Stand in front of Velázquez's Las Meninas, walk into Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights, and confront Goya's Black Paintings — all in the world's greatest collection of Spanish painting. Founded in 1819 and home to 8,000 works, the Prado is the cornerstone of Madrid's Golden Triangle of Art. Book your skip-the-line slot in seconds.
Buy TicketsThe Prado is Spain's national art museum, opened in 1819 and built around the royal collection of the Spanish Habsburgs and Bourbons. Today it holds 8,000+ paintings, 1,000 sculptures and the most important Velázquez, Goya, Titian and Bosch holdings anywhere in the world. Skip-the-line tickets are essential at peak times — direct entry queues at the Goya door regularly stretch past an hour. Plan your visit with our visitors guide, the latest opening hours and our best time to visit page.
The smartest way to visit the Prado Museum
Walk past the long queue at the Goya door with a pre-booked timed-entry ticket. Direct queues regularly stretch over an hour at peak times.
Add the official Prado audio guide in 8+ languages — narration on 50 key masterpieces from Velázquez to Goya, designed by museum curators.
Plans change. Cancel up to 24 hours before your visit for a full refund — no questions asked, no hidden fees.
Show your ticket directly from your phone at the entrance. No printing, no paper, no waiting at the box office.
Diego Velázquez painted Las Meninas in 1656 inside the Alcázar Royal Palace, and the canvas has puzzled viewers for almost four centuries. The five-year-old Infanta Margarita stands at the centre, framed by her maids of honour, a chaperone, a dwarf and a sleeping mastiff — but it's the painter himself, brush in hand, who looks straight out at you. In the mirror behind, two reflections: King Philip IV and Queen Mariana. Are they posing? Is Velázquez painting them? Are you the king?
The painting hangs in Room 12 of the Villanueva building, in a gallery designed specifically around it. Plan to spend at least 15 minutes here — it rewards every minute of slow looking.
Visit the Prado in 3 simple steps
Pick a date and 30-minute timed-entry slot. Add an audio guide or a small-group tour if you want curator-level commentary on the masterpieces.
Secure checkout with instant email confirmation. Your mobile ticket arrives in minutes, ready to scan at the door.
On the day, walk to the Jerónimos entrance on Calle Ruiz de Alarcón, scan your ticket, and head straight to Room 12 to start with Las Meninas.
Everything you need to know before your visit