pre reserving in Madrid, Seville and Granada

Some folks have recommended getting a ticket to the Royal Palace ahead of time, because there can be a ticket line. The Palace is very popular with Spaniards; I'd expect it to be busier on weekends and holidays. I walked right up, but that was in 2016. Similarly, I've seen suggestions to buy an online ticket for the Prado, because there might be a ticket line there, thought I didn't see one. I've never heard that either ticket needs to be purchased much ahead of time. For that matter, I haven't checked to see whether their tickets are timed.

The Reina Sofia isn't normally busy, but it's always prudent to check to see whether an art museum has a special exhibition that is drawing an unusual amount of traffic. Normally, it seems that a lot of people at the Reina Sofia just want to see Guernica.

In all the above cases, I think how tight your schedule is could be key. If everything has to go like clockwork for you to fit everything in, being in even a 10-minute ticket line could be problematic.

The Alcazar in Seville needs to be pre-booked because the ticket line is often very long, plus it's outdoors and uncovered. I don't know whether you need to get the ticket more than a day in advance. The Alcazar hasn't had early sellouts in the past.

Also in Seville, you need to avoid the ticket line at the Cathedral, which is also long. Rick explains in his book how to buy a combo ticket at San Salvador that also admits you to the Cathedral.

I didn't climb Giralda Tower and don't know anything about that ticket.

I can never remember what is recommended for the Mezquita in Cordoba--and I went there in 2019! It doesn't sell out early, but I don't know whether you might encounter a line there.

I don't think any of the sights in Madrid require the tickets to be sold well in advance, but I would avoid just walking up. Every time I pass the Palace there's a long line. I'd suggest you look at availability shortly before you leave, and to see if you need to be a little more strategic, and prioritize committing to anything that has less availability. But most of those will be fine buying the night before or the day. I don't think you'd have any problem walking up to the Gallary of Royal Collections on a weekday. (It's not on most tourists' radar yet.)

Hi Rick,
I am planning my trip to the same cities, however, I am going in December. Here are a few more art exhibits in Madrid to check out:

• Picasso: Untitled. La Casa Encendida displays fifty works from the artist’s last period (1963-1973). Of these, twelve had not been shown to the public until now and twenty-three are being displayed in Spain for the first time. All of them have a title and a new description, proposed by each of the fifty guest artists. La Casa Encendida, Ronda de Valencia 2 Metro Lavapiés and Embajadores. Until January 7th https://www.lacasaencendida.es/en/ex...led-exhibition

• Monet. Masterpieces from the Musée Marmottan Monet. The first major exhibition in Madrid devoted to the French painter Claude Monet, the father of impressionism, featuring more than 50 masterpieces from the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris. CentroCentro, Plaza de Cibeles. Open until February 25 from 10am to 7pm. https://www.centrocentro.org/en/exhibition/monet

• Sorolla's Summers. This exhibition follows one of the painter's favourite themes: beach scenes. MAPFRE Foundation, Paseo de Recoletos 23. Open until January 7th From 11am to 7pm https://www.fundacionmapfre.org/en/a...e/exhibitions/

The lines at each of your places were minimal when we were there. So, if you do not want to tie yourself down, then just arrive at the time that's most convenient.

Granted it was Sept.-Oct. 2011 and 2014 the last time I was in Sevilla, Córdoba, and Granada, but the only place we pre booked was the Alhambra. Every place else we just walked up. Maybe we were lucky, but there were minimal lines. For the Prado and Reina Sofía, there are always the free hours in the event tickets sell out.

We were in those places in the middle of this June. In each case, we bought online the day before..

Thanks for all of the helpful responses. Definitely going to check out the Picasso and Monet exhibitions