Prado Museum Guide: Free Hours, Prices & Pass Coverage
2 - 3 h
Art Museum
Opened 1819
Calle Ruiz de Alarcón, 23, 28014 Madrid, Spain
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Practical Visitor Info & Tips
€15.00
€7.50
Mon-Sat 10:00-20:00, Sun & public holidays 10:00-19:00
Advance booking is recommended via the official ticketing platform.
| Standard, Mon-Sat | Prado | 10:00 - 20:00 |
| Standard, Sun & public holidays | Prado | 10:00 - 19:00 |
| 6 Jan, 24 & 31 Dec (reduced hours) | Prado | 10:00 - 14:00 |
Last Admission: Not stated precisely on the official page as corroborated this audit; assume roughly 30 minutes before closing, consistent with the museum's own timed-entry model — treat as an estimate, not a confirmed figure.
Closed On: 1 January, 1 May, 25 December
Free Admission Dates: Free daily: Mon-Sat 18:00-20:00, Sun & public holidays 17:00-19:00. Fully free (all day) on 18 May (International Museum Day), 12 October (Fiesta Nacional), and 19 November (Prado's own anniversary).
Standard admission covers the permanent collection plus some (not all) temporary exhibitions — the museum's own page does not state a blanket 'all exhibitions included' policy, so treat any specific current exhibition's inclusion as needing its own check.
| Option | Price | Reservation | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard adult ticket | €15.00 | Recommended advance booking | Official site |
| Reduced (65+) | €7.50 | Recommended advance booking | Official site |
| Free daily window | €0.00 | Mon-Sat 18:00-20:00, Sun 17:00-19:00 | Timed slot, on-site or online |
Overview & Visitor Introduction
The Prado is Spain's national art museum and one of the most visited galleries in the world, built around the royal collection of Spanish, Flemish and Italian painting — Velázquez's Las Meninas and Goya's Black Paintings are its two most-sought works.
Standard admission is €15, and the museum runs a genuine daily free-admission window rather than a token once-a-week slot — but that window has its own limits, and queues for it can be long, especially in high season.
History & Significance
The building itself dates to the late 18th century and opened as a royal museum in 1819, built around the Spanish crown's own painting collection. It has grown through donations and acquisitions ever since, and today holds one of the world's most important collections of European painting from the 12th to the early 20th century.
Its identity is inseparable from a handful of Spanish masters — Velázquez, Goya and El Greco chief among them — alongside major Flemish and Italian holdings (Bosch, Titian, Rubens) acquired by the Spanish monarchy over centuries.
What to See: Top Highlights
Las Meninas (Velázquez)
The museum's single most famous painting — expect it to be the busiest room, especially mid-morning.
Goya's Black Paintings
A dedicated ground-floor room for the unsettling late-period murals Goya painted directly onto the walls of his own house.
El Greco & Spanish Golden Age
One of the world's deepest holdings of 16th-17th century Spanish painting, well beyond Velázquez alone.
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Pass Compatibility
Compare Madrid PassesThe Prado is included on Paseo del Arte (one visit, part of a fixed three-museum bundle) and on Turbopass's Madrid City Pass/Flex Pass — check each product's own reservation mechanism rather than assuming the pass handles booking for you.
Paseo del Arte
Included. You must reserve your entry time directly with the official provider. One visit only; covers the permanent collection plus some (not all) current temporary exhibitions.
Madrid City Pass
Included. You must reserve your entry time directly with the official provider. Exact reservation mechanism not independently confirmed — assume the traveler must complete a booking step themselves unless/until confirmed otherwise.
Madrid Flex Pass
Optional (selectable attraction). Counts as one of your chosen attractions. Selectable as one of the traveler's chosen attractions (2-7 total) — not automatically included the way it is on the City Pass.
Go City Madrid All-Inclusive Pass
Included. Included as a guided tour product specifically, per Go City's own attraction listing — not confirmed identical in format to a self-guided standard Prado ticket.
Madrid City Card
Not confirmed by the provider. The Card's own page names a Prado-related benefit, but its exact mechanism (an access/queue perk tied to Prado's already-free evening hours, rather than a ticket-price discount) could not be confirmed this audit — do not assume any specific monetary saving.
Data Provenance
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Prado free?
Does Paseo del Arte include the Prado?
Does the Prado ticket include temporary exhibitions?
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