As every year, the capital’s museums will reopen their doors free of charge for Madrid residents and tourists andon May 18. In this sense, the day is celebrated under the motto ‘Museums, sustainability and well-being’, with which we want to emphasize the work that these institutions carry out in the configuration and creation of sustainable futures. Free admission will be established in various museums in Madrid so that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy their collections on various themes: art, history or even the history of the Madrid Metro. In addition, some of the cultural centers have a special program of activities and concerts in order to celebrate this day in style.

More than 10 museums in the municipality of Madrid join this initiative through free access or exclusive activities in celebration of Museum Day. However, the opening and closing hours, the activities and the concerts they offer depend on each gallery.

free activities

There is a long list of events that take place this Thursday but it should be noted that the Museum of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando organize two special activities. On the one hand, around 11:00 am, the cartoonists from the collective “El Retratista Nómada” will portray visitors who wish to do so in the patios, and on the other, two virtuoso guitarists from the Madrid Royal Conservatory of Music will perform live. Also, the Madrid’s Underground La Nave de Motores de Pacífico opens to the public, where there will be a free guided tour at 8:00 p.m. and will also celebrate with a performance by a string quartet at 9:00 p.m.

For his part he Train museum will represent a participatory theater at 8:00 p.m., ‘A movie trip’, by the company Producciones Estandarte. Meanwhile he National Archaeological Museum the Efectum Musicae Didactic Concert will be held, which raises awareness of the issue of mental health from the healing power of music, and a Cerae-Pínakes Historical Calligraphy Workshop.

Finally, one of the most special events of the day is the Radio3 live programming from the patio of the Nouvel Building of the Reina Sofía National Art Center Museum with uninterrupted live concerts from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and, afterwards, there will be a finale in the garden of the Sabatini Building from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Admission is free until full capacity is reached and all the information can be consulted on the official museum website

Free admission museum hours

  • National Museum of Romanticism: free access from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (last access at 7:00 p.m.).
  • Cerralbo Museum will count: free access from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (last access at 7:00 p.m.).
  • Museum of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando: free access from 11:00 a.m.
  • Madrid Railway Museum: open day with guided tours of the permanent exhibition at 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 17:00, 17:30 and 18:00. You can also visit some of its temporary exhibitions.
  • Lazaro Galdiano Museum: free admission from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Prado Museum: Free access from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Reina Sofía National Art Center Museum: entrance to the Museum will be free, that is, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  • National Museum of Decorative Arts: Free admission from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.