Museo del Prado
8.7Friend Score / 10#1 of 12 Museums in Madrid
Known formuseumart museumpradovelazquez
Spain's national gallery and one of the world's three or four essential art museums — Velázquez's Las Meninas, Goya's Black Paintings, Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights. €15, free the last two hours daily. If you see one paid thing in Madrid, it's this. Caveat: it's overwhelming; pick 15 works, not 15 rooms.
Key facts
| Hours | Mon–Sat 10:00–20:00 Sun–Sun 10:00–19:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $$ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | Metro Banco de España (L2) or Estación del Arte (L1), 5-7 minute walk; Atocha Cercanías |
| Time needed | 2-4 hours; a focused 2-hour visit beats an exhausted 5-hour one |
| Best time to go | Weekday opening at 10:00; avoid the free evening slots unless you're happy with a rushed, crowded taster |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
8.7/10- Value9.0
- iconic9.0
- Freshness9.2
- Crowd level5.0
- Authenticity9.5
- Accessibility9.5
Frequently asked questions
- What are the Prado's opening hours?
- Monday to Saturday 10:00-20:00, Sundays and holidays 10:00-19:00, with last access 30 minutes before closing. It closes January 1, May 1, and December 25, with short days on a few other holidays.
- What are the must-see paintings at the Prado?
- Velázquez's Las Meninas, Goya's Third of May 1808 and the Black Paintings, Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights, and El Greco's works — that core is doable in two hours. Grab the museum map and route those first, then wander.
- Prado, Reina Sofía, or Thyssen — which should I pick?
- If you only have time for one: the Prado, no contest. Reina Sofía is the pick if Guernica and modern art are your thing; the Thyssen is the most digestible and covers everything the other two skip. The Paseo del Arte combined ticket covers all three at a discount if you're greedy.
- Is the Prado's free entry worth it?
- For a taster, yes; for a proper visit, no. The queue forms 45-90 minutes early, you get well under two hours inside, and the star rooms are packed. If you care about the art, €15 for a calm weekday morning is the better deal.
- How long do you need at the Prado?
- The collection could swallow days, but two to three focused hours is the sweet spot before museum fatigue sets in. Serious art lovers should consider two shorter visits rather than one marathon.
- Can I take photos in the Prado?
- No — photography is banned in the collection rooms, and staff enforce it. Honestly, it makes the visit better; buy the postcard of Las Meninas and actually look at the painting.
- Should I book Prado tickets in advance?
- Yes — buy timed tickets on museodelprado.es to skip the ticket line, which regularly hits 30-60 minutes in high season. Booking the 10:00 slot gets you Las Meninas with breathing room.
- How much does the Prado cost?
- €15 for a standard adult ticket; under-18s and students under 26 are free anytime. Free entry for everyone in the last two hours daily — Monday-Saturday 18:00-20:00, Sundays and holidays 17:00-19:00 — but expect a long queue and a sprint.
Nearby in Ask Madrid
- Real Jardín Botánico de MadridAttraction0.31 km · 4 min walk
- CaixaForum MadridMuseum0.32 km · 4 min walk
- Museo Thyssen-BornemiszaMuseum0.34 km · 4 min walk
- Museo Nacional de Artes DecorativasMuseum0.5 km · 6 min walk
- Barrio de las LetrasNeighborhood0.58 km · 7 min walk
Where to stay near Museo del Prado
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