Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

We went during the free hours a few years ago. We arrived about 30 minutes prior to the free hours opening time and were close to the front of the line. Time of year will partly determine how large the crowd is.

We had visited the museum on previous trips, also during the free admission hours, and two hours was more than enough to see what we wanted to see. No photos were allowed in the Guernica room the last time we visited. They had been allowed on previous visits.

We were at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía at 5pm on March 4 2024 on a paid ticket. When we left, the free visit time did not start for another half hour but the waiting line snaked all the way around the square and on to the neighboring main street. With the security check they do, it would have been an hour plus just to get into the Museum.

BTW, photos were allowed in the Guernica room. Just no flash photography.

Thanks for letting me know. I probably will go ahead and purchase tickets ahead. They were not much. I just wanted more flexibility on what day I wanted to go. But I hate long lines more.

I went for the free hours a couple of weeks ago (my train got into Madrid around 4pm and
I've done this before...)

Yes there will most likely be a line to get into the museum in the plaza. As noted, it's for a
security check and it can be slow.

But the night I was there, they waved us over to the museum entrance which is on Ronda
de Atocha, and there was no line at all. If you opt for the free entrance hours, I'd try that
access point.

If you are looking at the main museum plaza from the street with the fountain and Hotel
Mediodia to your right, head to the left for about 100 yards or so and you will come to
the other museum entrance.