Madrid Prado Museum: Entry Ticket & Audio Guide

Three million people a year walk through the Prado. Here's how to actually see it.

You get timed entry that skips the security queue, a multilingual audio guide loaded on your phone, and access to the permanent collection plus temporary exhibitions. The guide narrates the stories behind the masterpieces (Las Meninas, Goya, Bosch, El Greco), so you understand what you're looking at instead of just standing there. Book your time slot in advance and arrive in your window.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Prado Museum with audio guide

• Enter Prado Museum with timed ticket
• Use multilingual audio guide
• View Velázquez's Las Meninas
• See Goya's The Third of May 1808
• Explore Goya's Black Paintings
• Admire Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights
• Observe El Greco's The Nobleman
• View Rubens's The Three Graces

The experience

The security queue at the Prado can swallow an hour on a busy afternoon. A timed-entry ticket to the Prado Museum cuts that down. You arrive in your assigned window, walk past the line, and step straight into the neoclassical building on Paseo del Prado where the real work begins. The audio guide loads on your phone, and suddenly you're not just standing in front of Velázquez's Las Meninas or Goya's The Third of May 1808. You know why they matter, who painted them, what they were meant to say. The guide covers hundreds of works along a thematic route, so you're not wandering blind through eight thousand paintings.

What makes this different from walking in cold is the audio. You move at your own pace through the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, but the guide narrates as you go: the stories behind Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights, El Greco's The Nobleman with his Hand on his Chest, Rubens's The Three Graces, and Goya's Black Paintings, which are genuinely unsettling up close. The museum is wheelchair accessible, strollers are fine, and you can take photos for personal use (no flash, no tripods). Large bags go into the free cloakroom at the entrance, so you're not hauling a backpack through the galleries.

The all-in price is €24 per person: €15 for entry, €6 for the audio guide, €3 in booking fees. You book the time slot ahead, which means you skip the negotiation with the queue and arrive knowing exactly when you'll be inside. The audio guide runs on your own smartphone, so there's no device to return or headset to manage. It's available in multiple languages, and you follow it or ignore it. It's there when you need context, not forcing you through a set path.

What’s included

• Timed-entry ticket to the Prado Museum's permanent collection and temporary exhibitions.
• multilingual audio guide accessible on your smartphone with hundreds of works explained along a thematic route.
• access to all galleries and the free cloakroom for bags and belongings.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day15 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 17:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (under 18)

Audio guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Wanderung

Is this one for you?Right for anyone who wants to see the masterpieces without losing an afternoon to the security queue, and who'd rather understand what they're looking at than just pass through. The timed slot and audio guide together turn a crowded museum visit into something you can actually absorb.

Traveler reviews

3.26★★★★★★★★★★

19 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 18).

How long can I spend inside the Prado?

There's no time limit once you're in. Your timed entry gets you past the queue at a specific hour, but you stay as long as you want after that.

Can I take photos inside the Prado?

Yes, personal photography without flash is allowed in most of the permanent collection. Tripods, selfie sticks and video are not permitted.

What if I have a large bag or backpack?

There's a free cloakroom at the entrances where you can leave large bags, backpacks, umbrellas and tripods. You pick them up when you leave.

Is the audio guide in English?

Yes, the audio guide is available in multiple languages including English. It loads on your smartphone and covers hundreds of works.

How long does the security check take?

On busy days, security can take 30 to 60 minutes. The timed-entry ticket lets you skip the main queue and enter during your assigned window.

Can I bring a stroller or wheelchair?

Yes, the museum is wheelchair accessible and strollers are fine for infants and small children.

Do I need to return the audio guide device?

No, the audio guide runs on your own smartphone. You don't need to return any device or headset.