Barcelona Museums
Explore the beat museums in Barcelona which includes Picasso Museum, Barcelona History Museum MUHBA, Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, and many more.Besides its lively nightlife, Barcelona is equally known for its vast number of museums that have preserved its history and culture for centuries. There are more than 80 Barcelona museums that present their extensive collections on the themes of history, culture, modern or classical art, crafts, science and many others.
You would find a great collection of 4,200 masterpieces of Picasso at the Picasso museum which is a must visit. The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya is known for its vast hoard of 290,000 artworks, making it one of the largest museums that one must explore. The other Barcelona best museum that would fascinate you with their collection is Museo de la Ciencia Cosmocaixa which the science enthusiasts might find interesting. The European Museum of Modern Art is a one-time stop for appreciating as well as learning the modern forms in comics, sculpting, painting, etc.
People Also Ask About Museums in Barcelona
-
What are the other attraction tickets that you can book through Thrillophilia while in Spain?
Here is the list of some of the best Spain attraction tickets that you can book via Thrillophilia: -
Which are the best museums in Barcelona?
1. Picasso Museum: The Picasso museum was first opened to the public in 1963 and has an extensive collection of the popular works of the famous artist Picasso. The close friend of Picasso, Jaime Sabates had gifted a large collection of 4,200 artworks to the museum. This Barcelona museum is the best and consists of five Gothic palaces and is the highlighted section of the Carrer de Montcada street. The eye-catching interiors of the building would grab your attention other than the artistic masterpieces hung on the walls.
Location- Carrer de Montcada, 15-23, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Timing- 10 AM to 7 PM from Tuesday to Sunday ( Monday closed)
2. Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya: This museum has an extensive collection of the Catalan visual art from the late 19th and 20th centuries including works of the Catalan modernism and noucentisme cultural movement. It’s the officially largest Barcelona museum with an extensive collection of 2,90,000 art pieces of romanesque art, gothic art, modern art, thyssen bornemisza, renaissance, baroque art and many others. The building of the museum is spread over an area of 50,000 square metres and constructed with an academic classical style.
Location- Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc, s/n, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
Timing- 10 AM to 6 PM between Tuesday to Saturday;
10 AM to 3 PM on Sunday
3. Barcelona History Museum MUHBA: This museum is an effort in order to conserve, research, and exhibit the extensive historical collection about the history of Barcelona. This Barcelona museum has five museums that represent the culture and way of living of Barcelona through different eras and periods which you can explore according to your preferences. These five museums includes the Conjunt Monumental de la Plaça del Rei, Museu-Casa-Verdaguer, the Espai Santa Caterina, Centre d'Interpretació del Call and Refugi 307.
Location- Plaça del Rei, s/n, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Timing- 10 AM to 7 PM between Tuesday to Saturday;
10 AM to 8 PM on Sunday
4. Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona: This art and cultural centre is amongst the Barcelona best museums presenting a wide collection of contemporary art. It also organises many programmes like exhibitions, events, debates, etc., while encouraging creations that use new technology, explore fusion of genres and promote both national and international artworks. The exhibition spaces of the museum are spread in an area of 4,000 sq.m out of a total 15,000 meter square. Inside the campus of the museum you would find Laie-CCCN bookshop, bar-restaurant with terrace and a documentation centre as well.
Location- Carrer de Montalegre, 5, 08001 Barcelona, Spain
Timing- 11 AM to 8PM from Tuesday to Sunday ( Monday closed)
5. Maritime Museum: The dedicated royal arsenal shipbuilding infrastructure used from the 13th to 18th century was later converted into a Maritime Museum and is one of Barcelona best museums. It shows the history of the early days of the Spanish Navy and its collection has displays of several navigation instruments, weapons, portolans as well as paintings. The exhibitions at the museum cover incidents of catastrophes like the fuel oil spillover, the successful stories of Catalan shipping and about the manufacturing of boats.
Location- Av. de les Drassanes, 1, 08001 Barcelona, Spain
Timing- 10 AM to 8 PM, throughout the week
6. Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art: It’s a contemporary art museum, opened in 1995 that displays a large collection of upto 5,000 artworks that dates from the mid of 20th century. At this Barcelona museum you would find the art pieces organised in three periods of modern art- from 40s to 60s; 60s to 70s and contemporary. Alongwith the post-1945 Catalan and Spanish artworks you could also look up at the work of the international artists.
Location- Plaça dels Àngels, 1, 08001 Barcelona, Spain
Timing- 11 AM to 7:30 PM on Monday, Wednesday to Friday; 10 AM to 8 PM on Saturday and 10 AM to 3PM on Sunday
7. Museo de la Ciencia Cosmocaixa: Cosmocaixa is amongst the Barcelona best museums and is divided into various spaces dedicated for the different branches of science. There are several science spaces at the museum like the Universe Room and the Kosmos space which would expand your knowledge about the expansion of the universe. At the evolution section you would understand the biological aspects of life and in the Planetarium you would look at the stars. You would also get familiar with the flooded forest of Amazon and might understand the secret of Earth’s geology at the Geological wall.
Location- Carrer d'Isaac Newton, 26, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
Timing- 10 AM to 8 PM, throughout the week
8. CaixaForum Barcelona: Among the Barcelona best museums, the CaixaForum Museum houses exhibitions related to different forms of arts like comics and tapestry paintings. The museum has a good collection of comics that reflects societal understanding through different perspectives. A collection of the works of the famous artists Joan Miro and Josep Royo that includes the seven monumental tapestries is up at display as well. Along With enjoying the collection you could also visit the modernist factory of CaixaForum, indulge in talks with musicologists, writers and educate yourself more about the social issues with comics.
Location- Av. Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 6-8, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
Timing- 10 AM to 8 PM, throughout the week
9. European Museum of Modern Art: Take a trip to one of Barcelona best museums where you could explore the modern-day-art and figurative modern European art crafted by internationally acclaimed artists, sculptors, digital artists, etc. The museum also allows craftspersons to sharpen their skills under the guidance of the best tutors in the fields of painting, contemporary art and figurative arts. There is an opera at the Palau Gomis inside the building as well where visitors can enjoy music performances and concerts.
Location- Carrer de la Barra de Ferro, 5, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Timing- 11 AM to 7 PM from Tuesday to Sunday.
10. Gaudí House Museum: The Gaudi House, which was once the residence of Antoni Gaudi, a world renowned architect, is currently among the Barcelona best museums. Gaudi was also a proponent of Catalan Modernism which is apparent in the collection of the museum. The house has numerous memorabilia designed by himself between 1906-1925 which would allow you to learn about the inspirations of his work and how he utilised them to create masterpieces. The Gaudi House is one of his masterpieces, the others are the Casa Batllo, Casa Calvet and the Crypt of Colonia Guell.
Location- Park Güell, Ctra. del Carmel, 23A, 08013 Barcelona, Spain
Timing- 9:30 AM to 8 PM -
What are the other attraction tickets that you can book through Thrillophilia while in Spain?
Here is the list of some of the best Spain attraction tickets that you can book via Thrillophilia: -
Which museums are free to visit in Barcelona?
1. La Virreina Palace: The 1772 built La Virreina Palace is currently the building for the city council’s Culture Institute and famously hosts numerous art exhibitions and cultural events. The architecture of the building has been designed in fusion of the baroque and rococo style and has superior window hoods and vases’ decorate the building's skyline. The cultural events held at the museum are highly engaging and of different fields like painting, writing, sculpting, video art, visionary women art, etc. You could also participate in several seminars, talks, courses, workshops that are being organised in short intervals at the museum.
Location- La Rambla, 99, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Timing- 11 AM to 8 PM from Tuesday to Sunday
2. Santa Monica Arts Centre: The art centre has been presenting its collection on contemporary art since 1988 and holds works of contemporary Spanish and international artists every year. The building of the museum has been standing since 1626 and was renovated to be converted into an arts centre. This Barcelona museum has an observation deck which acts like a corridor where you would find several other artistic expressions like cinema, theatre, music, dance, literature on display as well.
Location- La Rambla, 7, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Timing- 11 AM to 8:30 PM, from Tuesday to Sunday
3. Photography Archive of Barcelona: It’s certainly one of Barcelona best museums which was created in 1931 and is placed in the building of the Convent of Saint Augustine. The extensive collection of the museum is home to over two million photographs that tell the story of different photography styles from the early days till present. The photographs present a snippet of the lives of the people of 18th and 19th century people. The huge collection of the museum has been possible due to the contribution of the professionals and amateur photographers, publishing houses, celebrities, institutions and others.
Location- Plaça de Pons i Clerch, 2, 2n, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Timing- 10 AM to 7 PM from Tuesday to Saturday, Monday and between 10 AM to 2 PM on Sunday -
Which is Barcelona’s biggest Museum?
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya is one of the biggest and Barcelona's best museums. It was built in 1929 and has a varied and comprehensive collection of the Catalan art. The museum is spread over an area of 50,000 square metres and houses upto 290,000 art pieces on display.
-
How long does it take to go around the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art?
The Barcelona museum is known for its collection of 5,000 art pieces from the post-1945 modern Catalan art phase. The museum is spread over a huge area of 153,923 square feet and features work of renowned artists like Keith Haring, Vito Acconco, Anish Kapoor, Donald Judd and others.
-
How many museums are there in Barcelona?
The city of Barcelona has more than 80 museums and they cover different ideas on culture and artistic expressions such as art, sculptors, comics, theatre and much more.
-
Are Barcelona Museums worth visiting?
Yes, Barcelona museums are worth visiting as they present a range of items on different themes like modern or classical art, history, archeology, photography archives and much more. Not only could you see the impressive collection of the museums but also enrol yourself in several learning and mentoring programmes that would help you improve your skills in art, writing, sculpting and other art forms.
-
How to reach Barcelona?
1. By Air- The nearest international airports to the city are Barcelona El Prat Airport; other airports suitable for locals are the Sabadell Airport and the Reus Airport.
2. By Road- The main bus services that connect the city are Megabus, Eurolines and Busbud.
3. By Train- Rail commuting is a very flexible option to commute intercity, Barcelona Sants and Barcelona Franca are the two main railway stations. -
What is the best time to visit Barcelona?
The most preferred time for a visit to Barcelona is during the summer season in June to August as there are several festivals and events being organised during these months. The city is very lively during the period and you’d be able to enjoy other activities than visiting museums like taking a night tour around the city, enjoying an audiovisual show at the Casa Mila building, etc.

- 2H

- 12H

- 4H

- 1H
Barcelona Top Attractions
Places To Visit In Barcelona
Spend a day of excitement and fun at this unique open air museum that has been built to look like an actual village and which also literally means Spanish Village. Located just a short distance from the iconic Montjuïc Fountains, Poble Espanyol is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city today. It packs a variety of experiences including an amazing tour of the oldest neighbourhoods of the city recreated beautifully here, visit to a modern art museum, and much more.Walk through the enchanting village that boasts some of the most remarkable renditions of various important Spanish monuments. It has been made very tourist friendly so you can easily explore and experience the various attractions ranging from Andalusian settings to chapels that have Gothic architectural influences. Poble Espanyol is known for bringing together varied Spanish cultures by organising a host of shows all through the year including dance performances, theatre, and gastronomic festivals. You can also choose to become a part of the group tours that are organised here and delve deeper into the history and traditions of the city. Suggested Read: Museums In Barcelona

The first-ever house designed by Antoni Gaudi, and considered to be amongst the first and finest masterpieces of Modernism, Casa Vicens Gaudi dates back to the period between 1883 and 1885. It was built by order of Manuel Vicens and was later declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year 2005.The house was originally planned to be built as a holiday home with a garden. However, it was later designed with green and white tiles as well as an opulent cast-iron gate. Casa Vicens is a building with a clear Moorish influence. This influence is most visible in the polychromy of the façade, which is decorated with brightly-coloured tiles. The building is also notable for its use of brick and ceramics, which are some of Gaudi’s favourite materials.The main floor of the house is occupied by a large salon, which is surrounded by a gallery. This gallery is supported by slender iron columns and gives access to the different rooms of the house. The upper floor is divided into two parts: a living area for the family and a service area for the staff. The roof of the house is very unusual. It is covered with ceramic tiles that have been placed in a wave-like pattern. This roof is one of the first examples of Gaudi’s use of undulating forms. As of today, the house serves as a museum in honour of Antoni Gaudi.Suggested Read: Madrid Holiday Packages

Designed by the great architect of his time, Antoni Gaudi, the magnificent Casa Batllo in Barcelona, Spain, reflects a unique architectural style. The use of a modernist grid with unusual, atypical shapes combined together makes this place one of the most beautiful destinations to travel to in Barcelona. Casa Batllo, also known as the "House of Dragon", was constructed between 1904 to 1906.Formerly, it was the summer house of the world-famous Batllo family. Later, it was transformed into a museum. Today, it serves as a prominent tourist destination as the museum of Barcelona. Because of its unmatched beauty, Casa Batllo was regarded as a famous UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005. This place remains open from 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM. In all, it can be concluded that this structure is an artistic blend of modernism and practicality, which guarantees an immersive experience in every watch. This place boasts of a wide array of attractions which makes it one of the top tourist attractions in the city. You will need at least 2 hours to take a tour. It is well-maintained and features beautiful sculptures, restaurants and cafes, and shops in and around the Casa Batllo. So, a trip to the world-famous Casa Batllo is a must if you're planning to visit Barcelona.
More Barcelona Attractions
Barcelona Travel Guides




















More Things to do in Barcelona
More on Barcelona Tourism
Popular Museums Destinations
