Madrid tours and tickets
Madrid is a city of big museums, and the Prado, the Royal Palace and the Reina Sofía all use timed or online tickets. Flamenco and the evening tapas scene reward a booking. The Retiro, Plaza Mayor and the Rastro market are free. Toledo, Segovia and El Escorial are easy by train or bus.
Book these first
- Prado Museum
- 1 to 2 weeks ahead. Timed slots and busy weekends.
- Royal Palace
- a few days ahead. Visits are by timed ticket, and closures happen for state events.
- Flamenco show
- a few days ahead. The best small venues sell out.
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Museums and galleries
Prado Museum
The main collection of Spanish painting, with Velázquez, Goya and El Greco. Tickets are timed, and free entry in the evening has long queues. Allow three hours.
Which to pick. Buy a timed ticket for a morning slot. Take a guided visit if you want the highlights picked for you.
1 to 2 weeks aheadVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorReina Sofía
Modern and contemporary Spanish art in a former hospital, including Picasso's Guernica. Tickets are timed, and free evening entry runs on set days with long queues.
Which to pick. Buy a timed ticket online and see Guernica first, before the rooms fill. Allow two hours, and add a guide only if you want the context for the painting.
A few days aheadVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorThyssen-Bornemisza Museum
A collection spanning seven centuries, from Dutch masters and Impressionists to Pop Art, in a palace on the Paseo del Prado. It is easy to take in within two hours.
Which to pick. Buy online or at the door. It is a good choice between the other two big museums when you want something lighter and less crowded.
A few days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Churches and palaces
Royal Palace
The official residence of the monarch, with over a hundred rooms open to the public, a royal armoury and a pharmacy. Tickets are timed, and a guided tour is offered.
Which to pick. Buy a timed ticket online and go early, before the tour groups arrive. Skip the guide unless you want the royal history explained room by room.
A few days aheadVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorAlmudena Cathedral
The city cathedral beside the royal palace, with a modern interior, a crypt and a rooftop dome with a view over the palace and the city. Entry has a modest ticket.
Which to pick. Combine it with the palace visit on the same morning, since the two are next to each other. Buy at the door, and check the opening hours.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Experiences and nights out
Flamenco show
A performance in a small venue called a tablao, with guitar, singing and dance. Many include a drink or a dinner.
Which to pick. Choose a small tablao with a good reputation. Book a table in advance, since seating is limited.
A few days aheadTours and tickets on ViatorTapas tour
A guided evening walk through the old bars of La Latina and the center, with stops for tapas, vermouth and wine, and stories about how the neighborhood eats.
Which to pick. Go in the evening, when the bars are lively. Pick a small group, and check dietary needs when you book, since the stops are meat and seafood heavy.
A few days aheadTours and tickets on ViatorFootball stadium tour
A tour of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, with a museum of trophies, the dressing rooms and the pitch side. Tickets are timed, and a visit takes about ninety minutes.
Which to pick. Book a slot online, and avoid match days when the tour is shorter or closed. Choose it only if football matters to you.
A few days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Toledo
A walled hill city with a cathedral and synagogues, about 30 minutes by fast train. Combined tickets cover several monuments.
Which to pick. Buy the train ticket ahead and a combined monument ticket on arrival. A tour is useful for the history.
A few days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorSegovia
A city with a Roman aqueduct, a fairytale castle and a Gothic cathedral, about 30 minutes by fast train. The aqueduct is free to see, and the castle and cathedral have tickets.
Which to pick. Go by train and walk the old town on your own. A guide is optional, and the roast suckling pig lunch is the traditional stop.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorEl Escorial
A royal monastery, palace and library in the hills north-west of the city, about an hour by train and bus. Tickets are timed, and audio guides are available.
Which to pick. Buy a ticket online for a weekday. A quieter alternative to the palace in Madrid.
A few days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Guided walks and tours
Old Madrid walking tour
A walk through the Habsburg and Bourbon quarters, taking in Plaza Mayor, the Puerta del Sol and the royal sites, usually over about two hours with stories of the court.
Which to pick. Take a small group in the morning. The area is compact and can also be explored alone.
On the day is fineTours and tickets on ViatorRastro market walk
The Sunday flea market in La Latina, with a guide who explains the stalls and the history of the market, and finishes at one of the tapas bars nearby.
Which to pick. Go on a Sunday morning, before the streets fill. Entry is free, and a tour is for context, so skip it if you only want to browse.
Sunday onlyTours and tickets on Viator
City and museum passes in Madrid
- Paseo del Arte CardA ticket covering the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen museums. It suits a visit to all three. Check the validity and whether timed entries are required. Official page
Booking tours and tickets in Madrid
Do I need to book the Prado?
In busy weeks, yes. A timed ticket avoids the queue, and free evening entry has long lines.
Are there free hours in Madrid museums?
Yes, several museums offer free entry at certain times. The queues are long, so book if you can.
Is a flamenco show worth it?
Yes, in a small tablao. Choose one with a good reputation and a clear start time.
Is a day trip to Toledo easy?
Yes, a fast train takes about 30 minutes each way. Book the train ahead for weekends and holidays, and buy any monument ticket on arrival.
Can I see the Royal Palace on the day?
Often yes, outside holidays and busy weekends. Closures happen for state events, so check the official site before you set out.
What can wait until I arrive?
The Retiro, Plaza Mayor, the Rastro and tapas can be done on the day. Book the Prado, the Royal Palace and a flamenco show first.