The Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid hosts one of Europe’s finest private collections of Western painting from the Middle Ages through pop art. This guide (updated in September 2026) gives you what you need to know, including opening hours, ticket prices, accessibility, best times to visit, how to get there, and what else you can combine in a day.
- To skip the explanation and just buy Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza tickets, head this way.
History and overview of Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
The walls of the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza are anchored in the Thyssen family collection, whose works were gradually made public. The museum opened to the public in the Villahermosa palace in Madrid in October 1992. Spain then agreed to buy most of the collection permanently the following year, in 1993. The museum has added extensions over time to display more of its holdings.
The collection spans from early Italian primitives and Northern Renaissance to 20th-century modernists. You will see artists such as Dürer, Rubens, Edward Hopper, Kandinsky, Dalí and many more. The permanent galleries show a fairly chronological sequence which helps trace European painting styles across centuries.
Temporary exhibitions are mounted regularly, often bringing in international loans and rare works. These enable visitors to see varied voices beyond the permanent collection and give a reason to visit more than once.
The building is on the Paseo del Prado (“Art Walk”) between El Prado and Reina Sofía museums, making it part of Madrid’s major museum district. The setting helps you combine multiple cultural stops without long transit.
How to get to the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
The museum address is Paseo del Prado, 8, 28014 Madrid. It sits very centrally, on the Art Walk. The closest metro station is Banco de España (Line 2). Sevilla (Line 2) is also nearby. Multiple bus lines serve the area: 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 14, 15, 20, 27, 34, 37, 41, 51, 52, 53, 74, 146, 150. There are also local train (Cercanías) stations: Madrid-Atocha, Madrid-Recoletos.
Driving is possible but not ideal: the central area is busy, often congested, and parking is limited and expensive. Better to arrive by public transport or walk if you are staying centrally.
5 Madrid experiences worth booking
- 🍷 Hit the taverns and tapas bars on a highly knowledgeable food tour.
- 🖼️ Skip the lines and take a guided tour of the Prado’s masterpieces.
- 🏰 See two hugely underrated cities on a Segovia and Ávila day tour.
- 💃 Enjoy a flamenco show at Torres Bermejas.
- 👑 Combine a historic walking tour with skip-the-line Royal Palace tickets.
Opening hours and ticket prices for the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Opening hours:
- Monday: 12.00pm to 4.00pm (only permanent collection, free admission)
- Tuesday to Friday: 10.00am to 7.00pm (extended to 9.00pm in July and August)
- Saturday: 10.00am to 11.00pm, with free entry to the ground-floor and level -1 temporary exhibitions from 9.00pm to 11.00pm
- Sunday: 10.00am to 7.00pm
- On 24 and 31 December: 10.00am to 3.00pm
- Museum closed: 1 January, 1 May, 25 December
Ticket prices (Permanent + Temporary Exhibitions):
- General admission: €14
- Reduced ticket (students, over-65s, large families): €10
- Free admission: under-18s; citizens officially unemployed; also the free Monday slot 12.00pm-4.00pm for permanent collection, and Saturdays 9.00pm-11.00pm
These Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza opening hours and ticket prices were checked and verified in September 2026.
You can buy tickets online or at the museum ticket office. Be aware ticket offices close around 6.30pm (8.30pm on Saturdays). Galleries generally are cleared shortly before closing. Check the museum site for details of temporary exhibitions (which may require additional or timed tickets).
Best times to visit the Thyssen-Bornemisza and duration
To avoid crowds, arrive at or very shortly after this European art museum opens (10.00am Tuesday-Sunday). Free Monday afternoons are busy – expect queues then. The museum’s own advice is that it’s quietest between 2.00pm and 4.00pm. Saturday evenings after 9pm are another quiet, free option, though only the temporary exhibitions are covered.
The museum suggests allowing about 2½ hours for the permanent collection. Add roughly 50 minutes if you also want to see the ground-floor temporary exhibition, rest in the café, or take time with key pieces. If you are moving between museums on the Art Walk, allow extra buffer for walking and rest stops.
Things to do near the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
- Museo del Prado – A few minutes’ walk along the Paseo del Prado, the Prado has one of the world’s major collections of European art, with particularly strong holdings of Velázquez, Goya and El Greco.
- Museo Reina Sofía – Walk south along the Art Walk to this modern and contemporary art museum, home to Picasso’s Guernica as well as works by Dalí and Miró.
- CaixaForum Madrid – This cultural centre on the Paseo del Prado presents changing art and cultural exhibitions and is particularly recognisable for its vertical garden and unusual modern architecture.
- El Retiro Park – Head east from the museum into Madrid’s major central park, with landscaped gardens, monuments, the Palacio de Cristal and the Estanque lake.
- Puerta del Sol – Walk north-west through central Madrid to this busy square, a useful starting point for exploring the historic centre and its surrounding streets.
Alternative attractions
- Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas – Near the Retiro, this museum explores Spanish and European decorative arts through furniture, ceramics, textiles and other objects.
- Museo Sorolla – In the former home of painter Joaquín Sorolla, this museum combines his paintings with the rooms, studio and garden where he lived and worked.
- Museo Lázaro Galdiano – This smaller art museum in the Salamanca district displays a wide-ranging private collection including paintings, sculpture, decorative arts and historic objects.
- Museo Cerralbo – Housed in an ornate 19th-century mansion near Plaza de España, this museum preserves the art collection and interiors of aristocratic collector Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa.
- Museo Nacional de Arqueología – Near Plaza de Colón, this museum covers Spanish and Mediterranean archaeology from prehistory through the medieval period, providing a very different collection from the Thyssen.
Practical tips for visiting the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
- Buy tickets online ahead if you want to see temporary exhibitions or if you have limited time.
- Carry a small bag – large backpacks may need to be stored in cloakroom.
- Use the free Monday slot if it works for your schedule, but try to arrive at noon to avoid crowds building later.
- Allow extra time for security checks. Gallery closures (for cleaning or events) sometimes happen during the day — check online that those aren’t affecting shows you want.
- If mobility is a concern, lifts and ramps are provided; contact the museum ahead for specific assistance if needed.
Frequently asked questions about the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza wheelchair friendly? | Yes. The museum has lifts and ramps throughout its exhibition floors. Disabled access is provided; wheelchairs are available at cloakroom. |
| When is the free admission period? | Every Monday from 12.00pm to 4.00pm for the permanent collection, and every Saturday from 9.00pm to 11.00pm for the ground-floor and level -1 temporary exhibitions. Also under-18s, people officially unemployed and certain other categories are free daily. |
| Are reduced tickets available? | Yes. Reduced tickets are available for students, over-65s, members of large families, teachers, and other qualifying statuses with proof. |
| When should I arrive to avoid queues? | At opening time (10.00am) Tuesday-Sunday, or just before noon on Monday. Avoid late afternoons of free or special days. |
| Are photos allowed inside? | Yes. Non-flash photography is generally permitted. Tripods, large equipment, or flash use may be restricted. |
| Is there a café or restaurant on site? | Yes. There is a café and restaurant inside Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, plus a museum shop. Refreshments are available. |
| How long should I plan for the visit? | About 2½ hours for the permanent collection. Add roughly 50 minutes if you also visit the ground-floor temporary exhibition. |
| Can I combine tickets with other museums? | Yes. The “Paseo del Arte” pass allows entry to Thyssen-Bornemisza, Prado and Reina Sofía for one set price, useful if you plan to see all three. |
Madrid hotel recommendations
I’ve inspected a lot of hotels in Madrid, and these are three of my favourites.
- Hotel Urban:: Bold design elements from all over the world, make for a swaggering, fun vibe. The rooftop pool is a bonus.
- Room Mate Oscar: Also lots of fun, also with daring design and a rooftop pool. But considerably cheaper (well, usually).
- Villa Real: Embracing heritage, this classy five star is part archaeological museum – it has pieced together more than 100 mosaics from around the Mediterranean.
More Madrid travel
Other Madrid travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Six ways to improve your visit to Madrid.
- Guide to visiting the Royal Palace of Madrid.
- How to get into Madrid’s Royal Palace when tickets have sold out.
- The three cities day tour to Toledo, Ávila and Segovia from Madrid: How it works.
- What to know before booking the Atlético Madrid stadium tour.
