My husband and I are going to Madrid in April and would like to go to both the Prado and the Reina Sofia. I see that one can get a senior discount at both. For the Prado you can get a voucher online and then you go to a ticket booth to prove your age and get your actual ticket. For the Reina Sofia, you can only get an senior admission ticket in person.
My question is, how long a line does one have to wait in to get each of these? We might just pay the on-line general admission price to save the time in line if it is excessive.
Does anyone have experience at either museum with this situation?
Thanks in advance.
Posted by
Fredericksburg, VA
241 posts
PC Andrews: We did both in mid-April 2022. We had no problems with lines; we just walked up and got the tickets. We visited on a non-holiday weekday. Hope this helps and enjoy your visit.
~Darrel
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Fantastic ! Thanks Darrel !
Posted by
Australia
1072 posts
I was looking at these two museums just yesterday as we will be in Madrid in March 2023. Both have free entry times in the evenings - Prado is 6-8pm Mon-Sat and 5-7pm Sunday. Reina Sofia is 7-9pm Mon, Wed-Sat and 12:30-2:30pm Sunday. Reina Sofia is closed on Tuesdays. We are going to aim for the free entry times and if the lines are too long come back the next day to pay for entry.
Posted by
Washington DC
28082 posts
You'll probably be fine at both but are a bit likelier to see some sort of line at the Prado. It probably won't be significant unless you choose one of the free-entry periods. I'd only recommend that at the Prado if you seriously have to pinch pennies. Don't forget that free-entry periods are very popular with local residents, who are all too familiar with when they're scheduled.
Posted by
Australia
1072 posts
It probably won't be significant unless you choose one of the free-entry periods. I'd only recommend that at the Prado if you seriously have to pinch pennies.
Our flight to Madrid arrives at 2:30pm on a Thursday. We will be staying in Madrid for one night before heading to Zaragoza and thought we would swing by the Prado and/or Reina Sofia on our first night as our hotel is walking distance. We go back to Madrid for five nights later in our trip so if we miss out on the free entry we can go back. I have wanted to see Picasso's "Guernica" for more than 40 years, so I might want more than one opportunity to see it.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7159 posts
My wife and I are not museum people so we just went to each during the free hours. A couple hours in each was sufficient for us, but we’ve been to each a few times.
Posted by
Washington DC
28082 posts
I often take advantage of free-entry periods myself, for secondary museums or those I suspect I won't be much interested in. But for a major museum you know you want to see, I think the potential waste of time needs to be considered if you're the typical visitor on a compressed time schedule. How much time will it cost you if you need to return the next day? What will you end up not having time for as a result?
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks to everyone for their solid suggestions. This was my first time posting a question and I am truly impressed !