Spain's national museum of 20th-century art, most famous for housing Picasso's monumental anti-war painting Guernica. The museum also features major works by Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, and Juan Gris in a converted 18th-century hospital building.
The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía is Spain's national museum of 20th- and 21st-century art, housed in a converted 18th-century hospital at the southern end of the Paseo del Prado in Madrid. The institution is known worldwide above all for one work: Pablo Picasso's Guernica, a monumental 3.49-by-7.76-metre oil painting depicting the Nazi bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War in 1937. The painting resided in New York until 1981 and has been the museum's defining centrepiece since the building opened in 1992.
Guernica occupies Room 206 on the second floor of the Sabatini building, mounted at eye level behind a protective barrier. The adjacent rooms contextualise the painting with Picasso's preparatory sketches, showing the evolutionary process from early compositional studies to the final work. A dedicated room of historical photographs by Dora Maar documents the painting's creation in the Paris studio.
The collection extends well beyond Picasso. Salvador Dalí's major canvases — including The Great Masturbator — fill several rooms, as do Joan Miró's vivid biomorphic abstractions, Juan Gris's Synthetic Cubist compositions, and works by Man Ray and other Surrealists. A Jean Nouvel-designed extension added in 2005 provides a contemporary wing with glass facades and exhibition spaces covering post-1950 movements including Informalism, Pop Art, and the Spanish avant-garde. A visit lasts two to three hours; arriving at the free-entry windows on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 19:00 to 21:00 saves the full €12 admission. Photography of Guernica is not permitted, but the surrounding rooms and Nouvel extension allow photography without flash.
Good to know
- Hours
- Mon & Wed–Sat 10:00–21:00, Sun 10:00–19:00; closed Tuesday
- Best time
- afternoon
- Best for
- art lovers, culture seekers
Location
Calle de Santa Isabel 52, 28012 Madrid
40.4082, -3.6942 View on map
Highlights
- Guernica by Pablo Picasso — the defining anti-war painting of the 20th century, displayed in Room 206
- Preparatory sketches and Dora Maar's photographs showing Guernica's step-by-step creation process
- Dalí's surrealist masterpieces including The Great Masturbator in the dedicated Dalí rooms
- Joan Miró's large-format abstract canvases from the 1960s and 1970s
- Jean Nouvel's glass-and-steel extension with a rooftop terrace overlooking the Retiro park
Tips for visiting
- Free entry Mon & Wed–Fri 19:00–21:00, Sat 14:30–21:00, Sun 12:30–19:00
- Guernica is on the 2nd floor — arrive there first before crowds build
When to visit
Arrive at 10:00 on a weekday and head directly to Room 206 to see Guernica before tour groups arrive at midday. Free-entry evening windows are good value but attract queues — arrive 15–20 minutes before opening to guarantee entry.
Accessibility
The museum is fully accessible with lifts throughout both the Sabatini building and the Nouvel extension. Wheelchairs are available free at the main entrance on Calle de Santa Isabel. Audio guides include descriptions of key works for visually impaired visitors.
Frequently asked questions
Can visitors photograph Guernica?
Photography of Guernica itself is not permitted. The surrounding preparatory-sketch rooms and the Nouvel extension allow photography without flash.
How long does a visit to the Reina Sofía take?
Two to three hours covers the permanent collection highlights. The Guernica room fills up quickly — arriving at opening and heading to Room 206 first avoids the midday peak.
When is free entry to the Reina Sofía?
Free entry is available Monday and Wednesday to Friday 19:00–21:00, Saturday 14:30–21:00, and Sunday 12:30–19:00. Queues form before the free windows open, so arriving 15 minutes early helps.
Is the Reina Sofía suitable for children?
Older children and teenagers engage well with the Picasso and Dalí rooms. Some surrealist imagery can be disturbing for very young children. The building's exterior glass lift tower is a hit with all ages.