Museums in Barcelona

By Heloisa Cassanho Pedroso / February 2, 2021.

As a multicultural city, Barcelona has a great variety of museums that take us on a journey of historyculture and art. Not into museums? Well, then you should read this article, it might just change your mind. Now, if you are a #MuseumLover, like we are, join us for this cultural journey!

museo en barcelona
Credit: Giphy.com

SWEET TRAVEL TIP: Many of these museums offer free entrance on certain days/hours (mostly on Sundays), so check your calendar to make the most of your visit.
Important: Always check the official websites before your visit. We try to keep up-to-date, however opening hours and prices may change since the publication of this article.

BARCELONA’S HISTORY MUSEUM (MUHBA)

Thanks to the construction of the Avenue Via Laietana in 1931, an archaeological site was found in the middle of the Gothic Neighborhood, later converted into museum.  MUHBA was inaugurated in 1943, not only displaying the archaeological site, but also many objects found in different excavations all over Barcelona, as well as pictures and documents that tell the history of the city.

muhba

 

Credit: ajuntament.cat

 

CATALUNYA’S NATIONAL ART MUSEUM (MNAC)

Built in 1929 for Barcelona’s World Fair, the National Palace held many important events until 1934, when it was converted into art museum. The museum’s collection includes works of Gothic and Renaissance Art, Spanish artists from different periods, and also temporary exhibits of modern art, design and photography.
Located at Montjuic’s mountain, facing Plaça de Espanya, the views from and to the museum are spectacular!

museos barcelona
Credit: Sweet Accommodations File
  • Where: Parc de Montjuïc, unnumbered.
  • Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm / Sundays and holidays: from 10am to 3pm.
  • Prices: General entrance 12€ (worth it for 2 entrances within a month) 
  • Free entrance: Every Saturday from 3pm and every 1st Sunday of the month, all day.
  • More info: https://www.museunacional.cat/en

JOAN MIRÓ FOUNDATION

Joan Miró himself had the idea of creating a space to display his works and also to promote the work of young artists, in 1968. Opened to public on 1975, the foundation is more than just a museum: it offers areas for studies, analysis, art laboratory, meetings, events, auditorium, library and also museum store, restaurant, terraces and gardens. As for the exhibits, you’ll find the work of well known artists such as Magritte, Rothko and Calder and the largest collection of Miró’s works in the world (most of them donated by the artist himself) to honor his hometown, Barcelona, with his art.

Fun fact: There are 3 pieces that Miró made to greet people arriving in Barcelona by air, sea and ground: a giant panel at El Prat airport, a pavement mosaic at Las Ramblas and a sculpture by Sants Station. Have you seen them?

museum in barcelona
Credit: Sweet Accommodations File
  • Where: Parc de Montjuïc, unnumbered.
  • Opening hours: Friday to Sunday from 11am to 6pm
  • Prices: Collection + Temporary Exhibits 13€  
  • Free entrance: Children under 15 years old.
  • More info: https://www.fmirobcn.org/es/

PICASSO MUSEUM

Although Picasso was born in Málaga, he lived in Barcelona for several years, creating a special bond with the city. The idea of dedicating a museum to his work in Barcelona came from his friend, the Catalan poet Jaume Sabartés. The museum opened in 1963, basically with the pieces that Picasso has gifted to his friend Sabartés. Overtime, the museum has grown with donations from collectors and other artists (such a as Salvador Dalí) and today the permanent collection holds around 4.250 pieces between paintings, ceramics, engravings and drawings. One of most interesting rooms in the museum displays a the series “Las Meninas” where Picasso deconstructs and recreates in many different ways the famous painting from Diego Velázquez. Unmissable!

museum in barcelona
Credit: museupicasso.bcn

  • Where: Carrer Montcada, 15-23
  • Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 7pm
  • Prices: Collection + Temporary Exhibits 12€  
  • Free entrance: Every Thursday from 4pm to 7pm and every 1st Sunday of the month.
  • More info: http://www.museupicasso.bcn.cat/en

BARCELONA’S CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM (MACBA)

Open to public since 1995, MACBA is located in Barcelona’s Historic Center and it  holds a great collection of contemporary art: around 5.000 pieces from 1940’s to present time, focusing mostly on Spanish and Catalan artists. The building, designed by the American architect Richard Meier impresses by it’s modern design and it’s also a favorite for all the skateboarders in the city – you’ll find them up and down the museum ramps – for a complete street art culture experience.

museos barcelona
Credit: barcelona.cat
  • Where: Plaça dels Àngels, 1
  • Opening hours: Monday to Saturday (closed on Tuesdays):10am to 8pm  / Sunday:10am to 3pm.
  • Prices: General entrance 11€ (worth it one month of unlimited visits)
  • Free entrance: Every Saturday from 4pm.
  • More info: https://www.macba.cat/en

 

DESIGN MUSEUM 

The Design Museum in Barcelona was created to unify and display the collections from 4 different museums: Decorative arts, Ceramics, Textiles and Clothing, and Graphic Arts, totaling over 70.000 objects of design. Such a special collection needed a special building to be displayed: The Disseny Hub building was designed by the MBM, a team of Catalan architects who carefully thought of conserving and displaying every piece of the museum, the best way possible. If you love design (of any kind), modern architecture and museums, this is definitely your place!

museos barcelona
Credit: barcelona.cat

 

 

 

 

 

  • Where: Pl. de les Glòries Catalanes, 37-38
  • Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 2pm and 3pm to 8pm.
  • Prices: General entrance 6€ 
  • Free entrance: Every Saturday from 3pm to 8pm.
  • More info: museudeldisseny@bcn.cat

 

COSMO CAIXA 

Science lovers, this one is for you: Barcelona’s science museum features environment, nature, science and space exhibits, most of them interactive, so children (and adults, why not?) can experiment and play. You can also see the stars at the planetarium and experience a little piece of the rain forest, without leaving the building. Definitely recommended for family visits and curious minds!

museos barcelona
Credit: Sweet Accommodations File

  • Where:  Carrer de Isaac Newton, 26
  • Opening hours: Everyday from 10am to 8pm
  • Prices: General entrance 6€ 
  • Free entrance: All Caixa Bank clients
  • More info: https://cosmocaixa.es

 

History, art, design, architecture, science. We hope you have enjoyed this journey and we hope that when you visit the museums of Barcelona (one of them, or all of them) you share your experiences, impressions and feelings with us – what can we say, we have a soft spot for culture… Don’t you?

Museums in Barcelona

 

 

 

 

 

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