What to book before going to Madrid

Book these before you travel

• Temple of Debod

  Book aheadFreeClosed Mon

  The interior needs a free reservation on the Madrid city website, for up to 6 tickets. Slots open on the 15th of the previous month. The outside can be seen without booking.

  Open 10:00 am–8:00 pm · last entry 7:30 pm

  Open Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays, 10:00 to 20:00, with last entry at 19:30. From 15 June to 15 September it closes at 19:00. Closed on Mondays, 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December. The interior can close without notice for conservation.

  Source: esMadrid, checked October 4, 2026

Booking saves you the queue

• Prado Museum

  Booking advised

  Book your ticket online for the day you want. The ticket-office queue can be long around midday.

  Open 10:00 am–7:00 pm

  Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 20:00, Sundays and public holidays 10:00 to 19:00. Entry is free in the last two hours of each day, when the queue is long. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.

  See tickets

  Source: esMadrid, checked October 4, 2026

• Royal Palace

  Booking advised

  Choose a date and time slot on the official site or buy a ticket through Civitatis. You can also queue at the ticket office, which closes one hour before the palace.

  Open 10:00 am–4:00 pm · last entry 3:00 pm

  Winter hours run from October to March: Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 18:00, Sunday 10:00 to 16:00. In summer, Monday to Saturday runs to 19:00. Closed on 1 January, 6 January, 1 May and 25 December, and from 15:00 on 24 and 31 December. It can close at short notice for official events. In winter, Monday to Thursday 16:00 to 18:00, EU citizens and residents get free entry with ID, at the ticket office only.

  See tickets

  Source: Patrimonio Nacional, checked October 4, 2026

• Reina Sofía Museum

  Booking advisedClosed Tue

  Book online before you go. If you already have a ticket, use the Nouvel entrance on Ronda de Atocha. The galleries are cleared 15 minutes before closing.

  Open 10:00 am–2:30 pm

  Closed on Tuesday. Open 10:00 to 21:00 Monday and Wednesday to Saturday, and 10:00 to 14:30 on Sunday. Free-admission slots start at 19:00 on those days and 12:30 on Sunday, and you still need a ticket. Free days include 18 April, 18 and 22 May, 12 October and 6 December. Closed on 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 15 May, 9 November and 24, 25 and 31 December. The 15 May and 9 November dates can change with the Madrid calendar.

  See tickets

  Source: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, checked October 4, 2026

• Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

  Booking advised

  Book a date and time slot online. On Monday entry is free without a ticket, but it stops when the museum is full, so expect a queue.

  Open 12:00 pm–4:00 pm

  Winter hours apply from 1 September to 30 June: Monday 12:00 to 16:00, Tuesday to Friday and Sunday 10:00 to 19:00. On Saturday the museum stays open to 23:00, but after 21:00 only the temporary exhibitions are open. In July and August, Tuesday to Friday runs to 21:00. Closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December, and open 10:00 to 15:00 on 24 and 31 December.

  See tickets

  Source: Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, checked October 4, 2026

• Bernabéu Tour

  Booking advised

  Buy tickets online on the Real Madrid site and check the match calendar first. Routes and times change on event days.

  Open 9:30 am–6:30 pm

  Open every day except 25 December and 1 January: Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 19:00, Sunday and public holidays 09:30 to 18:30. On match days the tour ends 5 hours 30 minutes before kickoff. Some October dates close early, at 15:30: the 10th, 18th and 21st.

  See tickets

  Source: Real Madrid C.F., checked October 4, 2026

No booking needed

Turn up when it suits the day.

• Plaza MayorFree
• Retiro ParkFree
• Puerta del SolFree
• San Miguel MarketFree
• Almudena CathedralFree
• Gran VíaFree
• MalasañaFree
• La LatinaFree
• Cibeles SquareFree

Other ways to plan Madrid

• One day in Madrid
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