Prado Museum Highlights: What to See in 2 Hours
If you have an interest in European art, history, and culture then Prado Museum is absolutely worth visiting. I had seen high ratings for this Spanish National Art Museum in several travel reviews, in a way I felt compelled to add the visit to Museo Nacional del Prado to our list of things to do in Madrid in one day. I worked around a tour path to see the top Prado Museum highlights in the short time span of 2 hours.
In this post I write about Prado Museum highlights, my suggested route to cover the important and interesting displays that you can see in 2 hours. Do let me know if you have specific queries about the museum in comment box.
Madrid offers an incredible variety of sights and experiences. While I deliberately skipped the famous bullfights, I tried to sample a bit of everything else. After walking through the old quarters, visiting Almudena Cathedral, and exploring the Royal Palace, we still had time for a museum. Madrid boasts a long list of them—25 according to Wikipedia—with the Prado Museum rated as the crown jewel.
Statue outside El Prado building
History of Prado Museum in Madrid
The Prado Museum, founded in 1819, was originally commissioned by King Charles III in 1785 as a natural history cabinet. However, it was his grandson, King Ferdinand VII, who repurposed the building to house Spain’s royal art collection. He was encouraged by his wife, Queen MarÃa Isabel de Braganza (she was inspired by the Louvre Museum in Paris). The king’s death caused inheritance problems and endangered the unity of the collection, but with the disappearance of the monarchy in Spain the museum became national property and became known as the Prado National Museum.
The museum opened with 311 paintings, mostly Spanish paintings, but its collection quickly expanded to include masterpieces from across Europe. With donations, contributions and acquisitions the collections swelled in numbers. Today there are around 7,600 paintings, 1,000 sculptures, 4,800 prints and 8,200 drawings, and this is only an estimate.
Tour of Prado Museum Highlights
Visiting a museum of such iconic stature requires careful planning. Simply skimming through the artworks doesn’t do justice to the cost of the ticket or the time spent inside. It’s a better idea to review the layout of the museum in advance and select the Prado Museum highlights you want to focus on, ensuring you make the most of your visit.
Once inside even with audio guide and map of the museum rooms you will feel a little lost. There is too much of world class art to see. Exhibits are there in so many rooms. The art work belongs to Italian, Spanish, German, and Flemish school of arts and more. You will have to do little bit of planning. So choose which art style you would want to focus on. Instead of rushing through rooms after rooms, it will be better to focus on some of them.
If this is going to be your first and last time you visit Prado Museum then select the artists you are a fan of. The masterpieces are scattered in several rooms. Note down the room numbers and then chalk out your route through these rooms. A little bit of study of the art works here will help.
And of course I must mention the staffs here is really helpful. Couple of times I kind of had a loss of direction, they were too willing to guide. There is the Goya, Valasquz and El Greco, Bosch, Picasso many more. At the end of it there was a sense of satisfaction though I am sure if photography was allowed I would have been doubly thrilled.
What to See in Prado Museum in 2 Hours
If you only have two hours to visit the Prado Museum, you can focus on specific sections that showcase the museum’s most famous paintings and skip others that are less critical for a short visit. Prado museum is beautifully organized, offering well-marked routes for short visits, making it easy to see the highlights even if you’re short on time.
Here’s a ‘two-hour Prado Museum itinerary‘ to help you prioritize. I head to first floor (first hour) and then to the ground floor (second hour) rooms to see the famous paintings of Spanish Masters, Flemish and Northern European Art and Italian Renaissance. These famous paintings reflect key moments in Spanish and European history, from royal life to significant political and religious events.
Generally, you’ll find crowds gathered in front of these famous paintings, and although
photography isn’t allowed, tourists linger to visually absorb as much as they can just by looking.
You can head straight to those paintings and wait for some time to get ahead.
There was no queue system when I visited.
The gigantic neo-classical building housing this museum is impressive. I now regret for not taking pics of the monument. We had to stand for long in the queue to get to the entrance. And once side I lost track of time, in the process forgot to take the pictures of the museum building. Moreover I was so excited to do the tour of Prado Museum that other details seemed immaterial then. Photography inside is not permitted so you may better take the pictures of the exteriors of Prado Museum for memories.
Queue at Prado Museum for visit during Free hours
Queue here reminded me of the one I experienced in Alhambra, only difference being this museum will allow everybody inside. So the lengthy , almost half a kilometre long line didn’t worry me much.
Sections to Prioritize:
Famous Paintings by Spanish Masters:
- El Greco: His masterpiece The Nobleman with His Hand on His Chest in Room 8 (1st floor) is worth viewing, along with a few other works on display nearby.
- Velázquez: See Las Meninas and a few other iconic works in Room 12 (1st floor). His art defines much of the museum’s prestige.
- Francisco Goya: Focus on The Third of May 1808, The Black Paintings, and La Maja Desnuda. These are found across several rooms, including Room 64-67 (ground floor for the Black Paintings) and Room 34 (1st floor for his other works).
Flemish and Northern European Art:
- Hieronymus Bosch: The Garden of Earthly Delights in Room 56A (ground floor) is a surreal masterpiece you don’t want to miss.
- Rubens and Van der Weyden: Focus on The Descent from the Cross (Van der Weyden, Room 58 on the ground floor) and The Three Graces (Rubens, Room 29 on the 1st floor).
Italian Renaissance:
- Titian: His works, including Emperor Charles V on Horseback, are important. You’ll find them mostly on the 1st floor, especially in Rooms 11 and 15.
- Raphael and Caravaggio: If time allows, you can briefly explore the Italian Renaissance rooms, but these can be secondary in a two-hour visit.
Time for Tour of Prado Museum
The time span to tour Prado Museum can be any where between 1 hour to one whole day. It all depends on how detailed look you wish to have of each exhibit there. You can simply select 10 must see master pieces of Prado Museum and finish off the tour in a couple of hours.
Most Famous Painting in Museo Prado
Las Meninas (The Ladies-in-Waiting) a 1656 painting is the most famous painting in Museo del Prado in Madrid. The creator/painter Diego Velázquez was the leading artist of the Spanish Golden Age. Its complex and enigmatic composition raises questions about reality and illusion, and creates an uncertain relationship between the viewer and the figures depicted.
As expected there was a huge crowd in front of the painting. Indeed it was something to be admired but I failed to understand why the tourists stood rooted in the place. Some of them seemed to visually devour the strokes of colors on that canvas. The movement in that room was very slow.
Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez Prado Museum
The Nude Maja
This statue is erected outside the museum. Goya created the painting of the nude lady. The Nude Maja is name given to 1797-1800 oil on canvas painting by the Spanish artist Francisco Goya. It portrays a nude woman reclining on a bed of pillows, and was probably commissioned by Manuel de Godoy, to hang in his private collection in a separate cabinet reserved for nude paintings. Goya created a pendant of the same woman identically posed, but clothed, known as La maja vestida (The Clothed Maja). There is a painting of this inside Prado Museum since 1901.
The Nude Maja by Goya outside Prado Museum
Location of Prado Museum
Address: Prado National Museum, Ruiz de Alarcón Street 23, 28014, Madrid
Coordinates: 40.41386348741704, -3.6921485576710493
Opening hours of Museo del Prado
Monday to Saturday: 10 AM to 8 PM
Sundays and holidays: 10 AM to 7 PM
Reduced opening hours (January 6, December 24 and 31): 10 AM to 2 PM
Free Visit to Prado Museum: The museum can be visited for free between 6 PM and 8 PM between Monday and Saturday. On Sunday, it is free between 5 PM and 7 PM. I took advantage of this free 2 hours slot, hence this post on ‘What to See in Prado Museum in 2 hours’.
Closed on: January 1, May 1, and December 25. * The galleries are cleared 10 minutes before closing.
Prado Museum Highlights: FAQ
How long does it take to tour the Prado Museum?
A typical visit can last anywhere between 2 to 4 hours, depending on how many works you want to see. For a more thorough experience, plan for at least 3 hours to cover the museum’s major highlights.
Can I take photos inside the Prado Museum?
No, photography is not allowed inside the Prado Museum. Visitors are encouraged to focus on the art without distractions.
What’s the best time to visit the Prado Museum to avoid crowds?
Mornings, right after opening at 10 AM, or later in the evening, particularly during the last two hours of the day (6 PM to 8 PM), tend to be less crowded. However, weekends and public holidays usually attract more visitors.
Are there guided tours available at the Prado Museum?
Yes, the Prado Museum offers both guided tours and audio guides. You can also find self-guided routes, focusing on the museum’s highlights, to fit different time frames.
Is the Prado Museum suitable for kids?
While the museum is more focused on historical art, older children who enjoy art or history may find it fascinating. The museum also offers some family-friendly tours and activities to engage younger visitors.
How to reach the Prado Museum?
The Prado is centrally located in Madrid, and you can easily reach it via public transport. The closest metro stations are Atocha and Banco de España. Several bus lines also stop nearby.
Are there any dining options inside the museum?
Yes, the Prado Museum has a café where visitors can enjoy a light meal or snack.
Can I buy tickets online for the Prado Museum?
Yes, it’s highly recommended to purchase tickets online in advance to avoid long queues, especially during peak tourist seasons.
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Have you visited the Prado Museum? What were your highlights? Let me know in the comments!
If you are in Pinterest, you can save this pin to plan a trip to this iconic museum-Museo del Prado.
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This is one of my favourite memories of Spain! I don’t remember there being a queue like that! There is such fantastic art especially in Madrid. Thanks for sharing your memories too!
What a cool place. Very interesting and this is a very informative post. I totally missed it when I was in Madrid. I guess I was too busy drinking sangria and dancing the flamenco. Lol
Sounds like an incredible museum! Those works of art are amazing. I would love to visit Madrid sometime!
I remember going to the Prado as a twenty year old years ago, hungover from the big night out before. I sat with a big bottle of water in front of this one, massive, thought-provoking painting and stared at it, for about half an hour. Then I went and ate MacDonalds. It was a good day.
Waiting in such a long queue,but it must have been worth it.Thanks for sharing this Indrani.
Great to see a glimpse of such a great museum. I can feel what you felt being there. Just to stand in front of great works by great artsts such as Goya or Picasso must have been goosebump inducing.
Thanks for the visual tour. The museum is truly a haven for art lovers ! Would love to go there someday.
What a great looking museum and stunning art too. Prado museum looks like the best place for art fans – I might have to give it a go!
what a great set of art.. I always fancy going to museum… I really appreciate the workmanship and craftsmanship offered by the artists. This is indeed a great place to visit and hopefully I can make it here someday!
A visit to a museum is always a great sensory experience. This art museum must be one of the most visited in Madrid considering it is one of the best there. I sure hope I can visit Madrid and this museum one of these days.
Great post! A lot of informative information about the museum and its history. It made me feel like I was there with you. Hopefully we can visit the Prado Museum to live the experience ourselves!
I love visiting museums and learning the history of each piece there. Since I cannot go to all of them, your post gave me glimpses of what to expect there. Prado Museum is worth-visiting. More power!
I love museums, especially old European artworks. I would love to visit Madrid, but I would also be avoiding the bullfights. I really can’t bear animal cruelty!
This is such a wonderfully written, well thought out piece. I like that you’ve given key information on all the questions I would usually ask! I’m amazed it’s grown so much, I would love to visit!
It’s a very descriptive, yet objectively satisfying narrative that gives us reasons and ways to head to the finest museum in Europe. A part of the Museum Triangle in Madrid, this surely seems to be something we shouldn’t have missed out on!
Parampara-Parichay
India
The Prado Museum reminds me of the National gallery in London, for which an entire day would not be enough to visit. Researching and choosing the artists you want to see it’s such a good tip!
Fantastic post 🙂 Prado has one of the most impressive collections in the world. I’m an art historian, so this place is like a paradise for me 🙂
As I’ve previously commented from your blog, I love that you write about Spain! We have a very close relationship with the Spain in terms of culture. It’s also great to see that a lot of people line up for the museums. We need more of those!
This looks like a wonderful art museum. We have been looking into Madrid lately, so this is a perfect read for us. Those statues are amazing. Thank you for sharing.
Velazquez is one of my all time favourite artists, right up there with Hobein and Ucello. And the Goyas in the Prado are marvellous. It’s truly one of the best museums in the world.
Thanks for the tour of Prado Museum – I’ll admit that we’re not often fans of attractions which have super long queues, but perhaps we can rock up early in the day to try and skip the crowds. I would love the opportunity to tour the rooms and enjoy the collection of sculptures and art 🙂
Museums is one of the sights that we usually decide not to visit while traveling. Usually due to long queues and time limits. This one sounds quite interesting, even though we are usually not the biggest fans of art museums. 🙂
I have this on my one day list. Very informative and useful for my future trip!
Oh, a walk down memory lane… I spent a whole summer in Madrid once and we used to hang out in the park in front of the museum so often 🙂 Good times! X
I love Madrid a lot, but (shame on me) I must admit I haven’t got a chance to see most of its fascinating museums. Thank you for sharing, now I know where to start next time 🙂
Wow, a half kilometer long line! That’s quite long but looks worth it. Museums aren’t always my cup of tea but this one is definitely world-class!
Sounds like you were disappointed with The Ladies in Waiting as I was with the Mona Lisa. I enjoy sculpture much more than paintings, so I move through pretty quickly but some people do take in every brush stroke.
The Prado museum promises to be a great visual experience. Goya, Picasso and other masters works are a sure treat for the senses. It is a pity that the works cannot be photographed.
This article is very informative esp for students.. Would like to go there and witness how fascinating this place is. I am interested about their collections/ stuffs). I hope its not creepy as they say. Thank you for the tips and reminders.
Oh I love this museum! It’s such a beautiful way to spend the afternoon. Thanks for the walk down memory lane
Is there an entrance fee to get inside? Just curious though. Anyhow, I bet that there are more things to see! I also find the museum really fascinating. If I’d be able to visit there one day, I’ll sure capture all those beautiful arts (including those not allowed hahaha but of course, I’ll keep it as memory and won’t publish it elsewhere).
I loved the Prado! It was full of so many gorgeous works. I could spend all day there!
Madrid is such a wonderful city to visit! I’ve never been to Madrid but I’d really love to 🙂 I’ll keep in mind this museum if I ever do travel there 🙂
that trip to the museums are always one’s to treasure all the time, this sounds like a super museum from the write up. filled with rich stuffs. and for the location Madrid, makes it a unique one.
I went here last year and saw the dark Gota exhibition – was fascinating and a but creepy and incredible how they could lift the paintings from the walls of his house for display in a gallery. The Prado really is an amazing place
Uhhh El prado is one of my fav museum in Spain. I perfectly know Madrid, since I was living in Spain for 3 years and I went there many times…Madrid is the city of the artists, you can see art in every corner like in Calle huerta, where every ten meters there is a poem on the floor of the street. Such a city 🙂
Sounded like the museum is large and full of interesting collections. I bet it must be a place to go to for all the art lovers. 🙂
The Prado is a top place to visit. Oh the The Nude Maja – gave us the giggles she did hehehehe Awesome post, have pinned to one of our favourite Europe boards.
Spain more than the infamous Sagrada Familia has another interesting to offer to tourist.
Personally, I love Spain for many reasons. And this Goya Museum is a revelation to me.
I really hate waiting in a line, is there any way to avoid that que ?
I appreciate you sharing this walking tour experience of yours in Madrid. I have been dying to visit and experience Spain but sad to say I had been refused a visa. Maybe next year! I will keep on trying!
Off late Indian tourists are inclined to choose Spain amongst other European destinations. I think the Bollywood Movie Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara did much of its promotion here. I would love to visit it someday too.
This so much sounds like Louvre . I would love to take my time to visit here..no hurries.
I am not a fan of museums, but I can appreciates arts like paintings. I do find it fascinating to look at pieces painted centuries ago. BUT hold on, did you mention HALF-KILOMETER queue??? Seriously? Gosh… So it has to be crowded inside too?
Madrid is a place I’ve always wanted to go to. Definitely moved a bit higher on that list now!
I don’t often go into museums- preferring to explore outside and more into architecture and street art. But looks like some charming pieces of art!
It is so nice that you got visit so many places. I have not been able to explore like that outside of the United States. It would be nice to leave the country one day and see what’s out there.
I remember learning about Diego Velázquez in my Art Appreciation class back in college. I thought his work was very beautiful.
Museums are my favorite, I love teaching my children the history and art of a place and where better than a museum. You have made a wonderful description here, hope we could visit sometime next year.
Menaka Bharathi has recently published http://simpleindianmom.in/demonitization-indian-moms-cope/
What a beautiful museum! I would love to visit here one day!
I love visiting museums and I can easily spend a day in one. I’d spend time lingering on a piece of art while contemplating the genius and artistry of the creator. I will include this in our Madrid itinerary when we go visit. How much does it cost to get inside the museum though?
Very useful post! i ll pinned it for sure Thanks for sharing!
What a long queue! Must be a really interesting museum. I would definitely keep this in mind for future travels to Madrid!
Prado for me is like the Louvre…a day or a single visit may just not be enough. Thanks for the highlights. Now I know what not to miss!
What a classy museum… loved reading about Prado
I am not massive art lovers but it was good time when I visited this museum few years ago, there was a bit of a line but it flowed quickly. A very nice building and nice artwork inside. You took great pictures with a really helpful description, thanks for sharing it
Great info about Madrid.
Not seen this though have been to Madrid twice.
I loved the queues. 🙂 Both the real one and in the painting. Such lively and full of life!
Looks like we should not miss it while visiting Madrid. Will make it a point to visit next time.
Wow! That looks like a great place to visit for art lovers. If they allowed photography inside so I would have seen the interiors and those things you saw. Great informative post, Indrani.
Your way of writing is fabulous Indrani ji . You always write brief history , timings and how to reach there of a particular post . There is Que for tickets and here in India Ques are for money now a days .
Prado is fabulous !! It needs at least one full day to explore. I visited it for 3 hours and I felt I could have given it much more time. In this age of photoshop, laser printers and 3D printers, those paintings and sculptures are awe inspiring.
Somewhere we are loosing the touch to the real Art due to excessive use of electronic assistance for creating artworks.
Loved the Prado! What a GREAT museum. We make it a point to visit all the major museums when we travel and we take the kids. I write travel guides for them so they can understand the art they are seeing….it is always fascinating to hear their insights and perspective.
We haven’t been to Spain at all! We try to visit museums in all cities we go in Europe, as you can learn so many things about the culture of each country. Excellent pic of the Meninas.
Very helpful article for art students. If your tips are followed, the museum visit could be very fruitful.
The sculpture of nude lady laying on the bed is splendid, the delicate details are just unbelievable!
TC, keep smiling 🙂