Please sign in to post.

Free hours at the Prado

Hello, has anyone taken advantage of free afternoon hours at the Prado and the Palace in Madrid. Is it easy? Is there a long line? Thank you.

Posted by
26837 posts

I am doubtful about trying that at the Palace, which is very popular not only with tourists but with locals, and locals are very, very well aware of free-entry periods. I don't know how crowded the Prado might be.

Posted by
6386 posts

Haven’t done the palace, but have gone to both the Prado and Reina Sofía during the free hours.

I believe you can get the Prado free timed entry ticket online that might save some time. When we were there in May 2022, we lined up about 40 minutes before the free admission time. The line was lengthy but moved quickly. Prior to opening the line moved up to a desk where we were given a timed entry. We then just waited. What was interesting was once the doors opened nobody seemed to care what time was on your ticket. We were inside the museum within 15 minutes of the free opening time.

When we did the Reina Sofía free hours in 2017 the line was much shorter.