Picasso’s Guernica, housed in Madrid’s Reina Sofía museum, is one of Spain’s most important artworks—and yes, you can see it without spending a cent.
What is Guernica and why is it worth seeing?
Guernica is a large-scale cubist painting widely considered to be Pablo Picasso’s masterpiece. The most famous artist of the 20th century painted his best-known work in 1937. It is a response to the bombing of the Basque town Guernica in the Spanish Civil War, and is essentially a montage of suffering.
The eye scans across several disturbing, stylised images, from a screaming woman holding her dead child to an agonised, speared horse. Picasso’s Guernica conveys the needless horror of a village of no military significance, bombed to destruction.
It is definitely worth seeing Guernica in person.
Why book a Reina Sofia Museum tour in Madrid?
- Skip the line and enjoy priority access to the museum’s world-class collection
- Small group size (max 6 people) for a more intimate and personalized experience
- Discover masterpieces by Picasso, Dalí, Miró, and other modern artists
- Expert guide shares fascinating stories and context behind each artwork
- Explore one of Spain’s top art museums without the usual crowds
Where is Guernica on display?
Picasso painted Guernica in Paris, but it is now on display in Madrid, Spain. However, it is not in Madrid’s best-known art museum, the Prado.
If you want to know where to see Picasso’s Guernica in Madrid, it’s in the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia.
Annoyingly, the Reina Sofia is spread over four different buildings, two of which are in the Parque del Retiro. The main site, however, is made up of the Nouvel and Sabatini buildings. Most visitors enter through the Nouvel Building on Ronda de Atocha.
Picasso’s Guernica: Location within the Reina Sofia
Guernica is displayed in room 205 on the second floor of the Sabatini building. It is part of a wider collection emphasising conflict in the 1930s.
How much does it cost to get into the Reina Sofia
The general entrance fee for the Reina Sofia is €12. It’s advisable to book tickets online in advance if you want to be assured of entry.
Free entry to the Reina Sofia
However, there are several sessions a week where entry to the Reina Sofia is free. If you want to see Picasso’s Guernica without paying, turn up on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 7pm and 9pm.
You can also get into the Reina Sofia museum for free on Sundays, between 12.30pm and 2.30pm. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.
On five public holidays, the Reina Sofia offers free entry. These fall on April 18, May 18 and 23, October 12 and December 6.
However, these are not the best times to see Picasso’s Guernica without the crowds. It’s free, so more people take advantage.
Reina Sofia tours
If you don’t mind paying to see Guernica, it’s arguably worth paying for a tour of the Reina Sofia. This way, you’ll learn more through knowledgeable guides who interpret the paintings, giving them context and meaning.
For more Picasso works, visit the Museo Picasso in Malaga.
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 activity options include guided tours of the Royal Palace, orientations by tuk-tuk and flamenco shows.
Elsewhere on Planet Whitley, Madrid articles include:
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