Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid

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If you ever get tired of the vast collections of older paintings and art pieces of the Prado or the Thyssen, look no further than the Museo Reina Sofia. In comparison to the Prado, the Reina Sofia is a relatively new museum. It officially opened its doors in 1990 as a national museum dedicated to contemporary art. Although the museum is new, the building is actually almost 500 years old! The original building was home to the San Carlos Hospital, opened by King Felipe II in the sixteenth century. Since then, the building has undergone many transformations with its final renovations occurring in the late 1980s. In 1992, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia inaugurated the permanent collection, and thus named it the Reina Sofia after the Queen herself.

If you’re looking to dive deeper into Madrid’s arts and culture scene, check out our article on the city’s most notable museums and exhibitions. For more of our recommendations regarding local museums and ticket purchases, check out our articles about the famous Paseo del Arte and Madrid’s Hidden Treasures.

About the Reina Sofia Museum

The Reina Sofia museum has a collection of over 21,000 artworks from the 20th century. The Reina Sofia has three permanent collections that correspond to different eras that depict the contemporary period in Spain and Europe. One section of permanent collection has various paintings from 1900-1945 including many famous works by Salvador Dalí, as well as Guernica by Pablo Picasso. A trip to the Reina Sofia is a truly thought-provoking experience! Don’t miss out on all of the museum’s offerings like extra exhibitions and workshops, or enjoy the museum by grabbing a drink in the newly extended building!

Visiting Information

To make your visit to the Reina Sofia as smooth as possible, check out the following details on the museum’s hours of operation and ticket prices. Find additional visiting information here.

Visiting Hours

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 10:00 – 21:00

Sunday: 10:00 – 14:30

Price

General admission: 12,00€

Free admission for students: For ages 18-25 with a valid student ID.

General free admission: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 19:00 and 21:00 and Sundays between 12:30 and 14:30

If you’re interested in two of the other famous art museums in Madrid, the Prado or the Thyssen-Bornemisza, you can purchase an abono, valid for one visit to all three museums for a 20% discount on each entrance ticket. If you’re planning to stay in Madrid for a longer period of time, you can purchase an Abono Anual de los Museos Estateles which grants free entry to over 20 national museums.

Reminder: Opening hours and admissions fees are subject to change, so please always check the official webpage before going.

Reina Sofia Musuem Address

Calle de Santa Isabel, 52

Metro: Atocha (Line 1) or Anton Martin (Line 1)

What to See at the Reina Sofia Museum

Picasso’s Guernica

Picasso, Guernica, 1937 — Picasso, Guernica (1937)

The museum’s crown jewel, Guernica (1937), is one of the most famous anti-war paintings in history. It depicts the horror of the Spanish Civil War bombing of the town of Guernica. Don’t miss the preparatory sketches and explanatory materials surrounding the painting.

Salvador Dalí’s Face of the Great Masturbator

A surrealist masterpiece from Dalí, painted in 1929, reflecting his obsessions, anxieties, and subconscious imagery. This is one of Dalí’s most provocative and psychologically complex paintings and patined at a time when he was developing his personal artistic style during beginning his relationship with Gala, his lifelong muse.

Joan Miró’s Man with a Pipe

Miró was a key figure in Surrealism, and this work demonstrates his abstract language—a fusion of playful colors and geometric shapes. Miró often said he painted “as if he were dreaming,” and this piece reflects his shift towards more symbolic abstraction.

Ángeles Santos’ A World

Created when Ángeles Santos was just 18 years old, this piece is one of the most striking symbolist-surrealist works in Spanish art. This painting was so ahead of its time that critics struggled to classify it when it debuted.

Juan Gris’ The Bottle of Anís del Mono

Juan Gris was one of the leading figures of Cubism, alongside Picasso and Braque. This still life reflects his signature analytical approach to everyday objects. Anís del Mono is a famous Spanish aniseed liqueur, and the bottle design is still used today!

Robert Capa’s Death of a Loyalist Soldier

Robert Capa, Death of. Loyalist Soldier (1936)

One of the most famous war photographs ever taken, this image captures the moment a Spanish Republican soldier is shot and falls to his death during the Spanish Civil War. The authenticity of the photo has been debated, but it remains a symbol of war’s brutality.