Prado Museum Tickets

Of course, the time spent in the museum will vary between individuals, but if you’re an art lover hoping to make the most of your visit, you’ll likely spend around three to four hours inside after getting your Prado Museum tickets.

If you only have a limited amount of time, then check out this official itinerary from the Prado Museum that showcases the best of their collection in approximately two hours.

There’s no shortage of artworks that you should take the time to appreciate once you have your Prado Museum tickets.

If you want a full rundown of the essentials that you can’t afford to miss, then make sure to read our list of hidden gems and Prado Museum highlights.

If you’re looking for an abridged version, then don’t miss these masterpieces that can be found on the museum’s first floor:

• David with the Head of Goliath by Caravaggio
• Emperor Charles V at Mühlberg by Titian
• The Triumph of Death by Pieter Bruegel
• Judith at the Banquet of Holofernes by Rembrandt
• Portrait of a Cardinal by Raphael
• The Nude Maja by Goya

The Prado houses a premier collection of Spanish art – in fact, it’s comprised of the former Spanish Royal Collection – but there’s also a range of Flemish artworks from the likes of Bruegel the Elder and Hieronymus Bosch.

With Prado Museum tickets you'll have the chance to see the collection's most famous paintings, including Hieronymous Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights, Diego Velázquez’s Las Meninas, and Goya’s El Tres de Mayo.

Choosing between tickets for the Prado Museum or the Museo Reina Sofía is a matter of taste. If you prefer fine art and want to take a journey through time that showcases the development of new techniques, then the Prado Museum is for you.

You’ll be able to chronicle the evolution of art from the religious scenes that show little perspective, up to the dramatic use of chiaroscuro by Caravaggio.

If you’re simply wondering where it is that you’ll see Picasso’s Guernica, then choose the Reina Sofia.

There’s good news – you can get into the free Prado Museum tickets every day of the week! You’ll have to wait until the final two hours the museum is open, but if you have the patience to hold off until the end of the day then you don’t have to worry about ticket prices.

The museum is free during the following hours:

• Monday to Saturday: 18:00-20:00
• Sundays and holidays: 17:00-19:00

If you want to get in without paying the price of admission, then make sure you join the line for free tickets early. The queues can take 30 minutes or more, so you’d be wiser to begin queuing earlier than the stated time.

The museum also stops entry 30 minutes before closing time, so factor that into your decision for a free ticket. There’s a lot of amazing art on offer, and a maximum of two hours inside might not be enough.

• Art aficionados are catered for with the chance to get up close to timeless masterpieces in central Madrid

• Discover the spectacular history of Spanish and Flemish art

• See masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, Rubens, Titian, Rembrandt, El Greco, Bruegel, Van Dyck, Bosch, and more

• Access the permanent collection and the regularly rotating temporary exhibitions

• Booking online in advance is cheaper than paying on the day!

Getting Prado Museum tickets has never been easier. Book in advance and save time on your holiday. There are options to buy day tickets, and you can also combine your visit with another attraction in or outside of the museum.

Prado Museum tickets include:

• Admission to the Prado Museum, Madrid's famous powerhouse

• Dedicated entrance to the permanent collection via Jerónimos entrance

• Timeslot access to the regularly rotating exhibitions (if available)

• Options to enhance your experience with a guided tour, or audio guide

• Options to combine your ticket with a Royal Palace of Madrid ticket

• Opening hours vary: see up-to-date schedule

• Free access on Mon-Sat 18:00-20:00; Sun & holidays 17:00-19:00 (entry to temporary exhibitions isn't included)

• Free for under-18s, students 18-25 and disabled visitors, plus one caregiver

• Food and drinks are not allowed inside, there is a cafe where you can purchase these inside

• Lockers are available to store bags larger than 40x40cm

• The Royal Palace is very close by, so it’s useful to buy a combo ticket for both attractions

• The Prado Museum is close to The Reina Sofía Museum, so consider seeing both with a combo ticket for a guided tour