About Prado Museum
Founded in 1819, the Museo del Prado houses over 8,000 paintings and is considered the world's premier collection of Spanish art. With masterpieces spanning the 12th-20th centuries, including the world's largest collections of Velázquez and Goya, plus works by El Greco, Bosch, Titian, and Rubens, the Prado attracts 3 million visitors annually.
⏰ Opening Hours & Best Times
- Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10 AM-8 PM | Sunday & holidays: 10 AM-7 PM | Closed: January 1, May 1, December 25
- Best time: Weekday mornings (10-11 AM) or late afternoons after 5 PM
- Least crowded: Tuesday-Thursday mornings in winter
- Free entry: Last 2 hours daily (6-8 PM Mon-Sat, 5-7 PM Sun) - very crowded
💰 Costs
- General admission: €15
- Reduced rate: €7.50 (students under 25, seniors 65+)
- Free admission: Under 18, disabled visitors, unemployed
- Guided tours: €45-65 per person (skip-line + expert guide, 2 hours)
- Private guide: €200-320 for up to 6 people (doesn't include tickets)
Book ahead: Online tickets let you skip the ticket line. Official site: museodelprado.es
🎯 Why Use a Guide
- Navigate 1,300+ paintings: Guides focus on masterpieces, avoiding museum fatigue
- Art history expertise: Understand Spanish Golden Age and royal patronage context
- Decode symbolism: Religious and mythological themes explained
- Hidden gems: Guides reveal lesser-known treasures beyond the famous works
- Velázquez genius: Deep dive into Las Meninas and court paintings
✨ Don't Miss
- 👨👩👧 Las Meninas (Velázquez): The most analyzed painting in Western art history
- 🎨 Black Paintings (Goya): Haunting late works including Saturn Devouring His Son
- 🌿 Garden of Earthly Delights (Bosch): Surreal medieval triptych
- 🖼️ The Third of May 1808 (Goya): Powerful war painting
- ⛪ The Descent from the Cross (Rubens): Baroque masterpiece
- 🎭 El Greco room: Mannerist elongated figures and dramatic colors
📝 Practical Tips
- Book online: Skip ticket queues (can be 30-60 min in peak season)
- Plan 2-3 hours minimum: More if you're an art enthusiast
- Jerónimos entrance: Usually less crowded than main Goya entrance
- Free cloakroom: Must check bags larger than 40x40 cm
- Photos allowed: No flash, no tripods, no selfie sticks
- Combined tickets: Paseo del Arte ticket covers Prado + Reina Sofía + Thyssen (€32)
- Café inside: Good for breaks, but pricey