Prices, hours and free entry
The museum is at calle de Serrano 13, in the Salamanca district (Colón metro, line 4; Retiro, line 2; Serrano, line 4). It opens Tuesday to Saturday 9:30 to 20:00 and on Sundays and public holidays 9:30 to 15:00. It is closed on Mondays, 1 and 6 January, 1 and 15 May, and 24, 25 and 31 December. The reduced EUR 1.50 rate is for groups of more than eight people and accredited cultural volunteers.
| Option | Price | Included | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-price entry | EUR 3 | Permanent collections | Most visitors |
| Free entry | EUR 0 | Under 18, over 65, Saturday from 14:00, Sunday morning, 18 April, 18 May, 12 October, 6 December | Zero budget |
| Tiqets guided tour | From EUR 29 | Entry and guide in English or Spanish, 1.5 hours, 30 people at most | Those who want explanations |
Official ticket or guided tour?
At EUR 3 it would be odd to go through a reseller for entry alone. Tiqets lists a single offer for this museum: entry with a 1.5-hour guided tour in English and Spanish, rated 5 out of 5 but with only two reviews as read on 30 October 2026. The museum also offers a guided tour in Spanish on Saturday at 13:00, lasting 90 minutes, for 20 people at most, included in the ticket and booked at the desk the same day. If you speak Spanish, that tour costs nothing on Saturday afternoon.
What you see
The most famous piece is the Lady of Elche, an Iberian sculpture with strong Greek influence. Other highlights include the Guarrazar treasure, the Bote de Subh and a collection of Greek vases. Allow about two hours, longer if you like reading the labels. Our page on the National Archaeological Museum details the route.
Traps to avoid
- Monday. The museum is closed.
- Sunday. It closes at 15:00: arrive early.
- The Saturday tour. It is in Spanish only, and you sign up at the desk.
- Free hours. Free Saturday and Sunday slots draw crowds: come at opening, outside the free hours, if you want quiet.
Around the museum
A few minutes' walk away are Plaza de Colón and the Salamanca district. For a guided walk in the centre, see the welcome tour of Madrid on GetYourGuide, which does not include the museum. For a rainy day, read what to do in Madrid when it rains.
La rédaction Madrid Authority
