When traveling in Europe, museums are always on my must-visit list, including the Museo del Prado. Aside from its impressive collection, the history and knowledge that can be gained make it a popular destination for tourists. However, entry fees can be relatively high—especially for Indonesians—starting at around 10 Euros or about 150,000 IDR.
This is why I carefully choose which museums to visit when traveling in Europe. So far, I haven’t visited many European museums. The most recent one was the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain, my second European museum after the Louvre in Paris, France.
I visited the Prado on my second day in Madrid. My friend in Madrid suggested going around 6:00 p.m., as the museum offers free entry at that time from Monday to Saturday, and from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sundays. Normally, tickets cost 15 Euros, so I was thrilled to go for free!
Before heading to the Museo del Prado, I spent the afternoon exploring Madrid. Around 5:00 p.m., I took the metro and got off at Banco de España station. Another nearby stop is Atocha, from where it’s a 500-meter walk. Since it was still early, I made a quick stop at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum to warm up and find some Wi-Fi.
After warming up, I continued on foot to the Prado. As I approached the museum, I picked up my pace, realizing there was already a line forming at 5:30 p.m.! I hadn’t expected so many visitors and was surprised by the long queue that snaked along the museum’s side, extending hundreds of meters. Free entry is only available via the South Ionic Gallery, or the Velázquez Entrance.
The Museo del Prado has four entrances: Los Jerónimos, Murillo, Goya Alta, and Velázquez. The line for free entry stretched to the back of the museum before doors opened, making the wait feel long in the cold. After about 30 minutes, we finally began moving, and one by one, tourists entered, received a ticket, and went through security, where bags larger than 40×40 cm, umbrellas, and sharp objects weren’t allowed. Luckily, my bag was small enough.
Upon entering, I saw the information area, bookstore, and audio guide rental desk. Opened in 1819, the Museo del Prado has three floors plus a ground floor and three wings. This Spanish art museum houses Europe’s finest collections from the 12th to the early 20th centuries. It was originally a museum for paintings and sculptures but has grown to include 7,600 paintings, 8,200 drawings, 4,800 prints, and about 1,000 sculptures.
Works by renowned painters are displayed, including Francisco Goya, Hieronymus Bosch, El Greco, Peter Paul Rubens, Titian, and Diego Velázquez. Paintings are grouped by theme, such as saints, royal portraits, nudes, secular portraits, and the iconography of the Virgin. Not being familiar with many of the works, I just followed the crowd.
In the right wing, Spanish paintings from 1100 to 1910 are displayed. One of the most collected painters in Spain is Titian, the first artist to have his works acquired by the Spanish crown. Aside from Spanish artists, there are paintings from Germany, Italy, France, Britain, and the Netherlands, dating back to the 15th century.
Each painting is labeled with its title and artist, such as The Descent from the Cross by Rogier van der Weyden, The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch, Knight with his Hand on his Breast by El Greco, The Death of the Virgin by Mantegna, The Holy Family, also known as La Perla, by Raphael, Charles V at Mühlberg by Titian, Christ Washing the Disciples’ Feet by Tintoretto, Dürer’s Self-portrait, Las Meninas by Velázquez, The Three Graces by Rubens, and The Family of Charles IV by Goya. But the museum’s most famous piece is Velázquez’s Las Meninas.
Unfortunately, photos are not allowed inside the museum, and the exhibition halls are monitored by CCTV, so no one dares to take selfies or pictures with the paintings. Two hours flew by without seeing everything; there’s just so much to admire. It’s no wonder the Museo del Prado is one of Europe’s largest and finest museums, and among the most visited in the world, attracting millions of visitors annually—quite different from museums in Indonesia, which see far fewer guests.
Important Information for Museo del Prado
- Address: Paseo del Prado, Madrid, Spain
- Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Sundays and holidays, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Closed: January 1, May 1, and December 25
- Ticket Prices: General admission, 15 Euros; 7.5 Euros for citizens over 65 or youth card holders.
- Free Admission: Visitors under 18, students aged 18-25, and persons with disabilities; also, general public on Monday-Saturday, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Sundays and holidays, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
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