Museo Reina Sofía
Good for: Art Lovers · First-timers · Rainy-day visits
1992
Founded
3.8 million
Annual Visitors
2–4 hours
Recommended Visit
Art
Museum type
Quick answer
Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid, Spain — the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía is Spain's national museum of 20th-century art, located in Madrid near the Atocha train station. Open Monday and Wednesday to Saturday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Sunday: 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM (Closed Tuesdays). Admission: ✓ €12 standard admission; free during late afternoons. World Museum Guide covers the highlights, getting there, and how long to allow (2–4 hours).
Verified 2026-06-30 against official sources.
About Museo Reina Sofía
The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía is Spain's national museum of 20th-century art, located in Madrid near the Atocha train station. It is named after Queen Sofía and was inaugurated on 10 September 1992.
The museum is housed in the former Hospital General de Madrid, with two later additions designed by Jean Nouvel. The original building features two glass and steel exterior elevator towers that have become iconic.
Its permanent collection focuses primarily on Spanish art and is particularly strong in works by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miró.
The museum forms part of Madrid's 'Golden Triangle of Art' alongside the Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza, with each institution covering different periods to provide a comprehensive view of Western art history.
2–4 hours highlights route
A focused route through 3 must-see highlights at Museo Reina Sofía without museum fatigue. · 2–4 hours
- 1
Guernica
📍 Room 206, Building Sabatini (2nd floor)
Picasso's shattering response to the Nazi bombing of the Basque town of Guernica on 26 April 1937.
- 2
The Great Masturbator
📍 Room 202, Dalí Collection
A hallucinatory Surrealist painting combining a melting self-portrait profile, a female torso, and swarming insects.
- 3
Woman in Blue
📍 Picasso Collection
A work submitted by Picasso to the National Exhibition in Madrid and rejected.
Masterworks & must-see highlights
The works that define Museo Reina Sofía — and why they matter.
Guernica
Pablo Picasso · 1937
📍 Room 206, Building Sabatini (2nd floor)
Picasso's shattering response to the Nazi bombing of the Basque town of Guernica on 26 April 1937. In monochrome, the 3.5 × 7.8 m canvas fragments the agony of civilians, animals, and a dying soldier into Cubist shards. The most powerful political painting of the 20th century.
The Great Masturbator
Salvador Dalí · 1929
📍 Room 202, Dalí Collection
A hallucinatory Surrealist painting combining a melting self-portrait profile, a female torso, and swarming insects. It was painted in the year Dalí met Gala, who would become his lifelong muse and partner.
Woman in Blue
Pablo Picasso · 1901
📍 Picasso Collection
A work submitted by Picasso to the National Exhibition in Madrid and rejected. The elongated blue-grey figure in fashionable dress anticipates Picasso's Blue Period and his emerging style.
Collections & highlights
- • Guernica by Pablo Picasso
- • The Great Masturbator by Salvador Dalí
- • Woman in Blue by Pablo Picasso
- • Portrait II by Joan Miró
- • Tertulia del Café de Pombo by José Gutiérrez Solana
Famous works in our collection guide
Frequently asked questions
Where is Guernica displayed in the Museo Reina Sofía?
Picasso's Guernica (1937) is displayed in Room 206.02 on the second floor of the Sabatini Building (the original hospital building). The painting — 3.49 × 7.76 metres — occupies an entire wall of the room and is flanked by the 45 preparatory studies Picasso made before finalising the composition, giving exceptional insight into his creative process. The surrounding rooms contain Picasso's other major works from the 1930s.
Is the Museo Reina Sofía free to visit?
Yes — the Reina Sofía offers free admission Monday and Wednesday to Saturday from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and on Sundays from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM. These free periods are extremely popular; arrive early. Standard daytime admission is €12. EU citizens under 18 enter free. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.
What are the highlights of the Reina Sofía collection beyond Guernica?
The Great Masturbator (1929) and other major works by Salvador Dalí; the Miró collection — the museum holds over 200 works by Joan Miró; Woman in Blue (1901) by Picasso; Tertulia del Café de Pombo (1920) by José Gutiérrez Solana; and a significant collection of 20th-century Spanish sculpture, including works by Eduardo Chillida and Jorge Oteiza. The museum also has a strong international contemporary art programme.
What is the Golden Triangle of Art in Madrid?
Madrid's 'Golden Triangle of Art' is a short walk of three world-class museums along the Paseo del Prado: the Prado (Spanish and European Old Masters, 12th–20th century), the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (encyclopedic Western art from the 13th century to Pop Art), and the Reina Sofía (20th-century art, primarily Spanish modern masters). All three are within a 10-minute walk of each other. The combined Paseo del Arte ticket allows discounted entry to all three in a single day.
How long does a visit to the Museo Reina Sofía take?
The main Sabatini Building has four floors; the newer Nouvel Building (with its striking glass-and-steel exterior elevators) adds additional temporary exhibition space. A visit focused on Guernica, the surrounding Picasso and Dalí galleries, and the Miró collection takes 2–3 hours. A comprehensive visit through all permanent and temporary exhibitions takes a full day. The Reina Sofía's architecture and café-restaurant are also worth experiencing.
How long should I spend at Museo Reina Sofía?
Plan 2–4 hours for the highlights. Add time for temporary exhibitions, the museum shop, and café.
World Animal Rescue Network
Protect critical habitats
Critical habitats — forest, wetland, and coastal — are essential for wildlife survival. Your gift funds land protection and restoration with local partners. Please consider a donation to support this work.
Enjoying our free guides? Support World Museum Guide — optional, and every guide stays free.