Spain's national art museum and one of Europe's greatest collections. Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Bosch. The Spanish Golden Age painted in oil and assembled in a single building. This is the reason art historians come to Madrid.
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Book tickets online to avoid the queue. Start with Velázquez (Las Meninas is the anchor), then Goya's Black Paintings and the maja works. The Bosch triptychs (Garden of Earthly Delights) require time. The collection is vast — plan 3-4 hours minimum or return across multiple visits.
Weekday morning right at opening (10am). Final two hours before closing (6pm weekdays, 7pm weekends) are quieter. Avoid midday and weekends in high season. Free entry final two hours each day and Sundays — expect crowds.
The Prado holds the world's finest collection of Spanish painting — over 8,000 works, with 1,300 on display. Opened in 1819 as the Royal Museum. The building itself (Juan de Villanueva, 1785) is neoclassical perfection. Audio guide is worth it for the Velázquez and Goya rooms. The cafeteria inside is acceptable for breaks. Photography prohibited. This is not a museum you skim — commit the time or come back.