Museo Arqueológico Nacional
State museum in Madrid with a journey through the history of Spain and of ancient civilisations, from prehistory to the early modern period.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo Arqueológico Nacional was founded in 1867 by Isabella II, following the model of the great national museums of Europe. Its aim was to bring together in one institution the antiquity collections scattered across various establishments, to represent the history of Spain from its origins to more recent times, and to offer a view of the ancient civilisations of the rest of the world. The idea drew on the rise of archaeology and on concern to protect a heritage threatened by invasions, wars and the confiscation of Church and communal property (desamortizaciones).
Between 1867 and 1893 the museum temporarily occupied the Casino de la Reina, a former pleasure estate near the Glorieta de Embajadores. Its permanent home is the Palacio de Biblioteca y Museos Nacionales, a new building conceived in 1860 on the Prado de Recoletos, whose construction took more than thirty years and three architectural designs before it was completed in 1892.
Between 2008 and 2014 the nineteenth-century building underwent a comprehensive renovation and the permanent exhibition was reinstalled. The spaces were reorganised more rationally and accessibly, the public area was extended with a reception area and new services, and the museography was renewed. The museum closed to the public in July 2011 and reopened on 1 April 2014.
The permanent exhibition follows a chronological route through prehistory, protohistory, Roman Hispania, Late Antiquity, the medieval world and the early modern period. It is supplemented by sections on the ancient Near East, Egypt and Nubia, Greece and coinage.
Highlights
- Chronological route from prehistory to the early modern period
- Sections on Egypt and Nubia, the ancient Near East and Greece
- Coin collection
- Palacio de Biblioteca y Museos Nacionales, a 19th-century building
- Touch stations and multimedia guide with sign language
Permanent exhibition
- Exposición permanente – Chronological tour of prehistory, protohistory, Roman Hispania, Late Antiquity, the medieval world and the early modern period, with sections on the Near East, Egypt and Nubia, Greece and coinage.
- Founded
- 1867
- Operated by
- Ministerio de Cultura (museo estatal)
- Director
- Andrés Carretero Pérez
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €1.50Groups of more than 8 people on request, cultural volunteers with accreditation, and holders of Renfe high-speed or long-distance tickets (48 hours before departure and after arrival) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for under-18s with accreditation. Under-14s must visit the museum accompanied by an adult; those aged between 14 and 18 who come alone must show identity documents. |
| Seniors | freeFree admission for over-65s and pensioners, with accreditation. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities, with one companion. |
| Students & apprentices | freeFree admission for students aged 18 to 25 and holders of the Carné Joven, with accreditation. |
| Groups (8+ people) | €1.50 per personGroups of 8 to 25 people with booking: 50% reduction on admission. Groups visiting from Tuesday to Friday must book; group bookings are not accepted on Saturdays or public holidays. |
| Families | freeFree admission for members of large families, with accreditation. |
Free admission: Free for everyone on Saturdays that are not public holidays from 14:00, on Sunday mornings, on 18 April (Day of Monuments and Sites), on 18 May (International Museum Day), on 12 October and on 6 December.
Free entry also for teaching staff, unemployed people, official tourist guides and journalists on duty, members of the museum’s Friends association and of ICOM, among other groups, with accreditation. An annual card is sold at the ticket office and the Bono Cultural Joven is accepted.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours
- Easy-to-read materials
- Audio description: no information
Indoor spaces without architectural barriers, accessible toilets, wheelchairs at the cloakroom, induction loops and folding chairs in the galleries. There are tactile plans of the permanent exhibition, touch stations with Braille text, plans and leaflets in easy-to-read language, sensory backpacks and a free electric vehicle for visitors with reduced mobility. The multimedia guide includes content in Spanish Sign Language and a route for visually impaired people, and visits with a sign language interpreter are scheduled. Nearby public car parks have reserved spaces.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | free · Free admission for members of large families, with accreditation. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Baby changing facilities
The museum runs workshop visits, storytelling sessions and theatre performances for families with children aged 4 to 12, often at weekends. Baby changing facilities, a breastfeeding room and baby seats are available.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Serrano
Metro: line 4, Serrano station; line 2, Retiro station. Cercanías: Recoletos station (C-1, C-2, C-7, C-8 and C-10). EMT buses: 1, 9, 19, 51 and 74 stop in front of the museum; 5, 14, 27, 45, 150 and C03 on Paseo de Recoletos; 21 and 53 at Plaza de Colón; 2, 15, 20, 28, 52 and 146 at Plaza de la Independencia.
By car
Parking available
Public car parks at Plaza de Colón (Jardines del Descubrimiento) and Serranopark (car park 3, Calle de Jorge Juan and Plaza de la Independencia), both with spaces reserved for people with disabilities.
- Accessible parking
Cycle lane on Calle de Serrano. Tourist buses have a signposted stop at Plaza de Colón (on the pavement of Calle de Goya); parking in the bus lane in front of the museum is not permitted.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Coat check
- Lockers
Café in the entrance hall, with a terrace, open without a ticket. Cloakroom and lockers in two sizes. Water fountain and writing tablets.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
The conference room, lecture hall, state rooms, reception area and garden can be hired, and private visits can be arranged outside normal opening hours. Private promoters must sign an agreement and pay the official fees; the request must be submitted at least 30 working days in advance.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (ES, EN, FR) |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography is permitted, but without flash or tripods. |
| Good to know | The multimedia guide is hired for €2 at the ticket office (free for visitors with visual or hearing impairments) and offers a general route in Spanish, English, French and Spanish Sign Language. There is also a free web app with more than 350 items; headphones are required. There is a security scanner at the entrance, and large bags or backpacks (maximum 40 × 40 cm), umbrellas, food and drink are not allowed. Group visits are booked online (8 to 25 people). |
