The Prado Museum

The Prado holds one of the greatest collections of European painting in the world, above all the supreme collection of Spanish art: the royal portraits and Las Meninas of Velazquez, the light and darkness of Goya from court beauties to the Black Paintings, and El Greco, alongside Bosch's fantastical Garden of Earthly Delights and masters from across Europe.

Highlights

• Velazquez - Las Meninas and the royal portraits.
• Goya - from the tapestry cartoons to the haunting Black Paintings.
• Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights - the fantastical triptych.
• El Greco and the European masters - the Spanish and wider collection.

When to go

Year-round; a fully indoor museum, worth a half day. It offers free entry in the last hours of the day, which are busy; book a slot ahead otherwise.

Things to know

It is large, so focus on the highlights rather than every room. It is busy, especially in the free evening hours. It is a serious art museum, so appeal follows your interest, though the Spanish masters are unmissable.

Nearby

The Reina Sofia with Picasso's Guernica and the Thyssen complete Madrid's art triangle; the Retiro Park is nearby.