Museo de la Evolución Humana
Burgos museum on human evolution, with the original Atapuerca fossils, Darwin's theory and rooms devoted to fire and ecosystems.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo de la Evolución Humana (MEH) was born as a joint venture of the Junta de Castilla y León, Burgos City Council and the Atapuerca Research Team, to give the city a heritage facility in line with the findings of the Sierra de Atapuerca sites. It opened in 2010 and shows not only the Atapuerca finds but also the scientific disciplines involved and the theories of human evolution, with a broad view of the presence of our species on Earth.
The original fossils from the excavated sites on display come from the collection of the Museo de Burgos and have been deposited with the MEH since an order of the Department of Culture and Tourism of 21 June 2010. The museum also aims to be a leading outreach centre, with modern museography and a building of distinctive architecture.
The route combines atmospheric and reflective rooms: the Trinchera del Ferrocarril sites, an interactive area recreating excavation and laboratory work, the theory of evolution with the frigate HMS Beagle and Darwin's study, the gallery of human evolution with Lucy, Señora Ples, the Turkana Boy and Miguelón, a giant brain of cables by Daniel Canogar, a sphere devoted to fire and a room on ecosystems.
Highlights
- Original fossils from the Sierra de Atapuerca sites
- Evolution gallery with Lucy, Señora Ples, the Turkana Boy and Miguelón
- Frigate HMS Beagle and Darwin's study
- Giant brain of cables by Daniel Canogar
- Sphere of fire and room on the ecosystems of evolution
- Interactive excavation and laboratory area
Permanent exhibition
- Exposición permanente del Museo de la Evolución Humana – Tour of the original Atapuerca fossils, the theory of evolution, the gallery of human evolution, fire and ecosystems.
- Founded
- 2010
- Operated by
- Junta de Castilla y León (Fundación Siglo para el Turismo y las Artes de Castilla y León)
- Visitors per year
- approx. 279,000
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4School pupils from schools aged over 8, university students, groups of more than 8 people with booking, young people aged 8 to 18 and pilgrims, with accreditation. |
| Children & teens | €4free up to age 7 · Children under 8 enter free; ages 8 to 18 pay the reduced rate. |
| Seniors | freeFree admission for over-65s and pensioners. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities; the companion also enters free if essential for the visit. |
| Students & apprentices | €4Reduced rate for university students. |
| Groups (9+ people) | €4 per personRate per person for groups of more than 8 people with booking. |
| Families | freeFree admission for large families, single-parent families and families with multiple births or simultaneous adoption. |
| MEH children's, family and youth workshops | €3Members of federated large families have free access to the children's and family workshops. |
Free admission: All day on Wednesdays, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 19:00; on 23 April, 18 May (in 2026 the museum does not open, as it falls on a Monday), 12 October and 6 December admission is free and there are no online tickets.
Also free, with accreditation, are children under 8, holders of the Carnet 60 CYL and the carné joven, people in a legal situation of unemployment, teaching staff, journalists and official tourist guides of Castilla y León, friends and donors of the museum, and members of professional associations. Online tickets are sold only at full price. The Atapuerca sites and the Centro de Arqueología Experimental (CAREX) have their own rates and require prior booking.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Wheelchair access is allowed. The bookshop-shop on floor 2 is accessible by side ramps; this must be indicated at the ticket office.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 7 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | free · Free admission for large families, single-parent families and families with multiple births or simultaneous adoption. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
The museum offers a family visit with interactive areas, such as the excavation and laboratory area, and children's and family workshops.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Estación de autobuses de Burgos · 300 m
Burgos bus station (Calle Miranda, 4–6) is 300 metres from the museum; the Burgos-Rosa de Lima train station, on Avenida Príncipe de Asturias, is 5 km from the centre and has three urban bus lines.
By car
Paid parking
Municipal paid car park under the museum, with more than 1,400 spaces (access via Calle Burgense, 10). Bicycles can be left free of charge in this car park.
The address given by the museum is Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca, 09002 Burgos.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Café and bookshop-shop on floor 2 (Tuesday to Sunday 11:00–14:30 and Tuesday to Saturday 17:00–19:30); according to the directory of museums of Castilla y León there is also a library and a car park.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
Depending on availability, floor 2, the multipurpose assembly hall and the meeting room are rented for scientific and cultural activities; rates range from €40 (meeting room, half day) to €3,000 (closing the museum, half day).
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Every half hour there are free 15-minute micro-talks, without booking (in the morning at 11:30, 12:00, 12:30 and 13:00, and in the afternoon at 17:30, 18:00, 18:30 and 19:00). Visit information is in Spanish and English, and there is an official app. Schools can book educational visits of 1 h 30 and workshops of 1 h 15 (€3 per pupil). The Atapuerca sites and CAREX can only be visited with a guide and prior booking (947 421 000). |
