The Best 11 Museums in Barcelona: Its not all about Gaudí!
March 11, 2023
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What have you heard about other museums in Barcelona besides Gaudí? I bet that in your to-do list of the city, you have Casa Millà, Casa Batllò, Park Guell, Palau Guell, and the Sagrada Familia.
But if you are an art or history lover, there is much more than Gaudí to Barcelona.
After reading this article, you will have a list of 11 museums to enjoy during your trip to Barcelona.
If you have any new additions to the list, we would love to add them!
Also, a great tip for travelers who want to visit Museums in Barcelona is to know when there’s free entrance and open days! Visit the following article for a complete table with dates:
Table of Contents ▼ ▶
1. MOCO
📍Adress: Carrer de Montcada 25
🕗Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. And Friday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm.
| Age | Prices |
|---|---|
| 18 - | €19,95 |
| 10 - 17 years | €14,95 |
| Student | €14,95 |
| 0 - 9 years | Free |
If you get your tickets online, you’ll save 2 - 5 € per ticket.
“We use the power of art to challenge the norm, champion the truth, open up minds, and question the world around us.”
The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is originally from Amsterdam (Netherlands). Located in the heart of the city, the museum is an early 20th-century villa that reflects the country’s traditional architecture.
The raison d’être of the MOCO is to empower street artists and artists who want to start a conversation and change society. In addition, this independent museum seeks to help charities as they strive to bring hope and light to others.
I learned about the MOCO in 2021 on a trip to Barcelona. By then, I didn’t know that it was an important modern art museum in the Netherlands, but I was extremely attracted by the names in their exhibition.
Banksy, Haring, Warhol, Basquiat, Kusama, Dalí. All masters and known names for art lovers. I was intrigued to see what pieces the museum had from them.
I visited the museum after Holy Week. It wasn’t crazy full as you could peacefully stroll through the 18th-century palace where the museum set its home. I must say that I didn’t know what to expect regarding the number of art pieces. Thought I would be in a Prado of modern art, but MOCO is a complete concept I wasn’t used to.
The pieces from each artist are unique and limited, from 1 to 3 pieces per artist. Nevertheless, the experience offered in the museum is unique. My favorite work was the immersive digital experience, and Jesus is my Homeboy: The Last Supper by photographer David Lachapelle.
I think MOCO is a must-visit from the lists of the museum in Barcelona; book your tickets online and save some bucks for coffee.
2. Museu Picasso
📍Adress: C/ de Montcada, 15-23
🕗Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. Closed on Mondays.
🎫Tickets prices: €12.00 for general admission.
Admission is free on Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm and on the first Sunday of each month.
I visited the Museu Picasso years ago when I had just started learning more about art. I knew the artist by name and key pieces of Cubism, but I never really deepened into his artistic journey of origins.
Picasso is originally from Malaga, but most parts of his artistic development and experimenting happened in the bohemian city of Barcelona. And that is the origin of Museu Picasso! The founders wanted to share the artist’s key work in Barcelona, plus many other pieces.
The Museu Picasso is a must-visit museum in Barcelona for those of us who appreciate art. It houses over 4,000 works by Pablo Picasso, making it one of the world’s most extensive collections of his work.
The museum is located in the bohemian neighborhood of the Born, a few minutes away from the MOCO. The building is housed in five adjoining medieval palaces in the Gothic Quarter, which adds to the charm of the experience.
What can you expect in this museum in Barcelona? Picasso’s early work included sketches, paintings, and ceramics.
Back to when I visited the museum, I didn’t trust online booking, but is the best you can do. Get your tickets online and save yourself waiting time! Plus, I would recommend you the guided tours to understand each piece better.
3. Fundació Joan Miró
📍Adress: Parc de Montjuïc
🕗Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Sunday from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. Closed on Mondays.
| Age | Price |
|---|---|
| General | €14 |
| Students | €7 |
| > 65 years | €7 |
| < 15 years | €7 |
Admission is free on Saturdays from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm and on the first Sunday of each month.
Joan Mirò was a Catalan painter, sculptor, and ceramist from the 20th century, one of Spain’s most important figures of modern art.
The Fundació Joan Miró was created by the artist himself to create a space to the home and study his art. The Fundació also collaborates with another contemporary artists, offers academic experiences, and holds events in association with other entities.
What will you find in the Fundació Joan Miró? 217 paintings, 178 sculptures, 9 textiles, 4 ceramics, some 8,000 drawings, and almost all graphic works.
On top of having almost all the unique pieces of Miró in one place, you will enjoy a unique view of Barcelona! The museum is on Montjuïc hill, providing a stunning view from the sculpture garden surrounding the building.
4.Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
📍Adress: Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc
🕗Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Closed on Mondays.
🎫Tickets prices: €12 for general admission and €2 for basic admission. Admission is free on Saturdays from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm and on the first Sunday of each month.
Before diving into this museum, let’s clarify the difference between general and basic admission. The general tickets allow you to visit the permanent collection of the National Museum of Art of Catalunya, while the basic admission only lets you into the building and terrace.
The National Museum of Art of Catalunya has a bit of everything. From Romanesque to Modern Art, this museum in Barcelona offers an extensive exhibition of over 260,000 pieces, including paintings, sculptures, and decorative art.
One unique piece in the museum is the 12th-century Apse of Sant Climent de Taüll, which shows one of Spain’s greatest examples of Romanesque art.
The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is located in the Palau Nacional, built for the International Exhibition of 1929. It is the same palace that you see when you visit the Magic Foutain of Montjuic.
In case you only go for the basic admission, you experience a panoramic view of the city from the terrace.
5. Museu d’Història de Barcelona
📍Adress: Pl. del Rei
🕗Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. Sunday and public holidays from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. Closed on Mondays.
🎫Tickets prices: €7.00 for general admission.
Admission is free on Sundays from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
The Museu d’Història de Barcelona, also known as the MUHBA, is a museum that explores the history of Barcelona. The museum is spread across several locations throughout the city, with each location focusing on a particular period in the city’s history.
I couldn’t get tickets for this museum in Barcelona because I needed to book them in time. However, on my recent trip to the city, I took a walking guided tour through the Gothic Quarter, and the Museum of History of Barcelona in King’s Square was part of the route.
Plaza del Rey, or King’s Square, is home to Casa Padellàs, an early 16th-century palace which, a hundred years ago, was moved stone by stone from Carrer Mercedes as part of the plans to form a “Gothic quarter.”
In addition, in the middle of the 20th century, Barcelona found remaining of the Roman city of Barcino. Since then, the Museu d’Història de Barcelona has been conserving the place.
This museum’s location in Barcelona is what I recommend the most!
6. Museu d’Historia de Catalunya
📍Adress: Pça. de Pau Vila, 3
🕗Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
🎫**Tickets prices: **
| Age | Price |
|---|---|
| General | €8 |
| Students | €4 |
| > 65 years | €4 |
| < 15 years | Free |
Free admission on the first Sunday of each month.
If you had traveled to Spain before or researched the country, you must have noticed that each autonomous community is rich and different in culture. Catalunya is one of the best examples, and one museum in Barcelona will show centuries of history in a day.
The History Museum of Catalunya is next to the harbor in the Palau de Mar of Barcelona. The building home to the museum is one of the few that remain from the old industrial port of the city; if you stroll through it, it will resemble the docks of London.
This museum in Barcelona offers a unique experience showcasing Catalan society’s evolution from prehistoric times to the present day.
One of the most important art pieces at the museum is the “Retablo de Sant Jordi,” the saint patron of Catalonia.
It is a stunning altarpiece from the 15th century that depicts the legendary tale of Saint George slaying the dragon. This masterpiece’s complex details and vivid colors are breathtaking and provide a glimpse into Catalonia’s artistic and cultural traditions during the Middle Ages.
Some visitors have described it as “fascinating and informative.” They were impressed by the range of exhibits and the depth of information provided and noted that the museum was well-organized and easy to navigate.
Something I would love to point out about this museum is that it was created to be the best institution for recollecting the heritage and history of Catalonia.
7. Caixa Forum Barcelona
📍Adress: Av. Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia 6-8
🕗Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.
🎫Tickets prices: Genera admission fee is €6, but sometimes the costs depend on the exhibition.
Some exhibitions are free, while others require a ticket. Check the website for details.
Caixa Forum in Barcelona is an exciting addition to this list of museums. It is located in the 20th-century Casaramora textile factory, which in the 60s was bought by “La Caixa” and transformed into the artsy building of today.
One of the museum’s highlights is the rotative exhibitions featuring works by the most influential artists. For example, they had an arrangement with pieces from Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, and Antoni Tàpies. The exhibition showcases various artistic movements, including Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism.
In addition to the permanent exhibition, the Caixa Forum is home to different art pieces that rotate within its other centers around Spain.
The Caixa Forum Barcelona is a must-visit for true art lovers. The location is far from the city center. So, if you plan to visit the Palace of Montjuïc, plan your day and visit this museum in Barcelona.
8. Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona
📍Adress: Montalegre, 5
🕗Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm. Closed on Mondays.
| Exhibition | Price |
|---|---|
| Admission to one exhibition | 6€ |
| Admission to two exhibitions | 8€ |
| Reduced admission to one exhibition | 4€ |
| Reduced admission to two exhibitions | 6€ |
Some exhibitions are free, while others require a ticket.
The Center of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (CCCB) is a place that gives space to new projects and artists, in addition to the archive of culture, thought, and experimental cinema.
It is located in the neighborhood of the Raval in a building with a lot of history. Once a 13th-century monastery and Jesuit seminary, then military, and finally a charitable house before it was chosen as the new house of culture that it is now.
This museum in Barcelona has been home to film festivals and World Press Photos exhibitions. If you want to visit, check their calendar! You might find an interesting exhibition like a comic book collection.
Some visitors have described the museum as “thought-provoking,” so if you like to be challenged by art, the CCCB should be on your list of museums in Barcelona.
9. Casa Batllò
📍Adress: Pg. de Gràcia, 43
🕗Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.
| Age | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | €29.50 |
| Students | €25.50 |
| 13 - 17 | €21.50 |
| < 12 years | Free |
| > 65 years | €26.50 |
Casa Batllò was created by the renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi in 1904. The building already existed, and Gaudi was hired by Joseph Batllò to remodel it using his architectural style. He used a combination of ceramics, stained glass, and wrought iron to create a stunning facade, unlike any other building in Barcelona.
When I first visited the Casa Batllò in Barcelona, I thought it resembled the sea. The colors and the curved shapes reminded me of waves and coral.
However, some people see it differently. A curious fact about the building is that it is sometimes called the “House of Bones” due to its skeletal-like appearance. The undulating shapes of the balconies and the curved lines of the facade are reminiscent of bones, giving the building a surreal and otherworldly feel.
Inside the building, you will find a traditional Catalan residence of the 20th century. The beautiful thing about Casa Batllò is the inside’s wooden decorations, which show that it was once a comfy and warm home to receive friends. It has a lot of light, and some spaces feel like fantasy.
When I visited, I took the standard tour, but there were other experiences, like a night with music and a virtual reality tour especially suitable for the children.
Casa Batllò is an architectural museum in Barcelona that has been declared a UNESCO world heritage, something you shouldn’t miss even if you just visits it from the outside.
10.Casa Millà
📍Adress: Pg. de Gràcia, 92
🕗Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 am to 8:30 pm.
| Age | Price |
|---|---|
| General | €38.00 |
| 7 - 12 | €16.00 |
| 0 - 6 | Free |
Gaudi’s Casa Mila, also known as La Pedrera, is a masterpiece of architecture created between 1906 and 1912 and another unique example of his style.
“La Pedrera” was created as a residence for a wealthy couple, and Gaudi was given complete creative control over the project. He designed the building to reflect the organic forms of nature, using undulating lines and curves to create a sense of movement and fluidity.
This is again a building in which he sought to reflect nature. I bet that if someone could pick it up and locate it in the desert, it would blend in perfectly.
I must say that I preferred Casa Batllò over Casa Millà, because even though the latter lets in an incredible amount of light, the rocky decoration doesn’t give me the warmth the other did.
One curious thing about the building is that the chimneys on the rooftop look like soldiers that overlook the house from any danger.
My ticket came with a very informative audioguide that explained the complete history and details of the building. Once you finish, you can enjoy a drink in the bar from the restaurant.
*Casa Millà, or “La Pedrera,” offers nine different tours to experience the building. Once again, prices are pretty high, so I went for the standard tour, but next time I will save up for the sunrise experience.
11. Museo de la Xocolata
📍Adress: C/ del Comerç, 36
🕗Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.
| Age | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | €6.50 |
| 7 - 12 | €5.50 |
| 0 - 7 | Free |
\\\\\*\\\\\*Visitors can enjoy free admission to the museum on Mondays from 3 pm to 8 pm.\\\\\*\\\\\*
The Xocolate Museum in Barcelona is dedicated to the history and art of chocolate; it was founded in 2000, and the building dates back to the 19th century.
The museum visitors can learn about the history of chocolate, from its origins in Mesoamerica to its arrival in Europe and its evolution to today.
The Xocolata Museum also features interesting chocolate sculptures full of creativity and art that anyone can enjoy.
The tour offers the following:
- Cacao and chocolate: The museum explains the whole process, from the cacao tree’s seed until the cacao becomes chocolate.
- Chocolate, a bridge between cultures: You will explore the history of the Mayan-Aztec world through its arrival in Spain, its entry into Europe, and ending with industrialization.
- Art, creation, pastry: Chocolate has become an art; you will see how people are inspired and create art from it.
- Audiovisuals: You will review the history of chocolate in films.
- Machinery: A tour of the primary machines related to the work of chocolate.
It is a perfect museum in Barcelona to go with kids and let them enjoy the aromas and taste of the chocolate and pastries in the gift shop and cafeterias.
In this list, you have the 11 best museums to visit in Barcelona. There are ideas for kids, couples, families, and anyone! As I told you before, Barcelona is not only about Gaudi (even though it’s beautiful!).
Don’t forget to book your tickets in advance! Most museums offer discounts when you book online, which could save you a big line.
