Museum of Public Art (Museo Arte Público de Madrid)

The basics

The Museum of Public Art occupies a concourse underneath Madrid’s busy Juan Bravo-Eduardo Dato overpass. You can easily view the sculptures in around 45 minutes before enjoying the shops and restaurants along the nearby Calle de Serrano–attractions include an El Corte Inglés department store–or turning south to visit the National Archaeological Museum and Retiro Park. Hop-on hop-off buses stop at the museum and nearby attractions such as the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and Plaza de Colón, making it easy to see the highlights of this elegant part of Madrid.

Things to know before you go

• The Museum of Public Art can be accessed anytime, so booking tickets or preplanning your visit is unnecessary.

• The museum is very accessible to anyone using a wheelchair or with limited mobility.

• The museum has no restrooms, but public facilities are located at the El Corte Inglés store or the Calle de Núñez de Balboa, both under a 10-minute walk away.

How to get there

The museum stands at 40 Paseo de la Castellana, underneath the Juan Bravo-Eduardo Dato flyover. The most straightforward access point, especially for people with reduced mobility, is via Castellano, although there are stairs from the flyover. Travel options include taking Line 5 to Madrid’s Rubén Darío metro station, about 5 minutes walk away, or the #5, 14, 27, 45, or 150 buses, which stop nearby. The nearest parking garage is on Juan Bravo.

When to get there

The Museum of Public Art is open 24 hours daily, so you can visit whenever it suits you–even after dark when lighting illuminates the sculptures. The best visiting times are spring and fall to avoid Madrid’s scorching summer heat and winter cold, and early morning–the museum gets busy from mid-morning to early afternoons on weekdays. The quietest times are usually Fridays and Saturdays.

What to See at the Museum of Public Art

The sculptures at the Museum of Public Art read like a roll-call of works by some of Spain’s most celebrated modern artists and offer a fascinating insight into the themes of their time. Of the 17 pieces, unmissable include the Fountain by Eusebio Sempere–its cascades counterbalancing the roar of traffic above–and Mere Ubu, a 1975 bronze of a woman-bird by Joan Miró, in a style indicative of his expressionist period.