Free museums in Madrid

Free entry in Madrid comes in time slots, and each museum has its own. This table shows the slots open to everyone. Public holidays change some hours and the Natural Sciences slots stop from 1 July to 14 September, so check each museum's page before you go.

Day	Free for everyone
Monday	Thyssen 12:00–16:00 (collection) · Prado 18:00–20:00 · Reina Sofía 19:00–21:00
Tuesday	Lázaro Galdiano 14:00–15:00 · Prado 18:00–20:00 · Natural Sciences 15:00–17:00
Wednesday	Lázaro Galdiano 14:00–15:00 · Prado 18:00–20:00 · Reina Sofía 19:00–21:00
Thursday	Museum of the Americas from 14:00 · Lázaro Galdiano 14:00–15:00 · Cerralbo 17:00–19:00 · Prado 18:00–20:00 · Reina Sofía 19:00–21:00
Friday	Lázaro Galdiano 14:00–15:00 · Prado 18:00–20:00 · Reina Sofía 19:00–21:00
Saturday	National Archaeological Museum from 14:00 · Prado 18:00–20:00 · Reina Sofía 19:00–21:00 · Thyssen 21:00–23:00 (temporary exhibitions only)
Sunday	National Archaeological Museum in the morning · Museum of the Americas and Cerralbo, all opening hours · Reina Sofía 12:30–14:30 · Prado 17:00–19:00 · Natural Sciences 18:30–20:00

The catch at each of the big three

• Prado: you can't book. Tickets are handed out at the ticket office until capacity is reached, and they only cover the Collection.
• Reina Sofía: you need a ticket here too, but you reserve it online. It's closed on Tuesdays.
• Thyssen: on Mondays you see the collection. On Saturday nights, temporary exhibitions only.

Free for some visitors only

The Royal Palace and the Gallery of the Royal Collections aren't free for everyone. At the palace, the free slots are for EU citizens, residents and work-permit holders in the EU, and Ibero-American citizens. At the Gallery, they're for Ibero-American citizens and EU residents and workers. Either way you need proof and a ticket from the ticket office.

Both run Monday to Thursday: at the palace from 16:00 to 18:00 from October to March and from 17:00 to 19:00 from April to September, and at the Gallery from 18:00 to 20:00, or 17:00 to 19:00 on public holidays. If you're travelling on another country's passport and don't live or work in the EU, you pay.

Free at any hour

• Sorolla Museum. Its extension building opened on 15 October 2026, with the house museum closed for works. All tickets are free and you can only get them at the ticket office.
• Naval Museum. No set price, just a voluntary donation. Closed on Mondays and all of August.
• Temple of Debod. Free. Closed on Mondays, and booking ahead is recommended.

Dates when entry is free all day

Many museums open free all day on 18 April, 18 May, 12 October and 6 December. They include the Reina Sofía (which adds 22 May) and the National Archaeological Museum. The Cerralbo opens free on 18 April, 12 October and 6 December. The Royal Palace and the Gallery open free for everyone on 18 May and 12 October. CaixaForum is free on 15 May, 18 May and 9 November, and every day for under-16s.

With under-18s or students, forget the clock

Under-18s get in free on any day at the Prado, Reina Sofía, Thyssen, National Archaeological Museum and Museum of the Americas. Students aged 18 to 25 get in free at the Prado, Reina Sofía, National Archaeological Museum and Museum of the Americas. Always bring proof.