Reina Sofía Museum tickets in Madrid: your 2027 guide

The Reina Sofía Museum, from Sabatini's hospital to modern art

The main site occupies the former General Hospital of Madrid, a neoclassical building begun by José de Hermosilla and continued by Francesco Sabatini that was never finished according to the original plan. After decades of neglect, its restoration began in 1980, and on 26 May 1986 it opened as the Reina Sofía Art Centre. On 10 September 1992 it was granted the status of a national museum.

Jean Nouvel's extension at the Reina Sofía

On 26 September 2005 the Jean Nouvel building was inaugurated, increasing the floor area of the complex from just over 51,000 to around 84,000 square metres. Its vast red roof shelters an open courtyard linking the auditorium, the library and the temporary exhibition halls.

Reina Sofía Museum venues in Retiro Park

The museum also stages exhibitions in the Palacio de Cristal and the Palacio de Velázquez, both inside Retiro Park. Their opening hours vary with the season: until 21:00 from April to September and until 18:00 from October to March.

Guernica and other key works at the Reina Sofía Museum

The collection is arranged in thematic chapters rather than along a strict timeline, so you will need the floor plan to find your way. It is well worth the effort, because the story it tells about the Spanish twentieth century cannot be found anywhere else.

Guernica at the Reina Sofía

Painted by Picasso in 1937 for the Spanish Republic's pavilion at the International Exposition in Paris, the canvas measures roughly 3.5 by 7.8 metres. It arrived in Spain in 1981, was first shown at the Casón del Buen Retiro and moved to this museum in 1992. It hangs on the second floor of the Sabatini building, surrounded by sketches and preparatory studies that reveal how it came into being. Photography is not allowed in front of the painting.

Dalí, Miró and Juan Gris at the Reina Sofía Museum

On the same floors you will find Dalí's Figure at a Window and The Great Masturbator, compositions by Joan Miró and cubist still lifes by Juan Gris, works that complete the portrait of the avant-garde.

International art in the Reina Sofía collection

Magritte, Tanguy, Francis Bacon, Lichtenstein and Warhol all feature in the holdings, alongside photography, film and archive material that bring the route right up to recent creation.

Reina Sofía Museum prices and ticket types

The general admission price published in October 2026 was €12, covering the collection and the temporary exhibitions; the option with an audio guide for your mobile phone was listed at €18 (indicative prices that may vary). Under-18s, over-65s and students, among other groups, can enter free by showing proof at the ticket desk.

Reina Sofía ticket with audio guide

An audio guide is especially helpful in a museum organised around ideas and contexts: it explains why a film or a 1930s magazine shares a room with a painting, and offers clues for reading Guernica beyond its initial impact.

Free hours at the Reina Sofía Museum

Free admission is offered on Mondays and from Wednesday to Saturday between 19:00 and 21:00, and on Sundays between 12:30 and 14:30. Advance booking is required and demand is high, so it is wise to arrive with a clear idea of which rooms you want to see.

Paseo del Arte pass with the Reina Sofía

If you also intend to visit the Prado and the Thyssen, the joint pass gives you one entry to each museum, valid for a year from the date of purchase.

Reina Sofía Museum opening hours: closed on Tuesdays

This detail catches many travellers out: the museum closes on Tuesdays, precisely when the Prado and the Thyssen are open. The rest of the week it opens from 10:00 to 21:00 on Mondays and from Wednesday to Saturday, and from 10:00 to 14:30 on Sundays. The galleries are cleared about fifteen minutes before closing time.

Best time to visit the Reina Sofía

Wednesday and Thursday mornings, right after opening, let you see Guernica with space to step back and take in the whole composition. In mid-afternoon, before the free slot begins, the atmosphere is usually comfortable too. Sunday morning is the busiest time of the week.

Planning your week around the Reina Sofía Museum

A simple strategy is to keep Tuesday for the Prado or the Thyssen and devote another day to the Reina Sofía, ideally a long afternoon that makes the most of its 21:00 closing, so you can follow your visit with dinner in Lavapiés.

How to get to the Reina Sofía Museum

The main entrance is at Calle de Santa Isabel, 52, in the Embajadores neighbourhood, a stone's throw from the Glorieta de Atocha roundabout. The Nouvel building has its own entrance on Ronda de Atocha.

Metro and train to the Reina Sofía

• Estación del Arte (line 1): the metro exit is practically opposite the museum.
• Atocha (Cercanías): a few minutes' walk, practical if you are arriving by train from the airport or from other cities.
• Lavapiés (line 3): a good alternative if you are staying in the historic centre.

Walking to the Reina Sofía Museum

From the Prado it takes less than ten minutes, heading down the Paseo del Prado towards the Glorieta de Atocha. From Sol, the route along Calle de Atocha or through Lavapiés takes about twenty minutes and crosses one of the liveliest neighbourhoods in the city.

Rules and tips for your Reina Sofía Museum visit

Allow around two hours for the collection on the second floor, and a little longer if you want to see a temporary exhibition in the Nouvel building.

What you can bring into the Reina Sofía

Handbags up to 40 x 30 x 10 cm and small folded umbrellas are permitted. Large rucksacks, suitcases, scooters and long umbrellas are not allowed into the galleries; there are left-luggage facilities at both entrances, although space is limited. Food and drink are not allowed either, with exceptions such as pregnant visitors or people with medical needs.

Photography at the Reina Sofía Museum

In general you may take photos without flash, tripod or selfie stick, with the notable exception of the Guernica room.

Children and accessibility at the Reina Sofía

Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult; those aged 14 to 18 can visit alone with identification. The glass lifts of the Sabatini building serve every floor, making the route easy with a wheelchair or a pushchair.

Around the Reina Sofía Museum: Atocha, Lavapiés and the Paseo del Arte

The museum marks the southern end of the Paseo del Arte. Heading north you will reach the Prado Museum and, opposite the Neptune fountain, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum; across the road lies the Royal Botanical Garden and, a little further up, Retiro Park.

Lavapiés after the Reina Sofía

Behind the building stretches Lavapiés, a multicultural neighbourhood of steep streets, traditional corrala tenements and independent theatres. It is the natural place for a drink once you have finished your tour.

Book the Reina Sofía Museum for 2027 from this page

The temporary exhibitions at the Reina Sofía Museum change several times a year, and some draw queues at weekends. Securing your date makes it easier to fit the closing day around the other museums.

Reina Sofía availability calendar

In the calendar on this page, choose the day that suits you and press “Check availability”: we will show you whether tickets remain for that day through our booking partner and, if you leave your email address, let you know of any changes. If the date you wanted falls on a Tuesday, the calendar itself will make that clear.

Details to check before paying for the Reina Sofía Museum

Make sure you know whether the ticket includes an audio guide, in which language, and what cancellation conditions apply. Keep the ticket on your phone and, if you opt for a free rate, bring the documents that prove eligibility.