Reina Sofía Museum Guide: Guernica, Prices & Free Hours
1.5 - 2.5 h
Modern & Contemporary Art Museum
Opened as a museum 1992
Calle de Santa Isabel, 52, 28012 Madrid, Spain
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Practical Visitor Info & Tips
€12.00
Mon & Wed-Sat 10:00-21:00, Sun 10:00-14:30 — closed all day Tuesday
Reserved timed-entry ticket via the official booking platform.
| Standard, Mon & Wed-Sat | Reina Sofía | 10:00 - 21:00 |
| Standard, Sunday | Reina Sofía | 10:00 - 14:30 |
Last Admission: 30 minutes before closing.
Closed On: Every Tuesday; 1 & 6 January, 1 & 15 May, 9 November, 24, 25 & 31 December; also during exhibition changeovers.
Free Admission Dates: Free daily: Mon & Wed-Sat 19:00-21:00, Sunday 12:30-14:30 (closed all day Tuesday, so no Tuesday free slot). Fully free (all day): 18 April, 18 & 22 May, 12 October, 6 December.
Free or reduced admission also applies to: under-18s, over-65s, students up to 25 (ISIC recommended), 33%+ disability, unemployed, teachers, a family group of 1 adult + 3 children, Ministry of Culture museum staff, and members of many professional art associations — check the museum's own discounts page for the full list rather than assuming a category not listed here qualifies.
| Option | Price | Reservation | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard adult ticket | €12.00 | Mandatory timed entry | Official site |
| Free daily window | €0.00 | Mon & Wed-Sat 19:00-21:00, Sun 12:30-14:30 | Timed slot required |
Overview & Visitor Introduction
The Reina Sofía is Spain's national museum of 20th-century and contemporary art, housed partly in a converted 18th-century hospital building. Its single most-visited work is Picasso's Guernica, and its collection also covers Dalí, Miró and the wider Spanish avant-garde.
Standard admission is €12, and it has one quirk worth planning around: unlike the Prado, the Reina Sofía is closed all day every Tuesday, with no exceptions stated on its own site.
History & Significance
The museum opened in 1992 in a former general hospital building dating to the reign of Carlos III, later expanded with a modern wing by architect Jean Nouvel. It became the national home for Spanish art from Picasso onward, anchored by Guernica's return to Spain from MoMA in 1981 (initially displayed at the Prado, later moved here).
Its collection tracks the Spanish avant-garde through the Spanish Civil War and into the postwar period, alongside a strong international contemporary-art program.
What to See: Top Highlights
Guernica (Picasso)
The museum's centerpiece — Picasso's 1937 response to the bombing of Guernica, displayed with preparatory sketches nearby.
Dalí & Miró Collections
Deep holdings of Spain's two other major 20th-century figures alongside Picasso.
Jean Nouvel Extension
The museum's modern red-steel wing, added in 2005, hosts temporary exhibitions and public programming.
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Location & Google Maps
Pass Compatibility
Compare Madrid PassesIncluded on Paseo del Arte (one visit, part of the fixed three-museum bundle) and on Turbopass's Madrid City Pass/Flex Pass. Whatever you do, don't plan a Tuesday visit — the museum is fully closed.
Paseo del Arte
Included. One visit only; covers the permanent collection plus some (not all) current temporary exhibitions.
Madrid City Pass
Included.
Madrid Flex Pass
Optional (selectable attraction). Counts as one of your chosen attractions.
Go City Madrid All-Inclusive Pass
Included. Included as a guided tour product, per Go City's own attraction listing.
Madrid City Card
Not confirmed by the provider. The Card's own page describes a 'preferential/skip-line access' perk at Reina Sofía rather than a stated admission discount — exact mechanism and value not independently confirmed this audit.
Data Provenance
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Guernica displayed?
Is the Reina Sofía open on Tuesdays?
When is the Reina Sofía free?
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