Prices of the Prado Museum

Few places appear as frequently as the Prado Museum on the list of what to see in Madrid, no matter how many days you are going to spend in the city. Without a doubt, it's practically a must-see for anyone travelling to the Spanish capital. For this reason, I have written a **brief guide to help you choose your ticket.

You can buy a general admission ticket to the country's most important cultural institution for around €20 or a guided tour for around €35. However, there are different ways to save money or upgrade your city tour by purchasing a combined ticket. Read on to find out how.

General admission to the Prado Museum costs around 20 € through the Hellotickets website.

You also have the option of buying them at the ticket office, although this is not the option I usually recommend, as the Madrid art gallery has a large number of visitors throughout the year and long queues form. During the holidays time is money and I'm sure you don't want to waste your time in a queue.

One option that will allow you to save on the price is a combined ticket. This way you can see two attractions at a reasonable price.

Among the most common options are tickets that include a visit to the Reina Sofía Museum or a visit to the Royal Palace. Here are the most popular ones:

• Art Walk Pass: Tickets for the Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen Museums, from RM165.
• Guided visit to the Prado, the Reina Sofia and the Thyssen in Madrid, from RM308.
• Guided visit to the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace in Madrid, from RM283.
• Guided tour of the Prado Museum and Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, from RM383.
• Bus tour of Madrid with guided visit to the Prado Museum, from RM308.

Ofcourse you can, and I'll tell you more: it happens every day of the week. If you want to enjoy the masterpieces of European art without spending a single euro, you can opt for the following time slots:

• From 18:00 to 20:00(Monday to Saturday).
• From 17:00 to 19:00 (Sundays and public holidays).

In both cases, entry is allowed up to 30 minutes before closing time. However, the time you will have is very limited and you will only be able to take a quick look at the main works. My recommendation is that you book a visit to the Prado Museum and get an insight into one of the best museums in the world.

If you are travelling to Madrid with children, you will be pleased to know that children under the age of 18 get in free. The same applies to people with disabilities, the unemployed, journalists, members of organisations linked to the museum, large families and tourist guides.

In the case of the unemployed, proof of unemployment must be provided. The over 65s and those with the Carnet Jove (Youth Card) are entitled to reduced admission at a cost of 7.5 €.

To this must be added the days when free admission is generalised. Generally, these are the following dates:

• 19 November, the anniversary of the Prado.
• 18 May, International Museum Day.

Yes and no. Let me explain: the city council or other organisations provide tourist cards that allow free access to one or more museums. However, you will have to pay a fee to take advantage of this privilege. Here are the options available:

• Art Walk Pass: gives you access to the three most important museums in Madrid: Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofía. It normally costs between €30 and €40 and guarantees access to the permanent collections.
• Annual State Museums Card: in addition to the cultural institutions on the Paseo del Arte, you can enter the Museo del Traje (Avenida Juan de Herrera 2), the Museo de América (Avenida de los Reyes Católicos 6), the Museo del Romanticismo (Calle San Mateo 13), the Museo Arqueológico Nacional (Calle Serrano 13) and other cultural spaces in the capital as many times as you like. The price ranges between 35 € and 40 €.
• Madrid Explorer Pass: from RM357, you will have access to 3, 4, 5, 5, 6 or 7 attractions or tours of the most popular attractions in the capital.
• Madrid All Inclusive Pass: from RM301, you can purchase your pass with access to more than 15 attractions and guided tours.

The Prado Museum is one of the essential things to see on your trip to Madrid. As for the price, don't worry, it doesn't vary throughout the year. The only price that may change is for temporary exhibitions. If you are interested in the Prado's "guests", I recommend you check the museum's official website.