Reina Sofía Christmas opening hours: closed days 2026
The Reina Sofía Museum closes on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 and 6 January (verified). The rest of the Christmas season it opens as normal, and admission is free during the last two hours before closing (7 pm to 9 pm, Wednesday to Saturday). It is an ideal indoor plan for cold days in Madrid.
Days the Reina Sofía closes at Christmas
Over the holidays the museum closes only on the most significant dates of the calendar. Every other day in December and early January it opens with its usual hours. These are the verified closed days:
| Date | Status |
|---|---|
| 24 December (Christmas Eve) | Closed |
| 25 December (Christmas Day) | Closed |
| 31 December (New Year's Eve) | Closed |
| 1 January (New Year's Day) | Closed |
| 6 January (Epiphany / Three Kings) | Closed |
| Every Tuesday | Closed (usual weekly closure) |
Days such as 26 December, 28 December or 5 January — sometimes mistaken for closing holidays — the museum opens as normal. Even so, it is worth confirming the calendar before planning your visit, as the museum may adjust hours on specific dates.
Christmas hours: the rest of the season opens as normal
Apart from the five closed days, the Reina Sofía keeps its usual hours throughout the Christmas season. There is no special reduced timetable other than possible minor adjustments on the eve of a public holiday:
| Monday | 10:00 am – 9:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday to Saturday | 10:00 am – 9:00 pm |
| Sunday | 10:00 am – 2:30 pm |
| General admission | €12 |
| Address | C/ Santa Isabel 52, Madrid (metro Atocha Renfe) |
Free entry at Christmas: the last two hours before closing
The usual free-entry slot continues over the holidays. These are the last two hours before closing, a good moment to pop in and see the essentials without paying the €12 general admission:
| Day | Free slot |
|---|---|
| Monday and Wednesday to Saturday | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm |
| Sunday | 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm |
| Tuesday | Closed |
At Christmas this free slot can fill up more than usual because of the number of visitors with time off. If you want comfort and guaranteed access on a specific date, booking a ticket in advance avoids surprises at the ticket desk.
Guernica, the best indoor plan for cold days
Christmas in Madrid combines lights, markets and plenty of cold. When the wind off the mountains bites or the rain sets in, the Reina Sofía is one of the best indoor plans in the city: it is entirely covered and heated, and it brings together some of the most important works of 20th-century art.
The must-see is Picasso's Guernica, in room 205.10. It is the museum's most visited work and usually the first stop of any visit. Around it, the Dalí and Miró rooms and the light-filled Nouvel building round off a route that easily fills one to two hours sheltered from the cold. A perfect plan for a morning or an afternoon of the Christmas holidays.
- Entirely indoors. The whole museum is covered, ideal for rainy days or hard frost.
- Start with Guernica. Head straight up to room 205.10 and work your way down; it is the work no one wants to miss.
- Combine it with the Art Triangle. The Prado and Thyssen are a few minutes' walk away, all under cover.
- Use the evening free slot. At 7 pm, once it is already dark, it is a fine time to warm up with art.
Reina Sofía tickets and guided tours
If you want to see Guernica, the Dalí and Miró collection and the Nouvel building with context and without wasting time on a specific Christmas date, booking ahead guarantees access. Ticket and priority access included.
See guided tours of the Reina Sofía →Remember: the Reina Sofía is closed on Tuesdays
It is the most common mistake when planning a Christmas visit: assuming a museum opens every day of the holidays. The Reina Sofía is closed every Tuesday of the year, including December and January.
- If your free day falls on a Tuesday, reschedule. Any other day of the week opens as normal except for the five Christmas closures.
- Note the five closures. 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 and 6 January. The rest of the season, usual hours.
- Arrive with time to spare for the last two hours before closing. If you go in the free 7 pm slot, turning up a few minutes early avoids the queue.
- Confirm the calendar on doubtful dates. On the eve of a holiday there may be minor adjustments to the hours.
Travellers who book, visit and double-check every detail against official sources. Last reviewed: June 2026. Visited the Reina Sofía at Christmas? Tell us about your visit →
Frequently asked questions about the Reina Sofía at Christmas
Does the Reina Sofía close at Christmas?
It closes only on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 and 6 January. The rest of the season it opens with its usual hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm and Sundays from 10 am to 2:30 pm. And remember it is closed every Tuesday.
Is the Reina Sofía free at Christmas?
Yes, the free slot of the last two hours before closing continues: Monday and Wednesday to Saturday from 7 pm to 9 pm, and Sundays from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm.
Is it a good plan for cold or rainy days?
Yes. It is an ideal indoor plan: entirely covered and heated. Seeing Guernica, Dalí, Miró and the Nouvel building fills one to two hours sheltered from the cold.
Is it closed on Tuesdays at Christmas too?
Yes, the museum is closed every Tuesday of the year, including December and January. If your free day falls on a Tuesday, plan your visit for another day.
Informational content reviewed by the Ticket Visit team · June 2026. Closing dates may vary; confirm on the museum's website before your visit.