Great museum, can bring water in, no photos allowed, confusing directions to taxi stand. The most popular painting by far was the Garden of Earthly Delights by Bosch. The only painting that was hard to see due to the crowds! Consider bringing small handheld binoculars or field glasses to better see the Bosch and for some large paintings. People drank from their water bottles in the hallways. Appreciated that we could stand within about a meter (three feet) of each painting and sculpture! We felt that the people of Spain trusted us with their heritage. People behaved well and returned the trust. There is a lesson there. read more

This is the main Spanish national art museum focusing on 12th to the early 20th century art pieces. It makes up the main piece of the golden triangle of art in Madrid. It is a massively large museum housing almost 40,000 peices of art, not limited to paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, and decorative art pieces. Buy your tickets online so you don't have to stand in the queue for hours to buy your ticket, just to stand in line to get into the museum. If your into this stuff great. There is so much to see. A website describes it as "an exhaustive" amount of things to see. And I definitely agree with that assessment. There is just so much to see. They provide you with a map at the entrance, but it lacks so much detail that its basically useless. Yea the portrait paintings and the sculptures are all amazing. The intricate details that went into each work of art. But theres just so much to see that its overwhelming. Also theres so many people here, that your basically bumping people and going around people to get a better view of the art. They only allow you to take pictures in certain areas. And when they say certain areas, its basically a small portion of the museum. So many rooms had strict no photography rules. And the people working there are very strict about not taking photos. According to google searches it says taking selfies with certain famous artwork can create bottlenecks. But no photographs at all? So you want me to stand there and really take it in with my eyes and memorize it and enjoy it, instead of clicking a picture and moving on, so as to enjoy it later. Doesn't really make sense. After 2 hours here it became not enjoyable anymore. And we spent a good 30 min going up and down stairs and asking people there how to get the heck out of there. It was a slog. If there were zombies chasing us in here we would definitely die. Every room we entered trying to get out was a completely new room. Took us forever to get back to the main area with the gift shop. Its just way too much. Oh and dont even get me started on the gift shop. Everything is priced so exorbitant. 34 pounds for a bag? Really? I just walked out. Evidently the last 2 hours before closing is free? The line to get in must have been in the hundreds and basically stretched forever. Its just crazy. Call me uncultured. Call me a barbarian. But I did not enjoy myself here at all. I learned several things by being here. That im not coming back to this museum again. That people back then liked portraying men with micro penises. And that all the kings and queens back in the day were basically all related to each other in one way or another. Glad to say I've been here. But thats about it. Oh and it was super hot and stuffy in here. Like turn the ac on!!! read more

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Visiting the Prado Museum was an unforgettable, experience for my husband and me. Being able to stand directly in front of iconic artwork I'd previously only studied in books and classes was incredible--real moments that made the trip feel special. Seeing pieces by Botticelli, Goya, Picasso, and so many other legendary artists up close was nothing short of awe-inspiring. It has given me a different perspective of art that I will certainly carry. That said, a few logistical hiccups kept it from being a full five-star visit: * Unmanageable Crowds: Navigating the space near the most famous masterpieces was a challenge. Swarms of people constantly gathered around key artworks, making it nearly impossible to pause, linger, or quietly ponder the detail in a meaningful way. * The No-Photo Battle: The docents/security guards were endlessly trying to enforce the no-picture rule, but honestly, it felt like a fool's errand. Visitors were taking photos at every turn anyway, creating a weirdly tense, cat-and-mouse dynamic throughout the galleries. We still purchased a few of the lovely art books they were offering, but I still snapped a picture every now and again. * Sheer Scale: The museum is absolutely enormous! Because there is so much ground to cover, it almost becomes overwhelming, and it's tough to fully absorb and appreciate the depth of the collection without feeling sensory overload. What saved the day for us: We opted for the audio earphone guides, which I highly recommend. They provided fantastic context and structure to help us navigate the massive layout and truly appreciate what we were seeing. The rest areas were much needed, and the bathrooms were spotlessly maintained. To wrap up our visit, we spent time in the gift shop, which was exceptional! They have thoughtful keepsakes and high-quality items at every price point, making it easy to find the perfect souvenir to mark our trip. We also grabbed a late lunch at the cafe, which was nice too. Overall, despite the chaotic crowds and strict enforcement attempts, the sheer beauty and significance of the collection make the Prado an absolute must-see when in Madrid. read more

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If you ask for museum recommendations, Museo Nacional del Prado often pops up. Its iconic halls are filled with historic art from the royals and others. If you love art or architecture, it's worth going for 1-2 hours. I arrived at the museum on a Sunday at 5pm when the free hours start. (The last two hours each day is free.) The line was 45-60 minutes deep. I waited an hour and got a ticket right away. That left me an hour to explore. The free hours extend to the permanent collection only, but there's plenty to see across three floors and over 100 rooms. Signs clearly mark what kind of art it is from paintings to sculptures. The only thing going during the free hours is that it's crowded. Most restrooms have lines and the gift shop is packed. It's still worth it. read more

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My wife and I were here with a tour and this was on our list. There were a lot of explanations of various paintings, styles, etc., by many different artists. One painting that I really liked was a huge one, with various people around a table. As you walk from one side to the other end, you'd swear that the table would shrink and expand again, depending on where you were. We had been here previously on our trips here and we did get refreshed again. The Prado Museum houses one of the world's largest art collections, including masterpieces by historic artists such as Velasquez, Goya, and El Greco. In addition, there are works by renowned European masters such as Rubens and Rembrandt, along with a stunning collection of Greco-Roman statues. PS - you are NOT supposed to take photos there. read more

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I know the Prado is acclaimed as one of the world's best museums, and its global reputation rests on the depth of classic European paintings from the 12th to the 19th century. No argument about that, but unlike the Louvre, it doesn't offer the breadth of art one would expect from such a vaunted museum. The curators apparently have no interest in expanding their collection because it engenders unmanageable foot traffic. That also explains why photography is prohibited in the galleries. I ended up buying postcards to have a visual remembrance of my favorite masterpieces collected by centuries of Spanish royalty. Consequently, the Spanish masters are represented by familiar masterworks like Las Meninas (The Maids of Honor) by Diego Velázquez (Photo 4), as well as The Naked Maja and The Family of Carlos IV (Photo 7), both by Francisco de Goya. Other European masterworks are represented like the impressive Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch (Photo 6) and The Judgment of Paris by Peter Paul Rubens. Beyond this scope, there are intriguing artifacts to peruse like the Leoni Renaissance Sculptures (Photo 3). Truth be told, you need to add the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Museo Reina Sofía to get a more complete picture of Madrid's artful treasures. RELATED - Exploring Madrid? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/ElhwJIbGWS read more

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This is Spain's most important art museum and one of the top galleries in the world which welcomes more than 3.3 million visitors every year. Inside, you'll find an extraordinary collection of European art, especially Spanish masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco, along with major works from Italian, Flemish, French, and Dutch painters. The museum sits in a grand 18th‑century neoclassical building designed by Juan de Villanueva, and its collection originally came from the Spanish royal family's private holdings. Make sure to purchase your tickets online before your visit and allocate enough time for entrance lineups. read more

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It was my first time visiting Museo Nacional del Prado located in the heart of Madrid, Spain. It's such an insanely beautiful museum with loads of exotic famous artwork and history. So the wait time on line to get in was like 15 minutes or so and I visited on a Sunday morning, I would recommend purchasing tickets online to save time. I so enjoyed seeing the Diego Velazquez: Las Meninas (most famous work) and Francisco Goya: the Nude Maja paintings and they were indeed the most inspiring and surreal art I have ever physically seen with my own eyes. Sorry I couldn't take pics due to strict museum rules. And of course you must try "Cade Prado", where you'll have a nice street view and of course snack on delicious treats like financier sponge cake and Valentia - butter dough with cinnamon and almond cream. Thanks for a great time! read more

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Another visit that was high on the list of things to do in Madrid. I bought passes that came with an English guide. I enjoyed having that, but you could easily come through on your own without a guide and be fine. Our guided tour was about 90 minutes, but you could also stay as long after as you desired. We ended up staying about another hour to catch some of the things the tour didn't stop at. Note that you cannot take photos inside. It also seems to get pretty busy early, so it might be a good idea to go fairly early or closer to closing. Would highly recommend the Prado. read more

Museo Nacional del Prado - Museums Near Me - Madrid, M

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We checked into our hotel kind of late and already had 5:30 PM reservation tickets for Museo del Prado that we bought about a month in advance. It was close to our hotel but not close enough to make it there on time since we were literally just leaving the hotel at 5:30 PM. The hotel attendant immediately suggested taking a cab because we were already running behind. When we arrived, I swear the line looked a mile long! Thankfully my bf asked one of the attendants before we jumped in line because apparently all those people were waiting for the free admission window. We found out that they offer daily late-entry free admission Monday-Saturday from 6 PM-8 PM. Since we already had tickets, they scanned us right in and there was basically no wait. Huge tip: if you purchased tickets in advance, do NOT automatically follow the giant line! Walk directly toward the front and ask an attendant where ticket holders should enter. It will save you so much time! Lol. I mainly wanted to come here for the Francisco Goya artwork. The museum definitely feels very old world European and is heavily centered around royalty, religion, and classical art. After a while it can start to feel emotionally heavy even for a Catholic like me. If you really enjoy soaking in the artwork and taking your time, I'd recommend visiting earlier in the day so you don't feel rushed trying to see everything. My one complaint is that the directions to the toilets/restrooms were not very clear. We spent a while walking around trying to find one before eventually giving up and leaving since we were already exhausted and super jet lagged. Thankfully our hotel was only about a 20-minute walk away. It was still a great experience and definitely something I'd recommend if you're visiting Madrid. P.S. Photos are not allowed inside, so don't expect to be taking pictures of the artwork while visiting. read more

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This is their national art museum, located in central Madrid, with many magnificent works spread across three levels. It's tightly run, with scanners at the entrance. No camera is allowed in the exhibit rooms. We spent quite some time at Goya's 'May 2nd' and 'May 3rd' paintings. We saw the May 2 parade last Saturday; with a few wars going on right now, it was fitting to see the horror of fighting. read more

I'd say this is more for adults than families. Maybe my American is showing, but the art is graphic mostly and hard to find areas that are more child friendly. Cafe was good and moderately priced. Gift shop was terribly overpriced. read more

If museums were ranked like Beyonce albums, the Prado is Lemonade. It's one of the top museums in the world and it knows it. Its walls are dripping with Goyas, Velazquezes (Is Velazqui proper English?), and more tortured biblical scenes than a Sunday school. The vibe is velvet-rope royalty and gold accents. The security guards have seen things. Don't worry, not an art person? Nod at the paintings and pretend you know the symbolism in every 15th-century painting of a decapitated saint. Sorry folks...I couldn't take pictures inside. read more

Museo Nacional del Prado - Museums Near Me - Madrid, M

National art museum of Spain and definitely worth checking out while visiting Madrid. Recommend booking your tickets ahead of time online which will simplify your arrival experience. The museum itself is a maze, filled with countless pieces of art, primarily paintings. Art focuses on 12th to early 19th century. The main chunk of the museum focuses on Spanish artists Velázquez , Goya, and El Greco. Also features a number of Dutch and Italian artists. Arrive and just get lost exploring everything. Seek out specific artists if you prefer, and there is clear signage to find those artists by name. Recommend 2 hours to all day depending on how much you love art but we stayed for about 2 hours. read more

Art Museum with lots of paintings from the Renaissance and sculptures. There was no line early afternoon but long line when we left around 5pm, probably because the museum stays open longer than other attractions. You could easily spend a few hours here admiring all the art. Worth visiting in Madrid. read more

Museo Nacional del Prado - Las Maja Desnuda by Francisco Goya - Museums Near Me - Madrid, M

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One of the finest museums in the world. Easily on par with the Met, Louvre, or the Uffizi. It's large so you could easily spend a day here. I recommend spending 2 to 3 hours doing the hits: Velasquez, Bosch, Raphael, etc. If you're in Madrid, you cannot miss the Prado. read more

Expansive and impressive art museum, however the people working here need an attitude adjustment. Very off-putting. Also they do not allow any pictures whatsoever (even without flash). read more

Esté museo tiene una colección impresionante de arte clásico y esculturas. El museo tiene una gran variedad de pinturas de Francisco Goya, Diego Velasquez, Durer, y Bosch. También tienen la colección más grande de arte italiano fuera de Italia. Las pinturas más famosas como "El Jardín de las Delicias" de Bosch son un poco difíciles de apreciar por la multitud de personas que se paran en frente. Nosotros fuimos en la tarde y tuvimos que esperar en una línea bastante larga para comprar boletos de entrada. Es recomendable comprar los boletos por adelantado para evitar las líneas. Para un museo tan grande, debería tener más baños disponibles. Algo curioso es que tienen varios descuentos para estudiantes, personas discapacitados, familias grandes y personas que están desempleado. read more

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The other reviewers weren't exaggerating when they say it's overwhelming to go through the Prado museum. So much to see that you should pace yourself or not have that expectation of trying to see it all within 2 hours. Though I did skim through most of it and only to stop at the popular paintings, but those had many spectators crowding the piece making it difficult to view. However, there were so many other masterpieces, I caught myself standing in awe of the intricacies and details of each of the artists' work. I'm not a museum fan, but prado is just one of those museums that is a must see when you're in Madrid. So glad we went! read more

Museo Nacional del Prado - Outside - Museums Near Me - Madrid, M

Museo Nacional del Prado is similar to the Guggenheim in my mind - overrated, and I would put in below visiting the Louvre in terms of experience. I purchased our tickets ahead of time via their direct site, but there's a glitch in the translated version, you need to buy the tickets in the military time option, not the translated time as the system can't read it. In regards to the museum, you're not allowed to take pictures inside, (which I always find detracts from the experience) and I found myself largely bored by their collection, outside of some famous pieces similar to "The Garden of Earthly Delights" by Bosch. All in all, while Prado is on the larger end it mainly houses fairly unknown artists and generally I prefer to visit smaller collections of more varied genres and more well known work. read more

Very large and famous museum. We toured much of it but a lot more could have been done. I am not an art aficionado but I did enjoy it. Just more than a person can handle in one visit. read more

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The Prado museum is one of the most important art galleries in the world. We made the reservation through our hotel concierge on the day we arrived (Monday) for Tuesday at 1:15 pm the next day. Fortunately, there was a very short line when we arrived. With audio guide, we paid only €7.50 entrance fee and €5 for the audio guide. There are various rooms featuring paintings of Goya, Rubens, Velasquez, Raphael, Rembrandt, Titian and many others. It is a huge museum with so much important work. Try not to miss room 67 which has Goya's dark paintings. We were there for over two hours and still did not finish seeing all the collections . It is definitely a must see when you are in Madrid. read more

One of the most impressive art collections I've seen anywhere, quite well balanced but of course strongest with Spanish. Don't miss the more accessible and in many ways better version of the Mona Lisa. The Goya works are all masterpieces, and there are quite a few. The captions are excellent. There is always a line and wait to get in, you'll save a little time getting tickets online but you still have to get in line (the shorter one) to get the paper printout after they look at your email response confirming you bought online. It takes over an hour for the email confirmation when you buy on line so don't wait until you get here. Arrive early and do your best to avoid the large annoying group tours. They block the view and the tour guides usually spout nonsense. One exception is somehow a French couple hired a local art history graduate student who was giving a wonderful private tour but I'm sure they didn't find her lurking around the entrance. Don't forget to take a couple of breaks to stretch and sit for a good espresso at the museum café. The museum gift shop is one of the most tasteful souvenir shops in Europe. read more

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If you are ok waiting in line ( like we did) it's worth saving the money for the tickets. There is a line that gets free entry between 6-8 pm on weekdays and we got into that line at about 5:45 PM and made it inside the museum by about 6:10 ( not bad at all). They do have a cafe as well where you can relax and refresh before, after or amidst your visit. The museum is beautiful and needs more than a couple of hours for sure to visit the whole thing ( so if you are looking for a full blown visit it's better to pay and get in early). We definitely loved the couple of hours we spent there and would definitely recommend a visit or two to the museum. PS: no photography is allowed inside the museum. read more

A Stunning Collection, But Plan Ahead The Museo del Prado is an absolute must-visit if you're in Madrid and appreciate art, especially classical European masterpieces. The collection is vast and world-class, Velázquez's Las Meninas and Goya's The Third of May 1808 were truly moving to see in person. The level of detail and preservation is impressive, and the museum is well-organized overall. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5? It can be overwhelming if you don't plan your visit. There's so much to see that it's easy to get tired before you make it through the highlights. It would help to have clearer signage or an updated audio guide for navigating efficiently. Also, it can get quite crowded, even during the early hours. That said, it's a gem for art lovers. Give yourself at least 2-3 hours, and consider brushing up on a few artists ahead of time to really get the most out of the experience. Beautiful, historic, and inspiring, just a bit intense without a strategy! read more

In my opinion, a visit here is a must when you're in the city. I suggest signing up for a tour. Not only do you skip the entrance line, but you also get your own guide who will show you all the highlights and show you details of certain collections you would otherwise not notice if you walked the grounds on your own. Our group of 5 came in at 4pm with 4 hours to see what we wanted to see. They don't allow photos to be taken inside so put your phone away and take everything in that you see instead. There are a ton of different collections. They even have a Mona Lisa One neat thing I liked is that they allow artists to paint inside. We saw one guy in the middle of one room with his full setup painting a specific statue. I love that they let their artists practice inside. It was cool to see their take on whatever tickled their fancy. It's amazing that you get to be super close to huge paintings. There was one particular hallway filled with the biggest paintings I'd ever seen. They house over 35,000 pieces of art so you would need multiple visits to see everything. Our guide showed us her personal favorites. Of what she showed us, the highlight for me were the works of Velázquez. read more

Museo Nacional del Prado - Museums Near Me - Madrid, M

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One of the world's great museums. world's great museums, loaded with over 3,000 paintings with masterpieces by Diego, Velasquez, Francisco de Goya, El Greco, Bosch, Durer and more. We really enjoyed it. Loved getting to see Las Meninas by Velazquez, considered by some to be the world's finest painting. It was really cool to see Picasso's interpretations of Las Meninas in the Museo Picasso in Barcelona a couple days later. Tip: book in advance, and make sure you book on the official website; there are copy-cat scammers out there. read more

On this mad dash through the "highlights of Madrid" we made it to Prado museum, and had a few very specific paintings in mind to see. It was after 6pm, so we got in free, after about a 15 minute wait. The line is LOOOONG, but moves, so stay in it and you will get to the front. The website has recommended paintings in each area if you are in a time crunch - literally, we picked the "Prado in an hour" list, and worked from there, since they closed at 8pm. My daughter wanted to see some of Goya's "black paintings" and man, they were dark (figuratively and literally). We also saw Greco, Van Der Weyden, and Rembrandt. No photography, so I cant post any visuals. Like the Met, you could wander in here for a long while. But, if you have specific artwork, they are organized and marked very well so you can find the ones you are looking for. read more

Museo Nacional del Prado - Got a ticket to get in free (after 6pm) - Museums Near Me - Madrid, M

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For the average tourist, two hours is a perfect amount of time to navigate this beautiful museum. Art history buffs can spend days here. Pass on the audio guide as it was way too difficult to navigate as they don't have alignment with GPS and you can't search by room number. I noticed very few others were using theirs. I was just fine using the printed notes posted on the wall for each piece. You can book a time slot ahead of time and there is an entrance on the back side to scan in to avoid the lines. Else, you will wait in the ticket queue that wraps around the corner but moves along. We went in off season and found it still a bit crowded so bring your patience or come in the afternoons. The botanical garden immediately next door was a perfect way to unwind from the crowds. I highly recommend this stop before departing. read more

Museo Nacional del Prado - Museums Near Me - Madrid, M

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Another Madrid must see. I'd been here before over a decade ago and was impressed. This time around was the first time for our son and nieces. We booked a guided tour. Our guide was great. She tailored the tour for the kids. Had them engaged the entire time. The adults too. read more

Museo Nacional del Prado - Museums Near Me - Madrid, M

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A must in Madrid, and such a delight for museum lovers. Visiting during their free hours is not so bad. Even though the line is pretty long, it is pretty quick once people start going in. I went more than once, there is so much to see! Photos are not allowed inside; there are no clear signs posted about it so people take pictures (until staff tells them not to). Tip: You can get the combo of an entrance ticket + the guide of El Prado. It is great, just know that it's a big book. It's quite an encyclopedia (and I love it!). *** Visita obligada en Madrid, y un deleite para amantes de los museos. Visitarlos durante las horas gratuitas para el público en general no están nada mal. Aunque la fila es largísima, la gente pasa muy rápido, una vez que se permite la entrada al museo. Yo fui más de una vez, hay tanto que ver! No se permiten las fotos en el museo, y no hay señalamientos claros al respecto, por lo que todo mundo lo hace (hasta que te regañan). Tip: Puedes pedir el paquete de la entrada + el libro guía del museo. Está muy bien, pero el libro es muy pesado, como una enciclopedia (y me encanta!). read more

Museo Nacional del Prado - Museums Near Me - Madrid, M

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Great museum! Definitely a spot to visit if you're an art lover or if the weather is sucky and you need to spend 3-5h indoors. I recommend having a list of art pieces that you want/have to see. My bf and I went here and we followed the top must see 20 pieces (found on google) - it was nice to have info about the paintings; we browsed different galleys in between. read more

Part of the "museum triangle" in Madrid, consisting of the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofia, this is the largest of the three in terms of exhibition space, probably the most well-known, and definitely the most crowded. The museum is free the last 2 hours every day, and boy, that means super long lines. On a Sunday in September the museum started free hours at 5pm. I arrived exactly at 5pm and waited in a line of about 500+ people for an hour before reaching the front, meaning I had an hour inside before it closed. Normal admission is a reasonable €15 with timed entry and if you want to take your time I'd highly suggest purchasing in advance online for a morning slot so you can see more of the museum. Also you need to coat check anything larger than a pocketbook size purse (which is free) though this takes a few minutes after passing thru security. As a moderate art museum buff it was my second time here and I'd say even though comparatively the Louvre is physically larger, there are just as many interesting exhibits at the Prado. The Louvre has more impressive architecture but it felt like fewer pieces on display--you can get thru all the halls in one day, especially if you are like me and focused less on classical western sculpture and Middle Eastern art and artifacts which are significant portions of the exhibits at the Louvre. (Also the crowds at the Louvre are a bit too much.) The Prado has relatively speaking more paintings on display. Compared to the Met (which you'd probably need at least 2-3 full days to really get thru all the exhibits in detail) and London's V&A, British Museum, some of the US Smithsonian museums, the Prado is smaller though still requires a ton of time to get through. 5 hours is simply not enough if you really want to read a lot of the descriptions and also see everything. Whether you're an art fan or not, like some others have mentioned, if you have limited time, plan in advance which sections or pieces you want to see, or follow the museum's map indicating where the most famous pieces are located. Without a map the layout is pretty confusing, I spent the last 10 minutes of the day trying to figure out how to make my way back to the front entrance to pick up my bag at coat check. The museum store and cafe are quite nice here, though if you want to leave mid-day, grab lunch nearby and come back, they let you do that from a side entrance. As many have mentioned photos aren't allowed, though aside from a small note on the back of the museum map I learned the hard way when I was yelled at by the staff (oops)! read more

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It goes without saying but being able to visit one of the top museums in the world for free (last two hours of each day, typically 6-8pm) is a blessing in itself. By the time we arrived, the line appeared to be quite long but moves rather quickly. We got in around 6:20-6:25ish and tried our best to do the 1-hour itinerary found online. https://www.museodelprado.es/en/itinerary/one-hour-at-the-museum-itinerary/a432f1c0-3248-4efa-b3d5-5542be9e7c33 Arrive early (530ish) if you're not into queues. You'll have to get an admission ticket, then go through security. Items that aren't permitted can be checked / retrieved later on. We had a mini soccer ball (bc we came from Retiro Park) that we had to check. read more

Visited the Prado museum while attending my company's presidents club event this year. I wouldn't consider myself a museum buff by any stretch as I probably log 1-2 museum visits a year. That being said, my visit to the Prado is at the top of my list. It felt like a privilege to be up close with paintings from Spain's most iconic artists. My favorites from my visit were Diego Velasquez and Francisco Goya. The museum itself was enjoyable, the cafe, store, and outer areas did not disappoint either. Pros: Numerous pieces from the most iconic Spanish artists, wide variety of art forms, lots to see and definitely worth the price of admission. Cons: NA read more

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One of Europe's most popular art museums, the 'Prado' can be an overwhelming experience for visitors, especially those without a background in art history. The collection is overwhelmingly focused on Spanish painters like Goya, Velázquez, Bosch and El Greco (sorry, Picasso fans, most of his works are across town at Reina Sofía, or in Barcelona). A guided tour (booked separately) is highly recommended -- it lets you jump the often-lengthy general admission queue and provides a valuable overview of the museum. The guide on our 90-minute tour provided some wonderful insights into the Prado's most notable works, including Velázquez' fascinating 'Las Meninas' and Bosch's 'Garden of Earthly Delights.' Photos are prohibited in most of the galleries, which helps prevent crowds from massing in front of the paintings, and makes it easier to enjoy the collection. We stayed another 2 hours after the tour to browse the rest of the collection, which includes Renaissance works by German master Albrecht Dürer, Italian painters Raphael and Titian, and some of the greatest works of Spain's El Greco, including his stunning 'Holy Trinity.' There museum also has a gallery focusing on the ominous 'Black Paintings' of Francisco Goya, a series of darkly tormented canvases completed when the artist was suffering from mental decline in his later years. An absolute MUST if you're visiting Madrid, Museo del Prado ranks among the best art museums in the world, along with the Louvre, the Met and London's National Gallery. We wandered its galleries for hours, taking in some of the best Renaissance paintings ever created, going back more than once to re-examine works like Dürer's 'Self Portrait' and van der Weyden's 15th Century 'Descent from the Cross.' Book your tickets (or preferably, a tour) online in advance, then prepare yourself to dive into one of Europe's greatest museums. You'll leave with a new appreciation for Spanish art and sculpture, and with memories your family will cherish for a lifetime. read more

Honestly how can many Spanish staff be so rude. I went to the audioguide staff and he looked like he hates his life, which somehow I understand because that seems like a boring job. But overall, in many establishments, expect someone to be rude to you for no reason because this isn't Japan. The museum doesn't allow picture. I honestly wouldn't recommend audio guide. Reading the info panels next to the displays is good enough. The gift shop is huge and sells many things. Magnets and t shirts are expensive. Fans were less expensive than other establishments. It will take you 3-4 hours here to skim though all the displays. read more

Came for my birthday to see the goyas . Great experience beautiful museum. Got to see a lot of art I loved some I didn't expect. Got to go both times for the free hours . read more

Very large museum with a lot of famous historical arts with a variety of styles, many Spanish artists work (Goya, Bosch, Velasquez, El Greco), but also some other European work such as Rubens. Average to get through all the works takes about 2-3 hours, but for enthusiasts it might take up to 5 hours to get through it all. Not all the works by the same artist are put together unfortunately, for example Goya's Black Paintings are placed in the floor below his court painter and middle period works. Also unfortunate is their more strict policy on no photos; security will reprimand you if they catch you taking out your phone, even if it's no flash. Costs about 15 euros per adult, cheaper if you are a student, minor, or senior. They have a locker to keep your bags at the front free of charge. read more

Best tip ever... and to all that visit, you will thank me for this advice. The lines outside the museum are long and can be up to 2 hours. Book your tickets online. They have timed entry, so if you're like me and don't want to commit in advance to a specific day or time, just wait until you're close to the museum to book. I was able to get tickets for 30 minutes after I booked, so I found a cafe and waited there. Once you have a ticket, you skip the line and can enter. Museum guides are dressed in red and will show you the correct entrance. Ladies... only carry a small purse, or you will have to check it. It's safe, but I hate not having my bag with me. One of the world's top museums, some compare it to the Louvre, but I don't think so. It houses one of the finest collections of European Art dating from the 12th -20th century. nice collections from Goya, Velasquez, and El Greco. Not to be missed is the Leonardo da Vinci collection with an original studio copy of the Mona Lisa, from 1819, said to be one of the first drafts of the famous painting. A landmark that should be seen by everyone who visits Madrid. read more

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