Prado Museum

What to expect

The Prado opened in 1819 as the royal museum of painting and sculpture, in a neoclassical building designed by Juan de Villanueva for Charles III. Its collection grew out of the Spanish royal collections and holds thousands of paintings, drawings and sculptures, though only a fraction is on show at once. Spanish painting is its core, with major Italian and Flemish works too.

A visit is a walk through long, high galleries organised by school and period, with a few very famous rooms where people gather. The museum is large and tiring, so most visitors choose a few highlights rather than attempt everything. Plan two to three hours for the essentials, and expect the busiest crowds around the best-known paintings.

Don't miss

• Las Meninas by Velázquez
• The Black Paintings by Goya
• The Garden of Earthly Delights by Bosch
• The Third of May 1808 by Goya
• Statue of Velázquez at the entrance

Tips for your visit

• Pick five or six works beforehand and head for them first; the museum is too big to see in one go.
• Book a timed ticket online in busy periods to skip the entrance queue.
• Arrive at opening or in the late afternoon for calmer rooms.
• Combine it with the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and Reina Sofía Museum nearby, though not all on one day.