Free Museum Hours in Madrid: Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen Compared
Madrid's three big art museums all have free hours. Here is when they are, what tickets cost the rest of the time and which smaller museums never charge.
All three of Madrid’s big art museums have free hours. The Prado is free Monday to Saturday from 18:00 to 20:00 and on Sundays and holidays from 17:00 to 19:00; the Reina Sofía is free on Monday and Wednesday to Saturday from 19:00 to 21:00; the Thyssen-Bornemisza is free on Mondays, as of November 2026.
When are the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen free?
The three museums sit within a short walk of each other on the Paseo del Prado. Their free slots and prices differ, so use the table below to plan. All figures are as of November 2026.
| Museo del Prado | Museo Reina Sofía | Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular hours | Mon–Sat 10:00–20:00; Sun and holidays 10:00–19:00 | Mon and Wed–Sat 10:00–21:00; Sun 10:00–14:30; closed Tuesday | Daily 10:00–19:00 |
| Free hours | Mon–Sat 18:00–20:00; Sun and holidays 17:00–19:00 | Mon and Wed–Sat 19:00–21:00; Sun 12:30–14:30 | Mondays (permanent collection) |
| General ticket | €15 | €12 | €14 (collections and temporary exhibitions) |
| Reduced ticket | €7.50 | Check conditions | Check conditions |
| Free entry by category | Under 18s and other groups listed by the museum | Under 18s, over 65s, students and other groups | Under 18s and other groups listed by the museum |
| Closed | Jan. 1, May 1, Dec. 25 | Tuesdays; Jan. 1 and 6, May 1, Dec. 24, 25 and 31, plus some local holidays | Check the museum’s calendar |
Free hours usually cover the permanent collection only. Temporary exhibitions often keep a charge, sometimes at a reduced rate during the free slot.
How does free entry work at the Prado?
The Prado’s free window is the last two hours of each day: Monday to Saturday from 18:00 to 20:00, and Sundays and public holidays from 17:00 to 19:00. You collect a free ticket and join the queue, which on weekends often starts forming well before the window opens and can stretch along the Paseo del Prado. On Jan. 6, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 the museum closes at 14:00, so there is no evening free slot.
Outside free hours, a general ticket costs €15 and the reduced rate is €7.50. People under 18 enter free at any time, and the museum lists other groups with free or reduced entry, such as students in a set age range. Bring the document that proves your status. Check the exact conditions on museodelprado.es before relying on them.
How does free entry work at the Reina Sofía?
The Reina Sofía, home of Picasso’s Guernica, is free on Monday and Wednesday to Saturday from 19:00 to 21:00, and on Sunday from 12:30 to 14:30, when the museum closes for the day. It is closed on Tuesdays. Free visits are for individuals only, and you still need a ticket, which you can book online in advance. Booking matters on Friday and Saturday evenings.
A general ticket costs €12 and covers the collection and temporary exhibitions. The museum gives free entry at all times to under 18s, over 65s, students and several other groups, at the ticket office. It is also free all day on a handful of dates, including April 18, May 18 (International Museum Day), Oct. 12 and Dec. 6. Details are on museoreinasofia.es.
How does free entry work at the Thyssen?
The Thyssen-Bornemisza is free on Mondays for its permanent collection, with direct access and no ticket required. The free Monday slot has been midday to mid-afternoon (12:00 to 16:00); check the museum’s site for the current hours. Some Saturday nights the museum also opens free from 21:00 to 23:00. A general ticket costs €14, as of November 2026.
The Thyssen is the best of the three for a short visit: its collection runs in date order from medieval painting to Pop Art, so even an hour gives a clear tour of Western art.
Is the Paseo del Arte card worth it?
The Paseo del Arte card costs €32.80 as of November 2026 and gives one visit each to the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen within one year of purchase. That is 20% less than three full-price tickets. It only pays off if you want to visit at regular hours, for example to avoid the free-hour queues or to see a temporary exhibition. If you can visit in free slots, or if you qualify for free entry as a student or under 18, skip it.
Which smaller museums in Madrid are always free?
- Museo de Historia de Madrid (Calle Fuencarral 78): the city’s history museum, in a baroque former hospice. Free.
- Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida: a small chapel with ceiling frescoes by Goya, who is buried there. Free, open Tuesday to Sunday 9:30 to 20:00 outside summer, closed Mondays.
- Museo de San Isidro: Madrid’s origins and archaeology, near Plaza de la Paja. Free.
- CentroCentro in the Palacio de Cibeles: free exhibitions; the viewpoint on top is paid.
State museums run by the Ministry of Culture, such as the Museo Arqueológico Nacional and the Museo del Traje, also have free slots, usually on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings. Check each museum’s site, because hours vary.
Residents who budget closely will find the free slots add up; our Madrid cost of living guide puts everyday prices in context. For more places to go on cold or wet days, see our guide to Madrid in winter. The Royal Palace also has free afternoon slots for EU citizens and residents.
Bottom line
Go to the Reina Sofía on a weekday evening with an online free ticket, to the Thyssen on a Monday, and pay the €15 for the Prado on a quiet weekday morning: its free-hour queue costs you time in a museum that needs at least three hours.
FAQ
Is the Prado free on Sundays?
Yes, from 17:00 to 19:00 on Sundays and public holidays, for the permanent collection. The museum closes at 19:00 on those days.
Do you need to book a free ticket for the Reina Sofía?
You need a ticket even during free hours, and you can book it online. Booking is the safest way to get in on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Are Madrid museums free for students?
Often, yes. The Reina Sofía lists students among the groups with free entry, and the Prado offers free or reduced entry to students within an age range. Bring your student card and ID.
Which Madrid museum is closed on Mondays?
The big three are open on Mondays. The Reina Sofía closes on Tuesdays instead. Smaller sites, such as the Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida, close on Mondays.
