Located right in the center of Madrid, the Prado Museum is a gigantic art gallery depicting the history of European art from the twelfth to the nineteenth century. With a collection of 7600 paintings, more than 900 sculptures, countless drawings and other works of art in its permanent and temporary exhibition, the museum attracts more than 3 million visitors a year.
Opened to the public in 1819 and located in an XNUMXth century building, the Prado Museum is called "museum of masterpieces"For its wealth. During the visit, you can admire the paintings of Velázquez, Ribera, Murillo, Goya, Titian, Rubens, Bosch or El Greco… The Prado Museum brings together the best collection of Spanish painting and a great representation of Flemish and Italian painting.
Not to be missed in the Prado Museum
Much of the collection of the Prado Museum comes from the collections of paintings of the kings of Spain. This explains the presence of many portraits of the court such as Titian's Equestrian Portrait of Emperor Charles V.
But the museum's two flagship paintings are undoubtedly Las Meninas by Velasquez - a scene in which the Infanta Margarita, daughter of Philip IV, appears in the company of her bridesmaids and jesters - and the painting The family of Charles IV di Goya.
In these two works, the painters showed themselves very bold in representing themselves together with the members of the royal family, contrary to the habits and customs of the time. Velasquez thus claims his nobility and that of the art of painting, just like Goya.
While walking through the galleries of the Prado Museum, you will have the opportunity to contemplate, among others, the following paintings:
- The Garden of Earthly Delights, The Hay Cart Triptych by Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516),
- The Adoration of the Magi, The Three Graces by Pierre-Paul Rubens (1577-1640),
- The Adoration of the Shepherds by El Greco (Domínikos Theotokópoulos) (1541-1614),
- David and Goliath by Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio) (1571-1610),
- The spinners, Sebastian de Morra, Pablo de Vallaloid, The Triumph of Bacchus by Diego Velasquez (1599-1660),
- On May 3, 1808, Saturn devouring his children, La maja desnuda and La maja vestida by Francisco de Goya (1746-1826),
- The Portrait of Cardinal by Raphael (1483-1520),
- Danae by Titian (1490-1576).
You should spend at least half a day visiting the Prado Museum because its galleries are very large. We recommend that you choose the option with an audio guide to visit the museum in chronological order.
Opening hours
- From Monday to Saturday from 10: 00 to 20: 00
- Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 00pm
The museum is closed on the following days: 1st January, 1st May and 25th December
Reduced opening (from 10:00 to 14:00) on the following days: January 6th, December 24th and 31st
Every day, the museum allows the public to take free two-hour tours:
- Monday to Saturday, from 18:00 to 20:00,
- Sundays and holidays, from 17pm to 00pm
Prado Museum ticket prices
- Adult ticket: 15 €
- Reduced ticket price for seniors and members of large families: € 7.50
- Minors up to 18 years: free
- Students: free (upon presentation of the student card).
As is often the case with tourist attractions and monuments where crowds are large, it is possible book a skip-the-line ticket to avoid wasting time in line to buy the ticket.
Free admission from Monday to Saturday from 18:00 to 20:00; and on Sundays and public holidays from 17 pm to 00 pm to visit the museum collection.
Are you wondering if it is worth buying a ticket for the museum when you can also visit it for free?
It depends on you. If you want to make a complete and peaceful visit to the museum, we advise you to buy the ticket and enjoy all the rooms calmly. If, on the other hand, you prefer a very quick visit then you can queue up to enter for free at the established hours! Keep in mind that the wait to enter for free is long, so you will have very little time left to visit the museum. In addition, the halls will be very full.
Access to the Prado Museum
The ticket office is located on Calle Felipe IV.
Once the ticket has been purchased (even for free admission it is necessary to obtain a ticket at the box office) access is produced through the Porta di Jerónimos, on the east side of the Museum.
In addition, access during the free admission hours can also be done through the upper door of the Goya's Gate, upstairs.
Educational groups and groups with reduced admission must enter from Porta Murillo to Plaza de Murillo.
What is the best time to visit the Prado Museum?
Certainly the best time to visit the museum is generally, from 14pm to 00pm. From 18am to 00pm you will find large organized groups of tourists and schoolchildren, so to go around with peace of mind it is best to go once they are gone and before the free tours start.
How to reach us
The Prado Museum in Madrid is located between the Botanical Garden and the Retiro Park and can be reached by metro, bus, car or bike.
If you arrive by meter take Line 1 and get off at Estación del Arte (Antica Atocha) stations or Line 2 and get off at Banco de España station.
By bus the lines that lead to the botanical garden of Madrid are: 9, 10, 14, 19, 27, 34, 37, 45.
If you arrive by car or by bike the address is: Museo del Prado, Paseo del Prado, 28014 Madrid.
