travel city pass madrid

Madrid City Pass

Explore the capital of spain, the card that will take you along a trip through madrid.

Discover Madrid at leisure with the Madrid City Pass. You will find that this Pass makes your city trip very affordable and efficient: the Madrid City Pass allows you to skip the waiting lines and get priority entrance at the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace. Experience the sights of Madrid from the hop-on hop-off bus with a free ticket. If you also opt for a 3-day public transport pass, public transport is free as is the transfer by taxi from Madrid Airport to your hotel in the city. 

The Madrid City Pass is perfect for visitors who want to see the most important sights and attraction, not all museums, sights and attractions, that Madrid offers. The pass also allows you a 20% discount on other sights and museums in the city as well as flamenco shows, tapas tours, bike tours and excursions. The Madrid City Pass is hassle-free, purchase is online, tickets and vouchers are sent to you and there is no need to pick up your pass in person when you arrive in Madrid.

Fast Track Entry

Don’t waste time standing in line and skip straight to the front of queues. You enjoy fast track entry to some of the most popular museum and attraction including the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace (Palacio Real). Just show your valid Madrid City Pass ticket and jump to the front line!

Public Transport and Airport Transfer

The hop-on hop-off bus is included in your Madrid City Pass and will take you past all the highlights of the city. Hop off and see sights and attractions in detail, hop on again to continue your tour. You can also opt to add a three-day public transport card including airport transfer from the airport Madrid-Barajas to your hotel or B&B. This pass allows you free travel on metro, bus and train in Madrid.

If you opt to add the public transport pass to your Madrid City Card, a taxi driver will be waiting for you when you arrive at Madrid Airport. He will also give you the physical public transport card and then takes you to your accommodation. Your public transport pass is activated when you scan your card in metro, bus or train for the first time. From then on your pass is valid for three consecutive days.

• Audio Guide App

The Madrid Digital Pass also includes an app with audioguide. With this you will discover more than 100 sights in Madrid. Local guides provide commentary and tell about their ‘secret spots’. The app also includes walking routes.

Your Madrid City Pass not only affords free entrance to the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace (Palacio Real) also the hugely popular hop-on hop-off bus is free. Add to this reduced admission fees for museums and attractions and savings on bicycle and walking tours and excursions (Toledo) and you understand why this City Pass is immensely popular.

• Ticket and skip-the-line entry to the Prado Museum
• Ticket and skip-the-line entry to the Royal Palace
• Ticket for the hop-on hop-off bus (valid for 24 hours)
• Option: 3-day public transport card
• Option: Transfer by private taxi from Madrid Airport to your hotel
• Discounts on various other attractions, museums, tours and shows
• Discount on excursions e.g. to Toledo

Alternative to the Madrid City Pass

The Royal Madrid Combo is a more compact and cheaper alternative to the Madrid City Pass. It is a great value ticket that opens up ‘Royal Madrid’. It entitles you to online reservation of skip-the-line tickets to Palacio Royal, the Royal Palace of Madrid, and for Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour.

Waiting in the queue is history, because you have fast track and free entry to the Royal Palace of Madrid. With 3,000 splendidly furnished and decorated rooms and galleries, it is Europe’s largest royal residence. Included in the combo ticket is free entry to the imposing Bernabéu Stadium of Real Madrid as well as a stadium tour and the Real Madrid Museum

The Royal Madrid Combo is perfectly suited for visitors who want to see Madrid highlights in a hassle-free way. The tickets and reservations are sent to you via email and there is no need to pick up or exchange vouchers physically on arrival in Madrid. To make your visit even more complete an audio guide app with interesting information and photos of 120 highlights of Royal Madrid is included.

Rated by 144 Happy Travelers!

Compact and cheap alternative: Royal Madrid Combo

• Royal Palace of Madrid*
• Santiago Bernabéu Stadium*
• Real Madrid Museum

*Skip the line tickets

How does the Madrid City Pass work?

The Madrid Digital Pass is not a physical pass, so you don’t have to pick up anything in Madrid, but you can arrange everything online right at home! Select your arrival date in Madrid. After ordering you will receive an email with a link. Here you can enter when you want to visit the attractions in Madrid. You will then receive all tickets by email, which you can also show on your phone. You will also receive a discount code with which you can get a 10% discount at other museums, attractions, tours and excursions in Madrid.

Madrid City

Madrid is the capital city of Spain and is the cultural heart of the country. The locals are proud of their city and they should be! Madrid is home to three top museums and many famous sights. The city buzzes with activity day and night. All very good reasons to go on a city trip to Madrid!

The Highlights

Madrid brims with sights and attractions. Culture lovers will make head straight to Museo del Prado, Museo Reina Sofia and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Football fans will have the day of their life when visiting the Real and Atletico stadiums. Madrid has still more to offer (Palacio Real), El Retiro Park, Plaza Mayor and the Cathedral Nuestra Señora de la Almudena in a neo-gothic style with a modern twist.

Things to see and do in Madrid:

Prado Museum Madrid

Prado Museum

Gran Via Madrid

Palacio Real

Retiro Park

Your Madrid City Card

We offer different ways to enjoy the city´s top tourist, cultural and leisure attractions.

Your card also includes a Tourist Travel Pass which you can use to move around Madrid.

ENJOY A VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE OF MADRID

Options and Prices

Madrid City Card

Sin transporte.

Disfrutarás de ventajas y descuentos en los principales atractivos turísticos, culturales y de ocio de la ciudad

Para ello deberás presentar el código QR de tu tarjeta en los establecimientos participantes

Con Transporte

The card includes a Tourist Travel Pass issued by the CRTM, Madrid's Regional Transport Consortium, which allows you to use the city's public transport system for your selected number of days.

The Madrid City Card offers the following options:

• Adult / child
• 1 day or 2, 3, 4 or 5 consecutive days.

Esta tarjeta la podrás conseguir, sin necesidad de reserva previa, acercándote a las oficinas de turismo del Ayuntamiento de Madrid.

Sin transporte

Con transporte.

You can purchase your Madrid City Card without prior appointment at any of Madrid City Council's Tourist Information Offices.

Children under 11 years old receive a 50% discount on the price of the Madrid City Card.

Children under 4 years old do not need a Madrid City Card to enjoy discounts and other benefits or to travel on public transport for free.

Reserve now

Modalidad sin transporte Podrás darte de alta online en el siguiente link

Modalidad con transporte Esta tarjeta sólo se puede adquirir de forma presencial, sin necesidad de reserva previa, en las oficinas de turismo del Ayuntamiento de Madrid

The city’s new official sightseeing pass offers multiple benefits:

In museums and other cultural and leisure attractions.

Skip-the-line entrance to some of the main tourist attractions.

Tourist Travel Pass

Zone A included in your Madrid City Card.

Other benefits

Other special benefits in affiliated establishments.

Included in your Madrid City Card, you'll find a Tourist Travel Pass valid for your period of chose: 1 day or 2, 3, 4 or 5 consecutive days.

This travel pass, which is activated on the day you first use it, allows unlimited travel in Zone A for your selected days. It can be used on the following transport options:

• All blue city bus lines operated by Madrid's municipal transport company, EMT. The 24-hour Airport Express shuttle bus line is not included.
• Madrid’s Metro network within Zone A (City of Madrid), including the €3 supplement normally charged for travelling to or from the airport metro stations Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3 and Aeropuerto T4 ( Tourist Metro Map ).
• Zones 0 and A of Madrid's commuter train network (Renfe de Cercanías Madrid).
• ML1 of Madrid's light rail network (Metro Ligero).

For detailed public transport and mobility information, please visit our website .

Attractions

Discount on admission and preferential access

10% discount on admission. Buy it at the preferred box office

Discount on the ticket to the viewpoint and in the shop

50% discount at the ticket office and 10% on articles bought

With your ticket, free visit to the Historical Archive

With your ticket at the box office, you can visit for free the Historical Archive of the Real Hermandad del Refugio, whi...

Discount on the ticket price

15% discount at the ticket office. Enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience

Discount on admission

25% discount on admission. Buy it at the box office. From Monday to Sunday and holidays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Discount at the ticket office and on website

10% aditional discount. Promo code MCC10 on website purchase and also at the box office. No valid on Monday prices

Discounts on the ticket price

50% discount at the ticket office

Discount on your ticket (includes an audio guide)

10% discount at the ticket office (includes a 10-language audio guide). Discover all the little-known nooks and crannies...

Discount on the general admission ticket

€1 discount at the ticket office. Includes a visit to the rooftop and access to exhibitions organised by Círculo de Bell...

10% aditional discount. Promo code MCC10 on website and also at the box office

Reduced admission (€13) at the ticket office. Please show your Madrid City Card at the palace entrance

We offer you a tasting at DBellota

What better way to enjoy Spain’s wine culture than by enjoying a free glass of wine at DBellota, located in Galería Cana...

Preferential Access

With your Madrid City Card at hand, you won’t have to wait in line!

Discount 30%

Get a 30% discount by presenting the Madrid City Card at the box office

€1 discount at the ticket office. The visit includes the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions

10% discount

On all first-time flyers flight packages. Redeem your offer online with the discount code MADRIDCITYFLY or directly in...

Enjoy our free admission time slot

Free admission every day during the last two opening hours. Tickets are available Monday to Saturday from 6pm, and on Su...

Enjoy Madrid’s electric bikes

The service is available in the 21 districts of the city and is presented as an active and sustainable mobility alternat...

Enjoy Madrid’s Municipal Planetarium

The aim of the centre is to contribute to the dissemination of astronomy and science. It offers a wide range of audiovis...

Discount in the shop

10% discount on books from the Municipal Printing Press’s catalogue

Reduced-price admission

Reduced admission (€6) at the ticket office

Discount on the ticket price at office box

10% discount at the Box Office. Not combinable with other offers or promotions. Subject to availability

Buy online, save €3 per ticket and avoid having to queue at the ticket office

10% aditional discount. Promo code MCC10 on website purchase and also at the box office

Discount on typical products from Madrid

Enjoy a 10% discount on typical products and souvenirs from Madrid at our shop in Plaza Mayor

Free entrance for all

Madrid’s Municipal Museums offer free entrance

Discount on the ticket price of the tour

10% discount at the Territorio Atleti ticket office: Museum + Stadium Tour. The museum features large screen displays, v...

15% discount for the bearer and up to 3 companions at the maximum general rate ticket (from 140 cm height) by presenting...

Discount at the ticket office

10% discount at the museum box office. Check our rates on the web.

Free audio guide and discount in the shop

10% discount in-store, apply to purchases of €20 or more (not applicable to publications)

30% discount per person when buying a general ticket (from 8 years old) at the Zoo ticket office. Applicable to a maximu...

Soon, with your Madrid City Card at hand, you won’t have to wait in line!

Discount 20% at the ticket office. Check our rates on the website.

MADRID CITY CARD is a card that allows access to promotions and discounts offered by collaborating businesses, with MADRID DESTINO CULTURA TURISMO Y NEGOCIO, S.A. (MADRID DESTINO) having no involvement in the provision of the service and/or sale of the product that is the subject of the offer. Any complaint or incident regarding the provision of the contracted service and/or the sale of the product must be addressed to the legal entity that manages the participating business, without MADRID DESTINO being liable in any case for fulfilment of the terms and conditions of the discount and/or promotion that the offer consists of.

¿Dónde se utiliza?

Descubre todos los descuentos que te ofrece la tarjeta turística Madrid City Card.

Guía completa

Échale un vistazo a la guía completa y descubre información detallada sobre los espectáculos, cómo moverte de forma sostenible y actividades de ocio.

What is the Madrid City Card?

Issued by Madrid City Council, the city's official sightseeing pass allows tourists to enjoy benefits and discounts on the city's top tourist, cultural and leisure attractions. The card includes a Tourist Travel Pass issued by the CRTM, Madrid's Regional Transport Consortium, which can be used on the city's public transport system.

How do I activate my Madrid City Card?

You can start using your Madrid City Card for discounts and benefits as soon as you purchase it from one of the city's Tourist Information Offices. The Tourist Travel Pass will be automatically activated the first time you use it on any mode of public transport.

Validity of the card

You can continue using your Madrid City Card for discounts and benefits for 1 month after purchasing it. The Tourist Travel Pass will only be valid for your chosen period: 1 day or 2, 3, 4 or 5 consecutive days. Please note that the Tourist Travel Pass is valid for calendar days, not for 24-hour periods. This means that if you activate it at 11:59pm, you will already have used up a full day.

How can I find out which establishments are included in my Madrid City Card?

Check out our “Attractions” section to see where you can use your card.

How do I use my Madrid City Card at establishments that accept the card?

You can enjoy discounts and benefits by simply showing the QR code on your card. You can only use it once in each establishment, unless otherwise indicated in the description of the activity.

Is there a phone number or email address that I can use should I have any questions?

Sí, puedes llamar al número (+34) 915 787 810 de 09:00 a 20:00 de atención telefónica, pero también puedes contactar con nosotros por email en [email protected].

DFP tag: LAYER

Madrid City Pass: free airport transfer and discounts for museums and sights

• The Prado Museum , with priority access
• Reina Sofia Museum
• Thyssen Bornemisza Museum
• The Royal Palace
• Museum of Decorative Arts
• Sorolla Museum
• Contemporary Art Museum
• The Debod Temple
• Royal Botanical Gardens
• The San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts
• Tour of Real Madrid's Stadium, Trophy Room & Museum
• Guided tour to the Atletico de Madrid Museum + free gift
• Guided tour to Las Ventas Bullring
• Lázaro Galdiano Museum
• Lopé de Vega House & Museum
• Museum of America
• Exhibition room, Círculo de Bellas Artes
• and many, many more...

Once you have ordered your card, it may be collected either at Madrid airport, or at the Tourist Information Office (full details on purchase).

Madrid Tourist Card: Is It Worth It?

Are you planning to travel to Madrid and considering getting the Madrid Tourist Card ?

In this post, you will find all the information you need about this tourist card, as well as my opinion on whether it’s worth it . Keep reading if you want to save time and money on your trip to Spain.

Table of contents

Where to purchase the Madrid tourist pass?

What is the price of the madrid city card, how to activate the madrid city card, validity of the card, how to use the madrid city card, discounts in attractions, tourist travel pass, is the madrid tourist card worth it, what is the madrid city card.

The Madrid City Card is the official tourist card of Madrid. It is a card that provides visitors with the opportunity to enjoy unique benefits and discounts at around 30 cultural and leisure attractions.

Issued by the City Council, this sightseeing pass also grants visitors unlimited access to the public transportation system for a specific number of days.

You can purchase your Madrid Tourist Card at any of the following Tourist Information Offices:

• Plaza Mayor: Plaza Mayor, 27
• Callao: Plaza de Callao, s/n
• Royal Palace: Corner of Calle de Bailén and Calle de Requena
• Paseo del Prado: Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo, s/n
• CentroCentro: Plaza de Cibeles, 1
• Reina Sofía: Corner of Plaza de Juan Goytisolo and Calle de Santa Isabel

The price of the card depends on the number of days you plan to use it.

Children under 11 years old receive a 50% discount on the price and children under 4 years old do not need the card to enjoy discounts or to travel on public transport for free.

You can start using your Madrid City Card for discounts and benefits as soon as you purchase it from one of the city’s Tourist Information Offices.

You can use your Madrid Tourist Card for 1 month after the purchase . The card will be valid for your chosen period (1-5 days) and is based on calendar days, not for 24-hour periods. This means that if you activate it at 11:59 p.m., you will already have used up a full day.

You can enjoy the discounts and benefits by presenting the QR code on your card. You can only use it once in each establishment unless otherwise indicated in the description of the activity.

For any doubt regarding the Madrid City Card, you can call (+34) 915 787 810 or send an email to [email protected].

What are the benefits of the Madrid Tourist Card?

The official Madrid sightseeing pass offers multiple benefits and discounts in the top-rated museums and other cultural and leisure attractions .

These are the ones that, in my opinion, are more interesting for most tourists. Just like in other tourist cards from cities all around the world, many attractions are included that may not be of as much interest to visitors staying only a few days in the city. Nevertheless, you can check out all the discounts on the official website .

• Prado Museum: Free admission every day during the last two opening hours.
• Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum: 10% discount on admission and preferential access
• Reina Sofía Museum: Preferential Access
• Faro de Moncloa Observation Deck: 50% discount on the ticket price
• Almudena Cathedral Museum: Free audio guide and 10% discount in-store (purchases over €20)
• Wax Museum: 15% discount on the ticket price
• Amusement Park: 20% discount on the ticket price and for 3 companions
• Zoo Aquarium: 30% discount on the ticket price and for 3 companions.
• MAMMA MIA Musical: 10% discount.
• Matilda, The Musical: 10% discount.
• Royal Palace: Preferential access

The Madrid City Card includes unlimited and free transportation within the city, including the metro network (Zone A), suburban trains (Zones 0 and A), city buses (all blue city bus lines), and BiciMAD e-bikes for a period of up to 5 consecutive days.

Just keep in mind that the 24-hour Airport Express shuttle bus line is not covered.

The Madrid Tourist Card can be a useful resource for tourists who want to explore the capital intensively, but it may not always be cost-effective.

In my opinion, if you meet these two conditions, my recommendation would be NOT to purchase the tourist pass:

• The primary purpose of your trip is to visit the major tourist attractions of the capital, not every corner of the city.
• You won’t be using public transportation excessively, considering that in Madrid you can walk to many attractions in the historic center, and the weather is suitable for strolling around the city.

From an economic standpoint, the card is not that worth it as discounts are not that high , and many attractions can currently be visited for free without needing the card on certain days/times.

Additionally, there are 10-journey passes available for public transportation, which should suffice without the need for unlimited travel.

I do find the fast pass for skipping lines at attractions interesting, but you will have to decide if it is worth paying the card’s price to save some waiting time. In this case, it can be useful to invest some time in good planning and visit the most popular attractions during less crowded hours.

In conclusion, the Madrid Tourist Card can be an attractive option for certain visitors who want to explore the city extensively, offering the convenience of unlimited public transportation access, discounts, and priority entry to popular attractions all in one card.

However, for the average tourist, it may not be as economically beneficial. It’s essential to weigh the cost against the potential time and convenience savings, especially if your primary goal is to visit the city’s major attractions rather than every corner of it.

2 thoughts on “Madrid Tourist Card: Is It Worth It?”

The worst thing about the Madrid City Card is that it is not sold at Atocha Renfe station. Esmadrid SA assumes that all tourists only arrive by air. If I arrive in Madrid by AVE Renfe, I will need to buy a Metro ticket to a Tourist Information office. For tourists who don’t know Madrid, this can be a big challenge. Also visitors with luggage will have to wander with it to find the place. If I could buy the Madrid City Card in Atocha, I could use it immediately to get to my hotel. This is a very clumsy oversight by the company.

Thanks for your comment Zan

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Madrid City Pass | Unlock the Treasures of Spain’s Capital

There is so much to experience in Madrid. If you’re the type of traveler who likes to see it all, the Madrid City Pass will make exploring the city more manageable. Visiting Madrid’s famous sites can quickly become costly for tourists who don’t know the tips and tricks to get around the city.

Luckily, we’ve been there and done all the research to help you find your way around the best things to do in Madrid . The Madrid City Pass offers excellent value for money if you’re spending a while in the city or even if you’re a frequent visitor.

Madrid’s Cards and Passes for Tourists

Madrid has a wonderful selection of cards and passes for tourists to the city. Depending on which one you choose, the cards will help you save on transport costs and entrance fees. Like the Madrid City Pass, some will even let you skip the queues to a few of Madrid’s most popular attractions.

Here’s our review of the Madrid City Pass and some extra info on other passes and cards for tourists in Madrid.

Madrid City Pass

Although many Madrid cards are on the market, the Madrid City Pass is the city’s most popular option for tourists. Most likely because the pass does not have time limits like other tourist passes and because it’ll give you priority access to Madrid’s most famous museums.

The €70 ($76) pass remains valid for one year after the purchase date; that’s what makes it so great for frequent visitors. There’s far too much to see in Madrid, and fitting all the must-see spots into a short vacation just isn’t going to work.

So, it’s a must-have for visitors spending a while in Madrid or returning during the year. The Madrid City Pass offers free admission to two famous attractions, free rides on the hop-on-hop-off bus for 24 hours, and discounts on excursions and attractions for a year.

If you’re equipped with the Madrid City Pass, here are just a few of the experiences you can enjoy and how much you’ll save with the card.

The Prado Museum

The Prado Museum holds the world’s most expansive collection of Spanish paintings and a large selection of works from all over Europe. Altogether, Prado’s collection contains over 8 000 fine art pieces and close to 1 000 sculptures.

Besides all the beauty held within it, the Neoclassical-style building, completed in 1819, is a spectacular sight on its own. The building was initially designed as a natural science museum. Instead, it was opened to the public as a Royal Museum of Painting and eventually the National Museum of the Prado.

The Prado Museum and its art have withstood three European wars and witnessed many Spanish dynasties. The museum has the world’s most complete collection of works by El Greco, de Goya, and Velázquez and has essential works by Bosch, Raphael, and many others.

Because it has such unique history and so much to offer its visitors, The Prado Museum is extremely popular with tourists and locals. While the museum allows free visits on certain days, getting into the Prado Museum is a lot easier with the pass.

Here’s how the pass will help:

• General Entrance + Guide Book (without pass): €24 ($26)
• Price with Madrid City Pass: Free
• Bonus: Skip the queues and free audio guide available on the app.

Reina Sofía Museum

This museum is a vital part of the global contemporary art scene. It houses thousands of artworks dating back to the early 19th century. The museum’s most famous piece, Picasso’s Guernica, is one that many people worldwide visit Madrid to see.

The museum comprises two venues that each contain a variety of art collections and exhibits. Art lovers will appreciate the museum’s exhibits that discuss critical statements of contemporary art. But, all pieces can easily be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates beauty.

The Reina Sofía Museum is a must-see attraction for everyone visiting Madrid. Although the museum has free entrance on certain days, the lines at those times can be extremely long. While this is okay if you’re a local, you don’t want to lose any time as a tourist.

Here’s how the card will help:

• General ticket (without pass): €12 ($13)
• Price with the Madrid City Pass: Free
• Bonus: Skip the queues and access the apps audioguide.

Hop-on-Hop-off Bus

Madrid’s Hop-on-Hop-off Bus is one of the best ways to see the city. It offers three different routes, the historical, modern, and night routes. Your ticket will include an audio guide in 14 languages.

The best part of taking a ride on Madrid’s tour bus is that you can jump off whenever you like. The bus will pass by fifty-two iconic places in the city and stop at the nearest bus stop, where you can disembark.

Your ticket is valid for the day, so you can use it for touring the city instead of hailing a cab or using the metro. When you’re ready to head to the next location, you can catch a new bus every 30-40 minutes.

Here’s how the pass will come in handy:

• General ticket for one day: €20.70 (＄58)
• Madrid City Pass: Free for the first 24 hours

Tours and Excursions

Your Madrid City Pass will give you up to 20% off on many tours and excursions around the city. Once you’ve booked your Madrid pass, you’ll receive a discount code that you can use to visit sites like the Real Madrid Stadium, Madrid’s Royal Palace, and much more.

Madrid Museums Pass

There are a few fantastic options for art and history appreciators. Spain offers visitors a selection of Madrid museum passes that are valid from 10 days up to 1 year. These passes are designed to suit every type of tourist visiting Madrid.

If you’re spending a while in Madrid, or are a frequent visitor, consider getting the “Annual State Museums Pass.” This card will take you to all of the state’s museums, as long as you bring your pass and photo ID with you.

There are also options for 10 and 15-day passes. While the 10-day pass will grant you access to about five museums, the 15-day pass lets you visit eight of Madrid’s museums. This variety of options is excellent because you’ll have some room to choose your Madrid tourist pass according to your vacation.

Madrid Metro Pass

The Madrid Tourist Card is a pre-loaded public transport pass that will make moving around Madrid a breeze. You can load the card according to how many days you’ll be in the city. During that time, you’ll be able to use Madrid’s public transport without additional cost.

The card is rechargeable for ten years, so you can keep it and charge it up on your next visit to Madrid.

Are Madrid’s Cards Worth it?

Buying a Madrid City Pass will be well worth your money if you’re planning to spend a while in the city and want to see many of Madrid’s attractions. If you do buy the pass for your visit, be sure to use the hop-on-hop-off bus in the first 24 hours to maximize the benefits of your card.

If you are only in Madrid for a few days on your journey through Spain, consider buying one of Madrid’s museum passes instead. Paired with a Madrid Tourist Card to cover the transport costs, seeing Madrid will be a lot easier.

Hopefully, our review of Madrid’s card will be helpful on your next trip to the magnificent city.

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Unveil the marvels of Madrid with the Madrid Card

The Madrid Card is a city pass or tourist card. It’s the best way to enjoy the city’s top tourist, cultural and leisure attractions.

Why waiting to get to Madrid? Get your Madrid Card online right now.

If done properly, you can plan your whole holiday with a couple mouse clicks from home.

This is without a doubt the best Madrid discount pass in circulation at the moment: having everything booked from the comfort of home, skipping lines, and saving money… but it really depends what you’re planning to do.

Table of Contents

What’s included in the Madrid Card?

Each Madrid Card includes the following for visiting Madrid:

• Prado Museum: Skip the line access + self-guided tour audio guide.
• Royal Palace: Fast track, skip the line access.
• A 1-day pass (24h) or a 2-day pass (48h) for a panoramic tour through Madrid on the Red hop-on hop-off tourist bus.
• City Tour of Madrid app (100+ spots with audio guide from local experts).
• A 1-hour audio tour of the Prado Museum masterpieces.

You also get a digital discount code giving you 10% off major purchases like:

• Museo Reina Sofía, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, and Las Ventas .
• The Santiago Bernabeú Tour and the Cívitas Metropolitano Tour .
• Guided tours, flamenco shows, the city’s best amusement parks, and much more.

How does the Madrid Card work?

The Madrid Card is 100% digital.

During the booking process, you select dates and times for visiting the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace (here selecting a time is also mandatory).

You then receive your tickets via email. There’s no need to print them out – just show them on your phone. This has the advantage that on arrival in Madrid, you hit the ground running and can head straight to the city center, with no need to pick anything up.

You also get an audio guide app to listen to on your smartphone (don’t forget to bring earphones), plus a coupon code that gives you a 10% discount on Madrid attractions, tickets and tours purchased from the Madrid tourist card website .

There’s no time limit on when you use the discount code and no booking fees. This is a bonus if you’ll be staying in Madrid for more than just a few days because you can spread your sightseeing out over a longer period.

After booking, you receive a link to the Madrid tourist card website . When booking through this link, there is an extra text field in the shopping cart where you enter the discount coupon code. When you validate the code, the 10% discount is automatically applied to your order.

Is the Madrid Card worth it?

Buying a Madrid City Pass will be well worth your money if you’re planning to spend a while in the city and want to see many of Madrid’s attractions. If you do buy the pass for your visit, be sure to use the City Bus Tour bus in the first 24 hours to maximize the benefits of your card.

If you’re only in Madrid for 1-2 days on your journey through Spain, consider buying the Madrid’s museum pass instead. Paired with a Madrid Travel City Pass to cover the transport costs, seeing Madrid will be a lot easier.

That said, if you’re coming to Madrid with culture in your eyes, and want to check off the major themes of Madrid’s top things to do like the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace (without any stress) then it’s something you should seriously consider.

Here are a few reasons:

1. Save money

It’s the reason you looked for a discount card in the first place, isn’t it?

The 10% discount you’ll get on subsequent attractions is the highest discount percentage available on the market for any of the major attractions.

Some math: the 3 tickets included in the basic pass (Prado Museum, Royal Palace, and the City Bus Tour) cost 58€ with the two audio guides adding 5€ of value each – making 68€.

If you buy the pass and nothing else you’re already saving 11€.

That said, if you decide to use the pass for just 3 items like Museo Reina Sofía, Santiago Bernabéu, and Museo Thyssen using the 10% discount you end up saving 5€ more.

If you go on by getting an entrance to Las Ventas, a flamenco show, an amusement park pass, or anything else on the long list of discounts it starts to really add up.

2. Skip the line at Madrid’s most popular attractions

If you’re still wondering if this city pass is worth it, ask yourself how much your time is worth.

Because some attraction entrances can have incredibly long lines, which results into an incredible waste of time.

With the Madrid Card you use your personal discount code to book all your attraction tickets online in advance , skip the lines, and enjoy your visit hassle free.

If your time is, let’s say, worth 30€ an hour you’re now way into savings.

3. No need to waste your time collecting anything

Unlike other Madrid discount cards you’ll benefit from the Madrid Pass being all digital.

That way you won’t have to worry about picking anything up in busy Madrid city center during rigid office hours, printing out tickets, or even losing them.

Just book them at your own pace at home, then show the tickets on your smartphone.

Madrid Card FAQ

Does the Madrid Card include public transport?

No, the Madrid Card doesn’t include public transport. There’s a specific travel city pass that you’ll need to get as well.

Do I have to pick anything up?

No, all tickets and discount codes are done online.

Do I absolutely have to select my visiting dates for the Prado Museum, the Royal Palace and the City Bus Tour?

Yes, it’s fundamental to get your tickets sent.

Keep in mind that time slot selection is super standard as you’re benefiting from a fast-track ticket to enter the Royal Palace.

I suggest you book the City Bus Tour as your first activity, so you can overview the city’s main sights and landmarks as soon as you get to Madrid.

Start planning your upcoming trip to Madrid

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• Find the cheapest train tickets ( tutorial )
• Save by choosing the best Madrid city pass for you with my exclusive discounts. My favorite is the Madrid Pass ( review ).
• Book the best tours and day trips in Madrid in English
• Pay in Euros and avoid commissions with your Wise debit card ( tutorial )
• Buy your prepaid SIM card online to have internet connection as soon as you arrive ( tutorial )
• Get your travel insurance to avoid bad surprises ( review )
• Rent a car at the lowest rate
• Book your Madrid Airport transfer

• Money Saving Tips

Madrid Tourist Travel Card

Madrid’s tourist travel card allows visitors to travel as many times as needed on all the city’s public transport system ( metro , urban buses , and cercanía trains ). There are five types of Tourist Cards , depending on their validity: 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 calendar days.

Zone A corresponds to the municipality of Madrid and is; therefore, the most popular travel pass for tourists .

Zone T is for visitors staying in the city’s outskirts.

Children less than 11 years old have a 50% discount on all types of tourist travel cards and children under the age of 4 can travel for free on any of the city’s public transport.

Dónde se compra

El abono de transporte turístico puede adquirirse en todas las estaciones de metro, en las oficinas de información turística y en determinados quioscos y estancos. También es posible adquirirlo por internet en el siguiente enlace:

• Billete turístico - Compra online

Where to buy the tourist travel card?

Visitors can purchase the tourist travel pass at any metro station , in the Barajas International Airport (terminals 2 and 4), and in the Regional Consortium of Transport headquarters in Plaza del Descubridor Diego de Ordás, 3.

The tourist transport pass is charged on a Multi card; a rechargeable card which usually costs € 2.50 ( US$ 2.70), but when you buy a tourist pass you get it for free.

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Travel City Pass Madrid - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

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Go madrid city pass review | is this sightseeing pass a good value.

Is the new Go Madrid City Pass worth the money? We do an in-depth analysis to see if this sightseeing pass is a good deal.

The Go Madrid City Pass is a new sightseeing pass that covers around 20 different attractions in Madrid. But is the Go Madrid Pass a good deal? It depends. That’s why I wanted to do a Go Madrid City Pass review to see who should and shouldn’t buy this pass.

Quick Overview Of The Go Madrid City Pass

The Go Madrid City Pass is a bit different than other city sightseeing and museum passes as it mostly covers touristy attractions like walking tours, bike tours, and cultural sights — but it does include entrance to a few museums.

The Go Madrid City Pass allows you to choose 3, 4, 5, or 7 different attractions from the list and you have to use them within 30 days of activation. I do like the flexibility that this kind of pass offers because it lets you experience things at your own leisure.

Here are the four pass options:

• 3-Choice Pass: €59
• 4-Choice Pass: €78
• 5-Choice Pass: €93
• 7-Choice Pass: €114

What’s Included in the Go Madrid Sightseeing Pass

As you can see below, this pass includes a lot of “touristy” things like Segway tours, bus tours, Flamenco Show — which is fine but these might not be activities that appeal to all travelers. Click here to see the list on the Go City Website .

• Royal Palace Entrance and Guided Tour: €30
• Real Madrid Bernabéu Stadium Tour: €25
• Prado Museum: €15
• Flamenco Show in Torres Bermejas: €35
• Segway Tour Parque el Retiro: €35
• Segway Night Tour: €30
• Toledo Experience: €27
• Museo de Cera (Wax Museum): €21
• Las Ventas Tour (Bullfighting Stadium): €15
• Essential Madrid E-bike Tour: €35
• Chocolate & Churros Segway Tour: €39
• Segovia Experience: €39
• Madrid City Tour – BusVision: €14
• Museo Lázaro Galdiano: €7

Is The Go Madrid Pass A Good Value?

The first step in determining the value of the Go Madrid Pass is dividing the pass cost by the number of attractions it covers.

• 3-Choice Pass: €59 (€20/attraction)
• 4-Choice Pass: €78 (€19.50/attraction)
• 5-Choice Pass: €93 (€18.60/attraction)
• 7-Choice Pass: €114 (€16.30/attraction)

Therefore, each attraction you choose should cost more than about €19-€20 for the pass to be worth the money. Luckily, most attractions on this list cost more than €20 so getting your value out of this pass is pretty easy.

Next, you need to determine if the things on this list are things you actually want to do. For example, doing the Royal Palace Entrance and Guided Tour (€30), the Flamenco Show in Torres Bermejas (€35), and the Chocolate & Churros Segway Tour (€39) would cost a total of €104, and the 3-Choice Pass would be €59, it doesn’t mean it’s a good deal if those aren’t things you want to do.

The Bottom Line

In short, the Go Madrid Pass doesn’t cover many “must-see” sights so if you’re looking to mainly see Madrid’s highlights then you might want to skip this pass.

However, this pass does cover some fun activities like so if these things look interesting to you then the Go Madrid pass is a really good value. On the other hand, if you’re a budget traveler then I recommend skipping the pass as you probably wouldn’t visit many of these attractions anyways.

Where To Buy The Go Madrid Pass

The Go Madrid Pass is a fully digital pass so simply visit the Go City website . Your pass will be activated when you visit the first attraction so the whole process is simple.

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Is The Madrid City Pass Worth It?

If you’re planning a visit to Madrid, chances are that you’ve already figured out what you want to see there, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve made a big list. If that list has a lot of museums and similar attractions on it, it’s definitely time to consider investing in the Madrid City Pass.

The Madrid City Pass is a card designed for tourists. It provides you with a discount on a lot of Madrid’s famous tourist attractions . And in this review, I will go into detail on how and why it makes sense for you.

Note:  Since there are several “Madrid Cards” available for purchase, I’ll be focusing on the City Pass available on gomadrid.com in this review.

Why You Should Buy The Madrid City Pass

• If you plan to visit a lot of museums in Madrid and hate waiting in line, then definitely consider getting the card. It offers priority access to two of Madrid’s busiest attractions , The Prado Museum and the Real Madrid Stadium Tour.
• You will save money on transportation , with the free 24h Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour ticket and the two-way shuttle airport transfer! A taxi ride from the city center to and from the airport could set you back up to 60€, and this alone will almost break you even.
• 20% discount on excursions. You can save money on a number of different excursions, so if you were planning to visit Toledo or the Las Rozas Village, consider investing in the pass.
• There’s no time limit on the card. Once you purchase it, it is valid for an entire year, after the first time you use it. So, if you know you will visit Madrid several times this year, then you’ll definitely get your money’s worth with the City Pass. This applies only to this particular City Pass – other city cards do have a time limit, which you choose upon purchase.
• You get 20% discount on other popular tourist attractions in Madrid. Get the card if you really want to immerse yourself in Madrid’s culture.
• 20% discount for bus and bike tours of Madrid. The Beer Bike tour is one of the most popular bike tours, and it is included in the pass. If you are travelling in a large group, the City Pass could save you up to 60€ on this attraction.
• You can buy it online. The pass will be emailed to you, along with a discount code (the discount applies only to tickets purchased via ticketbar ). You don’t have to exchange it for a real physical card, or pick it up somewhere.

Why You Shouldn’t Buy The Madrid City Pass

• It’s hard to break even . With a price tag of ­80€ for adults, you won’t get your money’s worth unless you visit pretty much everything you can with the card. And, visiting museums you aren’t interested in just to break even will make your trip feel like a chore.
• Many museums in Madrid offer free entry at some point . The Prado Museum offers free entry after 6 PM (after 5 PM on Sundays and holidays). However, the lines during this time are very, very long, so bring some snacks.
• You still have to pay for transportation . The free Hop-On Hop-Off bus ticket is good for the first day, and after that you still have to buy the Metro Card if you want to get around town. I suggest The Madrid Tourist Travel Pass , as if it will save you a ton of money on transportation.
• If you are travelling with your family, the City Passes get really expensive . Passes for you, your partner and 2 kids (5+ years old) will set you back 248€. If you ask me, you are better off spending that money on extending your stay in Madrid.

Discounted Attractions You Can See With The Madrid City Pass

These are just some of the many attractions available to you at a discounted price, if you get the City Pass. And, they are so worth it!

The Prado Museum

Goya, Velázquez, Rubens and El Greco are just a few artists whose paintings you can see in this museum. It is one of the largest museums in Spain, and one of the most visited museums in the entire world . Honestly, it should be a crime to visit Madrid and not visit the Prado. You wouldn’t leave Paris without going to the Louvre, would you?

The Reina Sofia Museum

Image Courtesy Of Shadowgate

It is the home of Picasso’s Guernica , and I think this alone is a reason to pay a visit to this museum. It is mainly dedicated to Spanish 20 th century art, but it does feature a number of works by international artists. The Reina Sofia Museum is also one of the largest museums in the world, which is the home of modern and contemporary art. 

Real Madrid Stadium Tour

I myself am an FC Barcelona fan, so this doesn’t really sound like an appealing way to spend my time. However, for any die-hard Real Madrid fans, this sounds like a dream come true. You get to see the locker rooms, the trophies exhibition, the presidential box, and literally every corner of the stadium.

Royal Palace Walking Tour

Even though the Spanish Royal Family does not actually reside here, it is their official home. If you are lucky enough, you might be able to see the change of guards. It is an incredible event that happens just a few times every year, and it involves hundreds of infantry, cavalry and horses! A must-see if you happen to be in Madrid when it happens. If you want to really experience the history of Spain and the way its royals lived, definitely check out the Royal Palace.

Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Image Courtesy of BOMBMAN

The double-decker bus will take you to all the destinations I mentioned above, and to many others. You can also experience both the new modern Madrid, and the historic one, with the 2 different routes of the bus tour . Choose a route and stick to it, or hop off the bus and get on the one doing the other route – it’s completely up to you. You can even just stay on the bus all day long, admiring the architectural beauty of Madrid, with audio commentary in 14 different languages!

Beer Bike Madrid

Image Courtesy Of Harold

If you love to go on tours, then you shouldn’t miss this one. The Beer Bike Madrid is a city tour on a tandem bike for 16 people . It’s the perfect way to experience a new city, especially if you are travelling in a large group. Single tickets are also available if you don’t mind riding around with a bunch of strangers. Since it is a Beer bike, you can actually order beer and sangria, which is really cool. You just can’t drink them during the ride itself, but feel free to do so before or after the tour.

I honestly don’t know, as this entirely depends on the amount of time you want to spend in Madrid. If you’re just visiting for a couple of days, then it will be very hard for you to get your money’s worth out of the pass. If you’re going to stay in Madrid for a while, then the card is a good investment.

The best advice I can give you is to sit down and make a plan . Figure out what attractions you really want to visit, and check out how much the individual tickets cost . If the individual tickets will cost you less than the pass, then there’s no point in getting it. You don’t want to feel an obligation to visit museums you aren’t even interested in just to get your money’s worth.

On the other hand, if you want to visit more than one tourist attraction a day , and you will stay in Madrid for a while, then the City Pass is a really good investment. Especially because you get to skip the line for the 2 busiest attractions in Madrid . The card really does have a ton of benefits , and if you think you can get your money’s worth with it, it really is worth purchasing.

About the Author Roger Timbrook

Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!

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Mercado de San Miguel Mercado de San Miguel free

U.S. News Insider Tip: For alternatives to the upmarket Mercado de San Miguel, visit Mercado San Antón or Mercado de San Ildefonso. These innovative food markets are popular social spaces in Madrid's Malasaña and Chueca neighborhoods. – Julienne C. Raboca

Mercado de San Miguel, a market built of beautifully ornate glass and cast iron, is a popular stop for tourists to Madrid, especially since it is located right outside of Plaza Mayor . Opened in May 1916 as a local food market, Mercado de San Miguel became the city's first gourmet market in 2009. Here, visitors can purchase wine, grab a cocktail, juice or coffee, snack on a variety of ready-to-eat tapas, or pick up ingredients for lunch or dinner from the fruit, seafood and meat stalls. San Miguel Market's most famous stands include Michelin-starred chef Jordi Roca's homemade and natural ice creams at Rocambolesc, and the traditional tapas at Madrí by Arzabal.

Plaza Mayor Plaza Mayor free

U.S. News Insider Tip:  Take a breather from all the walking at Hammam Al Ándalus, an Arabic-style bathhouse a few steps from Plaza Mayor where you can dip into pools of varying temperatures, book a massage or get stretched on a hot stone bed. –  Julienne C. Raboca

This square, located in the heart of Madrid, is more a must-experience attraction than a must-see one. Surrounded by cafes and bars, Plaza Mayor practically begs passersby to take a seat, order a coffee or glass of wine (depending on the time of day) and people-watch. Not only do throngs of tourists pass through, but multiple street performers plant their feet here to entertain. The square starts getting busy around 2 p.m. and will grow increasingly lively as night falls.

Gateway of the Sun (Puerta del Sol) Gateway of the Sun (Puerta del Sol) free

U.S. News Insider Tip: On a cooler day, head to one of the city's most historic restaurants, Lhardy. The place will take you back in time with its elegant decor; try Madrid's best cocido madrileño , a traditional stew of chickpeas, vegetables, pork and lamb. – Julienne C. Raboca

The true center of Madrid, Puerta del Sol has been the heart of Madrid since the 17th century. During King Felipe V’s reign in the early 18th century, six roads were built from the city, referenced by a brass plaque on the south side of Sol. The plaza's most recognizable feature is thus called "kilometer zero," the point from which all distances in Spain are measured. The renowned plaque is undergoing a 21st-century visual update, replacing its square tile with a compass rose design featuring metallic embellishments and border indications pointing toward major Spanish cities.

Plaza de Cibeles (Cibeles Plaza) Plaza de Cibeles (Cibeles Plaza) free

U.S. News Insider Tip: If you're in Madrid for the holidays and want to get into the winter wonderland spirit, head to the palace's magical Glass Gallery, which transforms into a 3,200-square-foot ice rink from December to January. – Julienne C. Raboca

Cibeles Plaza together with Cibeles Palace are in the heart of Madrid's tourist map. Declared a Cultural Heritage Monument in 1993, Palacio de Cibeles (or Cibeles Palace) was formerly the city's main post office, but now serves as Madrid's City Hall. Located at the intersection of Calle de Alcalá (which leads into Sol ) and adjacent to Paseo del Prado/Paseo de Recoletos, Plaza de Cibeles draws tourists for its stunning architecture. The plaza's fountain features the Roman goddess Cybele ("the Great Mother"), who represents fertility, driven in a chariot being pulled by two lions. The goddess has unofficially been adopted by the city's fútbol (soccer) team, Real Madrid. When Real Madrid, or the Spanish national team, win a title, the city holds a parade that ends in Plaza de Cibeles with one of the players fastening the team's flag to the goddess.

El Retiro Park (Parque del Buen Retiro) El Retiro Park (Parque del Buen Retiro) free

To the east of central Madrid,  Parque del Buen Retiro (El Retiro Park) can be translated as "Garden of the Pleasant Retreat," and that's what it is – a sprawling swath of lush greenery filled with formal gardens, lakes, cafes, playgrounds and more. This 300-acre park previously housed Felipe IV's palace and gardens, and wasn't open to the public until the late 19th century. In 2021, it was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site along with Paseo del Prado as "a landscape of arts and sciences."

Today, you can still rent a rowboat before heading to the  Palacio de Cristal  (Crystal Palace), which holds regular art exhibitions. You can also stop and smell the roses in the  Rosaleda (Rose Garden), which boasts more than 4,000 roses; May and June are the best months to see them in full bloom. Plus, for those traveling with little ones, the Teatro de Titeres hosts puppet shows most weekends. To the south lies a fountain where uncannily, the angel Lucifer stands before his fall from grace. Madrileños claim that the Ángel Caído (Fallen Angel) statue is the only one in the world depicting the Prince of Darkness before his transformation.

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TRAVEL CITY PASS MADRID: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)