10 Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in Madrid That You Shouldn't Miss

February 8, 2022 Roger Rusk

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

Calle Ruiz de Alarcon 23, 28014 Madrid Spain 913 30 28 00 [email protected] http://www.museodelprado.es
Excellent
74%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 56,733 reviews

Prado National Museum

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. Royal Palace of Madrid

Calle de Bailen s/n, 28071 Madrid Spain +34 91 454 87 00 [email protected] http://www.patrimonionacional.es/real-sitio/palacios/6039
Excellent
59%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 34,553 reviews

Royal Palace of Madrid

Luxurious, over-the-top rococo palace with over 2,000 opulently gilded rooms.

Reviewed By WizWiz - England, United Kingdom

The excellent audio guide was sufficient for exploring the palace without a guided tour The Palace was really impressive, the view from the Scenic viewpoint was breathtaking and the works of art inside were very antique and impressive; do make sure you include a visit to the armoury. Overall, the sheer splendour of the palace was breathtaking, every one of the rooms exquisite, and particularly the magnificent Throne Room. Well worth a visit

3. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia

Calle de Santa Isabel 52, 28012 Madrid Spain +34 917 74 10 00 [email protected] http://www.museoreinasofia.es/index_en.html
Excellent
54%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 16,159 reviews

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia

World famous modern art museum featuring a diverse collection of 20th century Spanish art, from Picasso to Solana.

Reviewed By psdunner - Bethesda, United States

Wonderful collection of modern art the video, long, of the history from the Civil War on is fascinating and a unique way of learning history. The works of modern Spanish artists is incomparable.

4. Museo Sorolla

Paseo General Martinez Campos 37, 28010 Madrid Spain +34 913 10 15 84 [email protected] http://www.museosorolla.es
Excellent
75%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 6,378 reviews

Museo Sorolla

The Sorolla Museum preserves the original atmosphere of both home and study of the painter Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (Valencia, 1863 - Cercedilla, 1923). It houses the richest collection of his works, colourful paintings irradiating light and vitality. It is one of the more complete and best preserved artist homes remaining in Europe. The garden, also designed by himself, is a beautiful oasis in the city.

Reviewed By PatAustralia

This small museum in a smart part of Madrid is a gem. Not crowded, cheap entry fee, excellent English signage and audio and peaceful. It is worlds away from the bedlam of the Prado and Thyssen. It is Sorolla’s house and garden and we spent a leisurely hour or so taking in the beauty and cleverness of this wonderful Spanish artist who specialised in ‘light’. Plenty of really good cafes close by for a coffee afterwards. Highly recommended.

5. Casa Museo Lope de Vega

Calle Cervantes 11, 28014 Madrid Spain +34 914 29 92 16 [email protected] http://www.casamuseolopedevega.org/es/
Excellent
64%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 741 reviews

Casa Museo Lope de Vega

"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!

6. Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza

Paseo Prado 8, 28014 Madrid Spain +34 917 91 13 70 [email protected] http://www.museothyssen.org/thyssen/home
Excellent
72%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 16,537 reviews

Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza

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.

7. Museo Arqueologico Nacional

Calle Serrano 13, 28001 Madrid Spain +34 915 77 79 12 [email protected] http://www.man.es/man/en/home
Excellent
72%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 4,099 reviews

Museo Arqueologico Nacional

Works dating mostly from Hispanic prehistory to the Modern Age, but it also includes some other cultural remains: Greek, Etruscan, Roman and various South American cultures.

Reviewed By 485carmencitad - Madrid, Spain

NATIVE POPULATION, as Tartessos, Turdetani, Iberian, Celts, Ligurians Galaicos, Astures, Cantabrians, Várdulos, Basques, MEDITERRANEAN Phoenicians Carthaginians, Greek, CONQUERORS Roman ,Vandalos, Suevos, Alanos, Goths Byzantine, Visigoths Arab... All these peoples constructed or left his fingerprint in Spain and you can find his track and his memory in the objects that are exposed in this eclectic Archaeological National Museum Dating from 1867, after a Conscientious renovation project is maybe the best archaeological museum in Europe and, therefore, in the world'. It traces the evolution of human cultures, from prehistoric times up to the 15th century.Remarkably, the great majority of pieces came from excavations carried out within Spain, illustrating the extraordinary continuity and diversity of human settlement in the Iberian peninsula. illustrating the extraordinary continuity and diversity of human settlement in the Iberian peninsula.

8. Museo Lazaro Galdiano

Calle Serrano 122, 28006 Madrid Spain +34 915 61 60 84 [email protected] http://www.museolazarogaldiano.es
Excellent
64%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,124 reviews

Museo Lazaro Galdiano

Reviewed By FactotumDellaCitta - London, United Kingdom

Lázaro Galdiano was a publisher who was active during the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries. He was an avid collector of, well, everything - paintings, coins, textiles, jewelry, arms, and furniture, to name some of his interests. Highlights of his collection are housed in this museum, which is his former mansion.

Paseo del Prado 5, 28014 Madrid Spain +34 915 23 85 16 [email protected] http://www.fundacionmuseonaval.com/
Excellent
57%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,830 reviews

Naval Museum

** 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.

10. Real Basilica de San Francisco el Grande

Calle San Buenaventura 1 San Buenaventura, 1, 28005 Madrid Spain +34 913 65 38 00 http://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/san-francisco-el-grande?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com
Excellent
0%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
100%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,772 reviews

Real Basilica de San Francisco el Grande

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