Madrid opens its pools this Friday: prices, opening hours and tricks for getting a ticket

When Madrid’s municipal swimming pools open in 2026

The summer municipal swimming-pool season in Madrid starts on 15 May 2026 and is scheduled to run until 7 September 2026. The date coincides with the feast of San Isidro and keeps to the usual timetable of recent years.

The City Council retains the three-session system to organise access and better control capacity:

Morning session: 10:00 to 15:00

Afternoon session: 16:00 to 21:00

Full day: 10:00 to 21:00

This system lets you choose between spending only half a day or booking the whole day. It also makes it easier for places to be released when someone leaves the venue and validates their exit with the QR code.

How much entry to Madrid’s municipal swimming pools costs

Prices remain frozen compared with previous seasons. For morning or afternoon sessions, the rates are:

Children, aged 5 to 14: 1.35 euros Young people, aged 15 to 26: 1.80 euros Adults, aged 27 to 64: 2.25 euros Over-65s: 0.70 euros Under-5s: free

For the full-day session, prices are double:

Children: 2.70 euros Young people: 3.60 euros Adults: 4.50 euros Over-65s: 1.35 euros Under-5s: free

The full-day ticket is the most convenient option if you want to spend the whole day there, eat there and not depend on another session.

How to book a ticket step by step

The most practical way is to buy your ticket in advance through the Madrid Móvil app or the municipal sports portal. The application provides access to municipal sports services, lets you buy tickets for summer pools and check the uses you have purchased.

The process is straightforward:

Open the Madrid Móvil app. (Apple/Android)

Sign in with your account.

Find the Madrid es Deporte card.

Open Free-use tickets.

Tap Summer pools.

Choose the pool, date and session.

Select tickets by age.

Review the basket.

Pay.

Save the QR code to show it at the entrance.

The City Council states in its instructions that the maximum is 10 tickets per person per day. The tickets then appear in the user’s account, under free-use ticket uses.

When it is advisable to book

The practical rule is clear: if you want to go at the weekend, on a public holiday or on a very hot day, do not wait. In previous seasons, tickets could be bought up to 45 hours in advance through Madrid Móvil or DeportesWeb. That window remains the useful reference for planning, although it is always advisable to check the municipal system on the day of purchase.

For the most popular pools, it is best to enter the app as soon as booking opens. Decide in advance on the centre, the session and how many tickets you need. This prevents you from wasting time when demand is high.

Can you buy at the ticket office?

Yes, but it is not advisable to rely only on that. The municipal model reserves part of the tickets for in-person sales and for people who may have greater difficulty buying digitally. In 2025, the percentage available at the ticket office was increased to 20%, and tickets unused through online sales or priority quotas could be sold 30 minutes after the session began.

This means the ticket office can save a last-minute plan, but it is not the safest route if you want to go to a pool in very high demand.

10-use passes: when they are worthwhile

If you are going to go several times during the summer, the 10-use pass may be a good option. The Madrid Móvil app lets you buy a 10-use summer-pool pass, and municipal information indicates that it can be used at any municipal pool, regardless of the centre where it was bought. It is valid for one year.

It is a practical option for families, people who work remotely in summer or neighbours with a municipal pool nearby who want to go several afternoons.

Which municipal pools open in Madrid

The municipal network includes sports centres with summer pools in almost all the major districts. The City Council page recommends always confirming each pool’s opening date, as there may be works or occasional adjustments.

These are the main municipal summer pools by area:

Arganzuela

CDM Peñuelas It is near Madrid Río and is a very useful neighbourhood pool for people living between Arganzuela, Acacias and Delicias. It is advisable to check its listing before going, because in recent seasons some centres have had works or phased openings.

Barajas

CDM Mistral A quieter option than the centre’s best-known pools. It is of interest to Barajas residents and to people looking for a less high-profile facility.

Carabanchel

CDM Blanca Fernández Ochoa A large complex with a summer pool and other sports facilities. It is usually a solid alternative for families in south-west Madrid.

Ciudad Lineal

CDM Concepción One of the classic pools in the north-east of the city. It is popular and convenient for people living in Ciudad Lineal, Quintana, Pueblo Nuevo or nearby areas.

Fuencarral-El Pardo

CDM Santa Ana A pool in a residential setting with a local atmosphere.

CDM Vicente del Bosque It is one of the major municipal sports complexes. It is in high demand and is usually among the pools worth checking early when the season begins.

Hortaleza

CDM Hortaleza Used extensively by families in the district. It is a strong option for northern Madrid.

CDM Luis Aragonés Another important centre in the district. Before booking, it is advisable to check its listing in case there are changes to opening or availability.

Latina

CDM Aluche One of the great classics of Madrid summer. It is large, popular and much sought after. For weekends, it is best to book as soon as possible.

Moncloa-Aravaca

CDM Casa de Campo Probably one of Madrid’s best-known municipal pools. It has a privileged setting, spacious areas and high demand. It is one of the first to look at if you are seeking grass, shade and a full-day plan.

CDM El Quijote A more manageable-sized pool, useful for Moncloa-Aravaca residents.

CDM José María Cagigal A historic, well-located facility near the river area and sports zones.

Moratalaz

CDM La Elipa A good option for people looking for a pool within a large sports setting with a more open feel.

CDM Moratalaz A neighbourhood pool with a local atmosphere and outdoor areas.

Puente de Vallecas

CDM Entrevías One of the best-known pools in southern Madrid. It is in high demand in summer.

CDM Palomeras A very good option for families. It is often noted for its outdoor areas and neighbourhood atmosphere.

CDM Vallecas Verano A reference pool in the district. The City Council includes it among the centres with a summer pool and its own listing.

San Blas-Canillejas

CDM San Blas A large facility and very useful for residents in the east. The City Council includes it in its list of municipal centres with a summer pool.

Tetuán

CDM Paseo de la Dirección One of the new additions of recent years in an area with high population density. Very interesting for residents of Tetuán and the surrounding area.

Usera

CDM Moscardó The summer pool at CDM Moscardó reopened after a comprehensive refurbishment. The City Council highlighted that the centre has a 50 x 21 metre summer pool, a children’s pool, sports courts, indoor pools and sports halls.

CDM Orcasitas A pool widely used by families in Usera.

CDM San Fermín Another useful option in the south of the city. The City Council includes it in its list of municipal summer pools.

Vicálvaro

CDM Margot Moles A neighbourhood pool with good transport links and an important role for eastern Madrid.

Villa de Vallecas

CDM Cerro Almodóvar A local option for people living in Villa de Vallecas who want to avoid long journeys.

Villaverde

CDM Plata y Castañar A pool in a large, green setting, very useful for families and residents in the south.

Which pools to choose depending on your plan

For spending the whole day, look first at Casa de Campo, Aluche, Palomeras or Entrevías. They are more popular options, with more of a summer-day-out feel and better if you have time.

To try to find a ticket when everything is full, try less famous pools such as Mistral, Cerro Almodóvar, Margot Moles, Santa Ana, El Quijote or Plata y Castañar. This does not mean they are empty, but they tend to receive less media attention than Casa de Campo or Aluche.

For families, pools with large areas, children’s areas or a quieter setting tend to work well. Palomeras, Aluche, Casa de Campo, Orcasitas or San Fermín may be good candidates, depending on area and availability.

Tips for not being left without a ticket

Madrid has a clear problem: demand frequently exceeds supply on the hottest days. The city maintains around 25 outdoor municipal pools for millions of inhabitants, so booking becomes part of the plan.

These tips help:

Book as soon as sales open if you are going at the weekend.

Have a second and third pool in mind before entering the app.

Look for afternoon sessions if the full-day session has already sold out.

Avoid the best-known ones in the middle of a heatwave.

Check again after a few minutes: with dynamic capacity, places may be released when other people leave.

What to take to a municipal pool in Madrid

Take the ticket QR code downloaded or in a screenshot. Do not rely only on mobile coverage.

Take your DNI or supporting identification, especially if you have a discount.

Take sunscreen, a cap, sunglasses and water.

Wear flip-flops or pool footwear.

Take a large towel or mat for the grass.

If you are going with children, prepare simple food and enough water.

Avoid valuables. At very busy pools, it is best to travel light.

Basic rules worth remembering

Access is controlled with a QR code. At some centres, you may also be asked to validate your exit to release capacity.

Children under 5 enter free, but must have a ticket or appear correctly on the booking according to the system.

Minors must be accompanied by adults in accordance with municipal rules.

At outdoor summer pools, swimming caps are not usually compulsory, but each facility may have its own internal rules.

You must not eat beside the pool or in the bathing area. Use the designated areas.

Always follow the instructions of lifeguards and centre staff.

What if you cannot get a ticket?

If there are no places at the pool you wanted, not all is lost. You can look at less popular municipal pools, try another session or check later in case places are released. You can also look at the pools of the Community of Madrid, such as Canal de Isabel II, Puerta de Hierro or M-86, which operate with their own access system and timetable.

Another, more expensive but practical option on extreme days is hotel or rooftop day passes with a pool. They do not replace a municipal pool, but they can save a hot day if your priority is to swim.

Quick summary

Opening: 15 May 2026 Planned closing: 7 September 2026 Morning hours: 10:00-15:00 Afternoon hours: 16:00-21:00 Full day: 10:00-21:00 Adult price per session: 2.25 euros Adult full-day price: 4.50 euros Under-5s: free Recommended purchase: Madrid Móvil app or DeportesWeb Key advice: book as soon as possible if you are going at the weekend or to a popular pool