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Free museums in Madrid, and when

Official sources checked Oct 5, 2026

Four rules cover most of it. The Prado is free Monday to Saturday 18:00–20:00 and Sundays 17:00–19:00. The Reina Sofía is free 19:00–21:00 except Tuesdays, when it is shut, and Sundays 12:30–14:30. State museums such as the Archaeological and Cerralbo are free on Sundays and one weekday slot. Museums run by the city, the History Museum and San Isidro among them, are free all the time. The Royal Palace asks for an EU or Latin American passport.

Madrid

At a glance

MuseumFree whenFor whomBooking
Prado Museum (free last two hours)Every day · Monday to Saturday 18:00–20:00, Sundays and public holidays 17:00–19:00. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Short hours (10:00–14:00) on 6 January, 24 and 31 December, with no free slot.EveryoneFree tickets are collected at the ticket desks for the free slot, and the line forms along the Goya entrance well before it starts. Check the museum's own site for any online option.
Reina Sofía Museum (free evenings)Monday and Wednesday to Saturday 19:00–21:00 · Sunday 12:30–14:30. Closed Tuesdays. Also free all day on 18 April, 18 May, 12 October and 6 December.Everyone, individual visitors only (no groups in the free slot)You still need a ticket in the free hours. Book the free ticket on the museum's site, or pick one up at the ticket office.
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (free Mondays)Mondays 12:00–16:00, permanent collection · Saturdays 21:00–23:00, temporary exhibitions on the ground and lower floors only. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.Everyone, until the building reaches capacityNo ticket on Mondays, the ticket office is closed and you walk in. Saturday night entry is at the door from 21:00.
Royal Collections Gallery (free for EU and Latin American citizens)Monday to Thursday 18:00–20:00. The gallery clears 15 minutes before closing. Closed 1 and 6 January, 1 May and 25 December.Citizens of the European Union, people with residence or a work permit in the EU, and citizens of Latin American countries, with ID. Also free for everyone on 18 May and 12 October.Free tickets only at the gallery's ticket office on the day.
National Archaeological Museum (weekend free hours)Saturdays from 14:00 to closing at 20:00 · Sundays 9:30–15:00. Also free on 18 April, 18 May, 12 October and 6 December. Closed Mondays.Everyone. Under-18s and over-65s are free at any time.Not needed. Pick up a free ticket at the desk.
Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando (free midday slot)Tuesday to Friday (not public holidays) 13:30–15:00, permanent collection only. Also free on 18 May, 12 October and 6 December. Closed Mondays and all of August.Everyone. Under-18s, university students aged 18–25 and unemployed visitors are free during all opening hours with proof.Not needed, and groups are not admitted in the free slot.
Cerralbo Museum (Thursday evening and Sundays)Thursdays 17:00–20:00 (not public holidays) · Sundays 10:00–15:00. Also free on 18 April, 18 May, 12 October and 6 December. Last entry one hour before closing. Closed Mondays.EveryoneNot needed. Bags and umbrellas go in the lockers at the ticket desk.
Museum of the History of MadridAlways · Tuesday to Sunday 10:00–20:00. From 15 June to 15 September 10:00–19:00. Closed Mondays, 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December.EveryoneNot needed
San Isidro Museum, the Origins of MadridAlways · Tuesday to Sunday and holidays 10:00–20:00. From 15 July to 15 September 10:00–19:00. Closed Mondays, 1 January, 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December.EveryoneNot needed. The free guided tour on Wednesdays at 12:00 needs advance sign-up.
Andén 0, Chamberí ghost stationFridays 16:00–20:00 · Saturdays 10:00–14:00 and 16:00–20:00 · Sundays 10:00–14:00. Closed 25 December, 1 and 6 January.EveryoneBooking is required on the Metro museums site. Each month's slots open between the 19th and 22nd of the month before and go fast. Guided visit in Spanish, groups of 28.
Geomineral MuseumAlways · every day including Mondays and holidays 9:00–14:00. Closed 24, 25 and 31 December, 1 and 6 January.Everyone. Carry photo ID, it is a government building and you may be asked for it.Not needed

Museums with a free day or free hours7

Illustration: Prado Museum (free last two hours)€15FREE

Prado Museum (free last two hours)

Paseo del Prado
Free on certain daysIndoorGood with kidsArtHistory

Velázquez's Las Meninas, Goya's Black Paintings and Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights, free for the last two hours of every day. A normal ticket is €15.

  • Las Meninas in room 12, the big oval hall
  • Goya's Black Paintings on floor 0
  • Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights, room 56A
Free when
Every day · Monday to Saturday 18:00–20:00, Sundays and public holidays 17:00–19:00. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Short hours (10:00–14:00) on 6 January, 24 and 31 December, with no free slot.
Free for whom
Everyone
Reservation
Free tickets are collected at the ticket desks for the free slot, and the line forms along the Goya entrance well before it starts. Check the museum's own site for any online option.
Time needed
1h30–2h, plus 30–45 minutes in line
How to get there
Metro L1 to Estación del Arte or L2 to Banco de España, then 8 minutes on foot. Free bus 001 stops on Paseo del Prado
Worth it? Yes.Two hours is not enough for the whole museum, so decide before you go in. Head to room 12 for Las Meninas, then down to the Black Paintings on floor 0, and leave the rest. Join the line by 17:15 on weekdays.
Source: Madrid city tourism office (esMADRID) · checked Oct 5, 2026Open in Maps
Illustration: Reina Sofía Museum (free evenings)€12FREE

Reina Sofía Museum (free evenings)

Atocha
Free on certain daysBooking recommendedIndoorGood with kidsArtHistory

Spain's modern art museum, built around Picasso's Guernica, with Dalí and Miró in the rooms beside it. It opens free for the last two hours on every day it is open.

  • Guernica, floor 2 of the Sabatini building
  • Glass lifts on the facade, with a view over the square
  • Sunday slot ends at 14:30, when the museum closes
Free when
Monday and Wednesday to Saturday 19:00–21:00 · Sunday 12:30–14:30. Closed Tuesdays. Also free all day on 18 April, 18 May, 12 October and 6 December.
Free for whom
Everyone, individual visitors only (no groups in the free slot)
Reservation
You still need a ticket in the free hours. Book the free ticket on the museum's site, or pick one up at the ticket office.
Time needed
1h30–2h
How to get there
Metro L1 to Estación del Arte, 3 minutes on foot. Cercanías to Atocha
Worth it? Yes.The best free museum slot in Madrid, because Guernica sits on floor 2 and the line is shorter than at the Prado. Book the free ticket online that morning and use the Nouvel building entrance on Ronda de Atocha.
Source: Museo Reina Sofía · checked Oct 5, 2026Open in Maps
Illustration: Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (free Mondays)€14FREE

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (free Mondays)

Paseo del Prado
Free on certain daysIndoorGood with kidsArt

A private collection turned national museum that fills the gaps the Prado leaves: Van Eyck to Hopper, with a strong run of Impressionists. On Mondays the whole opening window is free.

  • Hopper's Hotel Room, among the American paintings
  • Ghirlandaio's portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni, top floor
  • Saturday nights cover temporary shows, not the collection
Free when
Mondays 12:00–16:00, permanent collection · Saturdays 21:00–23:00, temporary exhibitions on the ground and lower floors only. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
Free for whom
Everyone, until the building reaches capacity
Reservation
No ticket on Mondays, the ticket office is closed and you walk in. Saturday night entry is at the door from 21:00.
Time needed
2h
How to get there
Metro L2 to Banco de España, 5 minutes on foot. Free bus 001 to Neptuno
Worth it? Yes.Monday is the day to come, since the Prado line is long and the Reina Sofía does not open free until 19:00. Arrive at 11:45, start on the top floor with the early Italians and walk down through time.
Source: Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza · checked Oct 5, 2026Open in Maps
Illustration: Royal Collections Gallery (free for EU and Latin American citizens)

Royal Collections Gallery (free for EU and Latin American citizens)

Palacio
Free on certain daysResidents onlyIndoorGood with kidsArtHistoryArchitecture

The newest big museum in Madrid, opened in 2023 beside the palace, showing what the Habsburg and Bourbon kings collected: tapestries, carriages, Velázquez, Caravaggio. It runs the same nationality-based free slot as the palace, two hours later.

  • Caravaggio's Salome with the Head of John the Baptist
  • Remains of the 9th century city wall on floor -1
  • Long windows facing the Campo del Moro at sunset
Free when
Monday to Thursday 18:00–20:00. The gallery clears 15 minutes before closing. Closed 1 and 6 January, 1 May and 25 December.
Free for whom
Citizens of the European Union, people with residence or a work permit in the EU, and citizens of Latin American countries, with ID. Also free for everyone on 18 May and 12 October.
Reservation
Free tickets only at the gallery's ticket office on the day.
Time needed
1h30
How to get there
Metro L2 or L5 to Ópera, then 8 minutes on foot to the entrance on Calle Bailén next to the cathedral
Worth it? Yes.The slot starts when the palace's winter one ends, so from October to March you can do both back to back. The building drops down the hillside in three floors of ramps. Start at the top with the Habsburgs.
Source: Patrimonio Nacional · checked Oct 5, 2026Open in Maps
Illustration: National Archaeological Museum (weekend free hours)€3FREE

National Archaeological Museum (weekend free hours)

Salamanca
Free on certain daysIndoorGood with kidsHistoryArt

Spain from prehistory to the 19th century in one building, with the Lady of Elche, Visigothic gold crowns and a walk-in copy of the Altamira cave in the garden. Full price is only €3, and weekends cut that to nothing.

  • Lady of Elche, floor 1, Iberian rooms
  • Guarrazar treasure of Visigothic votive crowns
  • Altamira cave replica under the front garden
Free when
Saturdays from 14:00 to closing at 20:00 · Sundays 9:30–15:00. Also free on 18 April, 18 May, 12 October and 6 December. Closed Mondays.
Free for whom
Everyone. Under-18s and over-65s are free at any time.
Reservation
Not needed. Pick up a free ticket at the desk.
Time needed
2h
How to get there
Metro L4 to Serrano or Colón, 4 minutes on foot to Calle de Serrano 13
Worth it? Yes.Saturday afternoon gives you six hours, which is the most generous free slot in the city. Sunday morning is busier with families. Do not skip the Iberian rooms on floor 1.
Source: Museo Arqueológico Nacional · checked Oct 5, 2026Open in Maps
Illustration: Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando (free midday slot)€10FREE

Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando (free midday slot)

Sol
Free on certain daysIndoorArt

The academy where Goya taught and Picasso and Dalí studied, with thirteen Goyas, Zurbarán's white-robed monks and Arcimboldo's Spring. Almost nobody visits, and it is five minutes from Sol.

  • Goya's Burial of the Sardine and two self-portraits
  • Arcimboldo's Spring, the only one in Spain
  • Zurbarán's five Mercedarian friars in a row
Free when
Tuesday to Friday (not public holidays) 13:30–15:00, permanent collection only. Also free on 18 May, 12 October and 6 December. Closed Mondays and all of August.
Free for whom
Everyone. Under-18s, university students aged 18–25 and unemployed visitors are free during all opening hours with proof.
Reservation
Not needed, and groups are not admitted in the free slot.
Time needed
1h–1h30
How to get there
Metro L2 to Sevilla or L1, L2, L3 to Sol, then 3 minutes on foot to Calle de Alcalá 13
Worth it? Yes.Ninety minutes is tight but workable because the rooms are quiet. The second floor has been shut since May 2026 until further notice, so ask at the desk what is open before you plan around a specific painting.
Source: Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando · checked Oct 5, 2026Open in Maps
Illustration: Cerralbo Museum (Thursday evening and Sundays)€3FREE

Cerralbo Museum (Thursday evening and Sundays)

Plaza de España
Free on certain daysIndoorHistoryArchitectureArt

The mansion of a 19th century marquis left exactly as he lived in it, crammed with armour, clocks, Murano chandeliers and a ballroom lined with mirrors. It shows how Madrid's aristocracy lived better than any palace tour.

  • Ballroom on the first floor, mirrors and painted ceiling
  • Armoury gallery with Japanese samurai armour
  • Main staircase, the grandest part of the house
Free when
Thursdays 17:00–20:00 (not public holidays) · Sundays 10:00–15:00. Also free on 18 April, 18 May, 12 October and 6 December. Last entry one hour before closing. Closed Mondays.
Free for whom
Everyone
Reservation
Not needed. Bags and umbrellas go in the lockers at the ticket desk.
Time needed
1h
How to get there
Metro L3 to Ventura Rodríguez or L2, L3, L10 to Plaza de España, 4 minutes on foot to Calle de Ventura Rodríguez 17
Worth it? Yes.Go on Thursday evening and pair it with sunset at the Temple of Debod, which is 5 minutes away across Calle de Ferraz. At €3 it is also one of the few museums worth paying for outright.
Source: Madrid city tourism office (esMADRID) · checked Oct 5, 2026Open in Maps

Museums that are always free4

Illustration: Museum of the History of MadridFREE

Museum of the History of Madrid

Malasaña
Always freeIndoorGood with kidsHistoryArt

The city museum, in an 18th century hospice with a wildly carved baroque doorway on Calle de Fuencarral. Inside is a huge 1830 scale model of Madrid, Goya's Allegory of the City and old maps.

  • Pedro de Ribera's baroque doorway on Calle de Fuencarral
  • 1830 wooden model of the whole city
  • Goya's Allegory of the City of Madrid
Free when
Always · Tuesday to Sunday 10:00–20:00. From 15 June to 15 September 10:00–19:00. Closed Mondays, 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December.
Free for whom
Everyone
Reservation
Not needed
Time needed
1h
How to get there
Metro L1 or L10 to Tribunal. The museum is across the street at Calle de Fuencarral 78
Worth it? Yes.Go to the basement first for the León Gil de Palacio model, then find your own hotel street on it. A good first stop in Madrid, since it makes the rest of the old centre easier to read.
Source: Madrid city tourism office (esMADRID) · checked Oct 5, 2026Open in Maps
Illustration: San Isidro Museum, the Origins of MadridFREE

San Isidro Museum, the Origins of Madrid

La Latina
Always freeIndoorGood with kidsHistoryLocal life

Madrid before it was a capital: mammoth bones from the Manzanares, Roman mosaics and the Moorish town. It stands on the house where the city's patron saint, Isidro, is said to have lived, with the well of his best-known miracle.

  • Well of the miracle, ground floor
  • Renaissance courtyard with a garden of old Madrid plants
  • Chapel on the spot where the saint is said to have died
Free when
Always · Tuesday to Sunday and holidays 10:00–20:00. From 15 July to 15 September 10:00–19:00. Closed Mondays, 1 January, 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December.
Free for whom
Everyone
Reservation
Not needed. The free guided tour on Wednesdays at 12:00 needs advance sign-up.
Time needed
45 minutes–1h
How to get there
Metro L5 to La Latina, then 4 minutes on foot to Plaza de San Andrés
Worth it? Yes.Small and quiet. On a Sunday it is the natural stop after El Rastro, 8 minutes away. The Renaissance courtyard alone is worth walking in for.
Source: Madrid city tourism office (esMADRID) · checked Oct 5, 2026Open in Maps
Illustration: Andén 0, Chamberí ghost stationFREE

Andén 0, Chamberí ghost station

Chamberí
Always freeBooking requiredIndoorGood with kidsHistoryArchitectureLocal life

A 1919 metro station closed in 1966 and left sealed for forty years, now restored with its white tiles, wooden ticket booths and ceramic adverts from the 1920s. Line 1 trains still run through without stopping.

  • Tiled adverts from the 1920s along the platform
  • Trains passing behind a glass screen
  • Original ticket hall designed by Antonio Palacios
Free when
Fridays 16:00–20:00 · Saturdays 10:00–14:00 and 16:00–20:00 · Sundays 10:00–14:00. Closed 25 December, 1 and 6 January.
Free for whom
Everyone
Reservation
Booking is required on the Metro museums site. Each month's slots open between the 19th and 22nd of the month before and go fast. Guided visit in Spanish, groups of 28.
Time needed
30–40 minutes
How to get there
Metro L1 to Iglesia or Bilbao, then 5 minutes on foot to Plaza de Chamberí
Worth it? Yes.One of the most unusual free things in Madrid, if you can get a slot. Set a reminder for the 19th. The tour is in Spanish, but the station speaks for itself.
Source: Metro de Madrid · checked Oct 5, 2026Open in Maps
Illustration: Geomineral MuseumFREE

Geomineral Museum

Chamberí
Always freeIndoorGood with kidsArchitectureNatureHistory

Minerals, fossils and meteorites shown in tall wooden cabinets on three iron balconies under a stained-glass roof, inside the Geological Survey's 1920s headquarters. The room is as much the exhibit as the rocks.

  • Stained-glass ceiling over the main hall
  • Climb to the top balcony for the view down
  • Fossil elephant skull on the ground floor
Free when
Always · every day including Mondays and holidays 9:00–14:00. Closed 24, 25 and 31 December, 1 and 6 January.
Free for whom
Everyone. Carry photo ID, it is a government building and you may be asked for it.
Reservation
Not needed
Time needed
45 minutes
How to get there
Metro L1 to Ríos Rosas. The entrance is at Calle de Ríos Rosas 23, by the station exit
Worth it? Yes.One of the few museums in Madrid open on Monday, and one of the least known. Children like the mammoth skull and the glowing minerals. Mornings only, so do not leave it for after lunch.
Source: Madrid city tourism office (esMADRID) · checked Oct 5, 2026Open in Maps

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