Prado Museum: reviews, price and practical tips

+41
recs
4.8/5 11 reviews
Calle Ruiz de Alarcón 23 , 28014 Madrid, Spain
Calle Ruiz de Alarcón 23 , 28014 Madrid, Spain
From $20*
Booking recommended
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Musée du Prado
Goya, El Prado
El Prado

Visiting the Prado Museum

As the primary cultural landmark in Madrid and home to the most significant art collection in Spain, the Prado Museum sees nearly 3 million visitors annually. Commissioned by King Charles III as a natural history cabinet, the structure was built in 1786 by local architect Juan de Villanueva, alongside the city's astronomical observatory and botanical garden. Later, Queen Maria Isabel of Portugal convinced the crown to repurpose the building as a royal gallery for paintings and sculptures.

The neoclassical design, defined by imposing Greco-Roman columns, is instantly recognizable. When it opened to the public in 1819, the catalog held just 300 pieces. The collection grew quickly through church acquisitions and private donations, eventually reaching over 10,000 works, though only about one-seventh of that total is on display at any given time. In 2007, an expansion known as the Edificio Jerónimos (Jerónimos Building) was inaugurated to house temporary exhibitions and sculptures.

The Spanish collection here is peerless. Spanning nearly 700 years, the gallery features roughly 100 works by Francisco de Goya, including his centerpiece, The Third of May 1808. You will also find major pieces by El Greco, Ribera, Murillo, and Velázquez, whose Las Meninas remains the most famous canvas in the building.

The ground floor and first floor host the Venetian school and Italian masters such as Caravaggio and Botticelli. The first floor also showcases German, Dutch, and French painters. The second floor focuses on modern art, with a strong emphasis on cubist, dadaist, and surrealist movements. Picasso, Miro, and Dali are prominently featured. Guernica is often the highlight for many visitors. The fourth floor covers the post-World War II era, including abstraction, figuration, and existentialist works. Popular artists in this section include Francis Bacon, Jean Dubuffet, Lucio Fontana, and Yves Klein.

From $20*Booking recommended
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Opening hours

Open every day from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and until 7:00 PM on Sundays and public holidays.
Hours are indicative and subject to change

*Information subject to change

Reviews of Prado Museum

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Summary of 11 reviews
4.8/5
Average rating
+41 recs +41 -0 Score weighted by contributor expertise level: a recommendation from a level 3 member counts as 3.
Total recommendations

Ratings by visit type

With family
4.4
As a couple
5
With friends
4.8

Avygeo ranking

#17
in the world
#17
in Europe
#3
in Spain
#1
in Madrid

The setting for one of my first artistic shocks

The Prado Museum is extremely rich, the building is magnificent, and you would probably need a full day to really appreciate its collections.

Nevertheless, I would personally recommend it only for the chance to see Goya's Black Paintings in person. This series is absolutely unforgettable, of rare power, and fascinating to study. And I experienced this discovery as one of my first artistic shocks that left a deep mark on me.

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An exceptional collection of paintings

As a fan of Renaissance paintings, I could not miss this museum and I loved the experience. The only downside is that it is impossible to see everything, even in one day, so you have to make some choices. I focused on European painting and I still have wonderful paintings by Velasquez in my memory, like Las Meninas, or even Goya, Rubens, and El Greco. You do not know where to look! Remember to book your tickets in advance and count on at least three hours for your visit. I will return with great pleasure.

37
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Huge

The Prado Museum is impressive. The building is truly magnificent, it feels like you are in a palace. The exhibited works are varied and the collections are rich. The museum is immense. Plan on several hours if you want to see everything.

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Famous for its classics

A Madrid classic, with masterpieces of classic art... a bit classic if you ask me, but something you have to do at least once.

11
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An impressive museum

One of the most beautiful museums in the world. Not only is the building incredibly beautiful, but the collection inside is vast, varied, and very interesting. You will find pieces from every era, every style, and every country. A large place is obviously given to Spanish painters such as Goya, Velasquez, Sorolla, El Greco, Zurbaran, and so on.

10
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Incredible collections

Different art movements, different centuries, very complete.

8
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The cultural must-see

If you only visit one museum in Madrid, and you love painting and sculpture, the Prado is the one you should choose first. Very comprehensive, especially regarding Spanish artists. The masterpiece: Picasso's Guernica.

8
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Beautiful museum with a complete collection of paintings

Every art lover should find something they enjoy at the Prado, the collections are just so complete and varied. Classical, Renaissance, Spanish, Italian, French, Dutch, German schools... there is also some contemporary art.
Plan on spending several hours.

9
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Incredible paintings

Lovers of "great painting" (Italian, Spanish, Flemish, Dutch) are going to love this: Velasquez, Goya, Rubens, El Greco...

You can find masterpieces here like "The Third of May 1808," "The Nude Maja," "The Clothed Maja," "Saturn Devouring His Son" (a bit gorey), "The Nobleman with his Hand on his Chest"...

9
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The best art collection from the 17th and 18th centuries

The best art collection from the 17th and 18th centuries.
This museum houses a vast collection of Spanish and Flemish masters from the 17th and 18th centuries, but also later works like the majority of Goya's pieces.
Not to be missed in Madrid

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Great museum

So many things to see in this museum, which reminds us that the Spanish crown was one of the world's leading powers for a long time.

7
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