MUNCYT Alcobendas, the National Museum of Science and Technology, sits at Calle del Pintor Velázquez 5 in Alcobendas, a town on the northern edge of Madrid, and its galleries are free. You only pay for the planetarium and the Nanoplanetarium, at €3 a head for a 45-minute session. It opens Tuesday to Sunday and closes every Monday. From the centre, Metro Line 10 takes you north with one change at Tres Olivos to Marqués de la Valdavia, a 645-metre walk away.
Is the MUNCYT science museum in Alcobendas worth visiting? Yes, for families with children aged 6 to 12: MUNCYT Alcobendas is free, with a no-cost general ticket from the desk or online, and its planetarium costs €3 per person for a 45-minute session. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm at weekends, and closes on Mondays. Take Metro Line 10 to Marqués de la Valdavia.
- Free: the collection galleries and temporary exhibition, with a general ticket.
- Paid: planetarium and Nanoplanetarium, €3 per person each.
- Ticket: a €3.00 combined Metro single covers zone B1.
- Not this address: the MUNCYT site on Paseo de las Delicias holds the stored collections, not the exhibitions.
The galleries are built around real objects: microscopes, film and photo cameras, medical instruments, transport, communications, everyday technology and a section on Spanish innovation.
How do you get to MUNCYT Alcobendas from central Madrid?
Most visitors staying in the centre reach MUNCYT Alcobendas by Metro. Ride Line 10 north to Tres Olivos, where the line splits, and stay on the Metro Norte branch to Marqués de la Valdavia. From the station it is 645 metres, about 9 minutes on foot, to the museum door at Calle del Pintor Velázquez 5.
Which ticket to buy: a combined Metro single to Alcobendas costs €3.00, because the town is in fare zone B1; the zone A tourist travel pass does not reach it. On commuter rail line C-4, Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes station is 1.5 km from the museum and Valdelasfuentes 1.8 km, where bus 157C shortens the walk.
| Option from central Madrid | Get off at | Walk to the museum | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 10, change at Tres Olivos | Marqués de la Valdavia | 645 metres, about 9 minutes | The closest stop |
| Commuter rail C-4 | Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes | 1.5 km, about 21 minutes | Same line as Valdelasfuentes |
| Commuter rail C-4 | Valdelasfuentes | 1.8 km, about 24 minutes | Bus 157C covers the last stretch |
| Car via the A-1 | Exits 14 or 16 | At the door | Two accessible spaces are signposted |
How much does a family spend at MUNCYT Alcobendas?
Two adults and two children over 3 spend €0 on the galleries, €12 if all four go to the planetarium and €15 if one child aged 6 to 8 also does the Nanoplanetarium. The museum sets a fare of €3 per person for each of the two activities, with no separate desk or online prices to compare, and children under 3 watch the planetarium free on an adult’s lap.
Every visitor, adults included, needs the free general ticket, which is also required for the planetarium. Groups of more than 10 people must announce their visit at reservasmad@muncyt.es or on 91 425 09 19, and guided tours for groups are free with an appointment.
Which planetarium show should you book?
The MUNCYT planetarium, on the second floor, recently upgraded its equipment. Each session lasts 45 minutes, with an introduction by the planetarium presenter and a film of about 30 minutes. Shows carry a minimum age, which matters more than the title when you book for children.
Which film is showing on your day, and at what time, shows up when you buy the ticket. Arrive early: nobody is let in once a session has started, and children must be with an adult. The film titles and their synopses are Spanish, so it is worth checking the language of the session when you book.
Can you leave your child at the Nanoplanetarium?
Yes, and that is the point of it. The Nanoplanetarium is a 45-minute session for children aged 6 to 8 about the Solar System and the stars, run by staff with no parents inside. It costs €3 a child, and the exact price shows when you book. Meanwhile adults get the galleries to themselves.
Online booking only opens for weekends, public holidays and Tuesday to Sunday in July and August. On other weekdays school groups can take every slot, so ask the museum before you travel out for it.
When is MUNCYT Alcobendas open?
MUNCYT Alcobendas opens Tuesday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 6pm. On Fridays it may close at 5pm, so a weekend gives you the longest afternoon. The ticket desk shuts 20 minutes before closing, at 4.40pm on weekdays and 5.40pm at weekends.
It is closed every Monday, holidays included, and on 1, 6 and 24 January, 1 and 15 May and 24, 25 and 31 December. Children under 14 must come with an adult, and teenagers from 14 to 18 may be asked to prove their age.
Is it worth the trip from central Madrid?
It is worth it if you have children aged 6 to 12: the galleries cost €0, the planetarium €3, and the visit pairs well with a day in the northern suburbs. It is less worth it for a quick stop on a short city break, because the Metro ride with a change at Tres Olivos weighs more than a one-hour visit.
If stars are the main draw and you stay in the city, the Madrid Planetarium is closer. Nearby, Micropolix suits children who would rather role-play jobs, and things to do in San Sebastián de los Reyes covers the outlet and the old town next door. For other no-cost visits, see free museums in Madrid.
To fill the rest of the day, things to do in Alcobendas adds the 5-euro bonsai museum and the new forest park.
Frequently asked questions about MUNCYT Alcobendas
Is the MUNCYT in Alcobendas free?
Yes. Entry to MUNCYT Alcobendas and its permanent and temporary exhibitions is free, but every visitor needs a free general ticket, collected at the desk or booked online. You only pay for activities: the planetarium costs €3 per person and the Nanoplanetarium session for 6 to 8-year-olds also costs €3.
How do I get to MUNCYT Alcobendas from central Madrid?
Take Metro Line 10 north, change at Tres Olivos to the Metro Norte branch and get off at Marqués de la Valdavia, 645 metres from the museum at Calle del Pintor Velázquez 5. A combined Metro single to Alcobendas costs €3.00 because the town is in fare zone B1.
What are MUNCYT Alcobendas opening hours?
MUNCYT Alcobendas opens Tuesday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 6pm. On Fridays it may close at 5pm. The ticket desk shuts 20 minutes before closing, and the museum is closed every Monday, holidays included.
Which planetarium show is best for young children?
Eclipse: Moments of Wonder and the live planetarium session suit any age, Polaris is for children from 6 and 3CLIPSE from 8. Deep Sky (Cielo Profundo) is recommended from 12. Each film runs about 30 minutes inside a 45-minute session, and latecomers are not let in once it starts.
Is MUNCYT Alcobendas the same as the MUNCYT on Paseo de las Delicias?
No. The museum you visit is in Alcobendas, at Calle del Pintor Velázquez 5. The MUNCYT site in Madrid city holds the museum’s stored collections and opens only for special guided tours, so it is not where the galleries and the planetarium are.
A free museum with a €3 planetarium: best with children, and best on a weekend.