Prado Museum: a practical visitor guide
Quick answer
The Prado opens Monday to Saturday 10am–8pm and Sundays and holidays 10am–7pm. General admission is €15 and entry is free during the last two hours every day. Two hours is enough for the highlights (Velázquez, Goya, Bosch); allow half a day for a relaxed visit.
Hours and prices checked on · Official website
More Prado Museum guides
- Prado in 2 hoursA 2-hour route through the Prado room by room: Las Meninas, Goya, Bosch, El Greco and Rubens, with timings, the best order and tips to beat the lines.
- Hours, tickets & free entryPrado Museum opening hours, ticket prices, daily free entry times, who gets in free and the best time to visit without crowds. Checked in 2026.
- Must-see paintingsThe 12 most important works in the Prado with room numbers and why they matter: Las Meninas, Garden of Earthly Delights, Saturn, The Third of May and more.
- Prado with kidsHow to visit the Prado Museum with kids: a 75-minute route, looking games, free entry for under 18s, strollers, cloakroom and the quietest times to go.
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Why the Prado is a must
The Prado holds the world's finest collection of Spanish painting (Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Murillo) plus Flemish and Italian masterpieces that arrived through the royal collections: Bosch, Rubens, Titian, Van der Weyden. Around 1,700 works are on display across the historic Villanueva building and Rafael Moneo's Jerónimos extension. Don't try to see everything: pick a route and enjoy it.
How to plan your visit
- Buy a timed ticket online in advance to skip the ticket-office line.
- With a ticket, enter through the Jerónimos Entrance (behind the museum, next to the church); ticket offices are by the Goya Entrance.
- Start on the main floor (Velázquez and the central gallery), then head down to floor 0 for Goya's Black Paintings and Bosch.
- Pick up the free floor plan: works move rooms for loans and restorations.
- Photography is not allowed in the galleries; use the app to save what you see and read each painting's story.
Combine it with Madrid's Art Walk
Together with the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofía, the Prado forms Madrid's Golden Triangle of Art, all within a 15-minute walk. A combined Paseo del Arte ticket gives access to all three within a year. With only one day, do the Prado in the morning and the Reina Sofía (Guernica) in the afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you need at the Prado?
Two hours covers the masterpieces (Las Meninas, The Garden of Earthly Delights, the Goyas). For a relaxed visit of the main collections, plan 3 to 4 hours.
When is the Prado free?
Every day: Monday to Saturday 6pm–8pm and Sundays and holidays 5pm–7pm, for the permanent collection only. It is also always free for under 18s and students aged 18 to 25.
Do I need to book Prado tickets in advance?
It's strongly recommended, especially on weekends and in high season. For the free hours you collect a ticket at the box office, and a line forms about 45 minutes before.
Can you take photos in the Prado?
No. Photos and video are not allowed in the collection galleries.
What is the most famous painting in the Prado?
Las Meninas by Velázquez (1656), in room 12 on the main floor, followed by Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights and Goya's The Third of May 1808.