Three questions to ask before buying
First write down the visits you would make even without a pass. Adding a museum solely to get value from a card is not a saving: it also uses your time. Next distinguish between simple admission, a guided visit and an audioguide package. Finally, check dates and available slots. An appealing activity is worth nothing in your calculation if you cannot book it during your stay.
Check the free admission each traveller qualifies for. A child, student or visitor eligible for a reduction does not necessarily pay the adult price used in advertising comparisons. Not everyone in a family needs to buy the same product. Compare individual prices after reductions, then add any fees and the services you actually need.
Paseo del Arte: one ticket for three major collections
The Paseo del Arte costs €32.80 and provides one visit to the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofía. It is valid for one year from purchase; you do not need to make all three visits on the same day. It is a museum ticket, without public transport or a Royal Palace visit. It suits a collection-focused trip or repeated visits to Madrid.
Permanent collections are included, along with some temporary exhibitions at the Prado and Reina Sofía under their respective conditions. Do not assume that every special exhibition is covered, particularly at the Thyssen. The pass cannot be used at the Thyssen on Mondays, when a separate free session is available. The Reina Sofía closes on Tuesdays: account for both constraints before choosing dates.
The combined ticket does not remove every formality. Where admission is limited by time slot, the Paseo del Arte conditions provide for obtaining a timed admission pass at the relevant museum's ticket desk. Read the instructions supplied with your purchase and identify the correct entrance. Security and ticket checks remain necessary; a commercial fast-track claim does not promise no queue at every stage.
Calculating the Paseo del Arte saving
| Adult purchase at general admission prices | Amount |
|---|---|
| Prado | €15 |
| Thyssen-Bornemisza | €14 |
| Reina Sofía | €12 |
| Total for three separate tickets | €41 |
| Paseo del Arte | €32.80 |
| Saving for all three paid visits | €8.20 |
Prices checked in October 2026, excluding additional services. The combined ticket represents a 20% reduction here. If you visit only the Prado and Thyssen, separate admission totals €29: the pass is no longer the cheapest option. Prado plus Reina Sofía totals €27. Do this calculation before buying, even if you have a vague intention of visiting a third museum.
Free sessions also change the result. A Monday at the Thyssen and a paid visit to only one other museum may cost less than the pass. In return, you must accept the opening times, crowds and available visiting time. Choose according to your priority: limiting spending or enjoying a longer visit at a chosen hour. The combined ticket is useful when all three collections genuinely interest you.
Go City: compare packages and catalogues
Go City sells several Madrid passes. At the time of checking, Essentials was displayed at €59 for three activities from its restricted catalogue, Explorer at €79 for three activities and All-Inclusive at €129 for two days. These adult prices apply to the displayed configurations rather than every possible combination. Promotional discounts and activity lists can vary; recalculate using the basket on the day of purchase.
Explorer works by number of activities, whereas All-Inclusive works by consecutive days. The consulted pages specify 30 days after first use for Essentials and Explorer; All-Inclusive runs over the selected number of calendar days. Late activation can therefore leave very little time on the first day. Also check validity before activation and refund conditions when purchasing, particularly if your trip is still uncertain.
Contents matter more than the advertised number of attractions. The Royal Palace may appear as admission with an audioguide, whereas the Prado or Reina Sofía are offered as guided tours in some packages. A Bernabéu visit is not in every catalogue: at the time of checking, the comparison reserved it for All-Inclusive. Check the precise listing rather than just the monument's name.
Reservations, languages and pace: practical limits
A Go City pass does not automatically book every activity. Some visits require a partner reservation using your pass number. Check the meeting point, offered language, cancellation conditions and arrival instructions. If you want a tour in French, do not assume one exists because the sales website has a French interface. A guided tour in English or Spanish may not provide the experience you are seeking.
Allow for travel between activities, lunch and possible delays. A Royal Palace tour, museum and stadium on the same day may look profitable while leaving too little time at each place. For All-Inclusive, first construct two achievable days, then add up the cost of equivalent experiences bought separately. For Explorer, choose the activities most useful to you rather than artificially selecting the most expensive ones.
Madrid City Card: transport and partner benefits
Madrid City Card is the official municipal tourist card. It includes a zone A tourist transport ticket and discounts or benefits at partner establishments. It does not provide free admission to every major museum. Displayed adult prices are €10.30 for one day, €17.50 for two, €23.10 for three, €27.80 for four and €33.40 for five days. Prices checked in October 2026.
Transport validity begins on first use and counts calendar days rather than 24-hour periods. Partner benefits are valid for one month from purchase under the displayed conditions. These two clocks are therefore separate. To assess the card, estimate your transport needs first, then examine the discounts you will actually use. Do not count a partner whose offer does not match your ticket or date.
Palaces, royal collections and separate purchases
The Royal Collections Gallery belongs to a different group from the three Paseo del Arte museums. If you mainly want to discover the palace and royal collections, check the official tickets offered for these places before choosing a painting-focused pass. Combined options and their conditions should be verified when booking. The word “royal” appearing in two names is not sufficient evidence of inclusion.
For a trip with plenty of walking, one or two separate tickets often make more sense. You retain freedom for neighbourhoods, markets and parks without having to use a card every day. For a museum trip, the Paseo del Arte is easy to calculate. For guided visits and varied activities, Go City may be useful if slots and languages suit you. Madrid City Card primarily serves a transport need supplemented by benefits. To find your way by area and neighbourhood, see the tourist map of Madrid.
Further reading
Select visits in Madrid's museums, group stops with the Paseo del Arte and assess your transport needs with Madrid's transport guide.
