The Museo del Prado, or Prado Museum, is located on the Calle Ruiz de Alarcón in Madrid. It is arguably Spain's most famous art museum. To reach Museo del Prado take the light blue line metro to the Atocha stop or the red line metro to the Banco de España stop. It is open from 9am to 8pm Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is 8€ ($11) for adults, with discounts for students and seniors. Admission on Sunday is free.
The building which holds the Museo del Prado was commissioned by King Charles III in 1785. When it was completed it held the Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures. It was opened to the public in 1819, as the Museo Nacional del Prado. The original aim of the curators was to prove that Spanish art was just as good as the rest of Europe's. Today, the museum houses a collection of 7,600 paintings, 6,300 drawings, 2,400 prints, and 1,000 statues of both Spanish and worldwide origins.
At Museo del Prado you will see works principally from the 12th to 19th centuries. Artists such as Goya, Rubens, and Hieronymus Bosch are featured in the collection. The museum has also put together a self-guided tour that steers you to the most important works depending on whether you have one, two, or three hours to spend at the museum.
The museum supplements their temporary exhibits with lectures and classical music concerts. They also offer online educational resources through their website to give viewers an overview of the museum's collection.