National Museum of Decorative Arts (Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas)

The basics

Set in a 19th-century mansion on the borders of Madrid’s Paseo del Arte district, the National Museum of Decorative Arts boasts five floors of exquisite ornaments, carpets, and furniture. Visitors explore independently with or without an audio guide and can opt to prebook in-house guided tours, roam the museum’s temporary exhibitions, and sign up for extracurricular art and family-friendly activities.

Most of Madrid’s hop-on hop-off buses stop near the museum, making it easy to incorporate it into a more comprehensive exploration of the area, which offers sights like Retiro Park and the Prado Museum. Some private city tours also offer customizable sightseeing–letting you tailor your itinerary to include the museum. Alternatively, consider some of the Madrid museum passes that offer discounted entry to the museum and other similar city establishments.

Things to know before you go

• The museum is small, so an hour is usually long enough to do it justice

• An entrance ramp and elevators ensure wheelchair users have access. Visitors requiring the ramp must contact the museum in advance.

• Facilities include restrooms, Wi-Fi, and a cloakroom for storing bulky bags and backpacks.

How to get there

The museum stands on the Calle de Montalbán just west of Madrid’s Retiro Park. By public transport, take the metro Line 2 to Banco de España or Retiro, both around a 10-minute stroll away. Alternatively, numerous buses stop nearby, including #14, #20, #C03, #E1, and #N1-N15, and others. The nearest parking garage is at Plaza de la Cortes, about 11 minutes away.

When to get there

The museum is open year-round, typically 9:30am–3pm Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–3pm Sunday, and additionally from 5pm–8pm every Thursday. Entry is usually free during late Thursday opening, on Sundays, and between 2pm and 3pm on Saturdays. However, check visiting times beforehand as the museum closes on major and other public holidays. To enjoy the museum at its quietest, sidestep the usually busy late mornings and midday period.

Highlights at the National Museum of Decorative Arts

While the museum overflows with exquisite pieces, it’s worth noting the Far Eastern art collection, which includes fine porcelain and goldware from Japan and China. Many visitors also reserve special praise for the original 18th-century Valencian kitchen–relocated from a manor house–which includes a stunning tiled wall depicting women, enslaved people, and the typical foods of the day.