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Free museums in Madrid

Day, time and ticket rules, museum by museum.

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Nearly all of Madrid's big museums have a free slot. What changes is who qualifies and how you get the ticket: some issue it only at the ticket office, others only online, and the Thyssen doesn't ask for one.

Free slots and how to get in

Museum When it's free Ticket
Prado Mon–Sat 18:00–20:00; Sun and holidays 17:00–19:00. Collection only. All visitors Required, from the ticket office, until capacity is reached
Reina Sofía Mon and Wed–Sat 19:00–21:00; Sun 12:30–14:30. Individual visitors Required: reserve online
Thyssen Mon 12:00–16:00, permanent collection; Sat 21:00–23:00, temporary exhibitions Not needed; on Saturdays, until capacity is reached
Royal Palace Mon–Thu 16:00–18:00 (Apr–Sep 17:00–19:00). EU citizens, residents and work-permit holders in the EU, and Ibero-American citizens, with proof Required, ticket office only
Royal Collections Gallery Mon–Thu 18:00–20:00 (17:00–19:00 on public holidays). Ibero-American citizens and EU residents and workers, with proof Required, ticket office only
Palacio de Liria Mondays that aren't public holidays, at 10:00 Required, online: released the previous Monday at 12:00, maximum 2
Fundación Mapfre, Sala Recoletos Mondays that aren't public holidays, 14:00–20:00 None stated
Museo Arqueológico Nacional Saturdays that aren't public holidays, from 14:00; Sunday mornings None stated
Museo Cerralbo Thu 17:00–19:00, except public holidays; Sundays At the museum only: no advance sales
Museo del Romanticismo Sat from 14:00; Sundays Ticket office only
Museo del Traje Sat from 14:00; Sundays None stated
Museo de América Thu from 14:00; Sundays None stated
Museo Lázaro Galdiano Tue–Fri 14:00–15:00 None stated
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales Tue 15:00–17:00; Sun 18:30–20:00. Not from 1 July to 14 September Required, on its website, until capacity is reached
Museo de Historia de Madrid Always, Tuesday to Sunday None stated
Temple of Debod Always, Tuesday to Sunday Free booking recommended
Museo Sorolla While visits are limited to the new building Required, ticket office only

"None stated" means the official site doesn't ask for a ticket or booking but doesn't rule one out either. Confirm before you go.

Who gets shut out, and who never pays

The Royal Palace slot is limited to the groups in the table. Everyone else pays, except on 18 May and 12 October. El Escorial and Aranjuez give the same free access on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. A UK, US, Canadian or Australian visitor without EU residence or an EU work permit should count these out and use the Prado, Reina Sofía or Thyssen slots.

At any hour, under-18s, unemployed people, working teachers and people with a disability of 33% or more enter the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen free. Students aged 18 to 25 do too at the Prado and the Reina Sofía, where you show your document at the ticket office on the day. With a foreign document, ask at the ticket office before relying on it.

Monday works best

You can chain four slots: the Thyssen 12:00–16:00, Fundación Mapfre from 14:00, the Prado 18:00–20:00 and the Reina Sofía 19:00–21:00. The last two overlap, so pick one.

When paying is the better deal

The Prado's free hours cover just the Collection, with temporary exhibitions at half price, and the Thyssen's Monday leaves out temporary shows. At the Reina Sofía you get two hours, just what the museum suggests for the route. With one day in Madrid and one particular work in mind, pay for a morning ticket and forget about capacity.

What visitors say

Buyers' reviews as published by Headout, which chooses the ones it highlights. We neither edit nor select them.

Frequently asked questions

Which museums in Madrid are free on Sundays?

The Prado 17:00–19:00 and the Reina Sofía 12:30–14:30. Also the Museo Arqueológico Nacional in the morning, plus the Cerralbo, the Romanticismo, the Traje and the Museo de América.

When is the Prado free?

Monday to Saturday 18:00–20:00, and Sundays and public holidays 17:00–19:00. You collect the ticket at the ticket office until capacity is reached.

Is the Royal Palace of Madrid free?

Only for EU citizens, residents and work-permit holders in the EU, and Ibero-American citizens, with proof: Monday to Thursday 16:00–18:00 from October to March and 17:00–19:00 from April to September. For everyone on 18 May and 12 October, unless it's closed.

Do you need a ticket during free hours?

It depends on the museum. At the Reina Sofía you reserve online and at the Prado you collect it at the ticket office. At the Thyssen's free slots you don't need one.

Which Madrid museums are always free?

The Museo de Historia de Madrid and the Temple of Debod. The Museo Sorolla too, while visits are limited to its new building.

Sources

Taken from official websites, quoted in their original language. Has something changed? Email us at hola@tickets.org.es.

  1. esmadrid.com/informacion-turistica/museo-del-prado — Gratuita: todos los visitantes, de lunes - sábado: 18:00 - 20:00 h / domingos y festivos: 17:00 - 19:00 h.
  2. web.archive.org/web/20260821223814/https://www.museodelprado.es/visita — Dos últimas horas antes del cierre Acceso gratuito a la Colección Entradas disponibles en taquilla hasta completar aforo
  3. museoreinasofia.es/visita/horarios-tarifas/descuentos — El acceso a la Sede Principal es gratuito durante las dos horas antes del cierre.
  4. museoreinasofia.es/visita/horarios-tarifas — Durante el horario gratuito también necesitas una entrada. Puedes reservarla online
  5. museothyssen.org/visita/horarios-tarifas — Todos los lunes entra gratis al museo gracias a Mastercard de 12:00 a 16:00.
  6. museothyssen.org/visita/horarios-tarifas — Todos los sábados por la noche entra gratis al museo con Uber de 21:00 a 23:00.
  7. museothyssen.org/visita/horarios-tarifas — No es necesario sacar entrada los días gratuitos.
  8. patrimonionacional.es/visita/palacio-real-de-madrid — Horario gratuito: De octubre a marzo: lunes a jueves 16 a 18 h. Último acceso a las 17 h.* De abril a septiembre: lunes a jueves de 17 a 19 h. Último acceso a las 18 h.*
  9. tickets.patrimonionacional.es/es/tickets/palacio-real-de-madrid — Estas entradas únicamente se pueden adquirir en taquillas
  10. galeriadelascoleccionesreales.es/horarios-y-tarifas — De lunes a jueves (no festivos) de 18:00 a 20:00 horas De lunes a jueves (festivos) de 17:00 a 19:00 horas
  11. palaciodeliria.com/contenido — Cada lunes a las 12:00 del mediodía se ofrecerá la sesión gratuita del siguiente lunes a través de este canal web, siempre que este no sea festivo.
  12. man.es/man/visita/tarifas.html — Sábados no festivos desde las 14:00 h ( Días festivos ) y domingos por la mañana
  13. cultura.gob.es/mcerralbo/visita/horariosytarifas.html — Jueves de 17:00 a 19:00 horas (apertura extraordinaria, excepto días festivos)
  14. cultura.gob.es/mcerralbo/visita/horariosytarifas.html — El museo no dispone de servicio de venta anticipada de entradas.
  15. cultura.gob.es/mromanticismo/visita/horariosytarifas.html — Sábados a partir de las 14:00 horas
  16. cultura.gob.es/mtraje/visita/tarifas.html — Los sábados a partir de las 14:00 h
  17. esmadrid.com/informacion-turistica/museo-de-america — Entrada gratuita: menores de 18 años, mayores de 65 años, domingos, jueves a partir de las 14:00 h, 18 de abril, 18 de mayo, 12 de octubre y 6 de diciembre.
  18. museolazarogaldiano.es/visita — De martes a viernes, de 14:00 a 15:00 horas.
  19. fundacionmapfre.org/arte-y-cultura/exposiciones/sala-recoletos — Acceso gratuito general ( 0€ ): lunes no festivos, de 14 a 20 h.
  20. mncn.csic.es/es/visitanos/localizacion-y-horario — Entrada gratuita: martes de 15:00 a 17:00 horas y domingos de 18:30 a 20:00 horas (esta entrada no estará disponible del 1 de julio al 14 de septiembre
  21. mncn.csic.es/es/visitanos/localizacion-y-horario — Las entradas gratuitas se podrán adquirir a través de la página web del museo hasta completar aforo.
  22. madrid.es/portales/munimadrid/es/Museo-de-Historia-de-Madrid/?vgnextfm — Acceso gratuito.
  23. cultura.gob.es/msorolla/visita/tarifas.html — Todas las entradas (visita individual y grupos) son gratuitas. Solo pueden adquirirse de forma presencial , en la taquilla del museo.
  24. madrid.es/templodebod — La entrada es gratuita . 0 Euros
  25. patrimonionacional.es/visita/real-monasterio-de-san-lorenzo-de-el-esco — Acceso gratuito de octubre a marzo: miércoles y domingo de 15:00 a 18:00

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