Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid is a natural history museum that’s home to nearly 8 million specimens as well as historical collections. Created by King Carlos III in 1771, the museum promotes state-of-the-art research in many scientific fields, including climate change, geology, ecology and paleobiology.
The museum receives thousands of visitors each year and welcomes anyone looking to learn more about the natural sciences and the diversity of life. Families with children, history enthusiasts and those interested in science and the natural world will love the museum. If you want to experience the museum to its fullest, plan to spend about 3 hours exploring.
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid - one of the highlights of 10 Best Museums in Madrid and 10 Best Things to Do with Kids in Madrid (Read all about Madrid here)
What are the highlights of Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid?
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales is home to millions of specimens preserved in themed collections, including fossils, mammals, invertebrates, birds, fish, insects, tissues and DNA, palaeobotany and reptiles. Among the more unique collections is the Zoological Sound Library, which features recordings of various animal species for biology research.
You’ll also find exhibits on fine art and scientific history, which include such specimens as antique magnifying glasses and one of the oldest compound microscopes in the world. Some other highlights include antique balances, barometers, laboratory equipment and electroscopes. The fine art collection includes paintings and decorative arts that are valuable to the history of natural sciences in Spain.
photo by Tiia Monto (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified
Special events in Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales is dedicated to teaching the public about science and history. You can find numerous events and activities at the museum, including Science Week, a weeklong event with workshops and curiosities, and a plastic workshop that teaches kids to make a dinosaur face.
Some of the other fun events include an endangered animals workshop that introduces some of the world’s most threatened wildlife, a ‘palaeontologist for a day’ workshop and a guided tour of the museum’s rarest and most important treasures. You can find more information about upcoming events and dates on the museum website.
photo by Tiia Monto (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid
Location: C. de José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Open: Tuesday–Friday from 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +34 914 11 13 28