Madrid Museum Opening Hours 2026: Every Museum at a Glance

Madrid's Golden Triangle — the Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen — sits on a single boulevard, but the three museums follow completely different schedules. One closes Tuesdays while the others don't. One is free every evening. One only opens half a day on Mondays. If you're planning a museum day without checking the hours first, you'll waste time walking to locked doors.

This is every major Madrid museum's opening hours for 2026, in one place.

What are the Museo del Prado opening hours?

Monday to Saturday: 10:00–20:00. Sundays and public holidays: 10:00–19:00. Open every day of the week.

Free entry: Monday to Saturday 18:00–20:00, Sundays and holidays 17:00–19:00 (last 2 hours each day). No booking required for free entry. Also free all day on May 18 (International Museum Day) and October 12 (Fiesta Nacional).

Closed: January 1, May 1, December 25. Reduced hours (10:00–14:00) on January 6, December 24, December 31.

Ticket: €15 online via museodelprado.es or GetYourGuide (free cancellation). The Prado is free every day — the question is whether you want to fight the 18:00 rush or pay €15 for a calm morning. For the full visit plan, see our Prado Museum guide; for prices across all Madrid museums, see the Madrid museum tickets 2026 guide.

When is the Reina Sofía open in 2026?

Monday, Wednesday to Saturday: 10:00–21:00. Sunday: 10:00–14:30. Closed every Tuesday.

Free entry: Monday and Wednesday to Saturday 19:00–21:00. Sunday 12:30–14:30. Also free all day on April 18, May 18, October 12, December 6.

Closed: Every Tuesday, plus January 1, January 6, May 1, May 15, November 9, December 24, 25, 31.

Ticket: €12 via museoreinasofia.es or GetYourGuide (free cancellation). The Reina Sofía is the only one of the three Golden Triangle museums that closes a weekday. If Tuesday is your only museum day, skip it and head to the Prado or Thyssen instead.

What are the Thyssen-Bornemisza opening hours?

Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00–19:00. Monday: 12:00–16:00 (permanent collection only, free).

Free entry: Every Monday 12:00–16:00 (permanent collection). This is genuine free entry with no booking needed — walk in and see Caravaggio, Van Gogh, Hopper, and the full collection. No temporary exhibitions on Mondays.

Closed: January 1, December 25.

Ticket: €13 (permanent) or €18 (permanent + temporary), via museothyssen.org or GetYourGuide (free cancellation). The Thyssen guide covers what to prioritise inside.

What time does the Royal Palace open?

October to March: Monday to Saturday 10:00–18:00, Sunday 10:00–16:00. April to September: Monday to Saturday 10:00–19:00, Sunday 10:00–16:00.

No weekly free day for tourists. Occasional closures for state ceremonies — check the official site before going.

Ticket: €16. Last entry one hour before closing. The Royal Palace is outside the Golden Triangle area, near Ópera metro station.

When is CaixaForum Madrid open?

Every day, 10:00–20:00. Open 365 days a year (reduced hours December 24, 31, and January 5: 10:00–18:00).

Ticket: €6 (free for under 16 and CaixaBank customers). On the Paseo del Prado, 2 minutes from the Prado. Worth combining if you have a gap between museum visits.

Are the Sorolla, Arqueológico, and Cerralbo open in 2026?

Museo Sorolla: Reopening in 2026 after renovation. Check the official site for the confirmed date. Pre-renovation hours were Tuesday to Saturday 9:30–20:00, Sunday 10:00–15:00. Closed Mondays.

Museo Arqueológico Nacional (MAN): Tuesday to Saturday 9:30–20:00. Sunday and holidays 9:30–15:00. Closed Mondays. Ticket: €3 — one of Madrid's best deals.

Museo Cerralbo: Tuesday to Saturday 9:30–15:00. Thursday also 17:00–20:00. Sunday 10:00–15:00. Closed Mondays. Free: Thursday evenings, Saturday 14:00–15:00, all day Sunday. A 19th-century palace that most tourists walk past. It deserves an hour.

How should you plan your Madrid museum visits?

The Reina Sofía closes Tuesdays. The Sorolla, MAN, and Cerralbo close Mondays. The Prado, Thyssen, CaixaForum, and Royal Palace are open every day.

For free entry, every day works: the Prado gives you 2 free hours every evening. Monday is the cheapest museum day — the Prado is free after 18:00 and the Thyssen permanent collection is free 12:00–16:00. You can see both without spending anything.

All three Golden Triangle museums are within a 10-minute walk of each other along the Paseo del Prado. The Golden Triangle art route covers the best order and timing. For a broader view, our best art museums in Madrid guide ranks all the options.

Hours and prices change. Always confirm on the official museum website before your visit.

Frequently asked questions

What day are Madrid museums closed?

The Reina Sofía closes every Tuesday. The Museo Sorolla, Arqueológico Nacional, and Cerralbo close on Mondays. The Prado, Thyssen, CaixaForum, and Royal Palace are open every day of the week.

When are Madrid museums free?

The Prado is free every day during the last 2 hours (Mon–Sat 18:00–20:00, Sun 17:00–19:00). The Thyssen permanent collection is free every Monday 12:00–16:00. The Reina Sofía is free Mon and Wed–Sat 19:00–21:00, and all day on certain dates including May 18 and October 12. The Cerralbo is free Thursday evenings, Saturdays after 14:00, and all day Sunday.

Do Madrid museums have different summer and winter hours?

The Royal Palace does — it closes at 18:00 in winter and 19:00 in summer. Most other museums keep the same hours year-round. Always confirm on the official website before your visit.

Can you visit the Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen in one day?

Yes, if you plan it. All three are within a 10-minute walk along the Paseo del Prado. Start at the Prado (opens 10:00), walk to the Thyssen after lunch, and finish at the Reina Sofía before it closes. See our Golden Triangle route for the detailed plan.

Last verified: April 2026