Prado Museum Tour & VIP Botin Lunch
4 hours
Max 7 people
Commentary: Guide · en
Madrid, Spain
About this activity
The only tour in Madrid with a skip-the-line Prado highlights tour combined with a behind-the-scenes tour of the world’s oldest restaurant & lunch.
Highlights
- Skip the long line at the Prado Museum and embark on a fascinating tour with your guide, an expert in art, history, and Madrid.
- Make the most of your time in the Prado Museum on a curated, 1.5-hour tour of the highlights, and discover the history, culture, and story behind each painting.
- Sit down for a traditional three-course Spanish lunch at Botín, the oldest restaurant in the world, and try their famous roast suckling pig.
- Get a VIP tour of Botín’s kitchens and hidden underground tunnels—areas of the famous restaurant that most diners never get to see.
- Enjoy a 40-minute guided cultural stroll through the heart of the picturesque Literary Quarter and Plaza Mayor.
Full description
Visiting the historic Prado Museum and sitting down for a meal at Botín are two can’t-miss items on any Madrid itinerary. But not all visitors to the city get to experience the highlights and hidden gems of the Prado’s 7,000+ works of art with the knowledge and commentary of an expert guide. Even fewer will step behind the scenes at Botín into nearly 300 years of history! This is the only tour in Madrid that combines both essential experiences in an informative and lively way to discover how art, history, and food are all tied together in Spain in one morning you won’t soon forget.
Experience two Madrid legends in one unforgettable half-day tour.
The Prado Museum is one of Madrid’s foremost artistic and cultural gems, but navigating its thousands of pieces can be overwhelming even for the most intrepid art aficionado. And record-breaking restaurant Botín isn’t just famously hard to book—it’s also full of hidden legends and secret corners that even those who do manage to snag a table will never get to experience. On this unforgettable tour and the only one of its kind in Madrid, we’ll demystify both of these Madrid icons—first with a skip-the-line guided visit of the Prado, followed by a VIP behind-the-scenes tour and three-course lunch at Botín.
The Prado Museum is one of Madrid’s foremost artistic and cultural gems, but navigating its thousands of pieces can be overwhelming even for the most intrepid art aficionado. And record-breaking restaurant Botín isn’t just famously hard to book—it’s also full of hidden legends and secret corners that even those who do manage to snag a table will never get to experience. On this unforgettable tour and the only one of its kind in Madrid, we’ll demystify both of these Madrid icons—first with a skip-the-line guided visit of the Prado, followed by a VIP behind-the-scenes tour and three-course lunch at Botín.
Meet your expert guide outside the Prado Museum for a crash course in Spain’s most legendary collection of art and the dramatic stories behind it.
From there, you’ll breeze past the line and head straight into the museum. Over the next 90 minutes, your guide will showcase the Prado’s most essential masterpieces, including Las Meninas, with knowledgeable and lively commentary that will help you appreciate each one even more. Are there symbols hidden in Las Meninas? Who really is the subject? Your guide will fill you in. You’ll learn the context and characters behind each piece and get a peek inside the minds of artistic masters like Velazquez, Goya, and Bosch. After your Prado highlights tour, you'll have free time to browse the museum gift shop and pick up a souvenir or purchase a snack.
Next, you'll follow your guide into the charming Literary Quarter—the former haunt of many of Spain’s greatest literary minds. Your cultural stroll continues to the Historic Center where you'll stop in Plaza Mayor to reflect on the how the square has shaped Spain's history.
Next, you'll follow your guide into the charming Literary Quarter—the former haunt of many of Spain’s greatest literary minds. Your cultural stroll continues to the Historic Center where you'll stop in Plaza Mayor to reflect on the how the square has shaped Spain's history.
Then, it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. Breeze right past the crowd already forming outside the door, head into Sobrino de Botín—the world’s oldest restaurant—before it opens to the public. On an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, peek at the original 300-year-old ovens, explore the hidden underground tunnels, and unravel centuries of culinary history.
Finally, sit down and enjoy a traditional three-course lunch with plenty of red wine. The star of the show is Botín’s world-famous suckling pig, roasted to perfection in the same centuries-old ovens you got a look at earlier. This leisurely lunch is the perfect opportunity to ask your guide all your burning Madrid- and Spain-related questions so you can make the most of the rest of your trip!
By the time you wave goodbye to your guide and group outside Botín, you’ll have experienced two local icons in a way that most travelers never will, and understand how both of them fit into Madrid’s centuries of history.
Sites Visited
Prado Museum, Literary Quarter, Plaza Mayor, Botín restaurant, Botín kitchen and wine cellar
Included / Excluded
- Local English-speaking guide
- Expertly guided walking tour
- Guided 1.5 hour tour of the Prado Museum
- 2 alcoholic beverages
- 3-course traditional Spanish lunch
- Hotel Pick-up/Drop-off
- Gratuities
Meeting point
Start Location
Outside the Prado Museum at the statue of GOYA , Madrid , ES
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Monument+to+Statue/@40.4149799,-3.6925281,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipNYx3VsiCxuHp1klCbUR7j4PsH6QnDFSFX1lXnC!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipNYx3VsiCxuHp1klCbUR7j4PsH6QnDFSFX1lXnC%3Dw86-h114-k-no!7i6944!8i9248!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x1a199cdeb56253f8!2sMonument+to+Statue!8m2!3d40.4149799!4d-3.6925281!3m4!1s0x0:0x1a199cdeb56253f8!8m2!3d40.4149799!4d-3.6925281
Get directions →Important information
Know before you book
- The tour is in English.
- This tour is not recommended for vegans.
- This tour includes at least 2 km of walking; therefore, we do not recommend this tour for guests with mobility issues.
- Guests with serious food allergies will need to sign an allergy waiver at the start of the tour
- This tour is adaptable for: Vegetarians, Pescatarians, Gluten free (not celiacs), Dairy free, Non-alcoholic options & Pregnant women. If you have a dietary requirement or food allergy, please note it when booking.
- While there are vegetarian options, please note that the highlight of Botin Restaurant is the suckling pig!
- Due to the risk of gluten cross-contamination, this tour is not adaptable for those with celiac disease
- Devour comply with all local government regulations. You may need to wear a mask or provide proof of vaccination to enter certain venues. Please refer to Madrid government guidelines for the most up to date information
Know before you go
- Meeting time is 10min before the tour star time to check in. If a guest is more than 5min late, they should go to first stop (stated in confirmation email).
- Devour comply with all local government regulations. You may need to wear a mask or provide proof of vaccination to enter certain venues. Please refer to Madrid government guidelines for the most up to date information
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts
Cancellations received greater than 24 hours prior to tour commencement are fully refundable. Cancellations received within 24 hours of tour commencement are nonrefundable. Amendment requests are subject to availability and price changes. Late arrivals and no-shows are non-refundable. This is applicable to any tour participant that fails to arrive or arrives after tour departure.
Additional information
Before you travel, please read the "Know Before You Go" section for essential information, requirements, and possible disruptions regarding your tour.