Museums are the quickest way to absorb a cities culture and history. They are a great way to surround yourself with the pieces of the past that you’ve always read about. It also is an opportunity to discover new things you never knew about. Madrid is home to some of the best museums in Europe, we’ve all heard of the Prado, the Thyssen and the Reina Sofia, but Madrid has many more hidden treasures for you to discover. Check out our great list of must see, unknown museums in Madrid!
Would you like to discover more exhibitions, galleries & museums in Madrid? Check out our incredible articles on the Paseo del Prado, Madrid’s Beautiful Palaces and especially our individual profiles on each of Madrid’s Famous Museums!
Museo del Romanticismo
This museum is dedicated to displaying a large collection of artifacts and art pieces from the 19th century Romanticism period. The pieces depict the period’s dedication to emotions and love, as well as themes like liberty and imagination. The museum’s permanent collection is made up of paintings, furniture pieces, drawings, and art objects that show the daily life of Spaniards during the Romanticism period. In the museums multiple rooms, you can see paintings by Goya on the walls, as well as objects like a full billiards table and an ornately carved writing desk!
Where: Calle San Mateo, 13
Museo Cerralbo
Known as the best house museum in Madrid, the Cerralbo house has one of the most impressive personal art and literature collections in Europe. Visitors get an inside look at life in Spanish high society during the 19th century, as they tour the home of the famous Marquis of Cerralbo. The house is almost completely identical to its original interitor set-up and most items inside the house original pieces.
Where: Calle de Ventura Rodríguez, 17
Museum of Fashion (Museo del Traje)
This unknown museum started off as a special Historic Costume Exhibition in 1925. Eventually the event became so popular that the city decided to make it permanent. Now, fashion lovers everywhere can enjoy over 160,000 pieces of history at the Museum of Fashion (aslo refered to as Museum of Costumes). The museum also offers regular temporary exhibits for both historical and modern fashion and photography, as well as many courses and conferences.
Where: Avenida de Juan de Herrera, 2
Temple de Debod
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the Temple of Debod is one of my faviourite spots here in Madrid. A little peice of Egypt sits in the city centre and it’s a great location to sit back and relax. The stucture was originally built in Egypt along the Nile as a temple to the gods Amun and Isis. The temple was rebuilt in Madrid as a symbol of unity between Spain and Egypt. The musuem inside the building is not very big, but it is very authentic. The exhibition features the story of the temples resconstruction as well as many ancient relics and original wall art.
Where: Calle Ferraz, 1
Museo Lazaro Galdiano
Another hidden treasure is this unconventional museum that houses over 12,000 pieces of art ranging from prehistoric coins and jewelry to some of Goya’s most famous drawings and prints. Museo Lazaro Galdiano‘s vast collection was once owned by Spanish socialite Jose Lazaro Galdiano. The collection was converted into a public museum after his death. During his life, Lazaro Galdiano was also the editor of a literary magazine named La España Moderna and today the museum also holds over 20,000 books from his personal library and archives!
Where: Calle Serrano, 122
Estación de Chamberí
This historic metro station was transformed into a historical museum experience in 2008, and aims to display the reality of the Madrid metro in the early 1920s. The station is a perfect example of the changing metropolitan landscape of Madrid at that time. It was designed by famous architect Antoni
