💡 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 Royal Palace’s free slot is for citizens of the EU, residents and Latin American citizens only; UK, US, Canadian and Australian visitors pay, as at the Royal Collections Gallery and the Descalzas Reales. The Sorolla extension, San Antonio de la Florida with Goya’s frescoes, the Retiro, the Palacio de Velázquez, the plazas and the Changing of the Guard cost nothing. The Temple of Debod is free but capped at 30 people for 30 minutes, and closed on Mondays. Tuesday closes the Reina Sofía; Monday closes the Cerralbo, the Romanticismo and Debod. Or book a tour: the Welcome to Madrid walking tourad is from €25.11 (GetYourGuide).
The museum free hours
Free entry in the last hours of the day is the main saving in Madrid. Each museum sets its own rule.
| Museum | Free | Ticket | Who |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prado | Monday to Saturday 18:00 to 20:00; Sundays and public 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. Closed Tuesday | A free ticket, booked online | Individuals only |
| Thyssen | Monday 12:00 to 16:00, the only hours it opens that day; Saturday 21:00 to 23:00 for the temporary exhibitions on the ground floor and level -1 | None | Everyone |
| Cerralbo | Thursday 17:00 to 19:00, every Sunday | At the museum; no advance sales | Everyone |
| Museo del Romanticismo | Until 31 October 2026, all opening hours. After that, Saturdays from 14:00 and Sundays | At the museum | Everyone |
| Sorolla | Always. The extension reopened on 15 October 2026, and every ticket is free | At the museum’s ticket office; not sold online | Everyone |
| San Antonio de la Florida | Always, Tuesday to Sunday | None | Everyone |
- The Prado and the Reina Sofía fit one evening on Monday and Wednesday to Saturday: the Prado from 18:00 and the Reina Sofía from 19:00. The museums are about a 10-minute walk apart. The Reina Sofía says its busiest times are 10:00 to 12:00 and 19:00, when the free hours start.
- A free Monday: the Thyssen at 12:00, the Prado at 18:00, the Reina Sofía at 19:00.
Free, but not for everyone
Three sights give free entry on weekday afternoons to citizens of the European Union, residents and work-permit holders there, and Latin American citizens. They show a national identity card, passport or driving licence, or a residence or work permit, at the box office. UK, US, Canadian and Australian visitors pay.
| Sight | Free slot | Price for everyone else |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Palace | Monday to Thursday, 16:00 to 18:00 in winter and 17:00 to 19:00 in summer; self-guided only | €18 |
| Royal Collections Gallery | Monday to Thursday, 18:00 to 20:00 | €14 |
| Descalzas Reales | Wednesday and Thursday, 16:00 to 18:30; guided only | €9 |
Free days
| Date | What is free |
|---|---|
| 6 December 2026 | The Reina Sofía, the Cerralbo and the Romanticismo |
| 18 April 2027 | The Reina Sofía and the Cerralbo |
| 18 May 2027, a Tuesday | The Thyssen, the Royal Palace, the Royal Collections Gallery and the Descalzas Reales, for everyone |
Parks, squares and views
- The Retiro: 125 hectares, open 6:00 to 22:00 from October to March. The Palacio de Velázquez inside is free. The Palacio de Cristal is closed.
- The Plaza Mayor and the Puerta del Sol: open all hours. See Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol.
- The Changing of the Guard, outside the Royal Palace: Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11:00, and the Solemn one on the first Wednesday of the month at 12:00. The Royal Palace page has the rules.
- The Mirador de la Cornisa, the terrace between the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral: open daily from 12:00 to 22:00, with views over the Campo del Moro and the Casa de Campo.
- The Campo del Moro gardens below the Palace are free.
- The Almudena Cathedral’s nave is open daily 10:00 to 20:30 with a suggested donation of €1. The museum and dome are €8.
- Walking tours on tips: several companies run tours you pay by tip; Madrid walking tours compares them with the paid ones.
- The city’s own museums, among them the Museo de Historia de Madrid, the Museo de San Isidro, the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo and the Castillo de la Alameda, are free.
The Campo del Moro gardens, with the Royal Palace behind the fountain. Photo: Bjaglin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
The Temple of Debod
Calle de Ferraz 1 · free · Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 20:00 · 30 minutes inside
An Egyptian temple, begun at the start of the 2nd century BC by King Adijalamani of Meroë as a chapel to Amun and Isis. Egypt asked for international help to save it from the flooding behind the Aswan Dam and gave it to Madrid in thanks for Spain’s donation. It was rebuilt stone by stone in the Parque del Cuartel de la Montaña, next to the Plaza de España, and opened in 1972. The park stands on Príncipe Pío hill, where French troops shot the rebels of 2 May 1808.
The Temple of Debod at dusk, with its three gateways reflected in the pool. Photo: Adrian Diez, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
| Detail | Temple of Debod |
|---|---|
| Price | Free |
| Booking | Reserving in advance is recommended, at madrid.es/debodreservas |
| Hours | Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays, 10:00 to 20:00 (last entry 19:30); from 15 June to 15 September to 19:00 (last entry 18:30) |
| Closed | Mondays, 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December |
| Limits | A maximum of 30 people, no groups, and a visit of no more than 30 minutes inside |
| Address | Calle de Ferraz 1, 28008. Metro Plaza de España (lines 2, 3 and 10), Ventura Rodríguez (line 3) or Príncipe Pío (lines 6 and 10) |
The building can close in part for security or conservation. Scale models and videos inside explain the temple, with audiovisual projections on the walls.
The Monday and Tuesday map
| Day | Open | Closed |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | The Prado, the Royal Palace, the Thyssen (12:00 to 16:00), the Reina Sofía, the Royal Collections Gallery, CaixaForum, the Almudena nave, the Retiro, the Bernabéu | The Descalzas Reales, the Cerralbo, the Romanticismo, the Sorolla, San Antonio de la Florida, the Temple of Debod, the CentroCentro viewpoint |
| Tuesday | The Prado, the Royal Palace, the Thyssen, the Descalzas Reales, the Cerralbo, the Romanticismo | The Reina Sofía |
| Sunday | The Cerralbo and the Romanticismo are free; the Prado until 19:00; the Reina Sofía until 14:30, free from 12:30 | The Almudena museum and dome; the Palace closes at 16:00 |
What to book before you go to Madrid lists the closed days for every sight, and museums in Madrid has the hours and prices of the smaller ones. For a guide with the ticket included, see the Prado and Reina Sofía pages, and the Paseo del Arte card for the sums.
Common questions
When is the Prado free?
In the last two hours before closing: 18:00 to 20:00 Monday to Saturday, and 17:00 to 19:00 on Sundays and public holidays.
When is the Reina Sofía free?
On Mondays and Wednesdays to Saturdays from 19:00 to 21:00 and on Sundays from 12:30 to 14:30, for individuals. You still need a ticket, which is free and can be booked online. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.
Is the Thyssen free on Mondays?
Yes, from 12:00 to 16:00, the only hours it opens that day, with no ticket needed. It is also free on Saturdays from 21:00 to 23:00 for the temporary exhibitions on the ground floor and level -1.
Can British, American, Canadian and Australian visitors use the Royal Palace's free hours?
No. The free slots at the Royal Palace, the Royal Collections Gallery and the Descalzas Reales are for citizens of the European Union, residents and work-permit holders there, and Latin American citizens, shown at the box office. Other visitors pay: €18 at the Palace.
Is the Temple of Debod free?
Yes, but visits inside are capped at 30 people for 30 minutes, with advance reservation recommended. It is closed on Mondays.
What is free in Madrid on a Monday?
The Retiro, the Thyssen from 12:00 to 16:00, the Prado from 18:00, the Reina Sofía from 19:00, the plazas, the Mirador de la Cornisa and the Campo del Moro. The Temple of Debod, the Cerralbo, the Romanticismo and San Antonio de la Florida are closed.
Is the Museo del Romanticismo free?
Until 31 October 2026 entry is free. After that it is €3, and free on Saturdays from 14:00, on Sundays and on 6 December.
