In the shadow of Madrid's most famous museums is this cultural center that really doesn't compete with the likes of the Prado and the Reina Sofia. Of all the local museums, it has the most striking exterior with its dramatic rusted steel top and vertical plant wall. Jamie and I were hoping the interior would match the exterior. Instead it felt more like a quiet community center granted with a very cool staircase (Photo 5). Looking closer at the exhibition posters (Photo 2), we realized they rotate over time. That meant only one exhibition was on display when we stopped by, and frankly, it wasn't that interesting to us. It covered a journey through the life of an Assyrian ruler. His name was Asurbanipal, and he ruled Assyria between 669 and 631 BC. Yeah, we didn't know who that was either. They "animated" ancient stone tablets with the colors the archeologists think were used at the time (Video). The one exhibition was pretty much the 6€ admission fee. You won't be surprised to know we didn't stay very long. RELATED - Exploring Madrid? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/AQO8KDtbTY read more

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Not sure whether to call this a museum or a gallery because it's not an official museum. For now we'll just say gallery. And man what a nice one it is! They hold several exhibitions at a time and though relatively small they are impactful. I saw the tattoo exhibit and it was very nicely curated. I learned a lot and it was great to see how tattoo culture is different all across the world. The caixa forum building is stunning! The staircase is a centerpiece in itself and the design is architecturally stunning. I was left with a really great impression of this place! read more

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What a cool space! There were a few rotating exhibits and art shows in this museum but the real star of this place is the modern Spanish design (as well as the vertical garden outside). I really enjoyed wandering around this space. I visited around 10am when it opened and the place was mostly empty. There multiple floors of theaters and classrooms that were not in use and ALL were designed really really well. I particularly enjoyed the white, wavy staircase that was a gaudy-esque modern space. It is free to enter the building and visit the small gift shop and a few open spaces (like the restaurant upstairs). However, it was only 6 euros to visit both exhibits and well worth the price. Stop by this place! read more

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Super super interesting place. Not so much a museum but moreso of a cultural center that's open to the public. First of all, the architecture is amazing, both inside (curved metallic sheets) and out (green space mixed with concrete), There are multiple floors, and though most galleries weren't open, the comic book one that WAS available was pretty neat to look through. It was free to the public, so I'd say if you want something different in Madrid, try CaixaForum out! read more

This museum is open on Mondays which is worth noting as quite a lot of other places aren't. The staff here were very friendly, something I noticed at ticketing and bag check as well as entrance to both exhibitions. The outside of the museum is worth popping along to see even if you don't have time to visit properly - the extraordinary architectural conversion of the old power station and covering up of an unsightly nearby dividing wall with a vertical garden is fully detailed in the museum's audio guide as well. I went to both exhibitions and really really enjoyed the Ramon Casas one - this Catalunyan artist had a fascinating bohemian life with relationships prominent artists in Spain and France and produced a beautiful body of work. It was a very well done exhibition and again I found the audio guide (€2 on top of the €4 entry) really enhanced my visit. The other exhibition on film and art I found a little more difficult although it had some interesting points. I don't think it's that accessible for those not really in the know and I found some of the relationships drawn and gallery notes very esoteric. All in all though I would definitely recommend Caixa Forum although I suggest you check what's on before committing to an entrance. Nearby Real Jardin Botanico is an excellent way to relax afterwards as well! read more

CaixaForum - Museums Near Me - Madrid, M

Gallery was closed when we went and inaccessible to the disabled (me). Too bad because it seemed to be a hidden jewel.

This place was really cool. First things first, admission is free for children, and I think we paid 4 Euro when we visited in August. The entrance is well worth seeing, which gives the effect of a waterfall in a cave, where you are really just under the building. The stairway leading up to the lobby is made of stainless steel, which was a very cool design. They were having a short film exhibit, and we were able to see all of the other exhibits they were hosting. The cinema exhibit on the third floor was very well done, and enjoyable even for our 7 and 9 year old children. The cafe was very nice. As we exited the building, we found the vertical garden to be very interesting. Exhibits are always changing. Highly recommended for visitors, tourists, and locals. Caixa customers get free admission. read more

CaixaForum - View from the window of the cafe. - Museums Near Me - Madrid, M

If you've ever fancied feeling like Alice, this is a beautifully modern take on Wonderland. From the second I popped through the glass doors and ascending the crazy sculpted metal stairs, I was in. This place was bound to be an adventure. And an adventure it was! This is such a nifty space and well worth your time to wander through. It's diverse, interesting and quite unlike any of the other galleries I visited while in Madrid. From interactive elements to exceptional photography and a little bit of everything in between, this gallery actively makes you think about what you're viewing in a very accessible way. You won't see one of the classics here, it doesn't boast a masterpiece, but you definitely will find something within these walls that you'll talk about for weeks to come. read more

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I didn't know that museum Caixa is actually got something to do with the local bank. So if the person has a Caixa bank account, it would be free to enter the museum. Well, I wasn't their client, So I did pay for the admission. The ticket was about 6 euro. It was quite cheaper than I was expecting. The size of the museum was also smaller than I was expecting. There were 3 floors opended for visitors and 4 different kind of exhibtions on during my visit. It was pity that one of the exhibition was closed by some reason, when I was visiting this place. I visited the phtogragh exhibition about the live in India. Some piece is quite emotional. I also went down for the other exhibition. Which showed the works of the artist Ramon Casas. And at the end, I also checked out the kids exhibtion. It was more like a after school club. But I did see some young potential. I went to the gift shop aftward, it was right next the ticket center. There were quite interesting stuff there. It was a bit pricey though. I like the architecute style of this place, especially the wall building by different plants. I saw the idea quite couple times in different places. I just found it brillaint. And they got one side of the building just for it. How cool is that. read more

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The Caixa Forum in Madrid is a fantastic place to visit. The exhibitions are completely free and the building is worth exploring inside and out - the spaces and use of materials were stunning. Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed on my visit. There is a well stocked book and gift shop. There is currently an exhibition on Richard Rogers and Architects running until October 18th 2009. Also, The Worlds of Islam runs until September 6th. This displays some fantastic Islamic art that is destined for the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto. read more

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Caixa Forum is worth a visit just for its architecture : the old machine hall has been transformed and maintained in a stunning way. The vertical garden is another eye catcher. But don't forget to walk up the stairs (that might remind you of the Guggenheim in NY) up to the Café. And then there are the exhibitions: free, no entry fee, Caixaforum brings different subjects on art and culture in a broader sense to Madrid. Don't miss it! And then there is of course the gift shop ... it has the typical original stuff you would expect in a Museum store, but often a little bit more and different things. read more

This art space ROCKS! One of the best stair cases I've ever seen; something Frank Loyd Wright would boast about. Plus we always see the most interesting exhibits like when we went for the Japanese Eroticism one in December. VERY SAXXY! And they have THE BEST museum shop EVAH. read more

Free free free, and amazing. I saw a lot of great works here. Its an escape from traditional works as seen en El Prado and Reina Sofia. I was here twice and loved it. read more

CaixaForum - Museums Near Me - Madrid, M

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This gallery is a smaller than the more tourist laden galleries down the street. ensure you check which works are being displayed as there are only small exhibitions with approximately 35 pieces in total. The space is clean, small and intimate. the gallery includes a small cafe, toilets, shop and lockers. We had a lovely visit here to see come modern works during our stay in Madrid. read more

A stone's throw from the Real Jardín Botánico, this cultural centre is a fantastic architectural work by Herzog & de Meuron. Just in front of the cultural centre, you could admire a beautiful green wall designed by Patrick Blanc (a famous French botanist) We visited there "Genesis", a photo exhibit by Sebastião Salgado.. mainstream.. nothing to write about. That building perfectly fits in the neighbourhood. read more

This is one of my favourite museums in Madrid. Only the architecture is worth the visit. The interior is completely unexpected, because it seems much smaller from outside. You may or may not like the exhibitions, that are usually temporary, and change about 3 times a year, but they are free and of very quality. I totally recommend to visit this museum if you are minimally interested in art. read more

Worth a visit for architecture fans. Don't miss the outdoor wall garden. Otherwise the exhibits were unimpressive.

Caixa Forum is open on Mondays and is completely free. So if you can't afford the Reine Sofia museum, this is where to go. There were two exhibitions when I went, Chaplin in pictures and Alfonso Mucha. The building is astonishing, the top floors appear to be covered entirely in rusted iron, with small grill spaces for the windows, but the real eyecatcher is the sidewall of teh building in front, which has been entirely covered in plants, growing sideways out of the wall. There are lots of gardens in Madrid, the city of springs, but this was the most unusual, and it is only in Madrid's 40 degree heat that you get the smells of herbs and flowers properly. The Chaplin exhibit was advertised all over Madrid with posters on lampposts, and was brilliant. A dozen or more small and large screens showed clips from his films, there were early film stories with still photos taken from the early days of the tramp, when he was something of a scoundrel, right through to home movies of Chaplin in Switzerland, eating flowers and pretending to be a lion with his kids. Rare prints and a short film by Leger featuring the tramp were new to me. The music was of course the nonsense song from Modern Times, which was shown on a loop, with an eight foot high transcription of the song so you could sing along should you have wished to. Had I been there on a Thursday evening I would definitely have paid for one of the Chaplin/Keaton double bills as it was only EUR3. I walked down the huge brilliantly designed staircase, having taken the woode panelled lifts on the way up. Alfonso Mucha was the graphic designer whose work most embodies the Art Nouveau period. You'd recognise it instantly from saucy packaging of the time. He became famous as soon as his poster for Sarah Bernhardt appeared, (can't remember which play) and he went on to create posters for her in La Dame aux Camelias and Hamlet. The foyer of the building was fantastic, with a sheet metal staircase leading up from the street, crisscrossed neon tubes on suspended from the ceiling, and wooden lockers which required no coin as deposit (!) So i was thinking this would be a good place to dump your bags on the last day of your trip if your hotel didn't let you do that. There were lockers big enough for my large bag. The shop had an amazing range of stuff, including the kind of graphic design books you usually only see in the trendiest london shops. Mucha postcards would have made great gifts for family members. The restaurant on the top floor has to be seen to be believed. Light comes through the iron grill outside in patterns, and huge rubber bulbs hang from the ceiling like breasts or giant sperm. They are low enough so that you deliberately hit your head on them standing up from the table. Very strange indeed! read more

AMAZING ARCHITECTURE! Most people say the building is better than the exhibitions. I really liked the one that was on when i went. It is as impressive on the outside as on the inside. The bookshop is really good too. Well worth going to.. read more

CaixaForum - Museums Near Me - Madrid, M