The Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza sit within a short walk of each other along the Paseo del Prado, the stretch known as the Paseo del Arte. All three offer free entry at certain times. Several of those times fall in the evening, which makes them a perfect start to a night out.
The free hours
These are the regular free-entry times for the permanent collections at the time of writing. Museums change them occasionally and some require you to book a free time slot, so always confirm on the official sites before you go.
| Museum | Free entry | Official site |
|---|---|---|
| Museo del Prado | Monday to Saturday 18:00 to 20:00; Sundays and holidays 17:00 to 19:00 | museodelprado.es |
| Museo Reina Sofía | Monday and Wednesday to Saturday 19:00 to 21:00; Sunday 12:30 to 14:30. Closed Tuesdays | museoreinasofia.es |
| Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza | Mondays 12:00 to 16:00, permanent collection | museothyssen.org |
Free hours are popular, especially at the Prado. Expect queues and arrive early in the window rather than at the end.
How to use a short free visit
Two hours is not long in a museum this size. Instead of trying to see everything, pick a handful of works and go straight to them.
- At the Prado: Velázquez’s Las Meninas, Goya’s Black Paintings and Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights make a powerful first visit.
- At the Reina Sofía: Picasso’s Guernica is the reason most people come. Spend time with it, then explore the rooms around it.
From the museum to a night out
The Reina Sofía’s evening free hours end at 21:00. From there, La Latina is about a twenty-minute walk or a short metro ride. That timing works perfectly with a show at Off Latina, where doors open at 21:00 and the show starts at 21:30. If you visit the Prado instead, you will finish at 20:00 with time for a drink on the way.
A culture night plan
- 18:00 Prado free hours. Choose three paintings and see them properly.
- 20:00 Walk through the Barrio de las Letras towards La Latina.
- 20:30 A caña and a tapa around Cava Baja.
- 21:00 Doors at Off Latina, Calle de los Mancebos 4.
- 21:30 The show.
- 22:30 A late dinner, talking about everything you saw.
Art that asks questions, comedy that does too
If you have just stood in front of Guernica, a comedy night that takes on politics will feel like the right next step. The Arab and the Jew, created by Mehdi Mahtaj and Rachel Arieff, mixes stand-up, sketches and music with an honest conversation about politics, identity and Palestine. It is in English.
If you would rather switch your brain off after a museum, No Offense, But... offers stand-up, live podcast moments and improv with no theme at all.
For more free and low-cost ideas, read our guide to cheap nights out in Madrid, and check the next show dates.
