How to Get to the Prado Museu
No visit to Madrid would be complete without a stop at Spain's most important museum. I'll tell you all the details you need to know to plan the best route according to your itinerary.
El Prado Museum | ©Pablo Sanchez Martin
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 is also the most visited museum in the 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 rates and also study the transportation options that I present in detail below.
Getting to the Prado Museum on foot: the best way to explore Madrid
The best way to get to know the capital of Spain is, without a doubt, walking through its streets. Even if you are only going to be in Madrid for a day or two days in Madrid, it is possible to organize a good itinerary to explore its most beautiful avenues and its most popular tourist spots.
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 the key points of Madrid to the Prado Museum
- From the Neptune Fountain it will take you only 4 minutes walking along the boulevard Paseo del Prado.
- From the Naval Museum it will take you a short 6 minute walk along Ruiz de Alarcón street.
- From Plaza de Cibeles if you take the Paseo del Prado boulevard you will arrive in only 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 is a 10 minute walk.
- From the Royal Palace of Madrid, a 25 minute walk through the center will take you to the museum.
- From the Templo de Debod the walking tour is longer, taking about 35-40 minutes. On the way you will see many of the most important sights of Madrid.
Getting to the Prado Museum by metro: the fastest method of travel
For people 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 without major inconveniences between the most important points.
- 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.
Subway station: Atocha-Estación del Arte
Located at a distance of 9 minutes walk from the Prado Museum, you can access the station 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.
Subway station: Banco de España
Just 10 minutes from the Prado Museum, you can get there by taking Line 2 of the Madrid subway. 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.
Getting to the Prado Museum by bus: the most economical method of travel
Right at the entrance of the Museo Nacional del Prado is 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 do not recommend it to travelers with little time.
- Price: Approximately 1,50€ for a single ticket.
Routes and bus lines to the Prado Museum
- Bus line 10: from Plaza de Cibeles to the neighborhood of Palomeras Bajas.
- 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 Las Águilas neighborhood.
- Bus line 146: from Plaza del Callao to Los Molinos.
Arrive by cab or Uber to the Prado Museum: the most comfortable travel method
The most comfortable way to travel is, without a doubt, to hire a cab service that will take you directly to the gates of the museum. The route will also allow you to admire the beautiful city of Madrid from the car. If you are traveling from the airport with luggage, this is the smartest option.
Although it is one of the most expensive alternatives, the price can be cushioned if you travel to the city with a group of friends or family. One point to consider is time, as rush hour traffic can get heavy. So, although this method will be faster than a walking tour, it will not be faster than the train or the city subway.
- Price: The price varies depending on the company you hire and the distance of the trip; the price per kilometer is around 1.35 €. The trip from the airport to the Prado Museum can cost around 30 €.
Companies offering the service
In the following local cab companies you can ask for an approximate budget of the route by phone:
- Radio Taxi Independiente Contacto 914 05 12 13.
- Radio Taxi Taxi Contact 915 47 82 00.
- Servi cab Madrid Contact 913 45 12 46.
- Cab Mercedes Madrid Contact 695 63 98 06.
- Tele Taxi Contact 913 71 21 31.
You can also use any of the VTC companies:
- Uber: You can calculate the fare of the route on the Uber website.
- Cabify: You can calculate the fare on the Cabify website.
Getting to the Prado Museum by car: the most flexible method of travel
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 especially the type of vehicle you choose; you could budget from 5 € onwards only for the rental, including fuel and parking of the vehicle as an additional expense.
Companies that offer the service
Car rental is a widely used service in the city so you have 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 keep in mind that the Prado Museum does not have its own parking lot 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.