Hi all. We will be visiting the Prado on a Saturday in Sept. I've heard the lines can be very long. Could anyone give me an idea when the lines are longest? We can go much later in the day (around 3-4pm) since the Prado is open much later than most museums. (I wish more museums would have longer hours like that).

The last time I visited the Prado was about 10 years ago and the paintings I most wanted to see - Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights and the Hay Wain were out for restoration! So were most of the Jan Brueghel's. Are they on display now? (I assume the restoration is completed by now, but I hope they aren't traveling or affected by anything else what would mean they aren't available).

Buy your tickets online and make sure you're there as early as possible.

Karens, those masterpieces are on display now.

Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights. Room 56
http://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-c...thly-delights/

Brueghel's The Triumph of Death. Room 56a
http://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-c...umph-of-death/

Also, the ravishing portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni in the Thyssen-Bornemisza
http://www.museothyssen.org/microsit...ndaio/index_en

Thanks, Revulgo. I did find my way around some of the Prado's site, to see that Garden of Earthly Delights is on display (yay!), but didn't see anything about the Hay Wain. And using your links, I see that it is. (They call it the Hay Wagon). Again, thanks.

Robert - the earliest we could arrive would probably be about 1pm. Should we just wait until later in the day (4pm), or will any time that afternoon probably be very crowded?

The lines at the Prado can be long on weekends, especially in the afternoon, and there are hordes of tourists (late September shouldn't be that bad), but if you can't make it any earlier, just be sure you have your tickets in hand before going so that you don't have to wait in line.

If you get the Paseo de Arte which gives a discount for Thyssen, Prado and Sofia you can bypass the line and go directly to the entrance. I have seen shockingly long lines at the Prado.

Excuse me for coming in on this. I wish to visit Prado on Sunday, Sep 3. I have looked at the Prado on line ticket site, and it looks simple enough, but apparantly have timed entrance, as they ask for time of arrival, in 15 minute intervals, beginning 0900.
The internet entry fee is 7 Euro.
"Visitors are requested to arrive prior to the specified entry time....."
I am wondering what happens if you are late for the time slot you request?

I'm curious about that as well. I had a problem with ordering....my credit card was denied according to the web site. But then my credit card company called me asking me to approve the transaction, which I did. But I did not want to resubmit my ticket request, for fear of being billed twice. I sent an email to the Prado, telling them I allowed the transaction and asking them to email me the tix. I hope that works.

You guys do know the Prado is free on the weekends in the evenings? I think it's from 6-8pm but not sure 100%. We visited on the weekend in July(during their free hours) and there was no line and very few people. Not sure if that was typical or just very lucky.