CaixaForum Madrid

A converted power station on the Paseo del Arte with a vertical garden by Patrick Blanc covering its exterior wall. The building appears to float above street level, with the original brick facade suspended above a public plaza. The architectural trick is impressive enough to draw crowds who never go inside, but the exhibitions are worth entering.

CaixaForum is funded by La Caixa Foundation, one of Spain's largest cultural patrons, and hosts rotating exhibitions that range from photography and design to fine art retrospectives. Past shows have included Ai Weiwei, Cezanne, Greek sculpture, and immersive digital art. The quality is consistently high and the curation is more accessible than the Reina Sofia's contemporary holdings.

Entry EUR6, with discounts for students and under-16s. The bookshop is excellent. The cafe on the top floor has a terrace with views toward the Retiro and the Botanical Garden. Free events including concerts, lectures, and children's workshops are scheduled regularly.

The vertical garden on the exterior is 24 metres tall, contains 15,000 plants of 250 species, and is maintained by a drip irrigation system that keeps it green year-round. It is one of the most photographed facades in Madrid and worth walking past even if you don't go inside.