Prado Museum
Velázquez, Goya, Bosch and Titian in one of the world’s great museums.
Opened in 1819, the Prado holds the collection of the Spanish monarchs and is arguably the world’s finest gallery of European old masters: Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Bosch, Titian, Rubens and Rembrandt under one roof.
You cannot see it all in one visit, so arrive with a short list. It occupies Villanueva’s building on the Paseo del Prado and Rafael Moneo’s extension next to the Jerónimos church.
What to see
Las Meninas (Velázquez)
The museum’s most discussed painting, in the central Velázquez gallery alongside his portraits of Philip IV’s court.
Goya: from tapestry cartoons to the Black Paintings
From colourful cartoons to the darkness of Saturn, plus The Second and Third of May 1808 and the two Majas.
The Garden of Earthly Delights (Bosch)
The most enigmatic triptych of Flemish painting: get close to the details.
El Greco, Titian and Rubens
The Nobleman with his Hand on his Chest, Titian’s portraits of Charles V and Rubens’s Three Graces.
Tips
- For the free slot, arrive 30–45 minutes early: the queue moves fast but is long.
- Photography is not allowed in the galleries.
- Pair it with the Royal Botanic Garden next door, or a vermouth in the Literary Quarter.
More detail in our guide: Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofía.
Hungry nearby? See where to eat in Barrio de las Letras.
Guidance checked in October 2026. Opening hours, prices and conditions change: always check the official sources.