🖼️ Prado Museum

World's finest collection of Spanish art - Velázquez, Goya, El Greco

Prado Museum in Madrid
Photo: Rembrandt · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

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. Pair this stop with the Madrid guide and the wider Spain overview.

⏰ 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