The Dalí Theatre-Museum is the most visited museum in Spain after the Prado, and the largest surrealist object in the world. Salvador Dalí designed it himself from the ruins of a 19th-century municipal theatre destroyed in the Spanish Civil War, and spent decades on the transformation. The result is less a museum than a total environment — every surface, doorway, and courtyard is part of the artwork, from the walls embedded with bread rolls to the rain-filled taxi in the courtyard.
Inside, the collection spans Dalí's entire career and includes major paintings, sculptures, holograms, and theatrical installations. The Mae West Room, where a sofa lips, fireplace nostrils, and framed paintings become a giant portrait when viewed from a specific spot, is one of the most photographed interiors in Spain. The museum is chronically crowded in summer; advance booking is mandatory and early morning slots sell out weeks ahead. Night visits are also available in summer and are worth considering for a different atmosphere.