Museums and heritage sites: free hours, passes and booking

Key rules

• Free entry: Carry ID, because free entry for students, under-18s, EU/EEA residents and other groups is checked at the door.
• Passes: No pass covers all of Spain; passes work only within one city or region.
• Alhambra: Book the Nasrid Palaces 1-3 months ahead in busy seasons.
• Sagrada Familia: Entry is by timed online ticket only, so book 2-4 weeks ahead in peak season.

Free entry: use set days and hours

Many state museums are free at set times, so you rarely need to pay full price. Typical times are Saturdays from 14:00 to 20:00 and Sundays all day. They are also free on 18 April, 18 May, 12 October and 6 December.

Some groups get in free all the time at state museums. These commonly include under-18s, students and teachers with credentials, unemployed people, people with disabilities and large-family members. EU/EEA residents are often included too, sometimes with registration. Over-65s are included in many cases. Carry ID or proof, because staff will ask for it.

Two big Madrid museums have their own free hours:

• Prado: free every day in the last two hours before closing (about 18:00-20:00 Monday to Saturday, 17:00-19:00 Sundays). Under-18s are always free.
• Reina Sofía: free Monday and Wednesday to Saturday 19:00-21:00, and Sundays 13:30-19:00.

Free-hour queues can be long, so arrive early.

Regional rules differ

Free entry varies by region. Catalonia has free first Sundays and some free Sunday afternoons in city museums. Barcelona's municipal museums are free on the first Sunday and on Sunday afternoons from 15:00. Madrid and Andalusia offer free entry to EU citizens at many regional museums and monuments. Check the museum's own website for today's hours.

Passes: there is no national one

No single pass covers Spain. Passes are city or region based, so buy one only if you will visit enough places to save money:

• Paseo del Arte (Madrid): Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen, around 32 euros in 2024.
• Articket BCN: six major Barcelona art venues, about 38 euros in 2024.
• Granada Card or Bono Turístico: the Alhambra plus city sights, roughly 40 euros.
• Seville: a Bono Turístico.
• Barcelona Card: a city visitor card, and Hola BCN passes cover transport.
• Regional heritage cards: Andalusia and Catalonia both have them.

Prices change every year. If you live here, annual memberships such as Amigos del Prado may pay off. The Carné Joven gives discounts to ages 14-30 in many regions.

Sites to book ahead

Book on the official ticket site, and earlier in spring, summer and autumn. Winter is easier.

• Alhambra (Granada): timed tickets. The Nasrid Palaces often sell out weeks to months ahead, so book 1-3 months before. Some tickets are released shortly before the date.
• Sagrada Familia: timed online tickets only. Book 2-4 weeks ahead in peak season.
• Park Güell, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera: book a few days to weeks ahead.
• Seville's Alcázar and the Cathedral/Giralda: book about 1-2 weeks ahead in high season.
• Royal Palace, Prado and Reina Sofía: bookable online. They rarely sell out except at peak times.
• Santiago cathedral roofs and Palau de la Música: need advance booking.
• Altamira Cave replica: walk-in.

The timeline below lays out the booking order.

Timeline and deadlines

• Book the Alhambra timed ticket: 1-3 months before your visit in high season (earliest 90 days before planned arrival; latest 30 days before planned arrival)

• Book the Sagrada Familia timed ticket: 2-4 weeks before your visit in peak season (earliest 28 days before planned arrival; latest 14 days before planned arrival)

• Book Seville's Alcázar and the Cathedral/Giralda: 1-2 weeks before your visit in high season (earliest 14 days before planned arrival; latest 7 days before planned arrival)

• Book Park Güell, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera: a few days to weeks before your visit

Frequently asked questions

Is the Prado free to enter?

Yes, the Prado is free every day in the last two hours before closing, and under-18s always get in free. In practice that is about 18:00-20:00 Monday to Saturday and 17:00-19:00 on Sundays.

Is there one pass that covers museums across Spain?

No, there is no single national museum pass; passes cover one city or region. Madrid has the Paseo del Arte card for the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen, and Barcelona has the Articket BCN for six major art venues. Granada has a card that includes the Alhambra.

How far ahead should I book the Alhambra and the Sagrada Familia?

Book the Alhambra 1-3 months ahead in high season, because Nasrid Palaces slots often sell out. Book the Sagrada Familia 2-4 weeks ahead, since its timed tickets go in peak season. Winter is generally easier for both.

Do I need to book the Altamira Cave replica in advance?

No, the Altamira Cave replica is walk-in, so you can just turn up. Sites such as the Santiago cathedral roofs and the Palau de la Música do need advance booking.