Matadero Madrid
A brick slaughterhouse complex turned into a contemporary arts centre, with exhibitions, a cinema and a weekend market.
Last updated: 20 October 2026
Photo: AlesKubr2 · Public domain · Wikimedia
- Type
- Museum
- Area
- La Latina & Lavapiés
- Opening hours
- Open-air site daily 09:00–22:00; individual venues vary
- Price
- Free
- Time needed
- 90 min
- Official website
- mataderomadrid.org
What to expect
Matadero Madrid occupies the former municipal slaughterhouse and cattle market in the Arganzuela district, at Plaza de Legazpi. The architect Luis Bellido designed it as a group of pavilions built between 1911 and 1925, with neo-Mudéjar touches. The slaughterhouse closed in 1996 and the site opened as a contemporary arts centre in 2006.
Today the former sheds house different arts spaces: Nave 16 for exhibitions, the Cineteca for documentary film, the Casa del Lector for reading, Naves del Español for theatre, a design centre and Medialab for technology and culture. The old water tank, the Depósito de Especies, has become a public garden. The programme covers art, cinema, dance, music, theatre and workshops, including events for families, and changes all the time.
Don't miss
- Nave 16 exhibitions
- Cineteca for documentary film
- Casa del Lector
- Naves del Español theatre
- Depósito de Especies garden
Tips for your visit
- Look at the current programme on the website, as it changes all the time and decides what you see.
- Combine it with a walk along Madrid Río, which runs through the same part of the city.
- Check the programme for family activities if you travel with children.
- Allow time to simply wander between the pavilions even if no event suits you.
Getting there from Puerta del Sol (Kilometre Zero, Bear and Strawberry Tree)
🚇 ~35 min by public transport
Where to eat nearby
No restaurant within a 15-minute walk: eat before or after your visit.
Breakfast nearby
No breakfast spot within a 15-minute walk. Have breakfast near your hotel or in the centre before you go.
Other sights nearby
- Railway Museum (Museo del Ferrocarril) · Museum · 🚶 1.3 km · 16 min walk
- Madrid Planetarium · Family fun · 🚶 1.4 km · 17 min walk
- Reina Sofía Museum (Guernica) · Museum · 🚶 2.3 km · 29 min walk
Add Matadero Madrid to your plan → Build a day around it with walking times and restaurants.