Prices of the Prado Museum

Few places appear as often as the Prado Museum on the list of things to see in Madrid, regardless of how many days you plan to spend in the city. Without a doubt, it is 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 purchase a general admission ticket to the country's most important cultural institution for approximately €20 or a guided tour for around €35. However, there are different ways to save money or enhance your city break 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 purchasing tickets 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 precious, and I'm sure you don't want to waste your time queuing.

One option that will allow you to save money 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 the Royal Palace. Below are the most popular ones:

• Paseo del Arte Pass: Tickets for the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum and the Thyssen Museum, from AED 172
• Guided tour of the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace in Madrid, from AED 291
• Guided tour of the Prado Museum and the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid, from AED 364
• Bus tour of Madrid with guided tour of the Prado Museum, from AED 258

Of course you can, and what's more, you can do so every day of the week. If you want to enjoy the masterpieces of European art without spending a single euro, you can choose from the following time slots:

• From 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Monday to Saturday).
• From 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Sundays and public holidays).

In both cases, admission is allowed up to 30 minutes before closing time. However, your time will be 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 so you can delve deeper 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 can enter for free. The same applies to people with disabilities, the unemployed, journalists, members of organisations linked to the museum, large families and tour guides.

In the case of the unemployed, proof of unemployment must be provided. Those over 65 and those with a Youth Card are entitled to a reduced admission fee of €7.50.

In addition, there are days when admission is free for everyone. These are generally the following dates:

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

Yes and no. Let me explain: the city council and other organisations offer tourist cards that allow free access to one or more museums. However, you will have to pay for this privilege. Below are the available options:

• Paseo del Arte Pass: gives you access to the three most important museums in Madrid: Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofía. It usually costs between €30 and €40 and guarantees access to the permanent collections.
• State Museums Annual Card: in addition to the cultural institutions on the Art Walk, you can visit the Costume Museum (Avenida Juan de Herrera 2), the Museum of America (Avenida de los Reyes Católicos 6), the Museum of Romanticism (Calle San Mateo 13), the National Archaeological Museum (Calle Serrano 13) and other cultural venues in the capital. It costs between €35 and €40.
• Madrid Explorer Pass: from AED 370 you will have access to 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions or tours of the most popular attractions in the capital.
• Madrid All Inclusive Pass: from AED 317, you can purchase your pass with access to more than 15 attractions and guided tours.

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