Prado Museum Art Tour with Skip the Line Entry
Dive into Spain’s largest art collection with an expert guide to explore El Greco, Goya, and more!
Avoid getting lost in the vast Prado Museum with a tour that makes every moment count. This expertly curated experience highlights the most iconic works in just a couple of hours, with a passionate art historian revealing the stories behind masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Bosch, Rubens, and more. Discover the best of the Prado with ease and insight.
- Meet your guide in Monument to Goya, C. de Felipe IV, Madrid
- Spanish & European art
- Goya and the Napoleonic Wars
- Saturn Devouring His Son
- El Greco
- Velasquez and The Triumph of Bacchus
- Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights
- This activity ends back at the meeting point
Meeting just outside the Prado Museum, near the statue of the Goya, your tour begins with skip-the-line entry to help make the most of your 2 hours inside. Soon you’ll be following your knowledgeable art guide on a curated tour through the Prado’s most famous works and hidden gems, discovering their meaning, influence, and the stories of the European masters who created them.
Skip-the-Line Prado Museum Tour Description
Your 2-hour art tour includes:
Skip-the-line Prado Museum tickets
Guided tour of the museum's great works and hidden gems
See works by Goya, El Greco, Bosch, and many more
Engaging, English-speaking art historian guide
Maximum group size of 30
The Incredible Prado Museum
Designed by Juan de Villanueva and opened to the public back in 1819, the Prado Museum has grown to house one of the world's finest art collections. Your guide will explain some of the building's history as you head inside, and your skip-the-line ticket lets you start exploring without the sometimes long wait to get in.
Built to house the masterpieces of Spain under the orders of King Ferdinand VII, the Prado proudly displays works by Spanish greats from the early days of Bartolomé Bermejo and Pedro Berruguete, through Zurbarán and Murillo, and on to 19th-century masters like Federico and Madrazo.
You'll also find pieces from beyond Spain, with the collection spanning some of the true European greats. From Renaissance masters like Botticelli and Titian to incredible Dutch painters like Rembrandt and Rubens, your Prado Museum tour will take you on a journey through the history of art.
Goya, the Master of Spanish Art
Up until the Napoleonic Wars, Francisco Goya was the top artist in the court of the King Charles IV, and he's widely regarded as one of Spain's all time greats. It's no surpirise that Goya's work is a major freature of the Prado, with 140 of his pieces on display in the Goya Galleries. See the development of the great artist from his royal portraits of the 18th century to the emotional and intense works as the 19th century began.
Two of the many great works by Goya you will see are The Third of May 1808 and Saturn Devouring his Son. Your guide will tell stories of Goya's different eras and themes from the horrors of war to the mythological intensity of his later years. An icon of Spain, see why Goya is so beloved across Iberia.
El Greco, the Greek beloved by Spain
Born in Crete, Domenikos Theotokopoulos is known to history by his understandable nickname El Greco (the Greek). El Greco spent the first half of his life around Venice. and eventually settling in Rome, where he was inspired and influenced by the Italian Renaissance.
Once El Greco moved to Toledo in 1577, he became the symbol of the Spanish Renaissance. Over his 35 years in Spain, El Greco became world-famous for his portraits of noblemen including the impressive Nobleman with Hand on his Chest. Though many of his great works are found in his city of Toledo, over 40 of his paintings and sculptures are found only in the Prado.
Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights
Arguably the most stunning work in the Prado is Hieronymus Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights. The massive three-paneled landscape measures nearly 7 feet by 13 feet, and it took over two decades for Bosch to paint his masterpiece, which has been on display in the Prado since 1939. Your guide will describe the controversy and scholarly discussions that have caused many discussions among art historians for centuries.
With other famous depictions like The Haywain Triptych and The Last Judgement, Bosch's intentions and symbols have been studied for over 500 years.
After your 2-hour tour comes to an end, your guide will say goodbye but you're welcome to stay for longer in the museum if you'd like to keep exploring independently.
What you get with this tour
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English-speaking art historian guide
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Skip-the-line Prado Museum tickets
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Guided tour
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Hidden gems and fascinating stories behind the art
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Works by Goya, El Greco, Bosch, and more
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Group size of 30 people max
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Food and beverages
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Hotel pick up and drop off
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Guide gratuities
See what people are saying
10 total reviews
Leave a reviewmarvin landau
excellent tour guide
Prado Museum
Danay Roe
It was amazing to be there, and that we were the only ones in the tour for some reason. Frederico was wonderful, but his English could use some improvement. And unfortunately the tour felt rushed.
Excellent tour to see the essentials
Laura Fell
Our guide David was very informative and interesting. He guided us to see the essential works of the Prado's collection with a few surprise along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to bring?
This is a walking tour, so wear some comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water too. Please also bring your voucher (digital or printed copy).
What to bring?
This is a walking tour, so wear some comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water too. Please also bring your voucher (digital or printed copy).
What if I’m concerned about my mobility?
If you have concerns about your mobility, please contact our team before booking.
Is this tour run by The Tour Guy?
No, it's run by one of our trusted and vetted partners in Paris.
Can I take photo inside the museum?
No, photography is prohibited inside the Prado Museum.
Can I take photos inside the museum?
No, photography is prohibited inside the Prado Museum.
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