Speaking of museums, which city is the best to visit? In our humble opinion, this is Madrid.
The city is rich in art, science and history museums. Which museums are the best and which ones are free? In Madrid, they all are! We’ve listed 10 of the best museums in the Spanish capital that are free during certain times. Because we all know you’d rather spend your money on a nice dinner, right?
We’ve also compiled a calendar of free museums for you so you can plan what’s worth visiting for free today!
Click here to open the entire calendar in a new window.
Obviously, I can’t tell you what the best museum is, because even though we are all created equal, we are not all created equal. What I can tell you, though, is that I find it a worthwhile excursion into a busy schedule.
Unfortunately, many people only go to Madrid for a long weekend, and you’ll end up with a headache if you try to pack everything into such a tight schedule. Of course, this is true of all big cities, but Madrid is the third largest city in the EU and has an incredible range of options. It’s better to take a few extra days to visit – think of the money you’ll save then you’ll have time to visit these museums for free!
I personally think the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is the best museum in Madrid. Not only is it housed in a beautiful palace on Paseo del Prado, but its collections are displayed chronologically and thematically, allowing you to easily navigate and gain insight into your favorite periods. The paintings range from 14th-century Italian primitive art to modern Pop Art and some sculptures.
Look directly into Rembrandt’s eyes, marvel at the tenderness Caravaggio conveyed in his works, and be entertained by the playful Roy Lichtenstein. You can visit the museum for free every Monday from 12:00 to 16:00 and Saturday from 21:00 to 23:00.
The Madrid Historical Museum not only offers wonderful insights into Madrid’s history, but it also houses one of the most beautiful gardens in the city. After a day of hustle and bustle in the city, sitting under the shade of a tree and listening to the gurgling water of the fountain is soothing to the soul.
Of particular interest is the map room, where you can see how Madrid developed over time. Open for free from 10:00 to 20:00 every day except Monday. However, it is only open until 19:00 in summer.
The Reina Sofia Museum is huge! Its main venues are the Sabatina Tower (classical, white) and the Nouvel Tower (modern, colorful), and considering that you have to stand, you won’t be able to enter this for free during the short time on weekdays The queues at both buildings lasted about half an hour. We recommend either visiting twice (so you don’t get too interested in the art!) or paying the entrance fee and wandering around all day.
The collection contains more than 22,400 pieces, mainly contemporary art. Its core is Guernica (1937), Pablo Picasso. Admission is free from 19:00 to 21:00 on Monday, Wednesday to Saturday evenings and from 12:30 to 14:30 on Sunday.
One of the most gorgeous museums in Madrid – and that’s saying a lot!
The Museo Cerralbo, located next to the Plaza de España in Madrid, gives you a glimpse into the luxurious world of Spanish aristocracy. Housed in a 19th-century palace, its meticulously preserved rooms showcase sumptuous furnishings, rare art and an impressive collection of armor.
You feel like you have traveled back in time, imagining the splendor of the Marquis of Ceralbo’s family life. Its gorgeous ambience and rich history captivate all who enter the museum – you can visit for free every Thursday from 5pm to 8pm and Sunday from 10am to 3pm.
The National Archaeological Museum is also of historical significance, dating back to 1867 when Queen Isabella II established it following the European trend of establishing large national museums to display evidence of each country’s history.
The renovated, airy rooms are great for wandering around, and the exhibitions are beautiful and not limited to Spain or its former colonies. The result is a delightful, illuminating museum that you’ll want to visit again and again. It is free to use every Saturday afternoon from 14:00 to 20:00 and Sunday morning from 9:30 to 15:00.
The mothership of the museum. In a museum, this institution is inescapable. What the Louvre is to Paris, the Uffizi Gallery is to Florence, and the Prado is to Madrid. Here you can visit for free during the last two hours of opening time.
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Its collection is impressive; it contains masterpieces by El Greco, Caravaggio, Bosh, Dürer, Velázquez, Titian, Rubens, Goya and many others. The museum celebrated its bicentennial in 2019, and the grandeur is palpable.
It’s like walking into a jewelry box. Quaint, cute and luxurious. These are the characteristics that define wills of this Romantic period. The Museum of Romanticism is housed in an 18th-century palace built for a marquis and later inhabited by counts. Everything is opulent, opulent and extravagant, and if you like this kind of historic museum, your eyes will appreciate the many details.
They really capture the romantic spirit of this museum and you have the opportunity to experience this time warp for free every Saturday from 14:00 to closing time and Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00.
France has the Palace of Versailles, Italy has the Royal Palace of Caserta, and Spain has the Royal Palace of Madrid.
Here, luxury has no limits, whether it’s the details of the marble floor mosaics, the richly decorated rooms or the sheer size of this magnificent palace. It’s unbelievable and if you try to absorb it all in the two hours you get free admission for the last two hours Monday to Thursday before closing, your brain will be boiling!
It’s more relaxing and important to pay 10 euros to enter so you can visit the palace at your own pace. Or, take two free tours, focus on different rooms, and take your time. This is also a great walk to work up your appetite before a meal!
The Royal Academy is open to visitors free of charge every Wednesday and has opened its doors to artists since its founding in 1744. Francisco Goya was one of the academy’s deans, and its students included Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. Today, the academy is the headquarters of the Madrid Academy of Art.
The Academy Museum preserves an extraordinary heritage, including more than 1,400 paintings, 1,300 sculptures and 15,000 drawings, as well as prints, furniture, silver, porcelain and other decorative arts. The highlight for me is Arcimboldo’s only painting in Spain: “Spring”.
Yes, I have a weakness for libraries. Such an excellent institution and epic architecture must be included in my list of amazing places to visit in Madrid for free. A room in the National Library Museum is dedicated to Cervantes and Don Quixote, and when I visited, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the Italian artist’s death in May 1519, an exhibition showcased the work of finch’s works Madrid Codetwo manuscripts containing drawings, maps and scientific writings as well as personal notes written by Leonardo da Vinci.
The library and museum are open to visitors free of charge from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00 and on Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00. Not only can you visit the museum for free, but you can also sign up for a free guided tour on their website.
