Free museums in Barcelona
Each museum has its own free slot, and several need online booking days ahead.
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001
Picasso Museum BarcelonaBarcelona · Official €12 · Free: Thu 16:00–19:00 and first Sun of the month, with bookingfrom €23Tickets -
002
National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC)Barcelona · Official €12 · Free: Sat from 15:00 and first Sun of the month, with bookingfrom €12Tickets -
003
MACBABarcelona · Official €13.50 · Free: Thu, Fri and Sat from 18:00; first Sun of the monthfrom €15Tickets -
004
Maritime Museum of BarcelonaBarcelona · Official €10 · Free: Sundays from 15:00; under-17sfrom €10Tickets -
005
Montjuïc CastleBarcelona · Official €12 · Free: Sundays from 15:00, first Sunday of the month all day; under-16sfrom €17.10Tickets -
006
Museum of the History of CataloniaBarcelona · Official €6 · Free: First Sunday of the month, 10:00–14:30; under-16sfrom €8Tickets -
007
Olympic and Sports MuseumBarcelona · Official €6.30 · Free: first Sunday of the month; accompanied under-7sfrom €6.30Tickets -
008
Palau GüellBarcelona · Official €15 · Free: First Sunday of the month, with bookingfrom €15Tickets -
009
Sant Pau Art Nouveau SiteBarcelona · Official €18 · Free: 23 April, Museums' Night, 24 Septemberfrom €17Tickets
Free museums in Barcelona on Sundays from 15:00
From 15:00 you pay nothing at the Maritime Museum, Montjuïc Castle, the MUHBA sites (the city's history museum), the Museu del Disseny, the Museu de la Música, Frederic Marès, Pedralbes Monastery, Museu Blau and the Etnològic. CCCB joins the list from 15:00 to 20:00, but you have to book online first.
Don't count on MNAC or the Museum of the History of Catalonia: on Sundays they close at 15:00 and 14:30 respectively.
What's free on the first Sunday of the month
Nearly all of those are free all day. These join them, each with its own rule:
- Picasso Museum. Booking only. Places are released four days ahead, from 10:00.
- MNAC. Online booking, 10:00 to 15:00.
- MACBA. All opening hours.
- Museum of the History of Catalonia. 10:00 to 14:30.
- Palau Güell. Online only, from 10:00 on the Thursday before.
- Olympic Museum, Mies van der Rohe Pavilion and Foto Colectania. The last of these from 11:00 to 15:00.
Free on Thursdays and Saturdays
- Saturdays, MNAC. From 15:00. From October to April it closes at 18:00, which gives you three hours, so start with what interests you most.
- Thursday to Saturday, MACBA. From 18:00.
- Thursdays, Picasso Museum. 16:00 to 19:00, with booking. Confirm on the museum website before you go.
Open days through the year
Santa Eulàlia in February, Sant Jordi, Museum Day in May, Museums' Night, the Diada and La Mercè all open many museums for free, each with its own list. The Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site is free for everyone only on 23 April, Museums' Night and 24 September.
Free doesn't mean empty
Several museums cap numbers, and Palau Güell warns that its website can jam when tickets are released. If there's only one museum on your list, consider paying and going in at your own pace.
Under-16s pay nothing at MNAC, MACBA, Montjuïc Castle or MUHBA on any day, so the calendar doesn't matter for them.
Frequently asked questions
What museums are free in Barcelona on Sundays?
From 15:00: the Maritime Museum, Montjuïc Castle, MUHBA, CCCB, the Museu del Disseny, the Museu de la Música, Frederic Marès, Pedralbes, Museu Blau and the Etnològic. On the first Sunday of the month, many are free all day.
Is the Picasso Museum in Barcelona free?
On the first Sunday of the month, and on Thursdays from 16:00 to 19:00, with online booking. Places open four days ahead, from 10:00.
Is MNAC free?
On Saturdays from 15:00 and on the first Sunday of the month, with compulsory online booking. Under-16s and over-65s from the European Community don't pay either.
Are the Egyptian Museum or Moco Museum ever free?
They aren't in the city's guide to free entry. Both are paid museums.
Does Articket work during free hours?
You don't need it, and on those days the pass gives you no fast-track entry.
Sources
Facts taken from the official websites, quoted in their original language. Has something changed? Write to info@museums.es.
- museunacional.cat/en/opening-hours-and-prices —
Over 65 years old of the European Community
- barcelona.cat/museusbarcelona/es/detall/detalle/domingos-de-museo-sin- —
Una docena de equipamientos de pago ofrecen acceso gratuito todos los domingos a partir de las 15 h
- barcelona.cat/museusbarcelona/es/detall/detalle/domingos-de-museo-sin- —
Museu Marítim de Barcelona. Acceso gratuito cada domingo a partir de las 15 h en este emblemático espacio de las Drassanes.
- barcelona.cat/museusbarcelona/es/detall/detalle/domingos-de-museo-sin- —
Museu d’Història de Barcelona. Entrada libre en todas sus sedes (excepto el Park Güell) los domingos por la tarde y gratuita todo el día el primer domingo de mes.
- barcelona.cat/museusbarcelona/es/detall/detalle/domingos-de-museo-sin- —
Museu del Disseny de Barcelona. Entrada gratuita cada domingo de 15 a 20 h y todo el día el primer domingo de mes.
- barcelona.cat/museusbarcelona/es/detall/detalle/domingos-de-museo-sin- —
Museu Olímpic i de l'Esport Joan Antoni Samaranch. Acceso gratuito el primer domingo de mes con una jornada de puertas abiertas.
- barcelona.cat/museusbarcelona/es/detall/detalle/domingos-de-museo-sin- —
Museu Picasso de Barcelona. Entrada gratuita el primer domingo de mes (con reserva previa).
- museupicassobcn.cat/en/plan-your-visit/buy-tickets-and-opening-hours —
Thursday from 4.00 to 7.00pm (Prior reservation required*)
- museupicassobcn.cat/en/plan-your-visit/buy-tickets-and-opening-hours —
Free-of-charge times:four days before the visit, from 10 am onwards
- museunacional.cat/en/opening-hours-and-prices —
Admission to the museum is free every Saturday from 3 pm, every first Sunday of the month and open doors days
- museunacional.cat/en/opening-hours-and-prices —
Winter opening times: October to April, Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm; Sundays and public holidays, 10am to 3pm.
- macba.cat/en/plan-your-visit/free-entrance-and-discount-admission —
Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 6 pm, visit MACBA free and take in all the exhibitions and the Collection at the best time of day.
- macba.cat/en/plan-your-visit/free-entrance-and-discount-admission —
On the first Sunday of every month, entrance to MACBA is free throughout its opening hours.
- cccb.org/es/visita —
Domingos de 15:00 a 20:00 (aforo limitado, hay que hacer reserva previa en línea).
- mmb.cat/es/visita/planifica-tu-visita —
Todos los domingos, a partir de las 15 h, la entrada al Museu Marítim de Barcelona es gratuita.
- ajuntament.barcelona.cat/castelldemontjuic/es/la-visita/informacion-pr —
menores de 16 años, todos los domingos a partir de las 15h y el primer domingo de mes todo el dia.
- barcelona.cat/museuhistoria/es/horarios —
primer domingo de mes, domingos a partir de las 15 h
- mhcat.cat/esmhc/la_visita/ubicacion_horarios_tarifas/tarifas —
Primer domingo de mes, de 10 a 14.30h
- inici.palauguell.cat/es/jornada-de-puertas-abiertas —
Las entradas de los primeros domingos de mes se podran adquirir el jueves anterior a las 10 h
- santpaubarcelona.org/es/prepara-la-teva-visita —
Entrada gratuita: 23 de abril, Noche de los Museos, 24 de septiembre.
- articketbcn.org/es/faq —
On days or at times when museum entrance is free of charge, there is no fast-track entrance.
- macba.cat/en/plan-your-visit —
Under 16s have free standard entrance to the museum.
- museunacional.cat/en/opening-hours-and-prices —
Free admission for under 16s and over 65s
- bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com/shopv3/es/product/1/barcelona-card.html —
Museu Egipci de Barcelona
Independent guide to museums in Spain. We are not the official website of any museum.