Prado Museum tickets in Madrid for 2027

Why the Prado Museum belongs on every Madrid itinerary

The building that now houses the Prado Museum was never meant to display paintings. Juan de Villanueva designed it under Charles III as a Royal Cabinet of Natural History, one element of the Enlightenment scheme that turned the old meadow of the Jerónimos monastery into an avenue devoted to science and culture. After the Peninsular War, Ferdinand VII and his second wife, Isabel of Braganza, pushed for it to become a museum of paintings, and the doors opened on 19 November 1819.

From Enlightenment cabinet to Moneo's extension of the Prado

Two centuries on, the complex has grown considerably. Rafael Moneo's extension was unveiled in October 2007, adding the Jerónimos building and substantially enlarging the exhibition space. The Casón del Buen Retiro forms part of the museum campus, while the Salón de Reinos is still being restored so that it can join the ensemble in the future.

A Prado Museum recognised by UNESCO

Since 2021 the museum has been part of the World Heritage site known as the Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro, a landscape of Arts and Sciences, alongside the park and the great buildings that surround it. That listing sums up the experience rather neatly: you are not visiting a stand-alone gallery but an entire quarter conceived around learning.

Prado Museum masterpieces you should not miss

The collection is vast and nobody takes it all in during a single morning. The sensible approach is to pick a thread to follow and accept that some rooms will have to wait for another trip. These are the stops that justify the journey on their own.

Velázquez at the Prado Museum

Las Meninas has a room of its own on the main floor and usually draws the largest crowd. Nearby you will find The Spinners, The Surrender of Breda and the court portraits that explain why the painter from Seville still fascinates artists all over the world.

Goya at the Prado: from cheerful cartoons to the Black Paintings

No other museum lets you trace Goya's development the way the Prado does. You move from the bright, festive tapestry cartoons to The Third of May 1808 in Madrid and, finally, to the Black Paintings that once covered the walls of his house, including the unsettling Saturn.

Bosch, Van der Weyden and the Flemish painters at the Prado

The Garden of Earthly Delights deserves time: approach it from the sides and look closely at the tiny details. A few steps away, Rogier van der Weyden's Descent from the Cross is a lesson in restrained drama.

Titian, Rubens and El Greco in the Prado collection

The Venetian and Flemish painting gathered by the Habsburg and Bourbon monarchs explains the sheer depth of the holdings. Rubens's The Three Graces and El Greco's elongated canvases round off a route that needs no further embellishment.

Prado Museum tickets: what each option includes

A standard ticket to the Prado Museum gives access to the permanent collection and, in many cases, to the temporary exhibitions running at the time. In October 2026 the official box office listed a general admission price of €15 and a reduced price of €7.50 (indicative prices, subject to change). Visitors under 18 and students up to the age of 25 with proof of status are among the groups admitted free of charge.

Prado Museum ticket with audio guide

The audio guide is not included in the basic box-office price. Options that add it are convenient for first-time visitors who want an orderly account of the main works without relying on the wall labels. Many people prefer to select only the commentaries for the pieces that interest them.

Guided tour of the Prado Museum

A guide solves the museum's biggest challenge: there is simply too much to see. In roughly two hours they map out a route through Velázquez, Goya and the Flemish masters, explain the background to each painting and leave you well placed to carry on at your own pace afterwards.

Free opening hours at the Prado Museum

From Monday to Saturday between 18:00 and 20:00, and on Sundays and public holidays between 17:00 and 19:00, the permanent collection can be seen at no cost. It is a lovely option for a second look, although queues are common and the time is tight for a thorough first visit.

Paseo del Arte pass including the Prado Museum

Created in 1995, this pass allows one entry each to the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza within a year of purchase. It suits travellers planning to see all three museums on the same trip; check the current price at the time of booking.

Prado Museum opening hours and the best times to go

The museum opens Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00 and on Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 to 19:00. It is closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December, and on 24 and 31 December and 6 January it keeps shorter hours, from 10:00 to 14:00.

When the Prado Museum is least crowded

The first hour of a weekday morning is the calmest slot: arriving with a ticket already booked for 10:00 lets you stand in front of Las Meninas before small crowds gather. Tuesday to Thursday afternoons tend to be a little easier than Saturdays, when tour groups and local visitors overlap.

The Prado Museum through the seasons

In July and August the air-conditioned galleries are a welcome escape from the Madrid heat, though tourist numbers rise. Autumn and winter allow a more leisurely pace, and the low evening light along the Paseo del Prado makes a stroll the natural way to end the day. Over Easter and long bank-holiday weekends it pays to secure your ticket several days ahead.

Getting to the Prado Museum by metro, bus or on foot

The official address is Calle de Ruiz de Alarcón, 23, although the building fills an entire block facing the Paseo del Prado, in the Retiro district.

Metro stations for the Prado Museum

• Banco de España (line 2): about five minutes on foot heading down the boulevard.
• Estación del Arte (line 1): handy if you are coming from Sol or from the south of the city.
• Atocha (Cercanías and metro): practical if you arrive by train from another city.

Entrances to the Prado Museum

The ticket offices are on the north side, next to the Goya entrance, and visitors mainly go in through the Jerónimos entrance in the Moneo building. Check the instructions on your ticket and the signs on the day, as the entrances may be rearranged according to visitor numbers.

Walking to the Prado from the city centre

From the Puerta del Sol it takes around a quarter of an hour, heading down Carrera de San Jerónimo past the Congress of Deputies. From Cibeles the route is a pleasant walk beneath the trees that line the Prado axis.

Practical tips for enjoying the Prado Museum

Allowing two to three hours lets you see the essentials without rushing; half a day gives you room to explore the quieter rooms, such as the Italian Quattrocento paintings or the Dauphin's Treasure.

Bags, security checks and the Prado Museum cloakroom

There is a security check at the entrance. Large rucksacks and bulky items are usually left in the cloakroom, so travelling light speeds things up. Inside, the use of cameras is restricted in the galleries, so it is best to put your phone away and give the paintings your full attention.

Visiting the Prado Museum with children

Younger visitors respond best to a short route built around stories: Bosch's monsters, Velázquez's dogs or Goya's giants. A well-chosen hour and a half achieves far more than an exhausting marathon.

Accessibility at the Prado Museum

The buildings have lifts and step-free routes for wheelchair users, and the museum provides resources for visitors with disabilities. If you need specific assistance, mention it at the information desk when you arrive.

• Download a floor plan or a shortlist of priority works beforehand.
• Wear comfortable shoes: the distances between rooms are long.
• Set aside a moment for the café and a rest halfway round.

What to see near the Prado Museum afterwards

The museum is the centrepiece of the so-called Paseo del Arte, barely a kilometre along which three national galleries follow one another. To the north, opposite the Plaza de Neptuno, stands the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum; to the south, beside Atocha, the Reina Sofía Museum with Guernica.

From the Prado Museum to Retiro Park

Behind the church of San Jerónimo el Real lies Retiro Park, ideal for resting your eyes after so much painting. The Royal Botanical Garden, right alongside the museum, is another green refuge very close by.

Barrio de las Letras, across from the Prado

On the other side of the boulevard begins the Barrio de las Letras, with pedestrian streets, taverns and literary plaques recalling Cervantes, Lope de Vega and Quevedo. It is a good spot for lunch after your visit.

Prado Museum in 2027: book your date with the calendar

Madrid enjoys a busy cultural calendar all year round, and the temporary exhibitions at the Prado Museum attract visitors from across Europe. If your trip falls in spring, over a bank-holiday weekend or during the school holidays, securing the day in advance saves you any surprises.

How to use the Prado Museum ticket calendar

Further up the page you will find a calendar: select the date you would like to visit and press “Check availability”. We will show you whether places remain that day through our booking partner and, if you wish, send you an email alert when there is news for that date. That way you can plan the rest of your trip with the visit already in place.

Before confirming your Prado Museum ticket

Double-check the entry time you have chosen, the language of the audio guide or tour, and the exchange conditions. Remember to bring identification if you opt for a reduced or free ticket, as it may be requested at the entrance.