Shops
According to the Community of Madrid, since 15 July 2012, when the Dynamisation Law came into force, shops in the region are completely free to open on Sundays and public holidays, each trader setting their own opening days. In practice, many shops and shopping centres open on Sundays, but not all: small independent shops often close. Check the hours of the specific shop, especially on public holidays.
El Rastro
El Rastro is set up every Sunday and public holiday from 9am to 3pm around Plaza de Cascorro. Follow it with a round of tapas in La Latina, where the terraces fill up after the market. Meal times are in our guide to meal times in Madrid.
Museums: free admission
- Prado Museum: open on Sundays and holidays from 10am to 7pm; free admission from 5pm to 7pm.
- Reina Sofía Museum: open on Sundays from 10am to 2:30pm; free admission from 12:30pm to 2:30pm.
- Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum: open on Sundays from 10am to 7pm; free admission is on Mondays from 12pm to 4pm and Saturdays from 9pm to 11pm, not on Sundays.
Queues are long during free hours: arrive early. More ideas for spending nothing in our guide to free things to do in Madrid.
Transport on Sundays
Weekend metro and bus times, and fares, are in our guide to transport in Madrid.
Good to know
- A public holiday is treated like a Sunday by the Prado and El Rastro, with the same hours.
- The Prado is closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
- Restaurant hours vary: check before you go.
Further reading
All the local habits are in our rules and etiquette in Madrid.
