The Prado is one of the greatest art museums in the world. It opened in 1819 in a neoclassical building on the Paseo del Prado, and its collection grew out of the paintings gathered by the Spanish kings over three centuries. That is why it is so strong in Spanish, Flemish and Italian masters.
What to see
Velázquez
Las Meninas is the star of the museum: a scene from the royal court in which the painter looks straight at you. Nearby hang his portraits of Philip IV and the Surrender of Breda.
Goya
From bright tapestry designs to the 3rd of May 1808 and the dark, haunting Black Paintings, Goya’s rooms trace a whole life – and a changing Spain.
Bosch, El Greco and more
Do not miss Hieronymus Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights, the elongated saints of El Greco, and works by Titian, Rubens and Dürer.
World Heritage
Since 2021 the Prado is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro, a landscape of Arts and Sciences”.
Tips
- Book a timed ticket online to skip the queue at the entrance.
- Pick a short list: the museum is huge – Velázquez, Goya and Bosch alone fill a morning.
- Free entry in the last two hours of the day draws long queues; arrive early if you choose it.
- Combine with the Retiro Park, right behind the museum, for a break.
