National Museum of Decorative Arts — Attraction in Madrid

The National Museum of Decorative Arts is a trip back in time, not only for the content of the displays, but for the way in which it is setup, which sometimes sadly reflects museum practice of an earlier era and no doubt a lack of funding to support upgrading the installations. While this is definitely not a museum designed for busloads of tourists, for those who love the decorative arts and have some knowledge of their history it is well worth a visit, particularly as it is very conveniently located only a short walk from the painting galleries of the famed Prado Museum. We were there on a warm day which emphasized that the museum lacks air conditioning, presenting a hazard not only for the objects, but for staff and visitors as well. We were originally told that high temperatures did not allow opening the top floor, then, while were on the floor below, a staff member came over and graciously informed us there the top floor had been reopened on a very temporary basis. Fortunately, we moved with dispatch, as we had barely completed a circuit of the exhibitions upstairs before the heat forced it to be shut down again. There are many fascinating pieces, some in vitrines, some in room-like displays, about which we would very much have liked to know more, as labels were minimal where they existed and largely of course in Spanish. Several fascinating pieces of furniture deserved far greater documentation, as did excellent displays of ceramics representing many centuries of Spanish skill and creativity and reflecting multiple different cultural influences. Noteworthy was a fine special exhibition devoted to glass, as well as a standing display of an historic kitchen featuring beautiful tile-work. Although there were a handful of books on display in a case at the admissions desk, there is no gift shop and it isn't possible to preview their publications to determine if they may be of interest for purchase. In addition to historical displays, the Museum features changing special exhibitions, including while we were there one on fashion photography! Despite its limitations as a building, if time allows we will try to return on a cooler day to better explore the displays. There are certainly many fine works here that can't be found elsewhere, deserve more time, and will repay the attention of...

Small little museum of treasures. Because it's not as popular or big, don't expect signs in English. I still had an enjoyable time not speaking Spanish.

The entire museum can be seen in ~1 hr.

Visited on a rainy weekday evening for free, 45 min before closing. No line for entrance. There were ~12 people in the entire museum, which is a few floors. It's on a quiet street off a busy road, but there was no one else walking with me. The entrance is plain, no signs directing you in the way, but Google Maps...

Buenas tardes, un museo poco conocido y poco frecuentado por lo que se puede visitar muy comodamente. Se purde visitar por libre o con visita guiada (público general y para personas con diversidad funcional). Son cuatro plantas de museo. Hay pocos carteles explicativos y lo han sustituido por QR.

Me gustó bastante y el único pero que pongo es que antes cubría más siglos en cuanto a artes decorativas (mobiliario, ajuar, vajilla, cerámica, adornos) y lo han reducido en detrimento de exposiciones temporales que, al menos las que estaban cuando realicé la visita al Museo, no vi relación alguna con la esencia del Museo. Por lo que no me parece bien si es detrimento de las joyas que hay y no las tienen expuestas. Se puede visitar en unas 2 horas. Yo fui en sábado y aunque abren a las 09:30h solo es la primera y segunda planta. La tercera y cuarta la abren a las 11h.

Lo que también es bonito es que de mediados de diciembre a mediados de enero tienen expuestos distintos Nacimientos de distintos materiales y tamañaos, Nacimientos de distintas partes del mundo. El único Nacimiento fijo todo el año es el Napolitano.

Tienen a disposición de las visitas que lo requieran, mochila marsupio portabebés; hay escaleras y ascensor; baños en las plantas segunda, tercera y cuarta; muy buena comunicación y zona muy turística para poder seguir haciendo turismo.

Para niños y adolescentes no lo veo muy atrayente para ellos este Museo.

Realizan talleres, cuentacuentos, conciertos, juegos de pistas,... a lo largo de...