Museu d'Informàtica

Museu d'Informàtica is a compact but surprisingly rich computing museum on the campus of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), housed within the School of Informatics Engineering (ETSINF). It's a spot for anyone who remembers early home computers, or simply wants to see what technology looked like before it fit in a pocket.

What is this place?

The museum opened its doors on December 11, 2001, and its collection has grown over the years through donations from private individuals as well as public and private institutions. In 2013, the regional government of the Valencian Community declared it an "Official Museum," and since 2015 it has been a member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM). This isn't a dusty display case tucked into a university hallway — it's a recognized cultural institution with a defined place among Valencia's museums.

What will you see inside?

The collection holds more than 2,500 catalogued pieces, roughly 2,000 of which are on permanent display. The exhibition traces the last decades of the 20th century, charting the path from office machinery to personal computing. Among the pieces on show are punch-card machines, ferrite-core memories, magnetic disks and tapes, high-performance workstations, 1980s home computers, and one of the first IBM PC units. Alongside them stand minicomputers and old servers, video game consoles, calculators, and mechanical and electronic typewriters.

Two thematic installations deserve special attention. "Erre que erre" explores digital consumption, electronic waste, and sustainability in the context of technology. "Bits en femenino" (Bits in the Feminine) is a physical and multimedia journey through the stories of women who played significant roles in the history of computing — a topic rarely given this much space in museums of this kind, presented here in an accessible, engaging format.

How to get there and when to visit?

The museum sits at Camino de Vera s/n, on the UPV campus, in buildings marked 1E, 1G, and 1F (postal code 46022, Valencia). It's a short tram or bus ride from the city center, and since the UPV campus borders the City of Arts and Sciences, the two can easily be combined into a single day out.

Admission is free, and the museum is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 19:00. Keep in mind it's a university facility, so it closes on weekends and during campus holiday periods. Visitors who want a guided tour should book ahead by email or phone — school and tourist groups regularly arrange these, and the museum has run workshops and educational events on the history of computing for more than two decades.

Who is this museum for?

It appeals to technology enthusiasts, teachers looking for an unconventional history lesson, and families with kids who have never seen a floppy disk or an 80s game console. For older visitors, a visit can feel like a nostalgic trip back to the era of first home computers; for younger ones, it's a hands-on lesson in just how fast technology changed within a single generation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is admission to the museum free? Yes, admission is completely free, as is the case with most university-run cultural spaces on the UPV campus.

Do I need to book in advance to visit? Self-guided visits during opening hours require no reservation. Groups wanting a guided tour should contact the museum ahead of time by email or phone.

How long does a visit take? Depending on your interest, a walk through the exhibition typically takes between 45 minutes and an hour and a half, especially if you want to explore the thematic installations in detail.

Is this museum a good idea for children? Yes, particularly for school-age kids — the exhibition offers an accessible look at what computers, games, and office equipment looked like before smartphones and the modern internet.