Prado Museum (Museo del Prado)

The Prado is to Madrid what the Louvre is to Paris, and that means just about every visitor to the Spanish capital makes a stop here. Travelers have plenty of buy-ahead options for touring the collection—everything from a basic entrance ticket or skip-the-line access to a private guided tour. Choose a standard admission ticket or a city pass, which also provides free admission and discounts to other attractions. The museum is often included as a stop on guided city sightseeing tours.

• This museum is a must-see for art lovers.

• The museum offers a free locker and cloakroom at all entrances.

• Nearly the entire museum, with the exception of areas in the Villanueva building, is wheelchair accessible.

• If you’re looking for later works of art, Madrid's Reina Sofia Museum features a post-19th-century art collection.

Travelers visiting the Prado Museum independently can get there by taking the metro to Banco de España (Red Line 2) or Atocha (Light Blue Line 1). The latter is about a 10-minute walk from the museum entrance.

As one of Madrid’s most popular attractions, the Prado Museum often has long lines, especially on summer weekends. Lines are much shorter or nonexistent in winter. To beat the crowds, especially during the peak summer season, buy a skip-the-line ticket. You can also plan to arrive a few minutes before the ticket office opens or in the late afternoon, when most crowds have departed and Spaniards are enjoying their afternoon siesta.

In 1785, King Carlos III commissioned the Prado as a natural science museum to accompany the neighboring botanical gardens. When it opened in 1819, however, its purpose had shifted to displaying an extensive art collection gathered by Spanish royals.

No, you do not have to book tickets for the Prado Museum in advance. However, you will save time and hassle by purchasing your tickets ahead of time. Having an advance ticket in hand means avoiding waiting in line at the museum's entrance.

The best time of day to visit the Prado Museum is early in the morning, as close as possible to opening time. This is when the crowds are thinnest and the lines shortest. Another good time is around lunchtime when others sit down to eat or have a siesta.

How long you spend exploring the Prado Museum will depend on whether you want to have an in-depth experience or just to see the highlights. At minimum, you should allow 2–3 hours to visit the museum, although spending an entire day there is easy.

No, the Prado Museum has no official dress code, although visitors should dress respectfully and avoid wearing overly revealing or offensive clothing. You should also wear comfortable clothing and footwear, as you can expect to be on your feet for several hours while exploring the museum.

No, you are not allowed to take photographs or make recordings in the Prado Museum—this is a recently implemented policy aimed at reducing bottlenecks. If you want a souvenir of some of the artworks, you can purchase prints, postcards, or books in the gift store instead.

If you went inside the Prado Museum, you would see one of the world's greatest collections of classical European art. The museum houses world-famous paintings by Spaniards Francisco Goya, Diego Velázquez, and El Greco, as well as Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Peter Paul Rubens.