Is the Madrid Card Good Value for Money?

Question: Is the Madrid Card Good Value for Money?

Answer: The Madrid Card is available for 24, 48 and 72 hours. The prices in January 2007 were as follows:

• 24-Hour Madrid Card 38€
• 48-Hour Madrid Card 48€ (24€ per day)
• 72-Hour Madrid Card 58€ (19€ per day)

As you can see, the 72-Hour Madrid Card is considerably better value than the 24-Hour Madrid Card. Scroll down the page to see suggested itineraries for all three Madrid Cards.

It should be noted that the Madrid Card is not transferable and only the card holder can get free access into a museum. However, the cardholder can get the full discount on all meals and shop purchases.

Is the 24-Hour Card Good Value for Money?

At 38€ for a single day's use, you're going to have to work hard to get your money's worth. An example itinerary to get the bare minimum out of your card would be as follows(prices in brackets are the amount you save on each):

Spend a few hours in Madrid's top museum Museo del Prado (6€), take advantage of the hop-on-hop-off Madrid Vision Tourist Bus (15€), get 15% discount on 70€'s worth of gifts at Diedro Espacio (10.50), 15% off a 50€ lunch for two at Finos y Finas (7.50€) and 10% off a 40€ meal for two at Gobolem (4€).
Total Saving: 43€

Note that to save this much, you need to spend quite a lot, as these restaurants and shops are perhaps more expensive than you might normally pay. Also, if there are two of you, the second card will be 'wasted' on the restaurants and shops, as only one card is needed at these outlets. However, if you only have a day in Madrid and want to get the most out of it, this card will be worthwhile.
Madrid Card: Buy Direct

Is the 48-Hour Card Good Value for Money?

48€ for two days use is 24€ per day, which will allow you to take things at a far more leisurely pace. An example itinerary would be:

Visit two of Madrid's Top Three Museums Museo del Prado (6€) and the Reina Sofia (6€) and ride on the Madrid Vision Tourist Bus on both days (20€). Eat at a classy restaurant on just one of the days (7.50€) and spend a little less in the shops (8€), instead unwinding in the Hammam Arabic Baths with a bath, massage and aromatherapy (5€)
Total Saving: 52.50€

Far easier to get your money's worth, though you still need to spend a bit too. Remember that this is a minimum to get your money's worth out of your card - you have enough time to do more activities.
Madrid Card: Buy Direct

Is the 72-Hour Card Good Value for Money?

At 19€ per day, it would be difficult not to save money. An example of what you could do would be:

Visit all three of Madrid's Top Three Museums, the Museo del Prado (6€), the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza (6€) and the Reina Sofia (6€). Take the Madrid Vision Tourist Bus for one day (15€) (you have the time to explore on foot for the other two days). Indulge the kid in you with a trip to to the Faunia nature park (22€ - only available with 72-Hour Madrid Card) and the IMAX 3D movie theater 6.60€
Total Saving: 61.60€

Excellent savings and you'll still have time to spare to use the card to get even more out of your ticket. These events are normally quite expensive and they all come free using this ticket.

Madrid Card: Buy Direct