Spain's museums are a must for visitors to our country. In all of them you can discover different facets of Spanish culture and history. You can also enjoy works of art that you won't find anywhere else.
To give you a better understanding of Spanish culture, here are the 10 most outstanding museums in Spain that you will find all over the peninsula.
Spain's Top 10 most important museums!
Without further ado, we are going to tell you a little about each of the 10 most important museums in Spain. Museums that you should visit if this article catches your attention, because reading it is not the same as living it.
1. The Prado Museum in Madrid
The Prado Museum in Madrid is one of the most important museums in the world and is known for its extensive collection of European paintings from the 12th to the 19th centuries. It was inaugurated in 1819 as the Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures. It currently has more than 8,000 paintings, 700 sculptures and thousands of drawings, engravings and other works of art.
It is one of the most outstanding museums in Spain because it houses Las Meninas by Velázquez, The Garden of Earthly Delights by Bosch, The Naked Maja and The Dressed Maja by Goya, and The Annunciation by Fra Angelico, among other famous works.
It also has an important collection of paintings by Rubens, Titian, El Greco, Rembrandt and other great masters.
In addition to painting and sculpture, it also houses an important collection of decorative arts, such as porcelain, tapestries and furniture.
The building itself where the Prado Museum is located is a masterpiece of Spanish neoclassicism and was designed by the architect Juan de Villanueva. You can find it on one of Madrid's main avenues, the Paseo del Prado.
The Prado Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, and admission is free for citizens of the European Union and Latin America. For other visitors, the entrance fee varies according to the time of the year and the type of visit you wish to make.
You can find more information on their website.
2. Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid
The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid is one of the most important museums in Spain that focuses on the promotion and dissemination of contemporary art. It was inaugurated in 1992 and is named after Queen Sofia of Spain, which is why it is one of Spain's leading museums.
The Reina Sofia Museum's collection includes works of art from the 20th and 21st centuries, with a special focus on historical avant-garde, surrealism and abstract art.
Among its most important works are the famous painting Guernica by Pablo Picasso, as well as works by other Spanish artists such as Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró and Juan Gris, among others.
The museum also houses an important collection of contemporary art, with works by artists such as Francis Bacon, Gerhard Richter, Claes Oldenburg, Cindy Sherman and many others.
The building in which the Reina Sofia Museum is housed is a masterpiece of modern architecture and was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel.
It is located in the Lavapiés neighbourhood in the centre of Madrid and has a wide variety of exhibition spaces, as well as an auditorium, library and souvenir shops.
The Reina Sofía Museum is open from Monday to Saturday and admission is free for citizens of the European Union and Latin America. For other visitors, the entrance fee varies according to the time of year and the type of visit you wish to make.
3. National Art Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona
The National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) is one of the most important museums in Barcelona and in Spain. It was inaugurated in 1929 and is housed in the Palau Nacional de Montjuïc, an emblematic building built in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exhibition.
The MNAC houses one of the most important collections of Romanesque art in Europe, as well as a wide variety of works of art from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, as well as modern and contemporary art.
Among the museum's most outstanding works are the Romanesque art collection, with works of great historical and artistic value such as the Pantocrator of Sant Climent de Taüll, and the Gothic art collection, with works by artists such as Bartolomé Bermejo and Jaume Huguet.
The museum also has an important collection of modern and contemporary art, with works by Catalan artists such as Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies and Pablo Picasso, among others. In addition, you can find a wide variety of decorative art, such as ceramics, glass, wrought iron and tapestries.
All the variety of works, styles, etc., is what makes this museum one of the most outstanding museums in Spain that you cannot miss if you visit the city.
The MNAC is open from Tuesday to Sunday and the entrance fee varies depending on the time of year and the type of visit you wish to make. Citizens of the European Union and Latin America have free admission from 3 pm on Saturdays and all day on Sundays.
4. Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is one of the most famous and visited museums in Spain. It was inaugurated in 1997 and is located in the city of Bilbao, in the Basque Country.
The building in which the museum is housed is a masterpiece of modern architecture designed by the Canadian architect Frank Gehry. Its construction was a milestone for the city of Bilbao, helping to revitalise the city's economy and image.
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao's collection focuses on contemporary art, with works by international artists such as Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Yves Klein, Eduardo Chillida, Anish Kapoor and many others.
The museum also organises temporary exhibitions of high-quality modern and contemporary art.
In addition to art exhibitions, the museum offers a wide variety of educational and cultural activities for all kinds of audiences, such as workshops, talks and guided tours. There is a souvenir shop and a restaurant overlooking the Nervión River.
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is open every day except Mondays, and the entrance fee varies depending on the time of year and the type of visit you wish to make. It is advisable to buy tickets in advance to avoid long queues.
5. Picasso Museum in Malaga
The Picasso Museum in Malaga is a museum dedicated to the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. It was inaugurated in 2003 in the Buenavista Palace, a 16th century building in the historic centre of Malaga, Picasso's hometown.
It is one of the best museums in Spain where you can find more than 200 works by the artist, ranging from his earliest creations to some of his most famous works. The collection includes paintings, drawings, sculptures and ceramics from different periods and styles, allowing visitors to take a journey through the artist's life and work.
In addition to Picasso's works, the museum also hosts temporary exhibitions of contemporary artists and organises a wide variety of cultural and educational activities for all audiences, such as workshops, lectures, guided tours and concerts.
The Palacio de Buenavista building was restored and adapted to house the museum, preserving its original structure and adding modern facilities for the exhibition of works of art.
The museum has several exhibition rooms, a library specialising in art and an Andalusian courtyard where outdoor activities are held.
The Picasso Museum in Malaga is open every day except Mondays, and the entrance fee varies according to the time of year and the type of visit you wish to make. It is advisable to buy tickets in advance to avoid long queues.
6. Thyssen - Bornemisza Museum in Madrid
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is an art museum located on the Paseo del Prado in Madrid, Spain. The museum's collection is one of the most important in the world, making it one of the best known museums in Spain. Its collection consists of over 1,000 works of art spanning from the 13th century to the present day.
The museum's collection was acquired by Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza and his wife Carmen Cervera over several decades. It includes works by renowned artists such as Van Eyck, Dürer, Rembrandt, Rubens, Monet, Degas, Kandinsky, Rothko, Hopper, Bacon, among many others.
The museum has a wide variety of works of art, from medieval religious paintings to contemporary works of art. Highlights of the collection include Van der Weyden's The Descent from the Cross, La Gioconda from Leonardo da Vinci's workshop, Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights and works by the French Impressionists.
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is open every day except Mondays, and admission costs vary according to the time of year and the type of visit you wish to make. It is advisable to buy tickets in advance to avoid long queues.
In addition, the museum offers guided tours and a wide variety of cultural and educational activities for all audiences.
7. Museum of Fine Arts of Seville
The Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla is an art museum located in the historic city centre of Seville, Spain. The museum houses an important collection of Spanish paintings and sculptures spanning from the 13th century to the 20th century, which is why it is on this list of Spain's most outstanding museums.
The museum's collection consists of more than 14,000 works of art, including pieces from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque and Modern periods.
Highlights include Murillo's Immaculate Conception, Zurbarán's Virgin of the Caves and Valdés Leal's Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.
The Seville Museum of Fine Arts is open every day except Mondays, and the entrance fee varies according to the time of year and the type of visit you wish to make.
The museum offers guided tours and a wide variety of cultural and educational activities for all audiences, such as workshops, concerts and conferences. The museum also has a souvenir shop and a cafeteria.
8. Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona (MACBA)
The Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona (MACBA) is an art museum located in the Raval district of Barcelona, Spain. The museum was inaugurated in 1995 and houses an important collection of contemporary art, making it one of the most prominent museums in Spain.
The MACBA collection consists of more than 5,000 works of art, including pieces by national and international artists from the second half of the 20th century and the 21st century. The collection covers various artistic disciplines, such as painting, sculpture, photography, film, video installation and digital art.
The building that houses the museum is a work of contemporary architecture designed by the American architect Richard Meier. The building has a series of exhibition spaces including temporary and permanent exhibition rooms, a library specialising in contemporary art, an auditorium and a souvenir shop.
The MACBA is open every day except Tuesdays, and admission costs vary according to the time of year and the type of visit you wish to make. The museum offers guided tours, educational activities and workshops for all audiences. In addition, the museum has a cafeteria and a restaurant on its terrace, from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city of Barcelona.
9. Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao
The Bilbao Fine Arts Museum is an art museum located in the city of Bilbao, Spain. It was inaugurated in 1908 and is one of Spain's most important art museums.
The museum's collection consists of more than 10,000 works of art spanning from the 13th century to the 21st century. The collection focuses mainly on Spanish art, but also includes European and American works of art. Highlights include works by artists such as El Greco, Goya, Sorolla, Zurbarán, Picasso, Miró and Chillida.
The building that houses the museum is a mixture of architectural styles ranging from Renaissance to contemporary architecture. The museum has a number of exhibition spaces including temporary and permanent exhibition halls, a specialised art library, an auditorium and a souvenir shop.
The Bilbao Fine Arts Museum is open every day except Mondays, and admission charges vary according to the time of year and the type of visit you wish to make. The museum offers guided tours, educational activities and workshops for all audiences. In addition, the museum has a cafeteria and a restaurant.
10. Malaga Pompidou Centre
The Centre Pompidou Malaga is a branch of the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France, located in the port of Malaga, Spain. The centre was inaugurated in 2015 and has a collection of modern and contemporary art. This museum could not be missing in the list of the best museums in Spain, as it is unique in the country.
The centre's collection consists of more than 80 works of art by artists such as Picasso, Miró, Dalí, Bacon, Warhol and Lichtenstein, among others. The collection covers various artistic disciplines, such as painting, sculpture, photography, film and video installation.
The building that houses the centre was originally built as a goods warehouse in the 19th century and has been renovated to suit the museum's needs. The building has a number of exhibition spaces including temporary and permanent exhibition rooms, a library specialising in modern and contemporary art, an auditorium and a souvenir shop.
The Pompidou Centre Malaga is open every day except Tuesdays, and the entrance fee varies according to the time of year and the type of visit you wish to make. The centre offers guided tours, educational activities and workshops for all audiences.
In addition, the centre has a cafeteria and a restaurant on its terrace, from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the port of Malaga.
To finish with our top museums in Spain, we would like to mention that in the cities of Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia you can find Wine Gogh studios, a place where you can complement your museum-visiting adventure with the combined experience of art and wine.
What better way to live a complete art experience?
You can find information on our web site to book your place and if you still have doubts about what you can find in our Wine Gogh studios, visit our social media. You will be able to see everything we do and how much fun our clients are having.
