Barcelona Art Galleries

Barcelona’s art galleries are some of the greatest in Europe. Combined with the city’s stunning Modernist architecture the Catalan capital is without doubt an art lovers paradise. The main galleries that you must visit include the following:

The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) is housed in the Palau Nacional. It is one of the world’s most important medieval art collections and is one of Spain’s great galleries. It houses a collection of Romanesque art which was recovered from churches around Catalonia in the 1920s. As a result this is Europe’s number one centre for Catalan art.

Museu Nacional d’Art Opening Times
Tue-Sat: 10am-7pm
Sun. + Public Holidays: 10am-2.30pm
CLOSED: MONDAY
Official Website: MNAC
FREE on 1st Thursday of every month.

The Museu Picasso, housed in a medieval palace complex, is Barcelona’s most visited tourist attraction. Although many of Pablo Picasso’s main works are in Madrid the museum is still one of the most important collections of the artist’s works in the world.

Museu Picasso Opening Times
Tue-Sat + Public Holidays: 10am-8pm
Sun: 9am-2pm
CLOSED: MONDAY
Official Website: Picasso Museum Barcelona
FREE on 1st Sunday of every month

The Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) displays a collection of the main movements in 20th century art with a special emphasis on Catalunya and Spain. Its location in the rundown El Raval area just west of the Ramblas is encouraging significant urban revival there.

Museu d’Art Contemporani Opening Times
Mon and Wed-Fri: 11am-7.30pm
Sat: 10am-8pm
Sun+Public Holidays: 10am-3pm
CLOSED: TUESDAY
Official Website: MACBA

Another “must see” is the Fundació Joan Miró which contains more than 11,000 works by Joan Miró who is one of Catalonia’s greatest artists of the 20th century. Of the 400 or so on permanent display some portray his surrealism of the 1920s but most are from his more settled period in the 1960s and beyond.

Barcelona Art Tours

If you’re interested in a pre-arranged art tour whilst in Barcelona you should consider the private Picasso and Miro Art Museum Tour (Tour Reference Nº: 1166). This half day tour lasts around four hours and concentrates on the highlights of the Picasso Museum and the Joan Miro Foundation. For other personalised, private tours just use the same link and make an enquiry through the contact link on that page.

Travel Tip – Barcelona Museum Pass

The Barcelona Museum Pass was launched by some of Barcelona’s most important art centres. This combined ticket gives admission to the following art museums:

It is available at the above link and at participating galleries and museums.