You’ve chilled duirng fiesta, gone on a bar crawl to taste Spanish wine and tapas, spent time in cafe’s talking to locals….now it is time to take in the world of Spanish art and history and these are six of the museums you won’t want to miss.

National Archeological Museum of Madrid 

If you love history and want to take a deeper look at how Spain was centuries ago, this is the first place you should visit in Madrid. 

Here, you’ll see archeological findings that helped historians discover the history of Iberians as well as ancient pieces of art. 

 Bored with pottery and statues? Then take a look at the collection of mammoth bones and a copy of a cool prehistoric painting on a cave wall. 

 The museum also has an interactive way of looking at Spain’s history, like peering into the past with a VR helmet.

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum 

While you’re still in Madrid, pay a visit to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, a perfect destination for people who love classic art. 

This museum hosts a huge collection of masterpieces by Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Degas, Rubens, Van Gough, and other painters who shaped art. 

If you’re lucky, you’ll come across a modern art exhibition too.

Picasso Museum 

If you’re going to be staying in Barcelona, don’t miss the Picasso Museum, a place built in honor of the most renowned Spanish painter, Pablo Picasso.  

Most Picasso fans would make this museum their first destination in Spain, but it’s worth a visit even if you’re not one. 

And you can save €30 by buying tickets to all 6 major Barcelona museums at once, so it’s not going to be a strain on your budget.

This museum doesn’t just showcase his well-known works, but hosts exhibitions that guide you through the Picasso story. 

Whilst here, you’ll also see works from the beginning of his career, which started at 13 years of age. 

Get a tour guide, and you’ll learn who Pablo was as a person, and what made him the genius that he was.

MACBA 

Once you’ve seen everything in the Picasso Museum, pay a visit to MACBA, the Barcelona Contemporary Art Museum. 

As the name suggests, modern art is where this museum shines,with its collection of around 5,000 pieces.

Museo Molinos Mazonovo 

If you’re bored by ordinary museums, try visiting this one. Mills Museum in Taramudi introduces you to the long-forgotten craft of turning grain into flour. 

Well preserved and maintained, this museum is a medieval complex of watermills. 

 The exterior is impressive enough, but to fully appreciate the engineering that went into building it, you have to see it from the inside.

ARTlandya

If you’re holidaying in Tenerife, make sure you visit this delightful doll’s museum. 

Privately-owned, this centre is run by doll craft enthusiasts and is admittedly an odd place to visit after MACBA or the National Archeological Museum. 

Plus, it doesn’t feel like a proper museum, but rather like somebody’s workshop. 

The dolls there are marvelous regardless of whether you like this particular style of art or not. 

This odd museum is going to be a great distraction from your lazy beach days.

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