How to Get to the Prado Museu

The Prado Museum is one of the must-see attractions in Madrid due to its large collection of works. Its large collection has led it to be rated as one of the best art galleries in the world and it is also the most visited museum in the whole city, so buying tickets in advance is highly recommended.

My advice is to plan your visit to the Prado Museum in advance, check prices and fares and also study the transport options that I present in detail below.

The best way to get to know the Spanish capital is, without a doubt, to walk through its streets. Even if you are only going to be in Madrid for a day or two days, it is possible to organise a good itinerary to explore its most beautiful avenues and most popular tourist attractions.

Walking is a great alternative, especially in the months of good weather that you can enjoy if you travel to Madrid in summer or if you visit the city in autumn; so I invite you to plan your route carefully and in the process soak up the energy that characterizes it.

Distance from key points in Madrid to the Prado Museum

• From the Fuente de Neptuno fo untain it will take you only 4 minutes walking along the Paseo del Prado boulevard.
• From the Naval Museum it will take you a short 6-minute walk along Calle Ruiz de Alarcón.
• From Plaza de Cibeles if you take the boulevard Paseo del Prado you will arrive in just 8 minutes walking.
• From Puerta de Alcalá, located in Plaza Independencia, it is an 11-minute walk to the museum.
• From the Círculo de Bellas Artes, the museum premises are a 10 minute walk.
• From the Royal Palace of Madrid a 25 minute walk through the centre will take you to the museum.
• From the Templo de Debod the walk is longer, taking about 35-40 minutes. On the way you will be able to see many of Madrid's most important sights.

For people who are contemplating a quick visit to the city and want to see all that Madrid has to offer, the recommended method of transport if you want to visit the Prado Museum is undoubtedly the city's metro. Efficient, fast, punctual and economical, you will be able to move between the most important points without major inconveniences.

• Price: The ticket for the metro may vary depending on the area where you take it, but you can calculate approximately €2 for a single ticket.

Underground station: Atocha-Estación del Arte

Located a 9-minute walk from the Prado Museum, the station can be reached by taking Line 1 of the Madrid metro. It is one of the longest lines in the city and covers the area from Pinar de Chamartín to Vallecas.

Metro station: Banco de España

Just 10 minutes from the Prado Museum, you can get there by taking Line 2 of the Madrid metro. This line covers a wide area from Las Rosas station to Cuatro Caminos, so it will be easy to take it no matter where you are in the city.

Right at the entrance of the Museo Nacional del Prado you will find the bus stop where you could route your route to have an easy and comfortable access to the museum.

Due to the strategic location of the museum in the city, several bus lines provide service in this area. Besides being economical, this alternative is ideal for exploring the city on wheels and admiring the beautiful buildings without walking the streets if you have gone to Madrid in the cold winter. The only drawback is the traffic, so I don't recommend it for travellers with little time.

• Price: Approximately €1.50 for a single ticket.

Bus routes and bus lines to the Prado Museum

• Bus line 10: from Plaza de Cibeles to the Palomeras Bajas neighbourhood.
• Bus line 27: from Glorieta de Embajadores to Plaza de Castilla.
• Bus line 45: from Plaza de Legazpi to Avenida de Reina Victoria.
• Bus line 34: from Plaza de Cibeles to the Las Águilas neighbourhood.
• Bus line 146: from Plaza del Callao to Los Molinos.

The most comfortable way to travel is, without a doubt, to hire a taxi service that will take you directly to the gates of the museum. The journey will also allow you to admire the beautiful city of Madrid from the car. If you are travelling from the airport with luggage, this is the smartest option.

Although this is one of the more expensive alternatives, the price can be cushioned if you are travelling to the city with a group of friends or family. One point to consider is time, as rush hour traffic can be heavy. So, while this method will be faster than a walking tour, it will not be faster than the city's train or metro.

• Price: The price varies depending on the company you hire and the distance of the journey; the price per kilometre is around €1.35. The journey from the airport to the Prado Museum can cost around €30.

Companies offering the service

The following local taxi companies will give you an approximate quote for the journey over the phone:

• Radio Taxi Independiente Contacto 914 05 12 13.
• Radio Taxi Taxi Contact 915 47 82 00.
• Servi taxi Madrid Contact 913 45 12 46.
• Taxi Mercedes Madrid Contact 695 63 98 06.
• Tele Taxi Contact 913 71 21 31.

You can also use one of the VTC companies:

• Uber: You can calculate the fare on the Uber website.
• Cabify: You can calculate the fare on the Cabify website.

Renting a car in Madrid to go to the Prado Museum is a great alternative if your plans include touring other tourist attractions in the city and also in the outskirts.

• Price: The cost of this service may vary depending on the company you hire and above all the type of vehicle you choose; you could budget from 5 € onwards just for the rental, including fuel and parking of the vehicle as an additional cost.

Companies offering the service

Car hire is a widely used service in the city so there are several alternatives:

• On Rent Located at Calle de Eduardo Barreiros, 2, 28041.
• Sixt Located at Paseo de la Castellana, 90, 28046.
• Europcar Madrid Located at Paseo de la Castellana, 193, 28046.
• Avis Located at Hotel Auditorium, Av. de Aragón, 400, 28022.
• Centauro Located at Parking Premier, Av. de la Ciudad de Barcelona, 108, 28007.

How to park at the Prado Museum

It is important to bear in mind that the Prado Museum does not have its own car park for visitors, so you will have to manage to leave your car in the immediate vicinity.

Fortunately, options abound; you can see the parking options at the Prado Museum here. Included are the distance from the museum, the time and the time-based rate.