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Museo ABC

Museo ABC: Madrid's Museum of Drawing and Illustration

Step into Spain's only museum dedicated entirely to drawing and illustration, housed in Madrid's Malasaña district. Explore rotating exhibitions that celebrate the art of the drawn line across centuries and styles.

Museum Malasaña
At Calle de Amaniel 29-31, in the creative heart of Madrid's Malasaña neighbourhood, Museo ABC stands as Spain's sole museum devoted exclusively to drawing and illustration. The building itself sets expectations: a repurposed early-20th-century brewery whose industrial bones — exposed brick, soaring ceilings — provide a fitting backdrop for works on paper that reward close attention.

The museum takes its name from the long-running Spanish newspaper and magazine publisher ABC, whose vast archive of original illustrations forms the collection's spine. Spanning decades of press illustration, advertising art, and editorial drawing, the holdings document how Spanish visual culture evolved alongside the country's turbulent modern history. The permanent collection is complemented by temporary exhibitions that bring in contemporary illustrators, graphic artists, and draughtspeople from Spain and abroad.

Visiting is straightforward: the museum sits within easy walking distance of the Noviciado metro station and the broader cultural corridor that links it to other Malasaña landmarks. Because the venue is mid-sized and focused in its scope, a single visit of one to two hours is typically enough to absorb both any current temporary show and highlights from the permanent collection without fatigue.

Admission details and current opening hours are not always consistent across sources, so check the official website at museo.abc.es or call +34 91 758 83 79 before your visit to confirm times and any ticketed exhibitions. Given its specialist focus, Museo ABC draws a thoughtful, art-minded crowd rather than mass tourism queues — making it a calm and genuinely rewarding stop on any Madrid cultural itinerary.

What Makes Museo ABC Special

Spain's Only Illustration Museum

Museo ABC is unique in Spain as a museum dedicated entirely to drawing and illustration, making it a one-of-a-kind destination for fans of graphic and visual arts.

ABC Publisher Archive

The collection is rooted in the historic archive of the ABC publishing house, preserving original press illustrations and editorial artwork that chronicle decades of Spanish visual culture.

Landmark Industrial Building

Housed in a converted early-20th-century brewery on Calle de Amaniel, the venue's exposed brick and high ceilings create a compelling space for works on paper.

Rotating Temporary Exhibitions

Alongside its permanent holdings, the museum regularly hosts temporary shows featuring contemporary illustrators and graphic artists from Spain and internationally.

What to See at Museo ABC

ABC Archive Illustrations

Original press illustrations from Spain's long-running ABC publisher form the backbone of the collection, offering a visual record of modern Spanish history through editorial art.

Early 20th-Century Brewery Building

The museum occupies a repurposed industrial brewery, its exposed brick walls and high ceilings creating an atmospheric setting specifically suited to works on paper.

Advertising & Editorial Art

Beyond press illustration, the holdings span decades of Spanish advertising art and editorial drawing, tracing how commercial visual culture developed alongside the country's history.

Temporary Contemporary Exhibitions

Rotating shows bring in current illustrators and graphic artists from Spain and internationally, keeping the programme fresh across repeat visits.

Drawing as Fine Art

As Spain's only museum devoted exclusively to drawing and illustration, Museo ABC makes the case for works on paper as a serious artistic discipline in their own right.

History of Museo ABC

Museo ABC grew out of the illustration archive accumulated by ABC, one of Spain's most established newspaper and magazine publishers. That archive — comprising original drawings created for press and advertising use over many decades — became the foundation for a public museum dedicated to elevating illustration as a fine art discipline. The museum is located in a repurposed early-20th-century brewery on Calle de Amaniel in the Malasaña district of Madrid, a building whose industrial heritage has been preserved and integrated into the exhibition spaces. Today the museum continues to build on that legacy by commissioning and presenting work by contemporary draughtspeople alongside its historical holdings.
Price Comparison

Worth it? Do the math.

You save
€11
18% off
Individual ticket Price
Museo ABC, Madrid €12,00
Wax Museum of Madrid, Madrid €12,00
Geological and Mining Museum of Spain, Madrid €12,00
Palacio de Liria, Madrid €12,00
Real Fábrica de Tapices, Madrid €12,00
Sum individual €60,00
Madrid City Pass €49,00

Know Before You Go

Duration
One to two hours is typically sufficient to cover the permanent collection and any active temporary exhibitions.
Getting There
Noviciado metro station is the closest stop; the museum is within easy walking distance along Calle de Amaniel.
Bags & Coats
As is common for mid-sized Spanish museums, oversized bags may need to be checked at the entrance.
Photography
Policies on photography of temporary exhibitions can vary by show; check with staff on arrival for the current rules.
Children
The focused, mid-sized layout makes it manageable with children; illustration as a medium tends to engage younger visitors more readily than traditional fine art.

Best Time to Visit

Our recommendation
Weekday midmornings, when the mid-sized venue is quietest and natural light in the converted brewery space is at its best.
Best day
Tuesday through Thursday, when weekend and school-group traffic is lowest.
Best time
Mid-morning, typically around 10:00–12:00, before lunchtime foot traffic picks up in Malasaña.
Avoid
Weekend afternoons, when Malasaña's general footfall is highest and temporary exhibition openings may draw larger crowds.
Peak season
Summer (June–August) brings higher overall tourist numbers to Madrid, though Museo ABC remains less congested than the city's major art museums.
Quiet season
Autumn and winter weekdays tend to be the quietest, making it easier to spend extended time with individual works.

Insider Tips

1
Preparation

Check the museum's programme before you visit — temporary exhibitions rotate regularly, and timing your visit to coincide with a contemporary illustrator show can add significant depth beyond the permanent ABC archive holdings.

2
Pro strategy

Because the museum sits within the Malasaña cultural corridor, pairing it with other nearby venues along Calle de Amaniel and the surrounding streets lets you build a full cultural afternoon without backtracking.

3
Photo spot

The industrial scale of the converted brewery interior — high ceilings, open floor plans — makes it one of the better-lit spaces for examining fine detail in works on paper. Bring or borrow reading glasses if you want to study intricate editorial illustrations up close.

Pass vs. Individual tickets

With Madrid Pass Individual Tickets
Skip the ticket line
Free cancellation up to 24h before
Hop-on/hop-off bus included
Access to 30+ attractions
One booking for the whole trip
Per-attraction ticket required

FAQ

What is Museo ABC dedicated to? +
Museo ABC is dedicated to drawing and illustration, making it the only museum of its kind in Spain.
Where is Museo ABC located? +
The museum is at Calle de Amaniel 29-31, 28015 Madrid, in the Malasaña neighbourhood, close to Noviciado metro station.
What are the opening hours and admission prices? +
Opening hours and admission details can change depending on current exhibitions. Check the official website at museo.abc.es or call +34 91 758 83 79 for up-to-date information.
How long should I plan to spend at Museo ABC? +
Most visitors find that one to two hours is sufficient to explore both the permanent collection and any current temporary exhibition.
What is the origin of the museum's collection? +
The collection is built around the historic illustration archive of the ABC publishing house, spanning decades of original press and advertising artwork.

Pass & ticket FAQ

Is Museo ABC, Madrid included in the Madrid Pass? +
Yes — Museo ABC, Madrid is one of the attractions covered by the Madrid Pass. Scan your pass at the entrance to enter; no separate ticket needed.
Can I skip the line at Museo ABC, Madrid with the Pass? +
At most entry-gates you can use the dedicated pass-holder lane, which is usually much shorter than the general-admission line. At peak hours a short wait may still occur; booking an optional timed-entry slot in advance removes that entirely.
How many days is the Madrid Pass valid? +
The pass is offered in several validity periods (typically 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 consecutive days). Pick the span that covers your planned museum/tour days; the counter starts at first scan, not at purchase.
Can I cancel the pass if my plans change? +
Unused passes can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before your selected start date.
Where do I pick up or activate the pass? +
After purchase you receive a mobile pass by email — no physical pickup needed. Show the QR code at the entrance of Museo ABC, Madrid and the other participating attractions.

How to Get There

Address
Calle de Amaniel 29-31, 28015 Madrid

Detailed directions will be added soon. Use the map links to plan your route.

Sources & Attribution

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