Madrid · Paseo del Arte and Retiro
Prado Museum
Spain's national art museum, home to the main collections of Velázquez, Goya and El Greco. It is large, so most visitors choose a route through the highlights instead of trying to see everything.
- 3 h
- Adult ticket: not confirmed
- Booking advised
- Paseo del Arte and Retiro
Data checked on October 4, 2026
The Prado opened in 1819 as a royal collection for the public and holds one of the main collections of European painting from the 12th to the early 20th century. The Spanish rooms are the core, with Velázquez, Goya and El Greco, next to Italian and Flemish masters. The building is long and spread over several floors, so a route matters more than a plan to see everything. Most visitors need about three hours for the main works.
What to look for
- Las Meninas by Velázquez
- Goya's Black Paintings
- The Garden of Earthly Delights by Bosch
- El Greco's portraits and religious works
Opening hours
| Monday | 10:00 am–8:00 pm | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00 am–8:00 pm | |
| Wednesday | 10:00 am–8:00 pm | |
| Thursday | 10:00 am–8:00 pm | |
| Friday | 10:00 am–8:00 pm | |
| Saturday | 10:00 am–8:00 pm | |
| Sunday | 10:00 am–7:00 pm |
Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 20:00, Sundays and public holidays 10:00 to 19:00. Entry is free in the last two hours of each day, when the queue is long. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
Source: esMadrid, checked October 4, 2026
Tickets and booking
Adult ticket: not confirmed. Entry is free in the last two hours of each day, but the queue is long and the galleries are crowded.
Book your ticket online for the day you want. The ticket-office queue can be long around midday.
Getting there
Banco de España (Metro line 2) is about an 8 minute walk along the Paseo del Prado, and Atocha (Metro line 1) is a few minutes further.
Tip
Arrive at opening or after lunch and pick two or three galleries. Covering it all takes most of a day.