Which city is best to visit for a museum? In our humble opinion, Madrid.
The city is truly rich in art, science and history museums. Which museums are the best and which are free? In Madrid it’s both! We’ve put together a list of the 10 best museums in the Spanish capital that offer free entry at certain times. Because we both know that you like to spend money on luxurious dinners.
And we have also prepared a free museum calendar for you. You can start planning what’s worth checking out today for free!
Click here to open the full calendar in a new window.
Obviously I can’t tell you what the best museum is. Because we are created equal, but not created equal. But what I can tell you is that even with my busy schedule, I found the trip worthwhile.
Unfortunately, many people only visit Madrid for long weekends, and trying to fit everything into such a tight itinerary can end up giving you headaches. Of course, this can be said of any large city, but Madrid is the third largest city in the EU and has a surprisingly wide range of options. It is better to take a few more days to visit. And think about the money you save when you have time to visit this museum for free!!
Personally, I think the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is the best museum in Madrid. Not only is it located in a beautiful palace on Paseo del Prado, but the collection is presented chronologically and thematically, making it easy to navigate and explore your favorite era. Paintings range from 14th-century Italian primitive art to modern pop art, and there are also a few sculptures.
Look into Rembrandt’s eyes, admire the tenderness that Caravaggio conveys in his works, and feel the joy of the delightful 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 Historical Museum of Madrid not only provides a fascinating insight into Madrid’s history, but also protects one of the city’s most beautiful gardens. Sitting under the shade of a tree and listening to the trickle of a fountain was a solace for the soul after a tiring day in the noise of the city.
Of particular interest was the map room, where you could see how Madrid developed over time. It is open free of charge from 10:00 to 20:00 every day except Mondays. However, in summer it is only available until 19:00.
The Reina Sofia Museum is truly amazing! The main venues are the Sabatina Building (classic, white) and the Nouvel Building (modern, colorful), and considering that you have to wait in line for about 30 minutes, you cannot visit both buildings on weekdays during the short period when admission is free. We recommend visiting in two trips (that way you can avoid art overload too!) or paying for the ticket and walking around all day.
The collection contains more than 22,400 items, primarily modern art. The center is guernica (1937), Pablo Picasso. Free admission is available from 19:00 to 21:00 in the evening from Monday to Wednesday to Saturday and from 12:30 to 14:30 on Sunday.
One of the most luxurious museums in Madrid. This says a lot!
Museo Cerralbo, located next to Plaza España in Madrid, offers a glimpse into the luxurious world of Spanish nobility. Housed in a 19th-century palace, the hotel’s rooms have been carefully preserved and display sumptuous furniture, rare art and an impressive collection of armor.
You will travel back in time, imagining the grandeur of the family life of the Marquis de Cerralbo. With its opulent atmosphere and rich history, this museum captivates everyone who enters its doors. It is free to visit every Thursday from 5 PM to 8 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 3 PM.
The National Archaeological Museum dates back to 1867, when it was founded by Queen Isabella II following the European trend of establishing great national museums to display evidence of each country’s history.
The newly renovated, airy rooms are a great place to stroll, and the exhibitions are aesthetic and not limited to Spain or its former colonies. The result is an enjoyable and enlightening museum that you will want to visit again and again. And you can do it for free every Saturday from 14:00 to 20:00 and Sunday from 9:30 to 15:00.
The mothership of the museum. You cannot tour this institution between museums. If Paris has the Louvre and Florence has the Uffizi Gallery, Madrid has the Prado. And it’s free to visit every day during the last two hours of opening hours.
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The collection is impressive. It includes works by El Greco, Caravaggio, Bosh, Dürer, Velazquez, Titian, Rubens, Goya and many others. The museum celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2019 and has a majestic atmosphere.
It’s like walking through a box of jewels. It’s weird, cute and luxurious. These are the defining features of the wills of this Romantic period. The Romantic Museum is located in an 18th-century palace built for a marquis and later home to counts. Everything is luxurious, extravagant and extravagant. When you go to this kind of historical museum, your eyes will be amazed by countless details.
They have definitely captured the romantic spirit of this museum, and every Saturday from 14:00 until closing time and Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00 you have the opportunity to participate in this time warp for free.
France has Versailles, Italy has the Royal Palace of Caserta, and Spain has the Royal Palace of Madrid.
There are no limits to the splendor of this place: the details of the marble floor mosaics, the richly decorated rooms, and the sheer size of this royal palace. It’s truly amazing and will make your brain boil as you try to take it all in during the last two hours of free admission before closing time from Monday to Thursday!
You will feel much better about spending 10 euros for entry. You can then explore the palace at your own pace. Or, visit twice for free and take your time focusing on the different rooms. It’s also great for a walk to whet your appetite before dinner!
Open free to visitors every Wednesday, the Royal Academy has opened its doors to artists since its founding in 1744. Francisco Goya was once one of the academy’s directors, and its students included Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. Today the academy serves as the headquarters of the Madrid Academy of Arts.
The Academy Museum preserves an outstanding heritage consisting of more than 1,400 paintings, 1,300 sculptures and 15,000 drawings, as well as prints, furniture, silverware, silverware, ceramics and other decorative arts. The highlight for me was Spring, the only painting by Arcimboldo in Spain.
Yes, I have a weakness for libraries. And these wonderful institutions and epic architecture should definitely be included in your list of magical places in Madrid that you can visit for free. A room in the National Library Museum is dedicated to Cervantes and Don Quixote, and when I visited, da Vinci’s work was on display to mark the 500th anniversary of the Italian artist’s death in May 1519. codex madridTwo manuscripts containing drawings, maps, scientific writings and personal notes written by da Vinci.
The library and museum are open free of charge to visitors from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00 and on Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00. Not only are you able to visit the museum for free, but you can also sign up for a free guided tour on the museum’s website.
