Wax Museum of Madrid, Wax museum in Plaza de Colón, Madrid, Spain.

The Wax Museum of Madrid occupies a building on Plaza de Colón and holds over 450 wax figures, most set within scenes rather than lined up alone. Its first figure was the navigator Christopher Columbus. Scenes gather Spanish and international figures from history, art, science and entertainment, alongside fictional characters such as Dracula, the Simpsons and Frodo.

The museum first opened in 1972 as a dedicated space for displaying wax representations of notable Spanish and international figures. It has maintained this focus over the decades, becoming an established attraction in Madrid's cultural scene.

Many contemporary figures wear their own real clothing, from Franco and composer Joaquín Rodrigo to actress Lina Morgan, writer Camilo José Cela and the Cuban brothers Raúl and Fidel Castro. The galleries also recreate the settings and sounds of each character's world, mixing historic rulers of the Austrian and Bourbon dynasties with fictional characters such as Dracula, the Mummy and Freddy Krueger.

The museum is located near Colón metro station, making it easy to reach by public transportation. Opening times change seasonally, so check ahead before your visit to plan your time there.

The museum's cinema uses 27 projectors at once to show the history of Spain. Three attractions sit alongside the wax figures: a simulator with icy tunnels, the centre of the Earth and space; a terror train passing through Jurassic Park and the Galactic Tavern; and Multivision.