Free museums in Madrid

The Prado Museum or the Reina Sofía are some of the most important and imposing museums that you can find in Madrid, but did you know that visiting each of them can cost you about 10 to 15 euros. While it is a reasonable rate compared to other museums in Spain or even Europe, you should know that there are ways to enter them for free, that's right FREE!

Prado Museum

You should know that from Monday to Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Sundays and holidays from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. admission is free. Of course, make sure you arrive well in advance because there are queues to get in.

One recommendation is that you can review the works beforehand and mark those that you consider most important to visit, since the two hours will be short for you to see all the works.

Reina Sofía National Museum and Art Center

This museum and art center has several locations, some of them free during all hours and located in El Retiro Park.

However, their other locations have an entry cost that ranges from 12 to 18 euros, depending on which locations you choose to visit. If you would like to enter for free, you have the option of going on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

In this case you can make a pre-reservation so that you can arrive and avoid the line.

https://entradas.museoreinasofia.es/?lang=es

More free museums in Madrid

An important fact is that although the two previous museums are the most renowned, in Madrid there are many state museums with free admission. Here is a list of them:

• National Archaeological Museum

• Museum of Romanticism

• Anthropology National Museum

• National Museum of Decorative Arts

• Costume Museum

• Cerralbo Museum

• Museum of America

• Sorolla Museum

In addition, there are museum options that, like the Prado and the Reina Sofía, have free admission some days of the week or at certain times, such as the ones I leave you below:

• Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum: Monday all day

• Royal Palace: Monday to Thursday, from 6 to 8 p.m., for citizens of the EU and Latin America. Access to the Mirador de la Cornisa, free of charge from Monday to Sunday, from 12 to 10 p.m.

• Gallery of the Royal Collections: Monday to Thursday, from 6 to 8 p.m., for citizens of the EU & Latin America

• Palacio de Liria: Mon, non-holidays, from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

• Royal Botanical Garden: Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Monastery of the Descalzas Reales: Wednesday and Thursday, from 4 to 6:30 p.m., for EU and Latin American citizens

• Royal Monastery of La Encarnación: Wednesday and Thursday, from 4 to 6:30 p.m., for citizens of the EU and Latin America

• Royal Palace of Pardo: Wed and Sun, from 3 to 6 p.m., for citizens of the EU and Latin America

• Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando: Wednesdays without holidays

• Museum of America: Thu from 2pm and Sun

• Cerralbo Museum: Thu, 5pm to 8pm and Sun

• Lázaro Galdiano Museum: Thursday, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• National Museum of Decorative Arts: Thursday, 5 to 8 p.m.; Sat, 2pm to 3pm and Sun

• Costume Museum: Thursday, 7 to 10:30 p.m.; Sat from 2pm and Sun

• National Archaeological Museum: Sat from 2pm and Sun

• Sorolla Museum: Sat from 2pm and Sun

• Museum of Romanticism: Sat from 2pm and Sun

• National Museum of Anthropology: Sat from 2pm and Sun

• National Museum of Natural Sciences: Sun, from 5 to 8 p.m., except before holidays

It is important that before going you review each one of them so that you can check if you should make a pre-reservation and avoid the lines or if they have limited capacity. Choose the museums you want to visit and immerse yourself in the world of culture that Madrid offers you.