When is the Prado Museum free?

The free hours and days at the Prado Museum, during which the public can access the permanent collection without paying the general admission fee (and temporary exhibitions under certain conditions), are as follows:

The following sections address frequently asked questions regarding free access to the Prado Museum. The information comes directly from current official regulations:

Is access free for everyone or only for residents?

Free entry during the closing time slots applies to all visiting members of the public, regardless of their nationality or place of residence. During these free hours at the Prado Museum, visitors enjoy a total payment exemption for the permanent collection only.

This is an initiative that, as a Facebook user comments, allows “everyone to experience art.” Additionally, it is ideal “if you only want to see a couple of key works.”

It is important to note that for temporary exhibitions, a 50% reduction on the general admission price applies simultaneously. This “Prado free entry” policy seeks to democratize culture and facilitate access to masterpieces for any person, whether local or tourist, at no cost.

On which days does this price reduction not apply?

Specific dates exist in the annual calendar when the Prado National Museum remains closed; therefore, no free hours or price reductions apply. According to current official regulations, the museum closes its doors on January 1, May 1, and December 25.

Likewise, one must consider that on January 6, December 24, and December 31, the museum operates with reduced opening hours, closing at 14:00. On these reduced-schedule dates, free entry conditions to the Prado do not apply.

When is admission to the Prado Museum free all day?

Free admission during the entire opening day is reserved for specific commemorative days designated by the institution. The Prado National Museum offers full free access throughout its opening hours on October 12 (National Day), November 19 (Museum Anniversary), and May 18 (International Museum Day). On these days, both the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions are accessible at no cost.

During these sessions, visitors can obtain their free ticket to the Prado Museum without time restrictions, allowing for a continuous flow of people during the museum’s operational hours.

Even though it's free, do I still need to check in at the box office?

Yes, regulations establish that all visitors must carry an access ticket to enter the premises, which implies passing through the ticket offices or ticket issuance points. The only exception to this rule is children under 12 years of age, who can access the entry control directly without needing to collect a prior ticket at the ticket office.

For all other beneficiaries of the Prado Museum’s free day, obtaining a ticket at the venue entrance is mandatory. This process ensures capacity control and allows the museum to record attendance statistics during free access days.

In this regard, a Reddit user shared their experience waiting in line during Sunday’s free hours: “The line for free entry starts near the ticket office and goes down Paseo del Prado. I arrived at 16:45 and the line already had more than 200 people… But it started moving very fast at 17:00 and I got my free ticket at 17:15. Then I waited in a second line to scan my ticket and pass through security; by 17:30 I was in the museum.” Furthermore, the user encourages others “not to be discouraged by the long line,” as it “moves very fast.”