Prado: Velázquez to Goya

What you'll see. The Prado grew from the collection of Spain's kings, so it is strongest on the painters they collected and employed: Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Titian, Rubens and Bosch. Most visitors start with Las Meninas, then follow Goya from bright royal portraits to the dark Black Paintings, moved here from the walls of his country house.

The building. Juan de Villanueva designed the main building in 1785 for Charles III as a natural history cabinet, and it opened as a royal museum of paintings in November 1819. Rafael Moneo's extension of 2007, built around the old cloister of the neighbouring Jerónimos church, holds the entrance you use and the temporary exhibition halls.

The audio guide. Audio guide included, and access details are sent with your ticket. Under-18s enter the Prado free at the door, so the child price covers the audio guide and the reserved time slot. The museum also rents its own guide on site, but you won't need it.

Plan your visit. The Prado is open every day except 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. The collection is free for everyone in the last two hours before closing, so queues build from late afternoon; our slots run before then. Allow two to three hours, and pick a short list rather than trying to see everything.