Las Meninas at a glance
Las Meninas is an oil painting by Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez, dated 1656. It hangs in the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid. The canvas measures 320.3 by 279.1 cm, so it is close to square and larger than most people expect from reproductions. The museum's catalogue number is P001174.
This site is an independent guide and is not run by the museum. The room number below comes from the museum's own record for the work. Works are sometimes moved, lent or restored, so look at the digital plan on the day of your visit.
What to look for in Las Meninas
The details the museum's record names, and how to approach them.
The Infanta Margarita
The young princess is the focus of the group, with members of the court around her. Start here, then let your eye move outwards.
The painter at work
Velázquez shows an artist with a palette and brush. The picture is partly about the act of painting and about who is being painted.
The mirror
A mirror is part of the scene. The museum's register also names Felipe IV and Mariana de Austria in connection with the work. No single reading settles every question about the mirror and the viewer's position, so treat confident explanations with care.
The dog and the attendants
A dog and several attendants are part of the group. Stand back first to see the whole composition, then step closer to look at the faces and the brushwork.
Our picks: tours for Las Meninas
Guided Prado visits with entry included, one of them before opening hours.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Prado tour before opening hours
Museum entry before the public opens and an English-speaking guide are included, covering Las Meninas, the Black Paintings and the Garden of Earthly Delights. Tips and hotel transfer are extra.
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Prado masterpieces tour in a small group
Museum entry and a guide are included, with up to seven people in the group. No exclusions are listed.
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Prado guided tour with priority entry
Museum entry without the ticket queue and a professional guide are included. Tips are not.
Check availability →Prado Museum tours and tickets
Guided visits that include Velázquez and the Spanish court painters, and entry tickets, with live prices and availability.
Where to see Las Meninas and how to plan
Prices and times as listed for 2026.
Find the room
The museum's record gives room 012 for Las Meninas. Two other Velázquez works from our list of 15 famous paintings are listed in rooms 009A (The Surrender of Breda) and 015A (The Spinners), so you can see all three in one pass.
Ticket and time slot
The general ticket costs €15 and covers the collection. You choose a date and time when you buy online or at the ticket desk. The ticket is personal and allows one entry, so you cannot leave and return with it. See the tickets page for reduced prices and who enters free with proof.
Opening hours
The museum opens Monday to Saturday 10:00–20:00 and Sunday and public holidays 10:00–19:00. The last entry is 30 minutes before closing, and the rooms start to clear 10 minutes before. It is closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Find the full list on the hours and free entry page.
Free hours
Free entry applies Monday to Saturday 18:00–20:00 and Sunday and holidays 17:00–19:00, depending on capacity. Entry is not guaranteed when the queue is long. If your main aim is one painting, a booked slot at a quieter time is safer.
Entrances
The museum's access page names the Goya entrance for the ticket desks and the collection, and the Jerónimos entrance for the collection and special exhibitions, with preferred access for visitors with reduced mobility. The assignment can change, so read the signs at the door.
Before you buy
Las Meninas is part of the collection, which the general ticket covers. Prices can change, so check the current ticket page before you go.
Rules in the room
What the 2026 visitor rules say.
Photography
Photography is not allowed in the collection rooms, which includes the room with Las Meninas. The exceptions are the Jerónimos foyer, the Sala de las Musas and the cloister.
Bags
Luggage from 40 cm goes to the cloakroom, which is free and has limited space. Check the current bag rule on arrival. Items that cannot go through the scanner are not allowed in at all.
Audio guide
The audio guide costs €5 extra. It covers more than 250 works in 15 languages, on a museum device or on your own smartphone.
Temporary closures
The rules let the museum close a room for a time, with no price reduction or refund. Check the plan when you arrive.
For a short visit, the museum publishes route suggestions called 1 hora en el Museo and 2 horas en el Museo. They are selections, not a required length, and they do not show that every work is on view on a given day. Our visit plan explains how to use them.
If you want a guide, read our page on guided tours. The museum's own tour of collection masterpieces lasts about 90 minutes and costs €10 on top of the ticket. Check the current timetable before you go.
More from the Prado
Other works and plans to go with this one.
Las Meninas: frequently asked questions
Where is Las Meninas?
It is in the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid. The museum's record lists room 012. Confirm it on the current plan, because works can be moved.
Who painted Las Meninas and when?
Diego Velázquez painted it in 1656. It is oil on canvas and measures 320.3 by 279.1 cm.
What is Las Meninas?
It is an oil painting by Velázquez from 1656. German-speaking readers know it as Die Hoffräulein. It shows the Infanta Margarita with her court, the painter, a mirror and a dog.
Can I photograph Las Meninas?
No. Photography is not allowed in the collection rooms. The permitted areas are the Jerónimos foyer, the Sala de las Musas and the cloister.
How much does it cost to see Las Meninas?
The general ticket is €15 in 2026 and covers the collection. Choose a date and time when you book. Free entry is possible in the evening hours, depending on capacity.