Madrid: IKONO Sensory Art Rooms & Photo Experience Ticket

4.70

(1913 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

“Touch everything — seriously, that’s the rule here,” our guide grinned as we shuffled into the first room at IKONO Madrid. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but immediately there was this sweet, citrusy smell hanging in the air and soft lights bouncing off every wall. People were already laughing, posing in corners, and I caught myself just staring at these wild colors for a second before remembering to take my shoes off (they actually ask you to). The floor felt cool and smooth under my socks — not something I’d usually notice, but it stuck with me.

Each space was its own little universe. One had these oversized foam shapes you could climb or flop onto (I nearly fell trying to get a photo — pretty sure someone caught it on their phone). Another room smelled like pine needles and reminded me of walking through Retiro Park after rain. Our guide, Marta, told us some of the installations were by local artists — she pointed out one wall covered in tiny mirrors that made everyone’s selfies look like a kaleidoscope. She said they change things up every few months so locals come back just to see what’s new.

I tried to say “ikonic” in Spanish and got it wrong — the guy next to me laughed and corrected me (“icónico!”). It was easy to talk to strangers here; maybe because nobody really knows how to pose or act inside a giant ball pit at age thirty-two. The whole hour went fast, honestly. There’s WiFi if you want to upload photos right away but I mostly just kept my phone out for quick snaps between trying all the textures and smells. I still think about that blue-lit hallway near the end — it felt like stepping into another planet for a minute.