Museo de la Farmacia Hispana

Museo de la Farmacia Hispana is a compact university museum in Madrid, run by the Faculty of Pharmacy at Universidad Complutense. It sits inside the Ciudad Universitaria campus, on Plaza de Ramón y Cajal, and has occupied its current rooms since 1944. The collection itself is older: it was first assembled in the early twentieth century by Rafael Folch Andreu, a professor of the history of pharmacy, who set out to preserve the everyday tools of pharmacists from earlier eras.

What is inside the museum?

Spread across roughly 450 square metres, the museum recreates six distinct pharmacy settings, each representing a different period and style of practice. Visitors move through a reconstructed Arab pharmacy, an alchemist's laboratory, a hospital pharmacy modelled on the old Hospital de San Juan de las Afueras, and finish in a nineteenth-century Madrid pharmacy. Display cases hold ceramic apothecary jars, mortars used to prepare remedies, and painted wooden boxes that once stored herbs and compounds — all tied directly to how pharmacy was taught and practised at the university. The full collection runs to around five thousand pieces, though naturally not everything is on display at once.

How do you plan a visit?

This is a university museum rather than a walk-in attraction: every visit is guided and must be booked in advance. Groups are normally received on weekday mornings, typically around 10:30, with occasional afternoon slots on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 16:00. A full guided tour runs about an hour and a half, so it is worth setting aside enough time. During the academic term the museum keeps hours from Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 14:00, and it closes on public and academic holidays. Since availability can be limited, especially for larger groups, it is best to confirm booking details by phone at +34 913941797.

Who is this museum for?

It suits anyone curious about the history of medicine and science, pharmacy students, and travellers in Madrid looking for something away from the usual sightseeing circuit. Because visits are guided, grouped, and booked ahead, it isn't a spontaneous quick stop — plan the visit in advance, particularly if travelling with a larger party or with school-age children, for whom the collection can make an engaging history lesson.

How do you get there?

The museum is located inside the Ciudad Universitaria campus, which is well connected to central Madrid by metro (line 6, Ciudad Universitaria station) and by bus routes serving the university. Allow a bit of extra time to get there, since the campus is large and the Faculty of Pharmacy building isn't always easy to spot for first-time visitors.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry free? Visits take the form of a guided group tour arranged in advance, so it's worth confirming any cost details by phone when booking, since terms can vary by group and date.

Do you need to book ahead? Yes, booking is required. This isn't a walk-in museum — every visit is scheduled beforehand, usually by phone.

How long does a visit take? A full guided tour lasts about an hour and a half.

Is the museum open all year? No. Opening hours follow the academic calendar — during term time it operates weekday mornings, but it closes during academic holidays and breaks.