Two hours is the golden length for a family visit: long enough for wonder, short enough to leave happy. Our Head of Education, Tomás Rivera, shares the exact route his own team recommends — tested weekly by forty thousand young visitors a year.
First 30 minutes: the treasure hunt
Start at the welcome desk and pick up the free myth-hunting trail. Kids search the classical halls for six hidden details — a dog, a ship, a scowling senator — while adults actually get to look at the art. Everyone wins.
Next 40 minutes: one loud room, one quiet room
Pair opposites: the roaring colour of the modern wing, then the hush of the Asian galleries with its tea corner. The contrast keeps young attention fresh, and the tea corner bench is the best rest stop in the building.
Last 50 minutes: make something
Finish in the Education Wing studio, where Saturday mornings mean guided making sessions linked to whatever is on the walls. What kids build here, they remember — and the paintings they saw on the way in suddenly make sense.
Practical notes
Under-12s visit free with any ticket holder. Strollers are welcome everywhere except the mist room, and the courtyard café does a legendary hot chocolate. Book a Family Pass online and walk straight in.