Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofía: a practical guide to Madrid’s Art Walk
Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art (Paseo del Arte) brings together three of the world’s great museums within a kilometre: the Prado (old masters up to Goya), the Thyssen-Bornemisza (seven centuries of European and American painting) and the Reina Sofía (20th-century art, including Guernica). Hours and prices change, so always confirm on each museum’s official website before you go.
Prado Museum
Usual hours: Monday to Saturday 10 am–8 pm; Sundays and holidays 10 am–7 pm. Free entry in the last two hours (Monday to Saturday 6–8 pm; Sundays and holidays 5–7 pm), with a queue: arrive 30–45 minutes early.
Must-sees: Velázquez’s Las Meninas, Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights, Goya’s Black Paintings and The Third of May 1808, El Greco’s Nobleman with his Hand on his Chest, Van der Weyden’s Descent from the Cross, plus the Titian and Rubens rooms.
Time: 2–3 hours for the highlights. Buy online to skip the ticket queue. Photography is not allowed in the galleries.
Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum
Usual hours: Monday noon–4 pm (permanent collection free) and Tuesday to Sunday 10 am–7 pm. Some summer Saturdays have extended hours.
Why go: it fills the Prado’s gaps: Italian primitives, Dutch painting, Impressionists and Post-Impressionists (Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, Cézanne), German Expressionism, the avant-garde and American painting (Hopper, Pollock, Lichtenstein). Walking from the top floor down is a walk through art history in order.
Time: 2 hours. The most comfortable and least crowded of the three.
Reina Sofía National Museum
Usual hours: Monday and Wednesday to Saturday 10 am–9 pm; Sunday 10 am–2:30 pm; closed on Tuesdays. Free entry Monday and Wednesday to Saturday 7–9 pm and Sunday 12:30–2:30 pm.
Must-sees: Picasso’s Guernica (Collection 1, second floor of the Sabatini building), works by Dalí, Miró, Juan Gris and Maruja Mallo, and the rooms on the Civil War and post-war period. Ride the glass lifts for views of the courtyard and Jean Nouvel’s extension.
Time: 1.5–2 hours for the main collection.
Paseo del Arte pass and prices
General tickets cost around €12–15 per museum, with reductions for students, over-65s and other groups, and free entry for children (conditions vary by museum). The Paseo del Arte pass covers all three at a discount and is valid for a year: worth it if you want to see all three without using the free hours.
How to plan your visit
- All three in one day: Prado in the morning, lunch in the Literary Quarter, Thyssen in the afternoon and Reina Sofía during the free 7–9 pm slot. Intense: split over two days if you can.
- On a budget: Thyssen free on Monday at midday; Prado free at the end of the day; Reina Sofía free in the evening.
- With children: the Thyssen and Reina Sofía are easier; at the Prado focus on 6–8 works with a story.
- All three have free cloakrooms but do not accept large suitcases.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Prado Museum free?
In the last two hours of opening: Monday to Saturday 6–8 pm and Sundays and holidays 5–7 pm. Check museodelprado.es for changes.
What day is the Reina Sofía closed?
The Reina Sofía Museum is closed on Tuesdays. On other days it has free entry in the last hours.
How long do you need at the Prado?
About 2–3 hours for the main works. A full visit can take a whole day.
Guidance checked in October 2026. Opening hours, prices and conditions change: always check the official sources.