I'm helping my parents plan their 60th bday trip to Spain (their first) and we're trying to sort out whether an advanced ticket is necessary. There seem to be mixed reviews...?

They'll be there at the end of September, so we are assuming the crowds will still be an issue. They would rather not have to lock in a specific time to visit the museum though - and it seems like you're required to pick a date? Or are we wrong?

Any advice? Thanks in advance!

You are aware of their free entry after 18.00 (Sundays after 17.00)?

I've been a couple times during fairly busy tourist months and never bought a ticket in advance, last time wasn't that long ago. I think there was a very slight wait to buy a ticket. Often long lines are mainly for special exhibitions, I guess the current one has gotten good press (Bosco in Spanish) but will be done by 9/11 anyway.

Usually it isn't that busy in evenings anyway, I'd probably go at 5 and get free entry, and it's something to do before dinner, anyway.

No, you don't have to pick a date if you buy online, the ticket is good for 12 months, the website says so.

When we visited the Prado last year, we purchased our ticket in advance and were glad we did. When we arrived in the morning, the line was long to purchase tickets, but we just waltzed in, picked up our audioguides and viewed my all-time favorite art museum.

<B>http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/chapter-eighteen-madrid-art-museum-day/</B>

Let me elaborate on the ticket we bought.

Before we left, we purchased the Paseo Del Arte Muso, a pass that would allow us to visit Museo Nacional del Prado, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, and Museo Reina Sofía (€ 25.60). We picked it up at the Prado the day before we visited all three museums (no waiting to pick up this pass).

From the website, “The ticket is valid for a one-year period from the date of purchase in the museums’ ticket offices, or from the date of the selected visit upon making the purchase online. The Paseo del Arte Ticket must be redeemed at the ticket offices of the museum where the online purchase was made.”

Below is the day we picked up pass, and we took a photo of it.

http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/20265-2/

Maitaitom-- your blog is so much fun to read!