MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts
Quick answer
MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome, Italy — mAXXI — the National Museum of 21st Century Arts — is Zaha Hadid Architects' first major museum building, opened in Rome in 2010. Open Tuesday to Sunday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Saturday until 10:00 PM); closed Mondays. Admission: €12 standard admission. Allow 2–3 hours and book a timed ticket ahead.
Visitor information last reviewed 30 June 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Tuesday to Sunday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Saturday until 10:00 PM) |
|---|---|
| Closed | Mondays |
| Admission | €12 standard admission |
| Booking | Book a timed ticket in advance — peak slots sell out |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
| Best time to visit | Saturday evening — open until 10 PM; weekday afternoons are quietest. |
| Getting there | Metro: Flaminio (Line A) — 15-minute walk or bus along Via Guido Reni |
| Address | Via Guido Reni, 4A, 00196 Roma RM, Italy |
| Official website | maxxi.art |
Checked 2026-06-30 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts known for?
MAXXI — the National Museum of 21st Century Arts — is Zaha Hadid Architects' first major museum building, opened in Rome in 2010. It unites two institutions under one flowing concrete roof: MAXXI Art and MAXXI Architecture.
Hadid's design replaces a former military barracks in the Flaminio district north of the city centre. The building's interweaving galleries, ramps, and bridges create a sense of continuous movement, with natural light filtering through glass and steel.
The art collection focuses on Italian and international contemporary art since the 1960s, while the architecture collection holds drawings, models, and photographs by architects from Carlo Scarpa to Hadid herself. Temporary exhibitions are the museum's lifeblood.
MAXXI sits near Renzo Piano's Parco della Musica and Pier Luigi Nervi's Palazzetto dello Sport, forming part of Rome's modern cultural corridor along Via Guido Reni.
Best for: Architecture Enthusiasts · Contemporary Art Fans · Modern Art Lovers
How long do you need at MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts?
Allow 2–3 hours. A focused route through 4 must-see highlights at MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts without museum fatigue. Follow the stops in order:
- 1
MAXXI Building
📍 Entire museum
Hadid's flowing concrete and steel structure, winner of the Stirling Prize, is itself the museum's greatest work — a landscape of ramps, bridges, and cantilevered volumes.
- 2
Italian Contemporary Art Collection
📍 MAXXI Art Galleries
Major works of Arte Povera and Italian post-war art, including pieces by Alighiero Boetti, Jannis Kounellis, and Giulio Paolini.
- 3
Architecture Archive
📍 MAXXI Architecture Galleries
Drawings, models, and photographs from Italy's greatest modern architects, including Scarpa's Castelvecchio studies and Nervi's structural innovations.
- 4
Temporary Installations
📍 Gallery 5 and outdoor spaces
Large-scale commissions and installations by contemporary artists, often responding to Hadid's architecture.
What are the must-see works at MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts?
4 highlights that define the collection: MAXXI Building, Italian Contemporary Art Collection, Architecture Archive and more.
MAXXI Building
Zaha Hadid Architects · 2010
📍 Entire museum
Hadid's flowing concrete and steel structure, winner of the Stirling Prize, is itself the museum's greatest work — a landscape of ramps, bridges, and cantilevered volumes.
Italian Contemporary Art Collection
Boetti, Kounellis, Paolini · 1960s–present
📍 MAXXI Art Galleries
Major works of Arte Povera and Italian post-war art, including pieces by Alighiero Boetti, Jannis Kounellis, and Giulio Paolini.
Architecture Archive
Carlo Scarpa, Pier Luigi Nervi · archive
📍 MAXXI Architecture Galleries
Drawings, models, and photographs from Italy's greatest modern architects, including Scarpa's Castelvecchio studies and Nervi's structural innovations.
Temporary Installations
Rotating international artists
📍 Gallery 5 and outdoor spaces
Large-scale commissions and installations by contemporary artists, often responding to Hadid's architecture.
Collections and highlights
- • Italian contemporary art since 1960
- • Arte Povera and post-war Italian art
- • MAXXI Architecture archive and models
- • International contemporary art exhibitions
- • Photography and new media
- • Design and visual culture
- • Zaha Hadid building and site-specific works
- • Outdoor installation programme
Tips for visiting MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts
- 1.
Best time to visit
Saturday evening — open until 10 PM; weekday afternoons are quietest.
- 2.
Crowds & busy periods
Moderate; less crowded than central Rome museums.
- 3.
Tickets & booking
Around €12 standard admission; free on some first-Sunday promotions.
- 4.
Food & cafés nearby
MAXXI café; restaurants in Flaminio and near Piazza del Popolo.
- 5.
Accessibility
Fully accessible with ramps and lifts throughout Hadid's design.
How do you get to MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts?
- metro Flaminio (Line A) — 15-minute walk or bus along Via Guido Reni
- bus Buses 53, 168, and 280 stop near Via Guido Reni
- walk Walkable from Piazza del Popolo through the Flaminio district (20 minutes)
Address: Via Guido Reni, 4A, 00196 Roma RM, Italy
MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts: frequently asked questions
How do I reach MAXXI?
Tram 2 from Piazzale Flaminio stops at the museum.
Is the building a destination in itself?
Yes, even visitors who don't enter often photograph Hadid's exterior.
How long should I spend at MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts?
Plan 2–3 hours for the highlights of MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts. Our 4-stop route — MAXXI Building, Italian Contemporary Art Collection, Architecture Archive and more — is designed to fit that time. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
What is MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts best known for?
Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects and opened in 2010, MAXXI brings together two museums — MAXXI Art and MAXXI Architecture — under one curving concrete and steel roof. Key highlights include Zaha Hadid architecture, MAXXI Architettura collection, Italian contemporary art exhibitions.
How do I get tickets for MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts?
Admission: €12 standard admission. Book a timed-entry ticket on the official website before you go — popular slots sell out in peak season. Official site: https://www.maxxi.art/en/
Is MAXXI worth visiting for the building alone?
Yes — Hadid's architecture is widely considered one of the most important museum buildings of the twenty-first century, even if temporary exhibitions vary.
How far is it from the Vatican?
About 20 minutes by metro from Ottaviano to Flaminio, then a 15-minute walk. It is in a different part of Rome from the historic centre.
Are there two separate museums?
MAXXI Art and MAXXI Architecture share one building and one ticket, with separate gallery circuits for art and architectural collections.
Is MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts open on Mondays?
No — MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts is closed every Monday. It is open Tuesday to Sunday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Saturday until 10:00 PM). Plan a different museum for that day, and check the official website for holiday changes.
What are MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts's opening hours?
MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts is open Tuesday to Sunday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Saturday until 10:00 PM), and closed Mondays. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go.
Is MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts free to visit?
No — standard admission is €12 standard admission.
