The Art Museum You Can't Miss: Visiting the Prado

Close-up of Hieronymus Bosch's "The Garden of Earthly Delights" (public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Madrid, a city with plenty of artistic fervor and history, is home to one of the world's foremost art galleries, the Museo Nacional del Prado (aka the Prado). While the museum brings in millions of visitors each year around the globe and is arguably the best museum in Spain, it can also be one of the cheapest things you do while visiting Madrid. 

As you stroll through its halls, you’ll witness some of the greatest masterpieces in history and want to spend hours taking everything in, but what’s the best way to enjoy this famous gallery? 

Here’s what to know before you go:  

Goya's "The Second of May 1808" (public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

History of the Prado

Designed in 1785, the Prado first opened its doors to the public in 1819 as the Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures. The museum began with just over 1,500 paintings (only just over 300 of which were on display). Nowadays, the gallery’s inventory has risen to over 20,000 works, many of which are currently on display or being loaned.

Upon its nationalization in 1868, the museum was renamed the Museo Nacional del Prado – Spanish for meadow – a title stemming from its location on the Prado de los Jerónimos. The gallery proved to the world that Spanish art was of the same caliber as the rest of Europe and it has since grown to feature art spanning from the 12th to 20th century.  

The Prado makes up a third of Madrid’s “Golden Triangle of Art," alongside its neighboring museums, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofia. The area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.

View of Puerta de los Jerónimos gate at the Prado

Getting to the Prado

Located just East of the Madrid city center, the Prado is easiest to get to either by foot (depending how close you’re staying), by metro, or by bus at one of the nearby stops.

The Prado is open from 10AM-8PM Monday through Saturday, and 10AM-7PM on Sundays and holidays. While we’d highly recommend planning your visit to coincide with escaping the midday heat, the museum is typically the least busy right when it opens in the mornings, as well as in the late afternoon, so you can factor that in if you want to avoid the crowds. Also plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before as the lines can sometimes be long, but the ticket personnel are often forgiving of late arrivals.

The Prado also has five entrances, so where should you go? If you’ve bought your ticket online, you can choose from three gates: Puerta de los Jerónimos, Puerta de Velázquez, and Puerta de Murillo. Each of these should be relatively quick to get through. If you haven’t purchased tickets ahead of time, you can buy them at one of two entrances: Puerta de Goya Baja and Puerta de Goya Alta. The lines at Goya Baja are typically longer as the gate offers discounted tickets. At Goya Alta, you’ll pay full price at machines, but the lines are shorter.  

Entrance of the Prado past the bag checkpoint

Pricing and Tours

Official ticket prices from the Prado website.

There are tons of websites out there that will try to up-charge tickets to the Prado, when in reality, the costs are very affordable if you go directly through the museum. You can book general admission tickets through the Prado's official website, with prices ranging from 15€ for adults to 7.50€ for seniors. 

Fortunately, the museum also offers free admission for a number of groups, including anyone under 18, teachers, and students (with a valid ID). Tickets are also free if you arrive during evening hours (6PM-8PM Mondays-Saturdays, 5PM-7PM Sundays and holidays). There are numerous other reasons your tickets could end up being free, so make sure you check the website thoroughly before booking!  

Aside from admission, if you don’t feel like wandering around the museum at your own free will, there are quite a few tours to choose from. With each general admission ticket, there is an option to add an audio guide for a 5€ charge that will give you some background on art around the museum. If you’re looking for an in-person guide, you can find a number of tours starting around 40€ (like this one through Viator), many of which allow you to skip the queue on arrival. 

Fra Angelico's "The Annunciation" (public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

What to See? Here's Your Artistic Itinerary

As the most visited museum in Spain, the Prado offers more art than anyone could reasonably take in in a day. We recommend doing a bit of research ahead of time to identify the pieces you’re most interested in, so you know which ones you can’t leave without seeing. All in all, we’d recommend prioritizing the “can’t-miss” masterpieces of Hieronymus Bosch, Francisco Goya, Diego Velázquez, and El Greco. We’ve listed a few of our favorite pieces below. 

Keep in mind, photography is not allowed in the Prado (and you will get yelled at), so don't plan on walking out with dozens of Instagram-worthy shots. 

Bosch's "The Garden of Earthly Delights" (public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch

Start your visit with Bosch's most famous piece, "The Garden of Earthly Delights." This masterpiece is a visual narration of earthly pleasures and divine judgment, filled with intricate details and vivid, surreal imagery. Take your time to absorb each panel; the left depicts Eden, the center unfolds a scene of whimsical delights and sinful pleasures, and the right warns of a dark, eerie Hell. Some say this triptych marks the beginning of surrealism, but really, religious propaganda is a better way to describe its purpose.

If you don’t visit on a guided tour, consider watching a video that dives deep into the history and interpretation of this iconic piece.

Goya's "Saturn Devouring His Son" (public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Francisco Goya's Black Paintings

No visit to the Prado is complete without witnessing the haunting beauty of Goya's Black Paintings. Originally painted as murals onto the walls of his house, these works were cut off and transferred to canvas to arrive at their final destination in the Prado. The raw emotional intensity and somber tones reflect Goya's troubled state and critiques of society. "Saturn Devouring His Son" and "Witches' Sabbath" are particularly compelling and not to be missed.

Velázquez's "Las Meninas" (public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez

Velázquez's "Las Meninas" is often hailed as the most important painting in Spanish history. This meta-painting captures the complexity of reality and illusion with its depiction of the artist himself, the royal family, and their attendants. The spatial depth and the use of light are mesmerizing, making it a focal point of the museum.

Portion of Bosch's "The Garden of Earthly Delights" (public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Is the Prado Museum Worth It?

If you’re in Madrid and searching for an activity, the Prado is your perfect destination. It offers a cool respite from the Spanish sun, especially if siestas aren't your style. With its vast collection of masterpieces, the museum presents tales etched both on canvas and the drywall. As a cornerstone of Madrid’s cultural landscape, the Prado truly is a must-visit, offering a fascinating journey through centuries of art history.