Top 20 best museums in Madrid2026 ranking

People had told me about this museum and Picasso's Guernica. It is impossible not to be impressed by that work, even if I do not appreciate all of the artist's paintings. The museum also houses plenty of other paintings worth seeing, especially some by Miro and Dali. It is also a great way to discover a few other Spanish painters. I went through the visit right after the Prado Museum and I do not recommend seeing both in the same day. My feet and eyes were way too tired to fully enjoy everything by the end of the day.

As a fan of Renaissance paintings, I could not miss this museum and I loved the experience. The only downside is that it is impossible to see everything, even in one day, so you have to make some choices. I focused on European painting and I still have wonderful paintings by Velasquez in my memory, like Las Meninas, or even Goya, Rubens, and El Greco. You do not know where to look! Remember to book your tickets in advance and count on at least three hours for your visit. I will return with great pleasure.

The Prado Museum is impressive. The building is truly magnificent, it feels like you are in a palace. The exhibited works are varied and the collections are rich. The museum is immense. Plan on several hours if you want to see everything.

If you love contemporary art, the collection at the Reina Sofia Museum is absolutely worth it. And despite what we know about the history of Picasso (personally, I have a really hard time looking at his work since I found out what a monster he was), the jewel of the museum is obviously Guernica. I experienced discovering this painting as a real shock, an artistic slap in the face of rare violence. Just for the contemplation of this masterpiece, a visit to the Reina Sofia Museum is worth the trip.

The massive Reina Sofia Museum deserves some time, I liked discovering it without rushing! Especially if you are into modern and contemporary art, you will be thrilled. For me, the real impact was of course the Picasso painting, Guernica. You feel small in front of such a work, continue the visit and you will discover paintings by Dali, Miro, and other big names of Spanish painters.

I remember visiting the Reina Sofia museum in Madrid after an endless night on a bus with my middle school classmates from my hometown of Lyon. Despite everything, I was very impressed by "Guernica," the iconic work by Pablo Picasso denouncing the horrors of war. You can also see major works by surrealists Salvador Dali and Joan Miro there. This museum is more broadly dedicated to Spanish modern and contemporary art.

Unlike the Prado, which I find a bit too classic, the Reina Sofia Museum exhibits more modern art, and therefore, to my taste, more innovative and creative. I am thinking of the works by Dali for example.

Beautiful building with elegant architecture, which owes its name to its architect. Inside, you will find small contemporary art exhibits. It is not very big, but it has free admission and is located in a lovely park!

One of the most beautiful museums in the world. Not only is the building incredibly beautiful, but the collection inside is vast, varied, and very interesting. You will find pieces from every era, every style, and every country. A large place is obviously given to Spanish painters such as Goya, Velasquez, Sorolla, El Greco, Zurbaran, and so on.