# Museo del Prado — Madrid, Spain

> The Prado Museum is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid. It is widely considered to house one of the world's finest collections of European art, dating from the 12th century to the early 20th century.

## Visitor facts
- Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Sundays: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Admission: €15 standard admission
- Free entry: Every day 6–8 PM (last 2 hours) · Under 18 free always · Under 25 (EU) free always
- Address: Calle de Ruiz de Alarcón, 23, 28014 Madrid, Spain
- Time needed: 2–4 hours
- Official website: https://www.museodelprado.es/en
- Facts verified: 2026-06-30

## Highlights
- Las Meninas — Diego Velázquez · 1656
- Saturn Devouring His Son — Francisco Goya · 1819–1823
- The Garden of Earthly Delights — Hieronymus Bosch · c. 1490–1510
- The Third of May 1808 — Francisco Goya · 1814
- The Triumph of Death — Pieter Bruegel the Elder · c. 1562

## Famous works covered
- Las Meninas (https://worldmuseumguide.org/artworks/las-meninas/)
- The Garden of Earthly Delights (https://worldmuseumguide.org/artworks/the-garden-of-earthly-delights/)
- The Third of May 1808 (https://worldmuseumguide.org/artworks/the-third-of-may-1808/)
- Saturn Devouring His Son (https://worldmuseumguide.org/artworks/saturn-devouring-his-son/)

## FAQ
**Is the Prado free to visit?**
Yes — the Prado offers free entry Monday to Saturday from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and Sunday from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. These free hours are very popular and the museum is busy during them; arrive early. Full-price tickets (€15) are recommended to secure daytime entry and avoid queues.

**What is Las Meninas and why is it considered one of the greatest paintings?**
Las Meninas (1656) by Diego Velázquez is a monumental oil painting showing Infanta Margarita Teresa surrounded by her ladies-in-waiting (meninas), courtiers, a dog, and Velázquez himself at his easel. The painting is celebrated for its extraordinary complexity — it depicts the act of painting itself, using mirrors and viewpoints to include the reflection of the king and queen. Art historians including Foucault and Picasso have analysed it as one of the most sophisticated investigations of representation in Western art. It hangs in Room 12 of the Prado.

**Who are the most important artists in the Prado collection?**
Diego Velázquez is the most extensively represented artist, with Las Meninas and dozens of other royal portraits. Francisco Goya is represented by an enormous collection including The Third of May 1808, Saturn Devouring His Son (Black Paintings), and hundreds of drawings. Other key artists include Hieronymus Bosch (The Garden of Earthly Delights), Titian, El Greco, Peter Paul Rubens, and Rogier van der Weyden.

**How long does a visit to the Prado take?**
The Prado is a focused museum — unlike encyclopedic institutions like the Louvre or the Met, it covers a specific period (12th to early 20th century, primarily Spanish and Flemish painting). A highlights visit covering Velázquez, Goya, Bosch, and Titian takes 2–3 hours. A comprehensive visit takes 4–5 hours.

**How long should I spend at Museo del Prado?**
Plan 2–4 hours for the highlights. Add time for temporary exhibitions, the museum shop, and café.

**What is Museo del Prado best known for?**
The Prado Museum is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid. It is widely considered to house one of the world's finest collections of European art, dating from the 12th century to the early 20th century. Key highlights include Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez, The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch, The Third of May 1808 by Francisco Goya.


Source: https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/prado/ — World Museum Guide, independent and ad-free.