Usually when we travel, we make it a point to check out what the recommendations are for people with kids. We don’t have kids, but the activities are usually a lot of fun, suitable for anyone and cheap. That’s how we found out about a little known but fascinating museum in Madrid – the Museo del Ferrocarril or Railway Museum.
The Museo del Ferrocarril is a treasure trove of railroad history and a fascinating experience even for the complete train neophyte. We went on a Saturday when the museum is free, but even during the week the entrance fee is a very reasonable €4 Euro for adults and €2.50 for children.
This former station was built in 1880 by none other than Gustave Eiffel and saw its last active train in 1968. Now it is home to a one of the largest collections of historic European trains in the world.
Visitors get to climb over a wide variety of trains, from the most basic to the super luxurious. Also at the museum are small collections including a retrospective of Spanish railway history, a room of historic railway clocks and an amazing assemblage of model trains that will make even the most accomplished collector jealous. Finish the tour with a snack in the completely restored 1920s dining car for a feel of what railroad travel used to be like.
The Museo del Ferrocarril is very conveniently located next to the Delicias metro station and is open Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-3pm.
Nice pics. Reminds me of an interesting railroad Museum in Trieste, Italy I visited some years ago.
Thanks! I need to reintroduce that feature, forgot about it…
I simply love trains – though I travel mostly by car (and prefer this means of transportation) I love trains and their dedicated museums. Unfortunately I didn’t had the chance to visit a dedicated museum – just seen some trains in some technical museums. I want to have at home a nice (and rather big) diorama with different trains – I have only the beginning for that for the moment :) I hope I’ll visit the museum you’ve presented so well, Matt :)