Casa de las Ciencias (La Coruña)

Casa de las Ciencias is an interactive science museum tucked inside the leafy Parque de Santa Margarita in A Coruña. It ranks among the oldest institutions of its kind in Spain: founded in 1983 and formally inaugurated by the Spanish monarchs on June 1, 1985, it became the country's first publicly-owned hands-on science center, built on the idea that visitors should touch and test exhibits rather than just look at them.

How do you get to Casa de las Ciencias?

The museum occupies a small palace-style building inside Parque de Santa Margarita, one of A Coruña's most popular green spaces. It sits within easy walking distance of the city center, so strolling through the park is the simplest way to arrive — you'll pass other park features like the wind rose and fountains along the way. City bus stops are also located close to the park's main entrances for anyone who'd rather not walk.

What will you see inside?

The building has a distinctive octagonal floor plan, and its dome hides the museum's signature feature: the planetarium. Exhibits fill three floors, organized around experimental physics, the phenomenon of the pendulum, and astronomy as covered in the media. In the central stairwell, a Foucault pendulum swings continuously, offering a visible demonstration of the Earth's rotation and one of the most photographed spots in the museum.

The planetarium is the heart of the visit. It combines a modern digital projector, which carries audiences on simulated journeys across the cosmos, with an analog Zeiss projector that reproduces the night sky exactly as it appears to the naked eye from Earth. Sessions help visitors pick out constellations, planets, and other celestial bodies visible over Galicia's skies.

Beyond its permanent galleries, the museum runs an active educational program — temporary exhibitions, lectures, courses, film screenings, and competitions, along with collaborations with local media to promote science to a wider audience. School groups are frequent visitors, but the mix of hands-on physics and astronomy appeals just as much to curious adults.

When should you visit, and what does it cost?

Opening hours shift with the seasons. From January 2 to April 30, the museum is open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, and weekends, holidays, and Easter week from 11 am to 7 pm. From May 1 to June 30 and September 1 to December 31, weekday hours extend to 7 pm, while weekend hours stay the same. During July and August, peak tourist season, the museum opens daily from 10 am to 8 pm.

General admission costs 2 euros, with an additional 2-euro supplement for the planetarium. Reduced admission is 1 euro, plus a 1-euro reduced planetarium supplement, available to children under 16, seniors over 65, unemployed visitors with documentation, Carnet Joven holders, students, and large families with proof of status. Tickets for exhibitions and planetarium sessions are sold only at the museum's reception desk on the day of the visit — the one exception is free-admission days, when planetarium reservations must be made online starting at 9 am the day before.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Casa de las Ciencias good for kids? Yes, it's one of A Coruña's favorite family destinations. The hands-on exhibits — physics experiments, the Foucault pendulum, planetarium shows — make science approachable and engaging for younger visitors.

How long does a visit take? A typical visit covering the three exhibition floors plus one planetarium session takes between 1.5 and 2.5 hours, depending on how long you linger at each interactive station.

Do I need to book tickets in advance? On regular days, tickets are bought on-site at reception the same day you visit. Online booking only applies on free-admission days, when it's used to reserve a spot for the planetarium show.

What makes this museum different from other science centers in Spain? Its historical significance. Casa de las Ciencias was the first publicly-owned interactive science center in the country, opened in 1985 by the Spanish royal family, making it one of the pioneering institutions of its kind on the Iberian Peninsula.