The Reina Sofía in 1 hour: express route
In 1 hour you can see the essentials: Guernica (room 205.10), the Dalí rooms and the works by Miró. It is a selective visit, ideal for a first time. To tour the permanent collection in peace, allow around 2 hours.
Make the most of every minute with a guide
If you have little time, the guided tour takes you straight to the highlights, with admission included and no queue.
Book guided tour (from €29) →Room-by-room itinerary (1 hour)
The trick to seeing the Reina Sofía in one hour is to head straight for the essentials and not get sidetracked. Start at the top, in the Sabatini building, and follow this order:
- Picasso's Guernica — room 205.10 (Sabatini, 2nd floor). Give it 15 minutes. It is the most visited work, so seeing it first helps you avoid the crowds. More detail in our Guernica guide.
- The Dalí rooms (on the same floor as the avant-garde collection). About 15 minutes for his surrealist pieces. Read more in Dalí at the Reina Sofía.
- Works by Miró: paintings and sculptures with his language of colour and symbols. Another 15 minutes. More in Miró at the Reina Sofía.
- Juan Gris and Cubism: collages and Cubist paintings to close the route, about 10–15 minutes.
With these four stops you cover the most representative part of the collection in roughly an hour. If it helps you find your way, check the Reina Sofía floor plan before you go up.
The 2-hour version (at a calmer pace)
If you have two hours, keep the four stops above and add:
- The rest of the avant-garde and Spanish surrealism rooms around Guernica.
- The post-war and contemporary art of the Nouvel building.
- A temporary exhibition, usually included in general admission.
- A break in the courtyard or the café between the two buildings.
To work out your time according to your own pace, our guide on how long you need to see the Reina Sofía may help.
Route summary
| 1. Guernica | Room 205.10, Sabatini 2nd floor · 15 min |
|---|---|
| 2. Dalí | Surrealism rooms · 15 min |
| 3. Miró | Paintings and sculptures · 15 min |
| 4. Juan Gris | Cubism · 10–15 min |
| Express total | ~1 hour |
| At a calmer pace | ~2 hours |
Last updated: June 2026. The room layout may change with re-hangs of the collection; check it on arrival.
Ready for your express visit?
Book the guided tour and let the guide take you straight to the essentials, with no queue.
Book guided tour →Frequently asked questions
Can you see the Reina Sofía in 1 hour?
Yes, the essentials: Guernica (room 205.10), the Dalí rooms and the works by Miró. It is a selective visit, ideal for a first time. At a calmer pace, allow around 2 hours.
What are the must-sees?
Guernica, the Dalí rooms, the works by Miró and the Cubist pieces by Juan Gris.
Where do I start?
With Guernica, in room 205.10 of the Sabatini building, second floor. Seeing it first helps you avoid the crowds.
Is a guide worth it with little time?
Yes. The guide takes you straight to the highlights, includes admission and skips the queue, so you do not waste time looking for rooms.