If you’d like to visit free museums in Madrid, many of them are free at certain times. Even the capital’s most important museums offer time slots that allow you to discover them without breaking the bank. We’ve put together all the information you need to visit Madrid’s free museums
Here’s a list of the main free museums covered in this article, and we’ll be updating it as we go along!
Free museums in Madrid with time slots.
There are plenty of free museums in Madrid, either in certain periods or completely free.
We begin this list with the main museums in Madrid, the ones best known to the general public.
1- Visit the Prado free of charge
Madrid’s most famous museum, the Prado Museum is also one of the most famous in the world for its impressive collection of works.
It is particularly renowned for its collection of works by Spanish artists such as Velázquez, Goya and El Greco. The Prado also has a remarkable collection of works by European artists, including Titian, Rubens, and Bosch, spanning a period from the 12ᵉ to the early 19ᵉ century.
Inaugurated in 1819, the museum was originally intended to display works of art belonging to the Spanish monarchy. Over time, its collection has been enriched by acquisitions, donations and bequests.
The building itself is a fine example of classical architecture, and has been extended several times to accommodate its growing collection.
It is open all year round, except on January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.
Free admission to the entire museum is available Monday to Saturday from 6pm to 8pm, and on Sundays and public holidays from 5pm to 7pm.
Of course, if you want to get into the Prado Museum free of charge, you’ll need to plan ahead, as the queues can be very long.
There are also other days of the year when you can visit the Prado free of charge: 19 November and 18 May.
You can also buy your ticket at €18, or at 7.5€ for large families and over 65s.
Free for under-18s and students under 25. You still need to buy a ticket at the ticket office.
If you would like a guided tour of the Prado, book your ticket for €39in English.
The audio guide costs an extra €5.
To find out more, read our full article on the Prado Museum.
2- Visit the Reina Sofia Museum
The Reina Sofia Museum is geographically located in the same area as the Prado Museum. Take a journey through the history of contemporary art, admiring works by Miro, Dali and Picasso. The Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid is a centre for modern and contemporary art, famous for housing Picasso’s “Guernica”.
Housed in a former 18th-century hospital, renovated with a modern extension, it features works by major artists such as Dalí and Miró. The museum, which opened in 1992, is a key venue for 20th-century art in Spain and organises exhibitions, conferences and workshops. It forms part of Madrid’s “Golden Triangle of Art”, attracting visitors from all over the world.
The Reina Sofia Museum offers free admission from 7pm to 9pm on Mondays and from Wednesday to Saturday for all visitors, and from 1.30pm to 7pm on Sundays and public holidays.
Like the Prado, there are 4 “free admission” days: April 18, May 18, October 12 and December 6.
In normal periods, the price is €12 per adult. Free for under-18s, over-65s, journalists…
3- Visit the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum free of charge
The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza brings together art spanning the entire history of art, from the Middle Ages to the end of the 20ᵉ century.
The museum is famous for its eclectic collection, which includes works from the Italian and Flemish Renaissance to the Baroque, Romanticism, Impressionism, Modernism and contemporary art. It exhibits works by masters such as Titian, Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Gauguin and Picasso.
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection originated in the private collection of the Thyssen-Bornemisza family. The Spanish government acquired a large part of this collection in the 1990s, transforming it into a national museum.
The Spanish government acquired a large part of this collection in the 1990s, transforming it into a national museum.
The museum also offers free opening hours on Mondays from 12 to 4pm. Otherwise, admission is €13, free for under-18s. Reduced rate of €9 for over-65s and large families.
The guided tour costs 26€, so plan ahead and buy your ticket online.
4- Visit Madrid’s Palacio Real for free
The Palacio Real in Madrid is the largest royal palace in Western Europe, and also one of the largest royal palaces in Europe in terms of surface area. Although it is the official residence of the Spanish royal family, the Royal Palace is mainly used for state ceremonies. The royal family actually resides at the Palacio de la Zarzuela, on the outskirts of Madrid.
The Royal Palace was built on the site of the old Alcázar, a medieval fortress destroyed by fire in 1734. Construction of the new palace began in 1738 and was completed in 1755. It reflects the baroque and classical style. It was designed by the Italian architect Filippo Juvarra and his Spanish pupil Juan Bautista Sachetti.
The palace boasts an impressive façade, sumptuous interiors and is surrounded by magnificent gardens, including the Campo del Moro and the Sabatini Gardens. Access to the gardens is free.
If you decide to visit on a Wednesday or Saturday, you can watch the changing of the guard ( cambios de guardia) between 11am and 2pm (10am-12pm from mid-June to mid-September).
The basic fee is €6. On the other hand, there is a reduced rate of €3 for students under 25 on presentation of a student card, over-65s and children aged 5 to 16.
The Royal Palace can be visited free of charge from Monday to Thursday from 4pm to 6pm by all citizens/workers of the European Union (proof required).
6- Visit Madrid’s Archaeological Museum free of charge
The Archaeological Museum of Madrid is located in Calle Serrano and shares a building with the National Library of Spain. This marvellous museum brings visitors closer to Spanish culture and history, taking them on a journey from prehistory to the 19th century.
The building is beautiful. The Archaeological Museum offers free admission to all members of the public during these periods:
- Saturday from 2pm and Sunday morning.
- 18 April, Monuments and Sites Day.
- 18 May, International Museum Day.
- 12 October, Spain’s bank holidays
- 6 December, Spanish Constitution Day.
Leave your luggage behind and visit with your hands free! From €5 per day
Take advantage of our 10% discount code
7- The Museum of Romanticism
The Museum of Romanticism in Madrid, also known as the Museo del Romanticismo, is a fascinating place that offers an immersion into the Romantic period in Spain, focusing specifically on the years 1808 to 1860. Here are just a few of the museum’s highlights:
The museum houses around 16,000 items, offering a rich and varied insight into the tastes, fashions, interior decorations and customs of the upper middle classes of the Romantic period. The collection includes paintings, furniture, decorative art objects, photographs and textiles, reflecting the aesthetics and spirit of the period..
It is housed in an 18th-century palace that has been restored and fitted out to recreate the atmosphere and living environment of the bourgeoisie of the Romantic period. The architecture and decoration of the building contribute to the immersive experience offered by the museum.
We recommend having a coffee in the courtyard, which is very pleasant in summer and far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The Museum of Romanticism is one of Madrid’s free museums, but only at certain times and on certain days:
- Saturdays from 2.00 pm, Sundays
- The following days: every Sunday, 18 April (International Day of Monuments and Sites), 18 May (International Museum Day), 12 October (Spanish National Day) and 6 December (Spanish Constitution Day).
7- Sorolla Museum
The Sorolla Museum in Madrid is dedicated to the life and work of Joaquín Sorolla, one of Spain’s most famous painters. Sorolla was a Spanish painter known for his portraits, landscapes and works capturing scenes of Spanish life. His paintings are characterised by a vibrant use of light and colour, often depicting scenes of beaches and gardens.
The museum is located in Sorolla’s home and studio in Madrid, where he lived and worked. After his death, his widow turned the house into a museum and bequeathed it to the Spanish state.
Les horaires de gratuités du musée de Sorolla sont :
- Saturdays from 2pm to 8pm
- Sundays from 10am to 3pm.
- Also on 18 April, 18 May, 12 October and 6 December.
This type of ticket is available online. Advance accreditation is also free for under-18s, pensioners, over-65s and disabled people.
9-National Museum of Decorative Arts
Madrid’s Museum of Decorative Arts, known in Spanish as the “Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas”, is a major cultural institution that highlights the history and development of the decorative arts in Spain and elsewhere.
The museum houses an impressive collection of decorative art objects spanning the period from Antiquity to the present day. The collection includes furniture, ceramics, glass, textiles, jewellery, toys and other decorative objects that bear witness to artistic trends and lifestyles over the centuries.
The museum’s exhibits are displayed on several floors, each of which is generally devoted to a particular period or style. The exhibitions are well organised and designed to give visitors an in-depth understanding of the evolution of the decorative arts.
Free opening hours :
- Sundays and Thursdays from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
- Saturdays from 2pm to 3pm.
- Also on 18 May, 18 April, 12 October and 6 December.
10- San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts
The Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, located in Madrid, is one of Spain’s most prestigious cultural and educational institutions. It plays a crucial role in promoting and teaching the arts in the country. Founded in 1744, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando is one of the oldest and most respected artistic institutions in Spain. It was created with the support of the Spanish monarchy to promote the arts and arts education in the country.
The Academy’s mission is to cultivate and promote the arts in Spain. It offers educational programmes in various areas of the arts, such as painting, sculpture, engraving and architecture. These programmes attract students and artists from all over Spain and beyond.
Admission is free on Wednesdays not on public holidays and on 18 May, 12 October and 6 December.
Our top tips for visiting Madrid’s museums :
Explorer Pass
If you’re planning to visit several museums, I suggest you take the Explorer Pass, which costs from €64 to visit 3 museums, and €54 for children aged 5 to 15. Museums are generally free for children under 5.
Madrid Pass
The Madrid Pass is €56 and includes the following tickets:
- The Prado with its POP Guide radio
- The Royal Palace (coup-file and audio guide)
- Access to the Tourist Bus
- The audio guide app for Visiter MAdrid
Find out more about the Madrid Pass.
Other free museums in Madrid
They’re less well-known, but no less interesting! Here are the free museums in Madrid :
- Naval Museum, free all year round
- Museo Tiflológico (Museum for the Blind), free all year round
- Goya Museum: Goya’s Pantheon
- San Isidro Museum
- ABC Museum of Drawing and Illustration
- Muséo de Arte Contemporáno
- Madrid History Museum
- Planetario de Madrid (only the showroom)
- El Museo Casa de la Moneda
- El Museo Geominero
- El Museo Africano Mundo Negro
- El Museo Torres Quevedo
I hope this article on Madrid’s free museums will help you prepare for your weekend in Madrid! In addition, you can reread our article on apps for visiting museums, always useful and a good compromise for having an audio guide!
If you’re coming to Madrid with children, read our article on child-friendly museums. If you’re looking for something a little less touristy, check out our articles on unusual outings in Madrid.
Émilie
