Estación Museo de Chamberí

At Plaza de Chamberí in Madrid, this preserved former metro station lets you see what the network looked like in its early years. Opened in 1919, it was closed and bricked over in the 1960s, then restored as a museum. A guided visit takes you through the old station, where trains still pass on Line 1. Admission is free, and the tour is mainly in Spanish; an English information guide is available by QR code. Reserve ahead if you want to secure a place.

A station closed and restored

Chamberí opened in 1919 as part of Madrid’s early metro network. When stations were upgraded in the 1960s, its layout could not be adapted in the same way. The station was bricked over and left unused for decades.

A restoration brought the old station back as a museum, which reopened in 2008. Its preserved interior gives you a close look at an earlier period of Madrid’s public transport. The station is still on Metro Line 1, so trains continue to pass through while you visit.

What to expect on the visit

Entry is by guided visit rather than independent exploration. The guide provides historical context as the group moves through the station, followed by a little time to look around and take photographs. The visit lasts around half an hour.

Tours are mainly in Spanish. An English information guide is available through a QR code, and you can read the PDF guide in advance if you would like context during the tour. Booking online is recommended. If you arrive without a reservation, you can ask whether the group has room, but entry is not guaranteed.