How much time to plan
The museum publishes two selection routes: "1 hour in the museum" and "2 hours in the museum". They are suggestions, not required lengths, and they do not promise that every work is on view on the day. A two-hour visit covers the best-known paintings. Add time if you want a special exhibition, a coffee stop or a slower look at Velázquez and Goya.
The museum also offers a digital plan, an audio guide and its own guided visit. Use the current plan from the museum for the layout of the floors. Older plans, including one dated 2019 that circulates online, no longer match the present arrangement, so do not rely on them.
Main works grouped by room
Room numbers come from the museum's records for each work.
| Room | Work | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 008B | The Nobleman with His Hand on His Chest, about 1580 | El Greco |
| 009A | The Surrender of Breda (The Lances), about 1635 | Velázquez |
| 012 | Las Meninas, 1656 | Velázquez |
| 015A | Las Hilanderas (The Spinners), 1655 to 1660 | Velázquez |
| 027 | Charles V at Mühlberg, 1548 | Titian |
| 029 | The Three Graces, 1630 to 1635 | Rubens |
| 055A | The Triumph of Death | Pieter Bruegel the Elder |
| 055B | Self-portrait, 1498 | Dürer |
| 056A | The Garden of Earthly Delights, 1490 to 1500 | Bosch |
| 056B | The Annunciation, 1425 to 1426 | Fra Angelico |
| 058 | The Descent from the Cross, before 1443 | Rogier van der Weyden |
| 064 | The Second and Third of May 1808, both 1814 | Goya |
| 067 | Saturn Devouring His Son, 1820 to 1823 | Goya |
These numbers are the ones in the museum's work records, and rooms can change. A work can also be on loan, in restoration or in a room that is temporarily closed, since the visitor rules allow closures without a refund. Confirm the room on the museum's current plan or at the information desk.
Prado tours with a guide
Guided tours that follow a route through the highlights, with entry ticket options, live prices and availability.
Suggested routes
Built from the table above, not an official walking order.
One hour
Choose three or four works and go straight to them. Velázquez alone makes a short visit: the Breda picture (009A), Las Meninas (012) and Las Hilanderas (015A). Leave time to stand in front of Las Meninas.
Las Meninas →Two hours
Add Goya: the Second and Third of May (064) and Saturn (067). Then add the older rooms: Bosch (056A), the Fra Angelico Annunciation (056B), Dürer (055B) and Van der Weyden (058).
Bosch at the Prado →A longer visit
Add El Greco (008B), Titian (027) and Rubens (029), and the Black Paintings. The museum does not confirm that every painting of the cycle hangs in one room, so ask where they are on the day.
Goya's Black Paintings →Entrances, bags and photos
Rules from the visitor regulations of March 2026.
Three entrances
The Goya entrance serves the ticket offices and the collection. The Jerónimos entrance serves the collection and special exhibitions, and it is the preferred access for visitors with reduced mobility. The Murillo entrance is for educational groups. Assignments can change.
Bags
Bags from 40 cm go to the cloakroom, which is free but has limited capacity. Objects that cannot pass the scanner are not allowed in at all. A short page of the rules in English bans bags over 40 × 40 cm from entry, so travel light and do not count on the cloakroom for luggage.
Photos
Photography is banned in the collection and exhibition galleries. You may take photos in the Jerónimos foyer, the Sala de las Musas and the cloister.
One entry only
The ticket allows a single entry, so a break outside means a new ticket. Plan your coffee before you go in.
Ticket rules →Getting to the Prado
Paseo del Prado s/n, 28014 Madrid.
Metro and rail
Estación del Arte (line 1) is 800 m away and Banco de España (line 2) is 650 m away. Atocha railway station is about 1 km away, and Recoletos about 1.1 km. The Metro stop nearest the museum is not called Atocha, so go by the names above. From October 2026 a single Metro fare of €1.50 in zone A was announced.
Bus
Lines 001, 10, 14, 27, 34, 37, 45 and C03 serve the museum, with a stop near the Jardín Botánico. A standard EMT single ticket costs €1.50.
From the airport
Use Metro line 8 and change to line 4 or line 2, or take airport bus 203. There is no direct Metro to the museum.
By car
The museum lists car parks at Plaza de las Cortes and Montalbán 4. Madrid restricts access to the central district, and a foreign number plate is not an automatic exemption. Check the city rules and parking fees in advance, or leave the car and take public transport.
Planning a Prado visit: frequently asked questions
How long does a visit to the Prado take?
The museum publishes routes of one hour and two hours. A two-hour visit covers the best-known works, and a longer stay suits special exhibitions and slower viewing.
Where is Las Meninas?
The museum's record gives room 012. Check the current plan on the day, because rooms can change.
Is there a current map?
Yes, the museum offers a digital plan. A plan dated 2019 is still online, but it is out of date.
Can I bring a backpack?
Bags from 40 cm go to the cloakroom, which is free but limited in capacity. Another version of the rules bans bags over 40 × 40 cm. Bring a small bag to be safe.
Which entrance should I use?
The Goya entrance serves the ticket offices and the collection. The Jerónimos entrance serves the collection and special exhibitions and is preferred for visitors with reduced mobility.
How do I get there from Atocha?
Atocha station is about 1 km from the museum. You can walk, or take the Metro to Estación del Arte or Banco de España.