Our Favorite Museums in Barcelona

This blog post was originally posted on March 5, 2014, and was updated on January 26, 2018.

Barcelona is famous for many things, but art is probably the city’s biggest identifier. We’ve made up a guide to our favorite museums in Barcelona so that you don’t miss a beat!

Enjoy some of the best museums in Barcelona with our handy guide on some of our favorite ones not to miss seeing!

From Gaudi and Miró to Picasso, Barcelona is home to some powerhouse artists and their works. Of course, you can’t leave the city without checking out all of Gaudi’s eye-popping architecture, but there is so much more to see on the art front. Read on for our full list of our favorite museums in Barcelona.

Picasso Museum

Pablo Picasso is one of the most controversial artists of all time, so you can’t pass up the opportunity to form your own opinion at his museum in Barcelona. Located in the incredible Born neighborhood, the Picasso Museum stretches between five captivating medieval palaces. Here you will find the most extensive collection of his works, with 3500 pieces in total, plus special exhibitions like photographs of his years in the South of France with his wife and children. His work spans all sorts of mediums, from paintings to ceramics, and is sure to give you a great summary of his life in Barcelona. Don’t forget about Picasso in the shadow of Gaudi, this is one of the most special museums in Barcelona.

Address: Carrer Montcada, 15-23, 08003

One of the most interesting things to do in Born is to visit the Picasso Museum. Read on for some of our favorite museums in Barcelona — Take a visit to the beautiful Born Culture Centre after the Picasso Museum! Photo Credit: Misty Barker

MACBA

Barcelona’s Museum of Contemporary Art houses the most complete collection of post-modern Catalan art in the world. Located in the El Raval neighborhood, this museum is all about diverse social and political representation through art. If you want to dip your toe into the complicated Catalan history, this is the place to start. They offer a reading room with free access to publications and archives. This makes it a great place to spend a rainy afternoon. Post-war Spanish art varies between big and bold statements and subtle metaphors, so get your thinking cap on and head over to this fascinating Barcelona museum.

Address: Plaça dels Àngels, 1, 08001

MNAC

The National Museum of Catalan Art differs from the MACBA in that it focuses on classic works as opposed to contemporary. Here you will find a huge collection of Romanesque art as well as Gothic, Renaissance and, of course, tons of Catalan art. Housed in the National Palace, the building is just as beautiful as the art inside, especially when you peak out at the views from its spot on Montjuic mountain. Spend a day losing yourself in the art and end it by watching the sun set over Barcelona, you’ll escape from all the tourists down below and feel like you have the city all to yourself.

Address: Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc, 08038

Enjoy some of our favorite museums in Barcelona during your visit! — Nothing finishes off a day of art worshipping than a beautiful Barcelona sunset!

Miró Museum

Another gem on Montjuic is the Fundació Joan Miró. This famous museum in Barcelona is home to an extensive collection of Miró’s cool surrealist works. His sculptures, drawings and paintings will captivate you for hours with their colors and mind-boggling shapes. If your brain needs a little break, not to worry, the museum was designed with plenty of courtyards and terraces to enjoy the fresh air and nature of the mountain. Though this type of art can be hard to understand at first, it’s worth the trip to see what one of Barcelona’s most famous artists has to offer.

Address: Parc de Montjuïc, 08038