Use the booking box at the top of our home page. Choose your date, then the area (Sol or Sombra), then the seat category and the number of tickets, and click Buy Tickets.

Buying earlier gives you the best seat choices. Tickets are sent to your email around 15 days before the event, including a QR code you can show at the entrance. There is no need to print your ticket.

Sombra (shade) is cooler and more expensive, Sol (sun) is cheaper, and Sol y Sombra moves into the shade during the afternoon. In summer, shade is the most comfortable choice.

Platinum (rows 1 to 2) is closest to the ring and the most intense. Gold (rows 3 to 6) is close to the action with an excellent view. Silver (rows 9 to 14) offers the best balance of price and view. Bronze (rows 20 to 25) is higher up, with a good overall view at the lowest price.

We accept Visa, Mastercard and PayPal. Payment is processed over a secure, encrypted connection.

If you cannot attend and the ticket has not yet been delivered by email, you may request a 75% refund up to seven days before the event. Once a ticket has been delivered, refunds are not possible. If an event is cancelled by the organiser, you will receive a full refund. For the May fair, tickets are processed automatically upon booking and cannot be refunded.

Yes, as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Ticket prices are the same for adults and children.

Start times shift with daylight. Early in spring, bullfights begin around 5:00 pm, move later to about 7:00 pm in the long days of summer, then return closer to 5:00 pm as autumn shortens the days. Exact times are confirmed by the bullring a few weeks in advance.

Most bullfights last about two hours and can extend up to two and a half. Each bull goes through three stages: the picadors, the banderillas and the final act with the matador. The exact duration depends on conditions and the number of bulls.

Las Ventas is at Calle de Alcalá 237. Take Metro lines 2 or 5 to Ventas station, about 15 minutes from the city centre. There are cafés and restaurants nearby, so arriving early is easy.

Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before the start so you have time to find your seat and take in the atmosphere.

Smart casual is fine. If you are sitting in the sun, bring a hat and water. See our dress guide.

Bullfights go on rain or shine and are only cancelled for heavy, continuous rain. If the event is cancelled before it begins, you can request a refund at the ticket office; if it is cancelled after it has started, refunds are not issued.

Yes, but only during the breaks between bulls.

Yes, you may take as many photos as you like, without flash.

The season at Las Ventas runs from March to October. During the San Isidro Fair in May and June there are bullfights every day; outside that period, they are usually on Sunday afternoons.

A novillada features younger bulls and bullfighters who have not yet completed their training. Tickets are usually cheaper than for a standard corrida.

Yes. A 2016 Constitutional Court ruling overturned regional bans such as the one in Catalonia, and bullfighting is legal across Spain, including in Madrid.

Besides Spain, it takes place in parts of France, Portugal, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador. Some places change the format; in Portugal, for example, the bull is not killed in the ring. In the United States only bloodless versions are allowed.

Supporters see it as cultural heritage and tradition, while opponents consider it animal cruelty. It was recognised as national cultural heritage in Spain in 2013, and the debate on both sides remains strong.