Discover the Naval Museum in Madrid after its renovation, a unique space that holds more than 200 years of history and 3,000 pieces that will amaze you.
After two years of improvements to its facilities, the museum has reopened its doors so you can explore Spain’s naval history and traditions through ship models, maps, engravings, paintings, weaponry, uniforms, and much more.
The Naval Museum of Madrid is a state-owned cultural institution located on the first floor of the Navy Headquarters on Paseo del Prado. It is managed by the Ministry of Defense, under the authority of the Admiral Chief of the Navy General Staff, and governed by a Royal Board of Trustees.
The mission of the Museum is to acquire, preserve, communicate, and exhibit, for educational and cultural purposes, items of historical, scientific, and technical value related to naval activity. Its aim is to disseminate Spain’s maritime history, help safeguard its traditions, and promote national maritime awareness.
What to see
Inside, there are six units arranged chronologically and five monographic rooms. They guide you step by step through the advances that took place over time. The collection of objects that once belonged to the ships of the era and their weapons is truly impressive. You will be amazed by the recreated cabins of different captains, complete with furniture, libraries, and more.
The museum also features two central courtyards where naval models from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries are displayed, surrounded by showcases filled with thousands of details.
History of the Museum
The origins of the Naval Museum date back to 1792. We owe it to Antonio Valdés y Fernández Bazán, Secretary of the Navy under King Charles IV, who promoted the creation of a Naval Museum in the town of Cádiz. He organized trips to France and Great Britain to purchase maps and books, with the aim of building up the museum’s library. He also gathered naval manuscripts from Spanish archives and arranged the pieces that would later form this museum.
Due to the political problems in Spain at the beginning of the 19th century, the museum could not open at that time, and all the collected pieces were distributed among various Navy departments.
It was finally inaugurated in 1843 by Queen Isabella II at the Palacio de los Consejos on Calle Mayor, the current headquarters of the Military Region. Although the museum had several locations throughout its history, it was in 1932 that it reopened in its current location thanks to Admiral Julio Guillén Tato, the driving force and director of the museum until 1972.
The entire collection of the Naval Museum comes from various contributions made by the Royal Household, the former Secretariat of the Navy, the naval departments of the Peninsula, the stations in Cuba and the Philippines, the now-defunct Midshipmen Companies, the Royal Institute and Observatory of San Fernando, as well as private donations, among others.
The museum is under the authority of the Naval History and Culture Institute of the Spanish Navy and, functionally, under the Ministry of Defense through the Subdirectorate of Publications and Cultural Heritage.
Opening Hours
- The Naval Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.
- During August, opening hours are from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
- Closed every Monday, as well as on January 1 and 6, May 1, and December 24, 25, and 31.
- For accurate details, check the museum’s official website.
Visitors will be asked to leave the museum between 15 and 30 minutes before closing time.
Admission
The Naval Museum is part of Madrid’s list of free-entry museums in Madrid, though donations are welcome. A voluntary contribution of 3 euros is requested upon entry to support the museum’s maintenance.
For group visits, a prior reservation is required. Please write to: reservas_museonaval@fn.mde.es