Visit the Senate
Last update: 13/09/2022
When to visit the Senate?
The Spanish Senate is open to visitors whenever parliamentary activity allows, from Monday to Friday, at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., and from Monday to Thursday also in the afternoon, at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm. Visits are guided tours and are free of charge, lasting approximately an hour. These times might be modified when required by the Senate's parliamentary activity. All guided tours are in Spanish.
There are no guided tours held over the Easter Week, on bank holidays or when Plenary Sittings are scheduled, in which case, the Plenary Sittings can be attended. .
We advise you to check the calendar of Plenary Sittings.
Any visitors with hearing disabilities who so wish may ask to be provided with the relevant system that will ensure optimal hearing during the guided tour..
The Spanish Senate is open to visitors whenever parliamentary activity allows, from Monday to Friday, at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., and from Monday to Thursday also in the afternoon, at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm. Visits are guided tours and are free of charge, lasting approximately an hour. These times might be modified when required by the Senate's parliamentary activity. All guided tours are in Spanish.
There are no guided tours held over the Easter Week, on bank holidays or when Plenary Sittings are scheduled, in which case, the Plenary Sittings can be attended. .
We advise you to check the calendar of Plenary Sittings.
Any visitors with hearing disabilities who so wish may ask to be provided with the relevant system that will ensure optimal hearing during the guided tour..
What does the tour include?
The guided tour takes in the different chambers and rooms, the most prominent paintings, and provides a brief explanation of Senate history, and its present-day composition and day-to-day running.
Tours last approximately one hour.
If you wish to prepare for your visit, you can access the virtual tour, as well as consulting information on the Senate art and heritage, its history, its composition and its day-to-day running.
The guided tour takes in the different chambers and rooms, the most prominent paintings, and provides a brief explanation of Senate history, and its present-day composition and day-to-day running.
Tours last approximately one hour.
If you wish to prepare for your visit, you can access the virtual tour, as well as consulting information on the Senate art and heritage, its history, its composition and its day-to-day running.
How to request a guided tour?
Anybody interested, whether individuals or groups, in taking a guided tour of the Senate, should complete the form, at make a booking.
The maximum size of groups is 25 people. If a group exceeds this number then two tours must be requested at different times. In the case of smaller groups, these may join other groups that have already arranged a tour. Individuals requesting tours may also join groups that have already arranged one.
Requests for tours must be made at least 15 calendar days in advance. Once a booking has been made, the person making the booking must fill out a list of all those joining the tour a minimum of 7 days before the tour itself. In the event of said list not being provided, the booking will be automatically cancelled.
In the case of school trips, visitors must at least be in the first three years of Secondary Education (aged 12-14).
Access to the Senate is subject to visitors showing their DNI identity cards or passports.
In the event of Parliamentary or Institutional activity making a previously arranged tour impossible, the Senate Visitors’ Office will get in touch with the applicant at the earliest possible occasion in order to arrange a new date.
We would ask those persons with hearing disabilities who wish to make use of the devices made available to ensure correct hearing during the guided tour to make this clear in the Observations section when making their booking request.
Anybody interested, whether individuals or groups, in taking a guided tour of the Senate, should complete the form, at make a booking.
The maximum size of groups is 25 people. If a group exceeds this number then two tours must be requested at different times. In the case of smaller groups, these may join other groups that have already arranged a tour. Individuals requesting tours may also join groups that have already arranged one.
Requests for tours must be made at least 15 calendar days in advance. Once a booking has been made, the person making the booking must fill out a list of all those joining the tour a minimum of 7 days before the tour itself. In the event of said list not being provided, the booking will be automatically cancelled.
In the case of school trips, visitors must at least be in the first three years of Secondary Education (aged 12-14).
Access to the Senate is subject to visitors showing their DNI identity cards or passports.
In the event of Parliamentary or Institutional activity making a previously arranged tour impossible, the Senate Visitors’ Office will get in touch with the applicant at the earliest possible occasion in order to arrange a new date.
We would ask those persons with hearing disabilities who wish to make use of the devices made available to ensure correct hearing during the guided tour to make this clear in the Observations section when making their booking request.
How to attend a Plenary Sitting of the Senate?
Plenary sittings are normally held on alternate weeks, in accordance with the plenary sittings calendar, which the Senate Bureau approves every six months.
It will be possible to attend plenary sessions on Tuesdays from 16:00 (government control session) and on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00.
Attendance is limited to a maximum of one hour.
This timetable is subject to amendment owing to changes in Senate Parliamentary activity.
On those days when no plenary sitting is being held it is possible to conduct guided tours of the Senate buildings.
Plenary sittings are normally held on alternate weeks, in accordance with the plenary sittings calendar, which the Senate Bureau approves every six months.
It will be possible to attend plenary sessions on Tuesdays from 16:00 (government control session) and on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00.
Attendance is limited to a maximum of one hour.
This timetable is subject to amendment owing to changes in Senate Parliamentary activity.
On those days when no plenary sitting is being held it is possible to conduct guided tours of the Senate buildings.
How to request to attend a plenary sitting at the Senate?
Anybody interested, whether individuals or groups, in attending a Senate plenary sitting, should complete the form, at make a booking.
The maximum size of groups is 35 people. If a group exceeds this number then two different timeslots must be requested.
In the case of school trips, visitors must at least be in the fourth year of Secondary Education (aged 15).
Attendance at Plenary Sittings must be requested at least 15 calendar days in advance. Once a booking has been made, the person making the booking must fill out a list of all those attending the Plenary Sitting a minimum of 7 days before it takes place. In the event of said list not being provided, the booking will be automatically cancelled.
Access to the Senate is subject to visitors showing their DNI identity cards or passports.
In the event of changes to Senate Parliamentary activity, the Senate Visitors’ Office will get in touch with the person who made the booking at the earliest possible occasion in order to arrange a new date to attend a Plenary Sitting.
Anybody interested, whether individuals or groups, in attending a Senate plenary sitting, should complete the form, at make a booking.
The maximum size of groups is 35 people. If a group exceeds this number then two different timeslots must be requested.
In the case of school trips, visitors must at least be in the fourth year of Secondary Education (aged 15).
Attendance at Plenary Sittings must be requested at least 15 calendar days in advance. Once a booking has been made, the person making the booking must fill out a list of all those attending the Plenary Sitting a minimum of 7 days before it takes place. In the event of said list not being provided, the booking will be automatically cancelled.
Access to the Senate is subject to visitors showing their DNI identity cards or passports.
In the event of changes to Senate Parliamentary activity, the Senate Visitors’ Office will get in touch with the person who made the booking at the earliest possible occasion in order to arrange a new date to attend a Plenary Sitting.
Considerations regarding plenary sittings.
If you wish to prepare your attendance at a plenary sitting you can access the Senate Diary, the distribution of seats in the Chamber, as well as general information regarding the functions of the Senate and parliamentary procedures.
Those members of the public attending a plenary sitting of the Senate from the public gallery must respect the established norms:
- Keep quiet.
- Turn off all mobile/cell phones.
- Make sure that no objects fall from the public gallery into the Chamber.
- Do not take photos or videos.
- Refrain from applauding or any other expression of approval.
- Refrain from shouting, loud outbursts or any other expression of disapproval.
If you wish to prepare your attendance at a plenary sitting you can access the Senate Diary, the distribution of seats in the Chamber, as well as general information regarding the functions of the Senate and parliamentary procedures.
Those members of the public attending a plenary sitting of the Senate from the public gallery must respect the established norms:
- Keep quiet.
- Turn off all mobile/cell phones.
- Make sure that no objects fall from the public gallery into the Chamber.
- Do not take photos or videos.
- Refrain from applauding or any other expression of approval.
- Refrain from shouting, loud outbursts or any other expression of disapproval.