Are you coming to Madrid soon? To help you prepare your trip, discover our tour guide from the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid!
Located close to the museums of Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza, two other must-see museums in Madrid, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía exhibits modern and contemporary works of art. Named in honour of Sofía of Greece, queen of Spain and wife of King Juan Carlos I, it is one of the largest museums in the country. It covers the period from 1900 to present and is also one of the world’s largest museums of contemporary art. You can discover, among other things, works by Spanish artists such as Salvador Dalí, Juan Gris or Pablo Picasso, but also foreign, such as Francis Bacon or Andy Warhol. The famous Guernica de Picasso is exhibited in this fantastic modern and contemporary art museum!
During your stay in Madrid, you can't miss discovering the collections of the Reina Sofia Museum. But what awaits you inside this unmissable modern art museum? From its collections to practical information, through schedules and prices, we devour everything you need to know to visit the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid under the best conditions.
History of the Reina Sofia Museum
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The museum is partly located in the former hospital of San Carlos. This vast building was built at the end of the 18th century and at the request of King Charles III, who wanted to modernize the aging hospital complex. The works were led by José de Hermosilla and Francesco Sabatini, who gave his name to the building. In 1969, the hospital closed its doors. From 1980, work began to expand and renovate the complex with the aim of installing a museum. As of April 1986, temporary exhibitions are presented in this new Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. In May 1988, the institution was declared a national museum by decree of the Minister of Culture. The Reina Sofia Museum is thus named in honour of the king’s wife Juan Carlos I , who reigned from November 22, 1975 to June 18, 2014, when he abdicated in favour of his son, the present King Felipe VI.
The first director, Tomás Llorens, sought to enrich the collections with works by the great Spanish artists of the twentieth century, underrepresented. In 1989, Ian Ritchie added three glass towers to the building. Finally, the permanent collection was inaugurated on September 10, 1992, two years after the official opening of the Reina Sofia Museum.
In 2002, an extension project was entrusted to the French architect Jean Nouvel . Inaugurated in October 2005, the new building increases the museum's surface by 60%! The Museum now houses more space for temporary exhibitions, a 500-seat auditorium and another 200-seat auditorium, a bookstore, restaurants and offices.
The Reina Sofia Museum is today one of the tops of the “ Triangle d’Or de l’Art Spanish " The other two summits are obviously the Prado Museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, neighbors of this modern and contemporary art museum.
What to see and do at the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid?
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Visit the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid will allow you to discover a collection 21 000 pieces . This permanent collection covers the whole history of Spanish art of the twentieth century. Chronologically, it is thus an extension of the Prado Museum, since it covers the period from the late nineteenth century to the present day.
The Reina Sofia Museum collection is divided into three periods. Each corresponds to a chapter in recent artistic and cultural history:
- collection 1 1900-1945
- collection 2 from 1945 to 1968
- collection 3 1962 to 1982
Intitulée “The Irruption of the twentieth century: Utopies and Conflicts”, collection 1 is the most appreciated and the one that attracts the most interest from visitors. Indeed, it covers the period when great masters emerge as Salvador Dalí or Pablo Picasso. The highlight of the visit is obviously the masterpiece of the latter: Guernica. This collection 1 is entirely on the second floor of the Reina Sofia Museum (Sabitini Building).
The collection 2 is on the fourth floor of the same building and the collection 3 on the first floor of the Jean Nouvel building. The different floors are accessible by an elegant glass elevator or by stairs. Since the collection of the Reina Sofia Museum is very large, don’t miss a map from your entrance.
After your visit, we recommend you to visit vast library and museum archives . The library specializes in 20th century art books and has more than 100,000 titles! The Reina Sofia Museum also houses a trendy bar and a restaurant on the ground floor.
How to go to the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid?
To visit the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, you will have to go to the Atocha district, near the station of the same name. It is located in the heart of Madrid, at the following exact address: Calle de Santa Isabel, 52, 28012 Madrid, Spain.
With public transport, you can easily reach the Reina Sofia Museum. E metro stations stación del Arte or Atocha ( line 1 ) are located close to the museum and the station Lavapies on the line 3 .
Note that it is difficult to park around the Reina Sofia Museum. We therefore recommend that you avoid using your vehicle to get there.
Timetables & Rates of the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid
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HORARI
The museum (Main collection Sabatini and Building Jean Nouvel)
- Monday to Saturday : 10h – 21h
- Sunday : 10h – 19h
- Closed on Tuesday, 1 and 6 January, 1 and 15 May and 24, 25 and 31 December
Note :
- Every Monday and Wednesday to Saturday, from 7:00 to 9:00, Admission is free for all. - Sunday 13:30 to 19:00 , only collection 1 is open free of charge to the public, as well as some temporary exhibitions. - To visit the Queen Sofia Museum for free, you can also come on April 18, May 18, October 12 and December 6 all day . Free tickets cannot be booked in advance and must be purchased at the ticket office.
The Parque del Retiro, the Palacio de Velázquez and Palacio de Cristal
- April to September : 10h – 22h (open May 15th)
- October to March : 10am – 7pm (open on November 9th)
- November to February : 10am – 6pm
- 24 and 31 December : 10h – 17h
RATES
- Adult without audio-guide : 10€
- Adult with audio-guide : 14,50€
- Temporary exhibitions : +4€
- Under the age of 18 and over the age of 65, 25 and less students, teachers, persons with disabilities : free
Note : it is possible to book your ticket in advance and thus avoid the long queues that form frequently at the ticket office.
BON A LEARN
- If you want to avoid high tributaries, it's better to come between 14:00 and 18:00.
- To visit the essentials and focus on the 2nd floor, two hours are sufficient. If you want to enjoy the wide collection, plan four hours.
- Photos without flashes are allowed, unless the reverse is indicated in the museum. Photos and videos are prohibited in area 206 (Guernica). The videos are forbidden throughout the museum.
- Food, beverages, dangerous objects and too large bags are forbidden in the museum.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult and monitored continuously.
- The museum is maintained at a constant temperature of 21 degrees. It is recommended to plan a light jacket.
- The Reina Sofia Museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.
- Animals are prohibited in the Reina Sofia Museum, with the exception of dog-guides.
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