National Museum of Science and Technology

The National Museum of Science and Technology (MUNCYT) in A Coruña is one of two Spanish national sites dedicated to the history of science and technology, the other being in Alcobendas near Madrid. The Galician branch occupies a striking glass building known as the Prisma de Cristal and has been one of the city's leading cultural draws for over a decade.

How do you get there?

The museum sits at Plaza del Museo Nacional 1, in an area close to A Coruña's historic centre. It's an easy walk from the old town, and city buses also stop nearby. The building itself — a glass cube rising above the surrounding streets — is hard to miss once you're in the neighbourhood.

What will you see?

The permanent exhibition spans nine floors and roughly 3,000 square metres, split across six themed halls. "Miscelánea" offers a playful introduction to science hosted by two robots. "Mayúsculas" gathers landmark objects from the history of technology, including the lantern from the Tower of Hercules, the Roman lighthouse that has become the symbol of the city itself. The "Patrimonio" hall houses some of the museum's oldest and most valuable pieces, while "Innovación Española" is dedicated to contemporary Spanish science and technology.

In the "Iberia" hall, visitors can step inside a real Jumbo Jet, and "Siglo XX" traces the inventions that reshaped the twentieth century. Among the standout items on display is the landing gear of the Boeing 747 that flew Picasso's "Guernica" back to Spain from New York in 1981, alongside one of the first computers ever brought into the country.

The building is an attraction in its own right. The glass cube was designed by architects Victoria Acebo and Ángel Alonso and went on to win the National Young Architecture Award at Spain's 9th Architecture Biennial. Construction was actually completed back in 2006, originally intended to house a dance conservatory and a provincial museum; it wasn't until 2008 that the central government took it over to become the new MUNCYT site. In 2014 the museum received a special mention in the Best European Museum competition held in Tallinn.

When should you visit?

The museum officially opened on 4 May 2012 and has run year-round since, though opening hours shift with the seasons. From Tuesday to Friday it typically opens 10:00–17:00, Saturdays 11:00–19:00, and Sundays and public holidays 11:00–15:00. In July and August, hours extend to Tuesday–Saturday 11:00–19:00 and Sunday/holidays 11:00–15:00 — and admission is free throughout the summer months. A summer afternoon is the best time to go: longer hours and no entry fee.

How much time should you set aside?

With six halls spread across nine floors, budget around an hour and a half to two hours for an unhurried visit. Families with children tend to linger longer at the interactive stations in the "Miscelánea" hall.

Frequently asked questions

Is admission to the museum free? Only during the summer (July–August). The rest of the year there is an entry fee.

How long does a visit to MUNCYT A Coruña take? Most visitors spend between 1.5 and 2 hours, depending on pace and how many halls they explore.

What's the museum's biggest highlight? The walk-through Jumbo Jet in the "Iberia" hall and the Boeing landing gear that once carried Picasso's "Guernica" back to Spain are among the most talked-about exhibits.

Is the building itself worth seeing? Absolutely — the glass "Prisma de Cristal" is an award-winning piece of architecture and an attraction in its own right, regardless of what's inside.