Prado free evenings -- too crowded?
 

We will be staying very close to the Prado next week. Is anyone familiar with the free evenings, 6-8pm? Do you need to arrive in advance, is it terribly crowded, do they shoo you out at 730pm?
Thanks.

Giving it another try.

Hello Kittie I am sorry I have not been on free evenings, but the security people told me that the best time in general to go was around 4pm. I was there at 9 & it was crowded.

hellokittie,
They "shoo you out" 10 minutes before closing time, 7:50.
Folks can't enter after 7:30.

I haven't been lately during the 6-8 pm free period, but if I were you I'd try to go Tues.-Thurs. for fewer crowds.

The big Joaquín Sorolla (Impressionist) special exhibit doesn't start until May 26, which should draw lots of big crowds.

We will be staying very close to the museum (nh paseo)
so I figured that on the day we arrive which is a Wed.,
we might take a nap and then go over to the Prado for the freebie.

Are there two entrance doors to the Prado? The Jeronimos door where most people enter and the lines are always long. There is also the Velazquez door.

Has anyone used the Velazquez door and, if so, was the line shorter?

Yes, I've used the Velázquez door when I've purchased my ticket online. The last time I went in through that door at a little after 9 am there was no line, just breezed in. I haven't used the Velázquez door during the 6-8 pm free periods.

Thanks Maribel,

What is the name of the street where I will find the Velazquez door? We are hoping to visit the Prado on a Sunday evening (June 28).

The Velázquez door is directly on the avenue, the Paseo del Prado.

Make sure to see the Sorolla exhibit, but it's housed in the new Jerónimos wing whose entrance is across from the Hotel Ritz. The Sorolla is going to be fantastic! And I expect crowds. I've already bought my ticket online (7 euros)

I don't know how the "free period" works when there's a blockbuster special exhibit. The Prado web page says entrance is free during those "free period" hours to the PERMANENT collection but doesn't say that it's also free to special exhibits.
I understood that for a special exhibit, one still needs to purchase a ticket, even during the "free hours". ???

Thank you Maribel, I'm all set now.