Madrid · Spain

Madrid: the Paseo del Prado

Three of Europe's major art museums stand within about fifteen minutes on foot of each other along and just off the Paseo del Prado: the Prado, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza. No fair or biennale anchors these dates; this is a free-standing museum walk, and the dates are only a suggestion.

The museum mile in one day: Prado in the morning, Reina Sofía after lunch, Thyssen before the evening — the full walk in a single long day.

Two slower days: The Prado gets Saturday to itself; the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen share Sunday with room to breathe.

Museo Nacional del Prado. Calle de Ruiz de Alarcón 23, 28014 Madrid. One of the world's great old-master collections — Las Meninas and the Goya rooms alone justify the morning.. Hours: Monday–Saturday 10:00–20:00; Sundays and public holidays 10:00–19:00. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. 6 January, 24 and 31 December: 10:00–14:00.. Admission: €15 general admission, including the collection and temporary exhibitions; €7.50 for eligible reduced-admission visitors. Complimentary collection access during the last two hours before closing, subject to capacity.. Last entry 30 minutes before closing; galleries clear 10 minutes before closing. Complimentary collection hours are 18:00–20:00 Monday–Saturday and 17:00–19:00 Sundays/public holidays; obtain a ticket at the ticket office.

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. Calle de Santa Isabel 52, 28012 Madrid. Picasso's Guernica hangs here, with Dalí, Miró and the story of Spanish modernism around it.. Hours: Monday and Wednesday–Saturday 10:00–21:00; Sunday 10:00–14:30; closed Tuesday. Also closed 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December; check the museum calendar for Madrid holiday closures on 15 May and 9 November.. Admission: €12 general admission for the collection and temporary exhibitions. Complimentary individual admission Monday and Wednesday–Saturday 19:00–21:00; Sunday 12:30–14:30. A ticket is still required; eligibility-based concessions are listed by the museum.. Choose an entry time when booking a paid ticket. Last entry 30 minutes before closing; galleries clear 15 minutes before closing. The Sunday suggested visit overlaps the complimentary window from 12:30; consult official ticket details before booking.

Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza. Paseo del Prado 8, 28014 Madrid. Fills the gaps between the Prado and the Reina Sofía — from the early Renaissance to Hopper and Rothko in one collection.. Hours: Winter schedule (1 September–30 June): Monday 12:00–16:00; Tuesday–Friday and Sunday 10:00–19:00; Saturday collection 10:00–21:00, then 21:00–23:00 access limited to temporary exhibitions on floors -1 and 0. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; 24 and 31 December 10:00–15:00.. Admission: €14 general admission for the permanent collection, Carmen Thyssen Collection and available temporary exhibitions; €10 for eligible students, over-65s and pensioners. Complimentary collection access Monday 12:00–16:00; Saturday 21:00–23:00 covers temporary exhibitions on floors -1 and 0, not the collection.. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Saturday late-night access is for the specified temporary-exhibition floors, not the collection. A timed slot is required for the ground-floor temporary exhibition; the collection ticket is valid on the selected day.

Museo Nacional del Prado. Calle de Ruiz de Alarcón 23, 28014 Madrid. A collection that rewards a whole day — Velázquez and Goya in the morning, the Flemish and Italian rooms after lunch.. Hours: Monday–Saturday 10:00–20:00; Sundays and public holidays 10:00–19:00. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. 6 January, 24 and 31 December: 10:00–14:00.. Admission: €15 general admission, including the collection and temporary exhibitions; €7.50 for eligible reduced-admission visitors. Complimentary collection access during the last two hours before closing, subject to capacity.. Last entry 30 minutes before closing; galleries clear 10 minutes before closing. Complimentary collection hours are 18:00–20:00 Monday–Saturday and 17:00–19:00 Sundays/public holidays; obtain a ticket at the ticket office.

El Retiro park. Plaza de la Independencia 7, 28001 Madrid. The park behind the Prado — the Palacio de Cristal and the pond — is where the day's looking settles.. Hours: Daily 06:00–22:00 October–March; daily 06:00–00:00 April–September.. Admission: €0 admission to the park grounds. Boat hire and other separately charged activities are not included.. Weather alerts can close parts of the park or the entire park temporarily, overriding the seasonal schedule. Check Madrid's municipal alerts for the day of your visit.

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. Calle de Santa Isabel 52, 28012 Madrid. The morning to stand in front of Guernica without watching the clock.. Hours: Monday and Wednesday–Saturday 10:00–21:00; Sunday 10:00–14:30; closed Tuesday. Also closed 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December; check the museum calendar for Madrid holiday closures on 15 May and 9 November.. Admission: €12 general admission for the collection and temporary exhibitions. Complimentary individual admission Monday and Wednesday–Saturday 19:00–21:00; Sunday 12:30–14:30. A ticket is still required; eligibility-based concessions are listed by the museum.. Choose an entry time when booking a paid ticket. Last entry 30 minutes before closing; galleries clear 15 minutes before closing. The Sunday suggested visit overlaps the complimentary window from 12:30; consult official ticket details before booking.

Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza. Paseo del Prado 8, 28014 Madrid. The quietest of the three on a Sunday afternoon, and the one that connects everything seen since Saturday.. Hours: Winter schedule (1 September–30 June): Monday 12:00–16:00; Tuesday–Friday and Sunday 10:00–19:00; Saturday collection 10:00–21:00, then 21:00–23:00 access limited to temporary exhibitions on floors -1 and 0. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; 24 and 31 December 10:00–15:00.. Admission: €14 general admission for the permanent collection, Carmen Thyssen Collection and available temporary exhibitions; €10 for eligible students, over-65s and pensioners. Complimentary collection access Monday 12:00–16:00; Saturday 21:00–23:00 covers temporary exhibitions on floors -1 and 0, not the collection.. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Saturday late-night access is for the specified temporary-exhibition floors, not the collection. A timed slot is required for the ground-floor temporary exhibition; the collection ticket is valid on the selected day.

Regular hours and admission prices were checked against official museum pages on 18 October 2026. Times are local to Madrid; special exhibitions, holidays and capacity restrictions may change access. Check the linked museum calendar before traveling.

The Reina Sofía is closed on Tuesdays and closes at 14:30 on Sundays. Thyssen's Saturday 21:00–23:00 window is for specified temporary exhibitions, not the permanent collection.

The suggested dates are only a suggestion; no fair or biennale anchors them. Nothing on this page is booked.