National Library of Spain in Madrid: free visit, opening hours and exhibitions
The Biblioteca Nacional de España (BNE) stands at Paseo de Recoletos 20 in Madrid. Entry to the temporary exhibitions at the Recoletos building is free; the reading room requires registration. In practice a visit means the monumental building, its hall and the exhibitions, usually open Tuesday to Saturday. Hours and exhibitions change: check bne.es before you go, as the sources we consulted (Visit Madrid, Time Out) do not all give the same hours. The Palace of the Library and National Museums was designed in the 19th century and shares its building with the National Archaeological Museum. The library itself was founded in 1712 under Philip V.
Highlights
The Recoletos facade
The large neoclassical building faces the Paseo de Recoletos, opposite Plaza de Colón. It is the best viewpoint for a photo.
Temporary exhibitions
They show manuscripts, prints and documents from the collections; entry is free, with hours specific to each exhibition.
The neighbour
The National Archaeological Museum occupies the other part of the palace; the two visits combine easily into half a day.
Practical info
Tips
- Free entry to the exhibitions; hours vary by exhibition. Consulting the collections requires registration. Allow 45 minutes to 1 hour if you only visit the exhibitions. On Sundays the opening is generally shorter.
How to get there
Paseo de Recoletos 20, 28001 Madrid. Metro: Colón (line 4) or Serrano (line 4), a few minutes on foot.
Opening hours
Nearby
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