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Museo del Prado: Tours & Tickets
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Top sights in Madrid
Famous Paintings at the Museo del Prado
A visit to Madrid isn’t complete without a dose of Spanish culture. With over 7,000 paintings at the Museo del Prado, you’ll see some of the best artworks from Spain and across Europe. From Goya to El Greco, here are our top 5 paintings not to be missed.
1. Las Meninas, Diego Velázquez
A leading artist of the Spanish Golden Age, Velázquez’s Las Meninas is his most famous work. The royal family is shown with masterful perspective, use of light and atmosphere.
2. The Third of May 1808, Francisco Goya
Grand master of Spanish Art, Goya is shown on all 3 floors of the Prado. In Madrid’s most emblematic artwork, Goya depicts the battle between Spanish patriots and Napoleon’s army.
3. The Nobleman with His Hand on His Chest, El Greco
This is one of the great paintings of the Spanish Renaissance and one of El Greco’s most famous works. Take note of the unknown man’s expressive gaze and natural hand gesture.
4. The Garden of Earthly Delights, Hieronymus Bosch
This triptych shows three scenes: paradise, hell and the creation of Eve and the fountain of life. Created by early Dutch master Bosch, don’t miss this complex, beautiful work.
5. The Three Graces, Peter Paul Rubens
A Flemish Baroque painter, Rubens emphasized movement, color and sensuality. No exception here — the Three Graces, born of Zeus’s affairs, lived joyously among the gods.
Planning Your Visit
Museum Opening Hours
Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM. Sundays and holidays: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
How to Get There
In Central Madrid, the Prado is located on Paseo del Prado s/n. 28014. The nearest metro stations are Banco de España and Atocha stations. The following bus lines also access the museum: lines 9, 10, 14, 19, 27, 34, 37 and 45.
Skip the ticket line
A popular cultural site in Madrid — and well worth it — the Prado will most likely welcome you with a long line. Purchase tickets in advance online, fast tracking your way into the museum.
Tip
The size of the collection can be overwhelming. Audio guides can be purchased once you enter the museum; 50 masterpieces are highlighted and can help focus your tour. Note that photographs are not permitted in the museum.
Good to know
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- When should I visit?
- Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM. Sundays and holidays: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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- Is it expensive?
- General admission: €14. General admission & official guide: €23
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- Will I need a guide?
- An audio guide is highly recommended. The size of the collection can be overwhelming.
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- How to get there
- Take the metro to Banco de España or Atocha. Or, use the following bus lines: 9, 10, 14, 19, 27, 34, 37 and 45.
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- Additional information
- Note that photographs are not permitted in the museum.
- Purchase tickets in advance online, fast tracking your way into the museum.
What people are saying about Museo del Prado
Irene was fantastic, she spent time helping you understand the history of the the work, the technical construction and how to identify the symbolic references for the eras the various prices depicted. This was incredibly useful when visiting the Reina Sofia the next day as you could see the various influences from multiple artists on the works in both museums. Fantastic experience.
The guided tour was a great experience. The tour guide brought us right away to the most interesting paintings and her knowledge was extraordinary. And she also explained to us how to enjoy the outstanding Prado museum in the most efficient way.
Iker is knowledgable, speaks great English and if he did not know the answer to a question, which was very unusual, he said so. He also listened to what we wanted to see and took us to the things we asked to visit. Great host!
For someone who is keen on art but knows very little on pre 20th century art I found the tour invaluable in highlighting the most important paintings/artists in what is a massive, overwhelming collection at the Prado.
Loved the experience with the tour guide. The interesting part is that the guid knew how to explain the painting from different angles in order to understand the painting techniques. I highly recommend it.