When it comes to cities with amazing museums, Madrid tops the list in our opinion. The city is bursting with art museums, science museums, and historical museums. Wondering which ones are the best and which ones are free? In Madrid, you’ll get both! We’ve put together a list of the 10 best museums in Spain’s capital that offer free entry at certain times. After all, wouldn’t you rather save your money for a delicious dinner?
We also created a Free Museum Calendar to help you plan which museums you can visit for free today.
I can’t definitively tell you which museums are the absolute best since everyone’s tastes are different. However, I can share which ones stood out to me during my visits to Madrid. Many people only spend a long weekend in the city, and trying to see everything in that short time can be overwhelming. Madrid is the third-largest city in the EU, offering an incredible variety of attractions. If you can spare a few extra days, you’ll have the chance to visit these museums for free, saving money in the process.
I consider the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum the top museum in Madrid. Located in a beautiful palace on Paseo del Prado, the museum’s collection is organized both chronologically and thematically, making it easy to navigate and find your favorite periods. The artworks range from 14th-century Italian paintings to modern Pop Art, plus a few sculptures. You can see masterpieces by Rembrandt, Caravaggio’s soft textures, and Roy Lichtenstein’s playful works for free every Monday from 12:00 to 16:00 and Saturday from 21:00 to 23:00.
The Museum of the History of Madrid is fascinating, offering insights into the city’s history and featuring one of Madrid’s most beautiful gardens—a perfect spot to relax after a day in the urban hustle. Don’t miss the map room, which shows how Madrid has grown over time. It’s free to visit every day from 10:00 to 20:00, except Mondays. In the summer, it closes at 19:00.
The Reina Sofia museum is massive, split between its main Sabatini Building and the modern Nouvel Building. Due to the short free entry times and the queues, it’s best to visit on two separate occasions or pay for a full day’s access to avoid art overload. The museum boasts more than 22,400 items, focusing on contemporary art, with Picasso’s iconic “Guernica” as its centerpiece. Free entry is available Monday and Wednesday through Saturday from 19:00 to 21:00, and Sunday from 12:30 to 14:30.
Museo Cerralbo, next to Plaza de España, offers a glimpse into the luxurious life of Spanish aristocracy and is housed in a splendid 19th-century palace. The well-preserved rooms are filled with extravagant furnishings, rare art, and armor collections. You can visit for free every Thursday from 17:00 to 20:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00.
The National Archaeological Museum, established in 1867 by Queen Isabella II, showcases history both Spanish and global in beautifully renovated rooms. It’s a must-visit, and you can do so for free every Saturday afternoon from 14:00 to 20:00 and Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 15:00.
The Prado Museum, comparable to Paris’s Louvre or Florence’s Uffizi, offers free entry every day for the last two hours of its opening times. Its vast collection includes works from El Greco, Caravaggio, Bosch, Dürer, Velazquez, Titian, Rubens, and Goya. Celebrating its bicentennial in 2019, the Prado exudes an atmosphere of grandeur.
The Museum of Romanticism, housed in a luxurious 18th-century palace, captures the essence of the Romantic era. If you love historic museums, a visit here will enchant you. Free entry is available every Saturday afternoon from 14:00 to closing time and Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00.
Spain’s Royal Palace of Madrid rivals France’s Versailles and Italy’s Royal Palace of Caserta. With its intricately detailed marble floors, lavish rooms, and sheer size, it’s a marvel. While free entry is available Monday to Thursday for the last two hours before closing, paying the 10€ entry fee allows you to tour at your own pace. Alternatively, break your visit into two free sessions to fully absorb its splendor.
The Royal Academy, open for free every Wednesday, was established in 1744 and has been home to famous artists like Francisco Goya, Salvador Dalí, and Pablo Picasso. The Academy Museum houses over 1,400 paintings, 1,300 sculptures, and 15,000 drawings, plus prints, furniture, and porcelain. A highlight is Spain’s only painting by Arcimboldo: “Spring.”
Lastly, the National Library Museum, an architectural gem, is a must-visit for library enthusiasts. One room is dedicated to Cervantes and “Don Quixote,” and you could catch exhibitions like Da Vinci’s Codex Madrid. The library and museum offer free entry Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00, and Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00, with free guided tours available on their website.
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