Prado Museum free hours

The museum's rule is simple: the last two hours before closing are free for everyone, in the Collection.

Day	Closes	Free	Last entry	Rooms clear from
Monday to Saturday	20:00	18:00–20:00	19:30	19:50
Sundays and public holidays	19:00	17:00–19:00	18:30	18:50

A public holiday on a weekday follows Sunday hours: closing at 19:00, with the free slot starting at 17:00.

How the free slot works

• You get your ticket at the ticket office, on the spot, until capacity is reached. Nobody guarantees you a place, so arrive before the slot begins.
• It covers the Collection. Temporary exhibitions cost half price.
• You don't quite get two hours: go in right at the start and you have an hour and fifty minutes at most.

On the days it closes at 14:00, which are 6 January and 24 and 31 December, the museum publishes only the general rule, with no specific free hours. Ask at the ticket office if you plan to go.

Who doesn't pay at any hour

These visitors get in free all day and can pick their moment. Bring your official document, valid and up to date: it's checked at the ticket office on the day of your visit.

• Under-18s.
• Students aged 18 to 25.
• Students over 25 on bachelor's and postgraduate arts courses in the Spanish education system.
• Working teachers.
• People legally registered as unemployed.
• People with a disability of 33% or more.

Large families get in free if they go as a group of at least one adult and three children, or two children if one has a disability. Otherwise, their members pay the €7.50 reduced rate.

When the free slot is enough

If you only want Las Meninas and a couple more works, the free slot will do. To see the museum without watching the clock, buy a timed ticket. If you're in Madrid for several days, there's also the Paseo del Arte pass. To pick your paintings, see what to see in the Prado.