The Reina Sofía Museum at a glance
The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía is one of the three art museums on Madrid's Paseo del Arte, together with the Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza. Most visitors come for Picasso's Guernica, which hangs in the Sabatini building. The museum has two main entrances: Santa Isabel 52 for the Sabatini building and Ronda de Atocha for the Nouvel building.
This is an independent guide, not the museum's website. It lists the practical facts that decide a visit: the ticket, the closing day, the free hours and the rules for bags and photos. Figures are for 2026 and can change, so check the museum's current timetable before you go.
Guernica: what to know before you go
The painting everyone asks about.
The work
Guernica is by Pablo Picasso and dates from 1937. It is oil on canvas and measures 349.3 × 776.6 cm. Picasso painted it in Paris, from 1 May to 4 June 1937.
The room
The museum's record for the painting gives Room 205.10. The museum plan valid from October 2026 to February 2027 puts it on floor 2 of the Sabatini building. Do not use older room numbers from printed guidebooks.
Why there is no picture
This page has no image of Guernica. The painting is still protected by copyright, unlike the older works shown elsewhere on this site, so you will find it only in the museum.
Access in free hours
Free entry at the end of the day also needs a ticket, and an unobstructed view of Guernica is not guaranteed. If it is the main reason you are going, choose a paid slot earlier in the day.
Our picks: Reina Sofía
A ticket without a guide, a small-group tour and a pass for three museums.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Reina Sofía guided tour in a small group
Museum entry and a professional guide are included, with up to six people in the group. Tips and hotel transfer are not.
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Art Walk Pass for three museums
The permanent collections of the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen are included, plus some special exhibitions at the first two. The museums' own Paseo del Arte pass costs €32.80 and is cheaper than this listing.
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Reina Sofía entry ticket
Entry to the museum and all special exhibitions is included. A guide and an audio guide are not.
Check availability →Madrid tours with museum visits
Guided art visits and city tours in Madrid, with live prices and availability.
Tickets and prices in 2026
What each option costs.
| Option | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General admission | €12 | Collection and special exhibitions |
| Ticket with mobile audioguide | €18 | Combined price |
| Audioguide alone | €6 | – |
| Reduced rate | 50 percent off | For example cultural volunteers, large families and staff of some other museums; box office only, with valid proof |
| Free with proof | €0 | Under 18, over 65, students aged 18 to 25, youth pass holders and other eligible groups; collected at the box office |
| Paseo del Arte pass | €32.80 | One visit each to the Reina Sofía, the Prado and the Thyssen, valid for one year from purchase |
Online you choose a date and a time. A day ticket lets you re-enter on the same day after the time assigned to you. If you plan to see all three museums, read the comparison of Madrid's art museums before you buy the pass.
Opening days and free hours
Tuesday is the day to avoid.
| Day | Opening hours | Free hours |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 10:00–21:00 | 19:00–21:00 |
| Tuesday | Closed | – |
| Wednesday to Saturday | 10:00–21:00 | 19:00–21:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00–14:30 | 12:30–14:30 |
Last entry is 30 minutes before closing, and the rooms start to clear 15 minutes before closing. A free ticket still has to be reserved online or collected, so reserve before you arrive.
Extra free days
The museum lists these dates with free entry: 18 April, 18 May, 22 May, 12 October and 6 December. If one falls on a Tuesday, the museum stays closed.
Closed days
The museum closes on 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 15 May, 9 November and 24, 25 and 31 December. The May and November dates are local holidays and can shift with the calendar.
Rules, bags and getting there
The practical points that cost visitors time.
Bags
Handbags may measure at most 40 × 30 × 10 cm and should be carried in front. Suitcases are not allowed in the museum or in the lockers, and objects over 50 cm cannot be left there.
Photography
Photos are generally allowed without flash, tripod or selfie stick. Local signs can say otherwise in a room, so look for them, especially in front of single works.
Collection changes
The museum warns that its collection is being reorganised and that some areas can be closed. Check the current plan at the entrance before you head for a particular room.
Metro
Estación del Arte (line 1) and Lavapiés (line 3) are the metro stations named by the museum. Estación del Arte is also one of the two metro stops the Prado lists, so the two museums can share a metro stop.
Plan the rest of your Madrid museum days
Where the Reina Sofía fits.
Reina Sofía: frequently asked questions
Where is Guernica in the Reina Sofía?
The museum's record gives Room 205.10. The current museum plan places it on floor 2 of the Sabatini building. Check the plan on the day, because the collection is being reorganised.
How much is the Reina Sofía?
General admission is €12 in 2026. With a mobile audioguide the ticket is €18, and the audioguide alone is €6.
Which day is the Reina Sofía closed?
Tuesday. It is also closed on several holidays, such as 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
When is the Reina Sofía free?
Monday and Wednesday to Saturday from 19:00 to 21:00 and Sunday from 12:30 to 14:30. You still need a ticket, which you can reserve online. Visitors under 18 and over 65 enter free with proof.
Can I take photos?
In general yes, without flash, tripod or selfie stick, unless a sign in a room says otherwise.
Is the Reina Sofía included in the Paseo del Arte pass?
Yes. The pass costs €32.80 and includes one visit each to the Reina Sofía, the Prado and the Thyssen within one year of purchase.