CaixaForum Madrid Accessibility Guide

Overview

CaixaForum Madrid is a cultural center housed in a former electrical power station, redesigned by architects Herzog and de Meuron and opened in 2008. The building is immediately recognizable for its "floating" appearance (the base was hollowed out during renovation) and the striking vertical garden on the adjacent wall, created by botanist Patrick Blanc with over 15,000 plants. Inside, the modern building hosts rotating art exhibitions, film screenings, concerts, lectures, and family workshops. As a purpose-built cultural facility, CaixaForum was designed with full accessibility from the start, with elevators to all floors, wheelchair loans, and adapted programs for visitors with disabilities.

Getting There

• Metro: Atocha station (Line 1) is the nearest stop, about a 5-minute roll north along Paseo del Prado. The station has elevator access.
• Bus: Lines 10, 14, 19, 24, 26, 27, 32, 34, and 45 stop nearby along Paseo del Prado.
• On foot from the Prado Museum: CaixaForum is about a 3-minute roll south on Paseo del Prado from the Prado's main entrance. The route is flat and paved.
• On foot from Reina Sofia: Head north along Paseo del Prado for about 8 minutes. The sidewalk is flat and wide.

Wheelchair Accessibility

• The main entrance is fully step-free and wide enough for all wheelchair types and mobility scooters.
• Elevators provide access to all exhibition floors. The elevators are large enough for power wheelchairs.
• Wheelchairs are available for free loan at the information desk in the main foyer. No reservation is needed.
• Exhibition spaces are open-plan with wide circulation areas, making wheelchair movement comfortable throughout.
• Guide dogs and assistance animals are permitted in all areas.
• The auditorium has reserved wheelchair spaces.
• Adapted guided tours are available for visitors with intellectual or psychological disabilities. These must be reserved in advance by calling 917 879 606 or emailing [email protected].
• Sign language guided tours are available with prior reservation at the same contact details.

Accessible Toilets

• Fully accessible toilets are available on multiple floors of the building.
• They include grab bars, lowered sinks, and sufficient turning space for wheelchairs.
• Staff at the information desk can direct you to the nearest accessible toilet from any exhibition floor.

Tips for Visitors with Disabilities

• Exhibition admission is 6 EUR. Free for children under 16, European Youth Card holders, and CaixaBank customers.
• The building is closed on Mondays.
• The vertical garden on the exterior wall is best viewed from the small plaza across the street, where you have enough distance to appreciate the full scale. The plaza is flat and paved.
• The bookshop and cafe on the ground floor are both fully accessible.
• Exhibitions rotate regularly, so check the website for the current program before visiting.
• Additional activity prices vary: guided tours (3 EUR), film screenings (4 EUR), concerts (12 EUR), and family workshops (6 EUR).
• The building's interior design features dramatic staircases, but all areas served by stairs are also served by elevators.
• CaixaForum hosts free family activities on weekends. These are held in accessible spaces.
• The Paseo del Prado sidewalk outside the building is wide and flat, making it easy to continue to other museums in the area.
• In summer, the air-conditioned interior provides a good break from the heat.
• The gift shop offers art books, exhibition catalogs, and design objects. It is accessible and located on the ground floor.
• If you plan to attend an evening event (concert or lecture), arrive early to secure a wheelchair-accessible spot in the auditorium.