbourne, Australia
A very well done museum about the history of telecommunication from its exception right through to the present day, an amazing array of different phones, cables and any associated phone equipment even a switchboard from the 50's that you can use. there are toilets and a small cafe there is a lift up to the Museum so it is wheelchair friendly and all on one level. There was a separate exhibition on the next level on Photographer William Klein which is also well worth a visit.
8. Museo de Modelismo Naval
9. Fundacion Caja Madrid
10. Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 898 reviews
