More about: 4 Best Museums in Barcelona
Located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona is a city where art and culture are in the air. Its museums are some of the most diverse and interesting in Europe, with spaces dedicated to both modern and classic art.
A trip is the perfect opportunity to visit one of Barcelona's museums and soak up its history, culture, and personality. Here are the museums I think are a must-see!
1. National Art Museum of Catalonia
This is one of the best museums in Barcelona and is considered one of the most important in Spain, so it's a must-see. I would even say that it should be at the top of your list for two reasons:
Firstly, for its impressive art collection, which spans from the Romanesque period to the mid-20th century (almost 1,000 years of history!) and secondly, for the spectacular building in which it is housed, the National Palace, built in 1929 for the Universal Exposition held in the city. It is absolutely beautiful.
How to visit
As the MNAC is one of Barcelona's most popular museums, I recommend booking your tickets to the National Art Museum of Catalonia online well in advance to ensure you get a place on the day you want to visit.
What will you see?
Mainly an overview of Catalan art from the Romanesque period to the mid-20th century, explaining its evolution and the different artistic trends, although special mention is also made of the Spanish and European Renaissance and Baroque periods, as well as modern Catalan art, among other surprises.
Believe me when I say that it will be difficult to choose your favorite room! Personally, I think the Romanesque and Gothic art on display at the National Art Museum of Catalonia is out of this world, a marvel. Especially the frescoes of Sant Climent de Taüll. They'll blow your mind!
**Recommended if...**you're into Romanesque and Gothic art or the work of world-renowned painters.
Useful information
- Where? Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc, s/n, 08038 Barcelona
- How to get there: By bus on lines 55, 150, 13, 37, 27, 50, 65, 79, 109, 165, D20, H12, and V7. / By metro on lines 1 and 3, Plaza España station.
- How long does it take to see it? About 3 hours.
2. Picasso Museum
The Picasso Museum is one of Barcelona's most beloved museums for art lovers. Not only because it has a comprehensive collection of works from the Malaga-born painter's youth and formative years (nearly 4,000 works!), but also because he created this institution himself alongside a friend, who donated most of the pieces in the collection.
All the more reason to visit! It could be said that this museum, into which he poured part of his soul, was a gift to Barcelona, a city he loved dearly and where he spent so many happy moments.
How to visit
You can buy tickets for the Picasso Museum in Barcelona at the ticket office. General admission is €12, while reduced admission is €7.
However, admission is free on Thursday afternoons from 5 PM and on the first Sunday of every month, so if you have some free time in your schedule, it could be a great option to visit.
What will you see?
Visiting the Picasso Museum is a great opportunity to discover perhaps one of the least known periods of the painter's life, his early years. However, it is also a chance to see the five Gothic palaces that house the museum. One of the best examples of medieval civil architecture in Catalonia.
**Recommended if...**you are enthusiastic about Picasso and his work. I recommend combining your visit with a trip to the European Museum of Modern Art, as both are located very close to each other in the El Born district.
Practical information
- Where? Calle Montcada, 15-23.
- How to get there: By bus lines 39, 51, 45, 120, V15, V17, H14. / By metro on line 1, Arc de Triomf station; line 3, Liceu station; and line 4, Jaume I station.
- How long does it take to see it? About 2 hours and 45 minutes.
3. European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM)
I remember that this was one of the museums in Barcelona that surprised me the most because, unlike other contemporary art galleries, it is not dedicated to abstract art but to realism. Its aim is to share the figurative art of living artists from the 20th and 21st centuries.
If you think contemporary art isn't your thing, I recommend visiting the European Museum of Modern Art because you're sure to change your mind. It's much more interesting than most visitors think!
How to visit
Plan your cultural day out in the streets of Barcelona and get your tickets to the European Museum of Modern Art online so you don't miss out on your place on the date you want.
This ticket will give you access to both the permanent and temporary exhibitions, so you can see the museum in detail and not miss a thing.
What will you see?
If you like contemporary art, you'll see pieces in the collection that will leave you speechless. They're so hyperrealistic that you'll think you're looking at a photograph!
Many people don't know about the MEAM and walk right past it on their way to the nearby Picasso Museum, but now that you know it's there, don't hesitate to visit, because it also has an interesting program of concerts, plays, and entertaining workshops for children, making it a great place to spend a different kind of day.
What's more, the MEAM is just like the National Art Museum of Catalonia: it's worth a visit for both its contents and its setting. This museum is located in the Palau Gomis, a unique neoclassical building in Barcelona.
**Recommended if...**you like realistic art or are looking for a different museum that isn't overcrowded to spend a cultural day. When you're done, you can go out for tapas in the El Born neighborhood.
Practical information
- Where: Barra de Ferro, 5.
- How to get there: By bus on lines 14, 40, 42, 45, 59, 64, 120, H14, H16, V15, and V17. / Metro line 1, Arc de Triomf station, and line 4, Jaume I station.
- How long does it take to see it? Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
4. Museum of the History of Catalonia and the terrace
Another of Barcelona's most interesting museums to visit during a getaway is the Museum of the History of Catalonia.
If you're passionate about history, you'll really enjoy the exhibitions, which offer an entertaining and interactive way (a relief for children if you visit with them) to discover the history of the Catalan community from the Paleolithic era to the end of the 20th century.
Imagine trying on medieval armor, grinding wheat the Iberian way, or riding a tram... You won't just be looking at display cases!
How to visit
This is one of the museums in Barcelona where queues often form at the entrance, not only because of its collection but also because its terrace offers a panoramic viewpoint with stunning views of the city's port.
My advice is to buy this ticket to the Museum of the History of Catalonia online, which will give you skip-the-line access to the museum to see the permanent and temporary exhibitions as well as the terrace.
What will you see?
Outside, you'll see the Palacio del Mar, the only 19th-century building still standing in Barcelona's old port. Inside, you'll take a journey through time and learn all about the history of Catalonia in a visual and interactive way.
What's more, from the terrace you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the port of Barcelona and even have some tapas in the restaurant "1881." The cocktails are delicious! It's a great plan for after your visit to the museum, don't you think?
**Recommended if...**you like history and want to learn more about Catalonia to put your trip in context, or you want to enjoy spectacular views of the port of Barcelona.
Practical information
- Where: Plaza de Pau Vila, 3.
- How to get there: By bus on lines 14, 17, 19, 36, 39, 40, 45, 51, 57, 59, 64, and 157. / By metro on line 4, Barceloneta station.
- How long does it take to see it? Approximately 2 hours.
Barcelona Museum Pass (Articket)
If you're an art lover and one of the reasons you're traveling to Barcelona is to visit its museums and soak up the culture, I recommend purchasing the Articket, the Barcelona museum pass.
With this pass, you'll not only save money but also time, as you'll be able to skip the lines and go straight into several of Barcelona's most outstanding museums.
You'll also have access to both the permanent and temporary exhibitions at the Picasso Museum, the National Art Museum of Catalonia, the Joan Miró Foundation, the Barcelona Center for Contemporary Culture (CCCB), the Antoni Tàpies Foundation, and the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA).
Most museums in Barcelona offer free admission for children aged 0 to 15, so if you are traveling with your family, I recommend checking before purchasing the Articket.
About tickets
When you buy your ticket or book your tour, you will receive a confirmation email. Except for the museum pass (which you will need to exchange), you can show your ticket at the museum to access the exhibition you have chosen. In the case of the museum pass, it is also valid for one year from the moment you exchange your voucher for the pass.
Organize your visit to Barcelona's museums
Opening days and times
- Most museums in Barcelona open between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and close between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., depending on the season.
- Almost all museums in Barcelona are closed on Mondays, so be sure to visit them on any other day of the week (and if possible, avoid weekends, as this is when they receive the most visitors).
- All museums are closed on December 25 and January 1 and 6 for religious holidays.
Tips for your visit
- If you can't decide on just one museum, I think the Picasso Museum is the most worthwhile for its large collection and the opportunity to explore the artist's work in depth.
- If you decide to visit the National Art Museum of Catalonia, bear in mind that it is located at the top of Montjuïc, the city's mountain, from where you can see beautiful sunsets. It might be a good idea to go up in the afternoon, explore the museum and the area, and end the day watching the sunset.
- Allow between 45 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes to visit the museum of your choice, unless you want to take an in-depth tour that will take up all morning or part of the afternoon.
- In addition to the museums mentioned here, which in my opinion are the most outstanding in Barcelona, the city has many others that may interest you because of their specific exhibitions. Some examples of other museums in Barcelona are the Maritime Museum, the Erotic Museum, the Design Museum, the Chocolate Museum, CosmoCaixa, and the Olympic Sports Museum, to name a few.
Other visits that may interest you
On your trip to Barcelona, most of your visits will be related in one way or another to Gaudí's architecture. Of course, the Sagrada Familia is an absolute must-see, so I have written a guide that Barcelona Sagrada Familia Tickets and Tours that will surely be very useful when getting your tickets.
I also recommend reading my guide Park Güell in Barcelona Tickets and Tours to learn all the tricks for visiting it. And while you're at it, take a look at my guide to La Pedrera in Barcelona Tickets and Tours and Barcelona Casa Batlló Tickets and Tours, with the best tips for exploring these two architectural gems of the city.
For soccer fans, visiting Spotify Camp Nou is an experience that can be very interesting, as the Spotify Camp Nou Experience allows you to explore the trophy gallery, a space dedicated to Messi, a very interesting audiovisual area, and of course the stands, the locker rooms, and the press room. Find out how to visit here: Barcelona Spotify Camp Nou Stadium Tours.