In this guide
💡 The Short Version: The Prado is free from 18:00, the Reina Sofía from 19:00 with a free ticket booked online, and the Thyssen on Mondays from 12:00 to 16:00; the Reina Sofía is closed on Tuesdays. The Royal Palace is €18 from its own shop, and its free slot is for EU citizens, residents and Latin American citizens only. The Bernabéu tour is from €37, for one date and time, and its changing rooms close on match days. The Sorolla house is closed; its extension opened free on 15 October 2026. Madrid has no tourist tax. From the airport the Exprés bus is €5.00. Prices are in euros. Or book a tour: the Welcome to Madrid walking tourad is from €25.11, and the Segovia and Toledo day tourad from €40.60 (GetYourGuide).
What to book before you go
Prices are the adult rate in euros, from the operators. Buy from the operator: search results for the Prado, the Reina Sofía, the Royal Palace, the Bernabéu, the Paseo del Arte card and the flamenco tablaos include sites with the sights’ names in their web addresses that are resellers or say they are independent.
| Sight | Book how far ahead | Adult price | Book at | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prado | Online or at the museum | €15; free 18:00 to 20:00 | entradas.museodelprado.es | Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December |
| Reina Sofía | Tickets carry a time slot until the free hours; the free ticket is booked online | €12; free 19:00 to 21:00 | entradas.museoreinasofia.es | Closed Tuesdays. Use the Nouvel entrance with an online ticket |
| Thyssen-Bornemisza | A time slot only for the ground-floor exhibition | €14; free Monday 12:00 to 16:00 | entradas.museothyssen.org | Monday is the only day it opens at noon |
| Paseo del Arte card | Online or at any of the three museums | €32.80 | museothyssen.org | One visit each; not valid at the Thyssen on Mondays |
| Royal Palace | Online; guided tours run at set times | €18; guided €26 | tickets.patrimonionacional.es | Free slot for EU, resident and Latin American visitors only |
| Santiago Bernabéu tour | A date and time; Flexible Time is open all day | From €37 online | realmadrid.com | Non-refundable. Changing rooms closed on match days and the day before |
| Flamenco | Book the evening you want | €31 to €112, by venue and dinner | Each venue’s site | An hour a show; the Corral de la Morería admits no children under 7 |
| Descalzas Reales | Guided only; online tours are in Spanish | €9 | tickets.patrimonionacional.es | English tour Tuesday to Sunday at 12:00. Closed Mondays |
| Temple of Debod | Reserving in advance is recommended | Free | esmadrid.com | 30 people for 30 minutes. Closed Mondays |
| Faro de Moncloa | Tickets are for a set hour | €4 | esmadrid.com | 30 minutes. Closed in bad weather |
| CentroCentro viewpoint | A pass about every 30 minutes | €4 | centrocentro.org | 88 steps. Closed Mondays |
| Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop | Online, except 14:00 to 16:00 and after 21:00 | €6 | circulobellasartes.com | The ticket does not guarantee a table |
The Prado, the Reina Sofía, the Thyssen and the Royal Palace come to €59 at the operators’ prices, or €50.80 with the Paseo del Arte card for the three museums. Madrid in one or two days fits these bookings into a first visit, day by day.
Where the official ticket is cheaper, and where a tour is
GetYourGuide prices are its lowest “from” prices.
| What | Official | GetYourGuide | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prado entry | €15 | €18 | Official |
| Royal Palace self-guided entry | €18 | €22 | Official |
| Paseo del Arte card | €32.80 | €38 | Official |
| Reina Sofía entryad | €12 | €12, sold by GetYourGuide | Either |
| Thyssen entryad | €14 | €14, sold by GetYourGuide | Either |
| Bernabéu Classic entryad | From €37 | €37, sold by GetYourGuide; non-refundable | Either |
| Metropolitano entryad | €25 | €25, sold by the stadium | Either |
| Teatro Flamenco Madridad | On its calendar | From €32, sold by the venue | Either |
| Torres Bermejas flamencoad | €31 | €31, sold by the venue | Either |
| Royal Palace with a guide | €26 on the Palace’s own guided tour | From €36ad, ticket included | The Palace, unless you want a company’s group |
| Prado with a guide | €25 on the Prado’s own guided visit | From €48.56ad, ticket included | GetYourGuide, for a private or small group |
The free hours, and who can use them
The free windows are the main saving in Madrid.
| Sight | Free | Ticket | Who |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prado | Monday to Saturday 18:00 to 20:00; Sundays and holidays 17:00 to 19:00 | At the museum | Everyone |
| Reina Sofía | Monday and Wednesday to Saturday 19:00 to 21:00; Sunday 12:30 to 14:30 | Free, booked online | Individuals |
| Thyssen | Monday 12:00 to 16:00; Saturday 21:00 to 23:00 for the temporary exhibitions | None | Everyone |
| Royal Palace | Monday to Thursday, 16:00 to 18:00 in winter and 17:00 to 19:00 in summer | At the box office | EU citizens, residents and Latin American citizens only |
| Royal Collections Gallery | Monday to Thursday 18:00 to 20:00 | At the box office | The same |
| Descalzas Reales | Wednesday and Thursday 16:00 to 18:30 | At the box office | The same |
UK, US, Canadian and Australian visitors pay at the three marked sights. Free things to do in Madrid has the rule for each, with the free museums, parks and squares.
Hours and closed days
Hours are the October to March schedule where an operator splits the year.
| Sight | Hours | Closed or late |
|---|---|---|
| Prado | Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 20:00; Sunday and public holidays 10:00 to 19:00 | 1 January, 1 May, 25 December; 10:00 to 14:00 on 6 January, 24 and 31 December |
| Reina Sofía | Monday, Wednesday to Saturday 10:00 to 21:00; Sunday 10:00 to 14:30 | Tuesday; 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 15 May, 9 November, 24, 25 and 31 December |
| Thyssen-Bornemisza | Monday 12:00 to 16:00; Tuesday to Friday and Sunday 10:00 to 19:00; Saturday 10:00 to 23:00 | 1 January, 1 May, 25 December; 10:00 to 15:00 on 24 and 31 December |
| Royal Palace | Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 18:00; Sunday 10:00 to 16:00 | 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 25 December; from 15:00 on 24 and 31 December |
| Royal Collections Gallery | Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 20:00; Sunday 10:00 to 19:00 | The same closures as the Palace |
| Descalzas Reales | Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 18:30; Sunday 10:00 to 15:00 | Monday; 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December |
| Almudena Cathedral | Nave daily 10:00 to 20:30; museum and dome Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 14:30 | Museum and dome closed Sundays |
| Santiago Bernabéu tour | Monday to Saturday 9:00 to 19:00; Sunday 9:30 to 18:30 | 25 December, 1 January; match days |
| Metropolitano museum | Tuesday to Sunday 11:00 to 19:00 (last access) | Monday |
| Temple of Debod | Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 20:00 (last entry 19:30) | Monday; 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December |
| Retiro | Daily 6:00 to 22:00 | The council can close parts in high wind or heat |
| Palacio de Velázquez | Daily 10:00 to 18:00 | 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 25 December; 24 and 31 December to 17:00 |
| Sorolla (extension) | Tuesday to Saturday 9:30 to 20:00; Sunday 10:00 to 15:00 | Monday |
| Cerralbo | Tuesday to Saturday 9:30 to 15:00 (Thursday also 17:00 to 20:00); Sunday 10:00 to 15:00 | Monday; 1 and 6 January, 1, 15 and 18 May, 24, 25 and 31 December |
| Museo del Romanticismo | Tuesday to Saturday 9:30 to 20:30 (18:30 from November); Sunday 10:00 to 15:00 | Monday, including 2 and 9 November and 7 December; 1 and 6 January, 1 and 15 May, 24, 25 and 31 December |
| San Antonio de la Florida | Tuesday to Sunday 9:30 to 20:00 | Monday, holidays included; 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December |
| CaixaForum | Daily 10:00 to 20:00 | 25 December, 1 and 6 January; 24 and 31 December and 5 January to 18:00 |
| Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop | Sunday to Thursday 10:00 to 01:30; Friday and Saturday 10:00 to 02:00 | Last access one hour before closing |
| CentroCentro viewpoint | Tuesday to Sunday 10:30 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 19:30 | Monday; 1, 5 and 6 January, 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December |
| Faro de Moncloa | Tuesday to Sunday 9:30 to 20:00 | Monday, except 2 and 9 November, 7 and 28 December and 4 January 2027 |
Closed or changed
- The Sorolla house: closed for restoration. Only the extension, with its exhibition rooms, opened on 15 October 2026, free. The Art Newspaper reported on 14 October 2026 that the house is expected to stay shut for about two more years. Museums in Madrid has the rest.
- The Palacio de Cristal in the Retiro: closed since 2023 for renovation. The Palacio de Velázquez beside it is open and free. The Retiro page has both.
- The Museo del Romanticismo: rooms XV to XXI are closed for works. Entry is free until 31 October 2026, then €3.
- The Royal Palace: entry is through the esplanade of the Almudena Cathedral, on Plaza de la Armería, since 20 August 2026.
- Mondays: the Descalzas Reales, the Cerralbo, the Romanticismo, the Sorolla, San Antonio de la Florida, the Temple of Debod and the CentroCentro viewpoint are closed. The Prado, the Royal Palace, the Reina Sofía, CaixaForum and the Retiro are open, and the Thyssen opens 12:00 to 16:00, free.
- Tuesdays: the Reina Sofía is closed.
- Sundays: the Almudena museum and dome are closed, the Royal Palace closes at 16:00, and the Reina Sofía at 14:30.
- Match days: the Bernabéu’s changing rooms and benches close on a match day and the day before.
Free things worth a line
- Free museum hours: the Prado from 18:00, the Reina Sofía from 19:00 and the Thyssen on Mondays.
- Always free: San Antonio de la Florida, with Goya’s frescoes and tomb; the Sorolla extension; the Retiro; the Palacio de Velázquez; the Plaza Mayor and the Puerta del Sol; the Campo del Moro gardens; and the Mirador de la Cornisa.
- The Changing of the Guard at the Royal Palace: every Wednesday and Saturday at 11:00, and the Solemn one on the first Wednesday of the month at 12:00, except January, August and September. The next Solemn one is on 4 November 2026.
- The Temple of Debod: free, capped at 30 people for 30 minutes, and closed on Mondays.
Free things to do in Madrid lists the rest, with the trap on each, and Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol covers the two squares.
The Royal Palace from the Plaza de Oriente. Photo: Jose Luis Filpo Cabana, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
The tourist tax
Madrid has none, and the city’s tourism councillor said in July 2026 that it does not plan one.
Getting in from the airport
Madrid airport to the city compares the options.
- Exprés Aeropuerto: €5.00, 24 hours a day, from the terminals to Atocha in 30 to 40 minutes, with stops at Cibeles.
- Taxi: a fixed €33 to anywhere inside the M-30 ring road.
- Metro line 8: a zone A ticket needs a €3 airport supplement to get on or off at either airport station, and the Tourist Travel Pass does not.
- Cercanías C-1: serves terminal 4 only.
Getting around
The centre is walkable. Madrid public transport has the rest.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Metro single, by number of stations | €1.50 to €2.00 |
| Metro 10-trip ticket | €7.30 |
| Tourist Travel Pass, zone A, 1 day | €10.30 |
| Tourist Travel Pass, zone T, 1 day | €15.40 |
| Cercanías single, 1 to 2 zones | €1.70 |
Since 1 June 2026 a contactless bank card, phone or watch works at the Metro turnstiles of its 303 stations, for single tickets only. The Tourist Travel Pass is not valid on Renfe’s Media Distancia or Avant trains, such as those to Toledo, Segovia and Ávila. Zone T covers every Cercanías line in the region.
Entry rules for Spain
Spain is in the Schengen area, and one 90-day allowance covers every Schengen country you visit. The rules below are for a tourist stay.
| Citizens of | Visa | Passport | On arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | None, for up to 90 days in any 180 (gov.uk) | Issued less than 10 years before you arrive, with 3 months left after the day you leave the Schengen area | Registered in the Entry/Exit System |
| United States | None, for up to 90 days in any 180 (EU visa-free list) | The same | Registered in the Entry/Exit System |
| Canada | None, for up to 90 days in any 180 (travel.gc.ca) | The same | Registered in the Entry/Exit System |
| Australia | None, for up to 90 days in any 180 (Smartraveller) | The same | Registered in the Entry/Exit System |
| EU | None | A passport or a national ID card (Your Europe) | Not registered |
The passport rule is the EU’s, for every non-EU visitor (Your Europe).
- Entry/Exit System (EES): non-EU visitors are registered at the border on their first entry to the Schengen area, with fingerprints and a photo. It is free, needs nothing before you travel, and replaces the passport stamp; it has run in full since 10 April 2026 (EU).
- ETIAS: not yet required. The EU says it will announce the start date several months before launch (EU).
- Official travel advice for Spain: UK Foreign Office, US State Department, Canada and Australia.
More to book
- Flamenco: flamenco shows compared: Torres Bermejas from €31, Las Tablas at €45 or €102 to €112 with dinner, and Cardamomo, Teatro Flamenco Madrid and the Corral de la Morería by calendar.
- Football: the Bernabéu tour is from €37, and the Metropolitano tour and museum is €25.
- The view: rooftops and viewpoints compared: the Círculo de Bellas Artes at €6 to 01:30, CentroCentro and the Faro de Moncloa at €4, and the Almudena dome at €8.
- On foot: Madrid walking tours sets the free, paid, bike and bus tours side by side.
- Food: Madrid food tours compares the tapas walks and cooking classes. To choose your own tables, where to eat in Madrid ranks restaurants and bars by how many independent sources name them, and tapas in Madrid says what to order.
- Passes: Madrid tourist pass runs the sums on the Madrid City Card and the Paseo del Arte card.
- Museums: museums in Madrid gives the price, hours and closed day of each beyond the big three.
Central Madrid and the towers to the north, from the Círculo de Bellas Artes roof. Photo: Zoilo Andrés, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
Neighbourhoods
The Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol are free and about five minutes apart. The Retiro stands beside the Prado. For the other Spanish cities on this site, see what to book before you go to Barcelona and to Seville.
Day trips
Day trips from Madrid compares every trip by train, bus and tour. The ones with something to know:
- Toledo: the Avant takes about 30 minutes. The Cathedral is €12 and is not in the €14 monuments bracelet; the Alcázar is €5 and free on Wednesdays.
- Segovia: the Aqueduct is free to see, and the Alcázar is €7, or €10 with the tower.
- Ávila: the walls are €8 and the Cathedral €10.
- El Escorial: the monastery is €14 and the Valley of Cuelgamuros, formerly the Valley of the Fallen, €9; both are closed on Mondays.
- Cuenca: by AVE or Avlo from Atocha, and the station is 5 km from the old town.
- Aranjuez: the Royal Palace is €9 and closed on Mondays.
Where to stay and when to go
Where to stay in Madrid compares the areas, and hotels near the Puerta del Sol lists the ones beside it. Best time to visit Madrid has the weather and the crowds month by month, with Madrid in August for the heat and the closures. The dates that change a visit are Christmas in Madrid, New Year’s Eve on the Puerta del Sol and the Three Kings parade on 5 January 2027.
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- 2023: the Palacio de Cristal in the Retiro closed for renovation.
- End of March 2025: the Royal Palace’s Sacristy joined the visitor route.
- Mid-September 2025: the Palace’s Fine Woods Room, Charles III’s office, joined the route.
- 10 April 2026: the EU Entry/Exit System became fully operational.
- 17 March 2026: the Reliquary and Ante-Reliquary of the Royal Chapel opened to visitors.
- 1 June 2026: the Metro began accepting contactless bank cards at its turnstiles.
- 24 June 2026: The Wayward Pearl opened at the Palacio de Velázquez, to 8 March 2027.
- 20 August 2026: the Royal Palace moved its entrance to the Almudena Cathedral esplanade.
- 9 October 2026: the Thyssen’s exhibition of Mauritshuis masterpieces opened, with Vermeer’s View of Delft, to 10 January 2027.
- 15 October 2026: the Sorolla Museum’s extension opened, free.
- 25 October 2026: the Jubilee Year opens at Toledo Cathedral.
- 31 October 2026: free entry ends at the Museo del Romanticismo.
Itineraries
Day-by-day plans for a first visit.
Which ticket to buy
The official ticket, the tours that include entry, and which sells out first.
Tickets
Prado Museum Tickets: Prices, Free Hours, Rooms
The Prado is €15, €7.50 reduced, and free in the last two hours: 18:00 to 20:00 Monday to Saturday and 17:00 to 19:00 on Sundays and holidays. Hours, closed days, the Prado's own €10 guided visit, the €18 resale price and the rooms to see in two hours.
Tickets
Reina Sofía Museum Tickets: Guernica, Free Hours
The Reina Sofía is €12, closed on Tuesdays, and free from 19:00 to 21:00 Monday and Wednesday to Saturday and 12:30 to 14:30 on Sundays, with a free ticket booked online. Guernica is on floor 2, room 205.10. Hours, entrances, bag rules and the guided tours worth paying for.
Tickets
Thyssen Museum Madrid: Free Monday, Prices, Hours
The Thyssen-Bornemisza is €14, and free on Mondays from 12:00 to 16:00, the only hours it opens that day, and on Saturdays from 21:00 to 23:00 for the temporary exhibitions. No ticket is needed in the free hours. Hours, the Vermeer loan to 10 January 2027 and what to see in 2.5 hours.
Tickets
Paseo del Arte Card Madrid: Price, Is It Worth It?
The Paseo del Arte card is €32.80 for one visit each to the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen within a year, against €41 for the three tickets. It does not work on Mondays at the Thyssen and it does not beat the free hours. The sums and where to buy it.
Tickets
Royal Palace Madrid Tickets: Prices, Hours, Free Slot
The Royal Palace is €18 self-guided and €26 on its own guided tour, against €22 and €36 to €39 resold. The free late-afternoon slot is for EU citizens, residents and Latin American citizens only. Hours, the Changing of the Guard and the Almudena Cathedral dome.
Tickets
Bernabéu Stadium Tour: Tickets, Prices, Match Days
The Santiago Bernabéu tour is from €37 online for the Classic ticket, €44 for an open time slot and €56 guided. Tickets are for one date and non-refundable, the changing rooms close on match days and the day before, and the Metropolitano tour is €25.
Tickets
Free Things to Do in Madrid (Museum Free Hours)
The Prado is free from 18:00, the Reina Sofía from 19:00 with a free ticket, the Thyssen on Monday from 12:00. The Royal Palace's free slot is for EU, resident and Latin American visitors only. Free museums, parks, the Temple of Debod and the Monday and Tuesday closures.
Tickets
Museums in Madrid: Prices, Free Hours, Closed Days
Six Madrid museums beyond the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen: the Sorolla extension, free from 15 October 2026 while the house stays shut; the Romanticismo, free to 31 October; the Cerralbo; San Antonio de la Florida with Goya's frescoes; CaixaForum at €6; the Descalzas Reales at €9.
Tickets
Flamenco Shows in Madrid Compared: Prices, Venues
Madrid's flamenco tablaos compared from each venue's own site: Torres Bermejas from €31, Las Tablas €45 or €102 to €112 with dinner, Cardamomo and Teatro Flamenco Madrid by calendar, and the Corral de la Morería from €49.99. Show length, times, children's tickets and booking.
Tickets
Madrid City Pass: City Card, Go City, Paseo del Arte
The Madrid City Card is €10.30 to €33.40 and is a Tourist Travel Pass with discounts, not a museum pass. The Paseo del Arte card is €32.80 against €41 for the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen separately. Go City starts at €59. The sums, and which pass pays.
Tickets
Madrid Walking Tours: Free, Paid and Themed
Madrid's pay-what-you-wish Walkative walk leaves Plaza de Isabel II and runs 2½ hours; paid walks start at €19, evening walks at €18, bike tours at €14.50 and the Madrid City Tour hop-on hop-off bus at €33 for 24 hours. The tours compared, with the meeting points.
Day trips from Madrid
Out and back in a day, with the tours compared against going on your own.
Day trip
Day Trips from Madrid: Train, Bus or Tour
Toledo and Segovia are about 30 minutes by train, El Escorial and Aranjuez a Cercanías ride, Cuenca a high-speed train and Salamanca a long day. Entry prices, the Monday closures, EU-only free afternoons and 12-hour tours from €40.60 compared.
Day trip
Toledo Day Trip from Madrid: Train, Bus, Tour
Toledo is about 30 minutes from Madrid Atocha by Avant. The Cathedral is €12 and not in the €14 bracelet, the Alcázar is €5 and free on Wednesdays. Tours from €29. The order to walk the old town, closed days and the Cathedral's Jubilee Year from 25 October 2026.
Day trip
Segovia Day Trip from Madrid: Train, Bus, Tour
Segovia is about 30 minutes from Madrid Chamartín by train, but Guiomar station is 6 km from the Aqueduct. Alcázar €7 (€10 with the tower), Cathedral €4, free Tuesday afternoons for EU citizens. Coach from Moncloa, tours from €40 and walking tours from €21.
Day trip
Ávila Day Trip from Madrid: City Walls, Train, Tour
Ávila's medieval walls are €8 and the Cathedral €10. From 25 October 2026 to 26 March 2027 the walls close at 18:00 and on Mondays. Train and coach from Madrid, tours that pair Ávila with Segovia from €40, and what to walk in a half day.
Day trip
El Escorial Day Trip from Madrid, with Cuelgamuros
El Escorial's monastery is €14 and the Valley of Cuelgamuros (formerly the Valley of the Fallen) €9; both close on Mondays. Free Wednesday and Sunday afternoons are for EU citizens only. Cercanías C-8 and buses from Moncloa, a Philip II steam-era train on set days, tours from €45.
Day trip
Aranjuez Day Trip from Madrid: Palace and Gardens
Aranjuez's Royal Palace is €9, open Tuesday to Sunday and closed Mondays, free Wednesday and Sunday afternoons for EU citizens only. Cercanías C-3 from Atocha, the Strawberry Train (Tren de la Fresa) to 8 November 2026 from €32, and the gardens and royal barges.
Day trip
Cuenca Day Trip from Madrid: Hanging Houses, Train
Cuenca's Abstract Art Museum in the Hanging Houses is free and closed on Mondays; the Cathedral is €5.50. High-speed trains leave Atocha from 06:30 but the station is 5 km from the old town. Winter Cathedral hours from 2 November, and the Enchanted City tour from €89.
Where to stay
Areas and hotels, chosen for a visitor rather than a resident.
Where to stay
Where to Stay in Madrid: Areas and Hotels
For a first visit, stay round the Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía or in the Barrio de las Letras by the Prado. Nine Madrid areas compared with hotels, addresses, rooms and Michelin Keys, no tourist tax, the months that fill hotels and the dates that fill the city.
Where to stay
Hotels Near Puerta del Sol, Madrid, by Distance
Hotels near the Puerta del Sol by straight-line distance: UMusic at 170 m, the Madrid EDITION at 180 m and Thompson at 210 m, then the Four Seasons, JW Marriott and the Plaza Mayor hotels, out to Axel at 500 m, with addresses, rooms, Michelin Keys and the pools.
Airport transfers
From the airport to the centre, every option priced and timed.
Getting around
Tickets, passes and the transport a visitor actually uses.
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What's on, month by month
Festivals, holidays and closures that change a visit.
Events
Best Time to Visit Madrid: Month by Month
Madrid month by month from AEMET's 1981 to 2010 averages: highs of 9.8°C in January and 32.1°C in July, 421 mm of rain a year, 9.3 hours of daylight on 21 December. Hotels fullest in October and May, emptiest in January and August. Holy Week, San Isidro and Pride 2027.
Events
Christmas in Madrid 2026: Markets, Lights, Dates
Christmas in Madrid 2026: the Plaza Mayor market runs from late November to 31 December, free, with 104 stalls. The lottery draw is on 22 December at the Teatro Real, free. The lights, Naviluz and the programme are announced later. Dates, hours and what is shut.
Events
New Year's Eve in Madrid 2026: Sol and the Grapes
New Year's Eve in Madrid 2026 is on Thursday 31 December at the Puerta del Sol, free, with the Preúvas rehearsal on 30 December. In 2025 the plaza was emptied from 21:00 and reopened at 22:00 through security filters with a cap of 15,000. The grapes, the Metro and what is shut.
Events
Three Kings Parade Madrid 2027: Route and Time
The Three Kings parade in Madrid is on Tuesday 5 January 2027, from the Plaza de San Juan de la Cruz down the Castellana and Recoletos to the Plaza de Cibeles, from 18:00 to 21:00. The Kings reach Cibeles shortly before 21:00. Road closures, the roscón on the Puerta del Sol and what is shut on 6 January.
Events
Madrid in August: Heat, What Closes, What to Do
Madrid in August: a mean high of 31.3°C, 38.1°C at the Retiro on 13 August 2026, and 63.6% of hotel rooms occupied. About 35% of bars and restaurants close, but only about 10% in the centre. Summer hours at the Thyssen, Royal Palace, Debod and Retiro, and the August fiestas.
Food and drink
Where to eat, what to order and when to book.
Food and drink
Where to Eat in Madrid: What Sources Agree On
Where to eat in Madrid: DiverXO with three Michelin stars, then the places 44 English and 50 Spanish publishers name most: La Ardosa, Botín, Lhardy, Casa Alberto and Casa Labra, with hours, booking rules, what to order and operator prices, the markets and the food tours.
Food and drink
Best Tapas Bars in Madrid and What to Order
The tapas bars in Madrid that 14 English and 17 Spanish publishers name most, from La Ardosa (15 sources) to La Bola, the classic dishes from tortilla to cocido, vermouth on tap, the squid sandwich and the tapas streets, with operator prices.
Food and drink
Madrid Food Tours and Cooking Classes Compared
Madrid food tours from €52 for a 2-hour San Miguel street-food walk to €89.99 for tapas with a rooftop toast, the 2,576-review Tapas & Wine Tasting Tour at €85, and paella and tapas classes from €54.40. Who runs each, how long, who it suits and how to choose.
More guides
Guide
Retiro Park Madrid: Crystal Palace, Hours, What to See
The Retiro is free, open 6:00 to 22:00 from October to March, and its Crystal Palace has been closed for renovation since 2023. The Palacio de Velázquez is free to 8 March 2027. Rowing boats, the Fallen Angel, the rose garden, the weather-alert closures and a bike tour.
Guide
Best Views in Madrid: Rooftops, Prices and Hours
Madrid's viewpoints compared: the Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop at €6 until 01:30, the CentroCentro tower at €4 by 88 steps, the Almudena dome at €8, the Faro de Moncloa at €4 for 30 minutes, and two free terraces. Hours, closed days and what each ticket covers.
Guide
Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol Madrid: What to See
Madrid's two central squares are free and always open: the Plaza Mayor, built under Philip III and rebuilt after the fire of 1790, and the Puerta del Sol, with Kilometre 0, the New Year clock and the bear and strawberry tree. What to look for, how to get there and the tours that start here.
Plan your trip
The rules and costs that apply to every city on the site.
Common questions
What should I book in advance for Madrid?
The Royal Palace (€18 self-guided, from its own shop), the Bernabéu tour (from €37 online, for one date and time, non-refundable) and a flamenco show for the evening you want. The Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen have free hours that need no booking, except that the Reina Sofía's free ticket is booked online. The Temple of Debod is free, and the operator recommends reserving.
When are the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen free?
The Prado from 18:00 to 20:00 Monday to Saturday and 17:00 to 19:00 on Sundays and holidays. The Reina Sofía from 19:00 to 21:00 on Monday and Wednesday to Saturday and 12:30 to 14:30 on Sundays, with a free ticket booked online. The Thyssen on Mondays from 12:00 to 16:00, and on Saturdays from 21:00 to 23:00 for the temporary exhibitions.
Can British, American, Canadian and Australian visitors use the Royal Palace's free slot?
No. The free slot, Monday to Thursday late afternoon, is for citizens of the European Union, residents and work-permit holders there, and Latin American citizens. Other visitors pay €18. The same rule covers the Royal Collections Gallery and the Descalzas Reales.
Which Madrid sights are closed on which days?
The Reina Sofía on Tuesdays. On Mondays the Descalzas Reales, the Cerralbo, the Museo del Romanticismo, the Sorolla, San Antonio de la Florida, the Temple of Debod and the CentroCentro viewpoint, and the Thyssen opens only 12:00 to 16:00. The Almudena museum and dome are closed on Sundays.
Is there a tourist tax in Madrid?
No. Madrid has none, and the city's tourism councillor said in July 2026 that it does not plan one.
How do I get from Madrid airport to the centre?
The Exprés Aeropuerto bus is €5.00, runs 24 hours and takes 30 to 40 minutes to Atocha. A taxi is a fixed €33 to anywhere inside the M-30 ring road. Metro line 8 adds a €3 supplement to a zone A ticket, and the Tourist Travel Pass does not need it. Cercanías line C-1 serves terminal 4.
Do I need a visa or ETIAS to visit Madrid?
Not for a stay of up to 90 days in any 180 if you hold a UK, US, Canadian or Australian passport. You need a passport issued less than 10 years before you arrive, with 3 months left after the day you leave the Schengen area. Non-EU visitors are registered in the Entry/Exit System at the border with fingerprints and a photo. ETIAS is not yet required; the EU will announce its start date several months ahead. EU citizens need a passport or a national ID card.
Can I pay for the Metro with a bank card?
Yes, for single tickets. Since 1 June 2026 a contactless bank card, phone or watch is accepted at the turnstiles of the Metro's 303 stations. It does not take passes or 10-trip tickets.