Madrid's Go City Passes Compared: Prado Tours, the Bernabéu, or Neither?
Madrid's big museums are cheap and have free hours: entry to the Prado, Reina Sofía, Thyssen and Royal Palace totals €59. Go City's passes make sense for their guided tours and the Bernabéu, not for entry.
Types of tourist pass
Art-and-football day pass
Two to five days covering guided Prado and Reina Sofía tours and the Bernabéu stadium tour.
In Madrid: Madrid Go City Pass
Pick-your-own art pass
Three to seven guided Madrid visits from a list of 24, used over a month.
In Madrid: Madrid Go City Explorer Pass
Which pass for your trip?
Madrid Go City Pass
- A football-and-art weekend with the Bernabéu. The Bernabéu tour is only on this one.
Madrid Go City Explorer Pass
- Guided art visits spread over a week. Three to seven picks, a month to use them.
No pass needed
- Velázquez, Goya and Guernica on a budget. Use the Prado's free evening hours and a €12 Reina Sofía ticket.
- Retiro Park, Plaza Mayor and the Temple of Debod. All free.
The passes compared
Madrid Go City Pass
- Attractions
- 32
- Price
- €129 (2 days)
- Time to use
- 2-5 days
- Best for
- Real Madrid fans who also want the art museums with a guide
- Bernabéu stadium tour
- Guided visits at the Prado and Reina Sofía
- Plain entry to the four big museums is only €59
- The Prado is free every evening
Madrid Go City Explorer Pass
- Attractions
- Pick 3-7 of 24
- Price
- From €79
- Time to use
- 30 days
- Best for
- Unhurried art lovers
- Prado and Reina Sofía with a guide
- A month to fit them around Retiro and tapas
- No Bernabéu stadium tour
Which big sights are on which pass?
| Sight | Go City | Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Prado Museum | Included | Included |
| Reina Sofía | Included | Included |
| Bernabéu tour | Included | Not included |
| Royal Palace | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Thyssen-Bornemisza | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
Worth knowing before you buy
The big museums have free hours
The Prado is free Mon-Sat 6-8 pm and Sun 5-7 pm; the Reina Sofía has free evening hours; the Thyssen's collection is free on Monday afternoons.
Entry alone is €59
Prado €15, Reina Sofía €12, Thyssen €14, Royal Palace €18.
The passes sell guided tours
Their value is the Prado and Reina Sofía tours, not entry.
Bernabéu only on the All-Inclusive
If a Real Madrid stadium tour is a must, the Explorer won't cover it.
The Prado's free evening slots are its busiest hours, and the Royal Palace is quietest at 10-11 am. See live crowd levels for both on beatthecrowd.co before you set off.
Check live crowds in Madrid →How pass companies make money
Here's how sellers of Madrid Go City Pass and Madrid Go City Explorer Pass earn, and what it means for your Madrid trip.
Prado Museum and the other attractions sell entry to pass companies below the gate price.
Plenty of buyers never use everything they paid for. That gap is the seller's margin.
Longer passes and premium extras in Madrid raise the price faster than the value.
Other ways to save
- Go City Madrid Essentials
From €59 for 3 attractions from a list of 9. 30 days to use it.
- Paseo del Arte ticket
A combined ticket for the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen. €32.80, one visit to each within a year of purchase, about 20% less than three separate tickets.
FAQs
Is a Madrid city pass worth it?
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For museum entry, no: the big four total €59 directly and two have free hours. For guided tours and the Bernabéu, the Go City passes can be.
Which Madrid pass includes the Bernabéu tour?
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Only the Go City All-Inclusive.
When is the Prado free?
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Monday to Saturday 6-8 pm and Sunday 5-7 pm.
Is the Royal Palace of Madrid on a pass?
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It's €18 on its own (€24 with the Royal Kitchen). Royal Palace entry with an audioguide is on the Madrid Go City Pass and the Explorer, and needs booking ahead. The Paseo del Arte ticket doesn't include it.