The best museums in Madrid

How to get the best for your buck

Visiting museums in Madrid is a great activity, and affordable too. As a student, you get free entrance or a discount at most museums. Just make sure to check the museum's website beforehand to find out on which days their offers are valid. With a little bit of preparation, you can make the activity of visiting museums totally student budget-proof! 

Be inspired by the arts: Art museums 

Packed with numerous impressive art museums, you can view some of the world's greatest art pieces in Madrid. Museo del Prado is one of the largest art museums in the world, with over 8000 paintings. You'll find great works by Spanish painters, like Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez, and famous international works like The Garden of Earthly Delights by Jheronimus Bosch. At Reina Sofia, you can see more contemporary works by painters like Dalí and Picasso. At Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, you can view the private collection of the Thyssen family, which includes works from the 13th to 18th century all the way to 19th and 20th-century contemporary art movements. Good to know: these three museums are all located on the same street!  
If you're in the mood for art but also want to see some history and architecture, we recommend that you visit either the Sorolla Museum or the Royal Palace. The Sorolla Museum is dedicated to the painter Joaquín Sorolla. Admire his artworks as you explore Sorolla's former home, which is filled with extraordinary furniture, chandeliers, and exquisite design. The Royal Palace's art collection consists of works by famous Spanish painters, but you'll also find other collections of great cultural importance, such as the Royal Armory of Madrid, porcelain, and furniture. To really get the full experience in these two museums, we recommend an audio tour.  

Relive history: historical museums  

Feel like learning more about the history of Madrid, Spain, or the world? Of course, there's a lot to learn from the many artifacts at the Royal Palace. Alternatively, you can visit the National Archaeological Museum,  where you can travel through different times and distant cultures, from Spain in the Roman Empire to Ancient Egypt.   
The Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales (Convent of the Barefoot Nuns) is a beautiful building in the heart of Madrid with an interesting back story. After the monastery was built in the 16th century, many widowed or unmarried noblewomen moved into it, bringing their belongings and donating them to the monastery. Because of this, the monastery has a beautiful collection of paintings, tapestries, and religious images!  

Become part of the experience: interactive experiences 

Do you feel like doing something fun and not-so-serious? Then, visit the interactive museum IKONO. Here, you can become part of the installations that are built in different areas and rooms. You're invited to engage with the space and take pictures. So, don't forget to bring your camera!  
Diego Velázquez and his masterpiece ‘Las Meninas’ are brought back to life at the Velazquez Tech Museum. Here, you can talk to a hologram of Diego Velázquez and experience Las Meninas in multiple reinterpretations, such as light installations and sculptures. 

Immerse yourself in science: natural science museums 

If you're into science or biology and want to learn more about nature or the planet, Madrid has many places for you to explore. The Royal Botanical Gardens are a great place to start. As the weather changes during each season, so do the gardens! In spring and summer, you can enjoy more flowers; in fall, you can expect a burst of colors as the leaves turn yellow, orange, and red. There are also multiple terraces filled with bonsai, which are beautifully shaped miniature trees that are up to 150 years old!  
The National Museum of Natural Sciences has extensive collections of animal skeletons (yes, dinosaurs included), geodes and gemstones, fossils, and models of interesting animals. If biology or geology is part of your academic journey, or you just want to be amazed by the species inhabiting this planet – this is where you need to go.  
As you can see, the possibilities are endless, and now you know how to spend an inspiring day in Madrid. Which museum will you visit first?