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Thyssen Museum Tickets Madrid — Skip the Line

700 years of Western art history under one roof. From Flemish primitives to American Pop Art — the most comprehensive art journey in Madrid.

The Thyssen Museum: 700 Years of Art in the Heart of Madrid

The Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is the third vertex of Madrid's famous Paseo del Arte (Art Walk), alongside the Prado and the Reina Sofía. It houses one of the most important private art collections in the world, donated to the Spanish State in 1993 by Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza. With over 1,600 works spread across three floors, the museum offers a chronological journey from the Italian primitives of the 13th century all the way to American Pop Art of the 1980s.

Unlike the Prado (focused on Spanish and European classical art) or the Reina Sofía (20th-century contemporary art), the Thyssen is unique in offering the most complete and chronological overview of the entire history of Western art. It is the essential museum for anyone wanting to understand the context in which all major artistic movements emerged.

Booking your Thyssen tickets online lets you go straight to the entrance without queuing at the ticket desk, where in peak season the wait can exceed 30 minutes.

The 10 Must-See Works at the Thyssen

  • Young Knight in a Landscape (Vittore Carpaccio, ~1510): One of the jewels of the Italian Renaissance in the collection.
  • Portrait of Henry VIII (Hans Holbein the Younger, ~1534–36): The most famous portrait of the English king outside of England.
  • The Annunciation (Petrus Christus, ~1450): A key work of the Flemish primitives.
  • Les Vessenots en Auvers (Vincent van Gogh, 1890): Painted just weeks before his death.
  • The Charing Cross Bridge (Claude Monet, 1899–1901): One of the most beautiful Impressionist paintings in the collection.
  • Swaying Dancer (Edgar Degas, ~1877–79): The most dynamic and modern of the Impressionist master's dancers.
  • Room in New York (Edward Hopper, 1932): American urban loneliness masterfully captured.
  • Portrait of Greet with Red Hat (Franz Hals, ~1655): Dutch Baroque expressiveness at its finest.
  • Woman in the Bath (Pierre Bonnard, 1937): A pinnacle of post-Impressionist intimacy.
  • A Monk and a Peasant (Francisco de Goya, ~1824): One of the last masterworks of the Aragonese painter.

Prices and Opening Hours 2026

  • 🎟️ General admission: €16 adult
  • 🎟️ Under 18: Free
  • ⏰ Monday: 12:00 – 16:00 (free entry)
  • ⏰ Tue–Sun: 10:00 – 19:00
  • 📍 Address: Paseo del Prado, 8, Madrid
  • 🚇 Metro: Banco de España (L2) / Atocha (L1)

The Art Walk: 3 Museums in One Day

If you have time, consider combining the Thyssen with the Prado and the Reina Sofía on the same day. The Paseo del Arte Pass (available at the ticket desk) covers all three museums at a reduced combined price. For a fully guided experience, Civitatis also offers a three-museum tour with an expert guide in a single day.

FAQ

What makes the Thyssen different from the Prado and Reina Sofía?

The Thyssen covers 700 years of Western art chronologically, from the 13th to the 20th century. The Prado focuses on classical European art (15th–19th centuries) and the Reina Sofía on 20th-century contemporary art. They are complementary, not repetitive.

Is the Thyssen free on Mondays?

Yes, the museum opens on Mondays from 12:00 to 16:00 with free entry, though queues can be significant. Even for free-entry hours, booking online is recommended to avoid waiting.

Does the ticket include temporary exhibitions?

The general admission ticket includes access to the permanent collection and most temporary exhibitions. Some large-scale special exhibitions may require an additional ticket.

Where is the Thyssen in relation to the Prado and Reina Sofía?

All three museums are on the same boulevard (Paseo del Prado), less than a 10-minute walk from each other. The Thyssen is the most centrally located, between the Prado to the south and the Cibeles Palace to the north.