Madrid's modern art powerhouse, built around one painting everyone comes for — Picasso's Guernica — plus deep Dalí, Miró, and Spanish avant-garde holdings in a former hospital. €12, closed Tuesdays, free Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings. Caveat: the collection beyond the headliners is rewarding but demanding; casual visitors should target Guernica's wing and call it a win.
Key facts
| Hours | Mon–Sat 10:00–21:00 Sun–Sun 10:00–14:30 |
|---|---|
| Price | $$ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | Metro Estación del Arte (L1); Atocha Cercanías across the street |
| Time needed | 1.5-3 hours |
| Best time to go | Weekday mornings; NOT Tuesday (closed) and not the free slots if you want space around Guernica |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
8.5/10- Value8.5
- iconic8.0
- Freshness9.2
- Crowd level6.0
- Authenticity8.5
- Accessibility9.5
Frequently asked questions
- How do I get to the Reina Sofía?
- Metro line 1 to Estación del Arte puts you at the door, and Atocha station is across the road — it's the most transit-connected museum in Spain. From the Prado it's a 10-minute walk down the Paseo.
- Is the Reina Sofía closed on Tuesdays?
- Yes — Tuesday is its weekly closing day, which catches a lot of people out since the Prado and Thyssen open daily. Plan your museum sequencing around it.
- What are the Reina Sofía's hours?
- 10:00-21:00 Monday and Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00-14:30 on Sundays, closed Tuesdays. Evening visits after 19:00 are noticeably quieter — one of Madrid's better museum hacks.
- Is the Reina Sofía worth it beyond Guernica?
- If you like 20th-century art, absolutely — the Dalí and Miró rooms are excellent and the Spanish Civil War-era material is haunting. If modern art leaves you cold, see Guernica, give it 90 minutes total, and spend the rest of your day elsewhere with a clear conscience.
- How much does the Reina Sofía cost?
- €12 standard; free for under-18s, students 18-25, and over-65s. Everyone gets in free Saturday afternoons from 14:30 and Sunday mornings until 14:30 — genuinely good value if you don't mind company.
- Where is Guernica in the Reina Sofía?
- In Room 205.10 on the second floor of the Sabatini building, surrounded by Picasso's preparatory sketches — which are half the power of the room. No photos allowed of Guernica specifically, and the guards mean it.
- Does the Reina Sofía have a good café or restaurant?
- The building's courtyard café is pleasant, and the adjacent Nouvel-building terrace is a calm spot. But you're on the edge of Lavapiés and barrio de las Letras — some of Madrid's best casual eating is within ten minutes' walk.
- Why is Guernica in Madrid and not the Prado?
- Picasso insisted it only return to Spain once democracy did — it arrived in 1981 after Franco's death, went first to an annex of the Prado, and moved to the Reina Sofía in 1992. It has hung there, non-negotiably, ever since; it's considered too fragile to travel.
Nearby in Ask Madrid
- Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina SofíaAttraction0.08 km · 1 min walk
- CaixaForum MadridMuseum0.29 km · 4 min walk
- Real Jardín Botánico de MadridAttraction0.39 km · 5 min walk
- Tipping and Tapas Etiquette in MadridAttraction0.44 km · 6 min walk
- Mercado de San FernandoMarket0.53 km · 7 min walk
Where to stay near Museo Reina Sofía
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