Our 11 Favorite Free Museums in Barcelona (Map + Free Days)

ByAllan Updated

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Visiting museums is great, but adding up all the ticket costs isn’t, right?

Luckily, we were able to visit popular museums in Barcelona, like the Picasso Museum or Gaudi’s Palau Güell, for free on the first Sunday of the month.

But we first had to score free tickets for them, which took us a few attempts!

Some other great ones, like the Contemporary Art, Ethnology, and Barcelona History Museum, you can visit for free every Sunday after 3 pm by reserving a time slot.

There are also a few venues we liked that are always free to enter, like Palau Robert and the El Born Cultural Center, but for most places you have to get a free ticket.

So if you want to visit Barcelona’s best museums for free, you need to know where and when to go!

Table of Contents show

1. Palau Güell by Gaudi

Barcelona is full of famous works by Gaudi such as Parc Güell, the Sagrada Familia and Casa Milà. But Palau Güell is the only one you can visit for free!

So if you happen to be in Barcelona on the first Sunday of the month, try to get a free ticket for it as soon as they open up.

Palau Güell is a huge mansion designed by Gaudi for a rich businessman named Eusebi Güell.

I loved the interior because it was so unique and different from other historical mansions I have visited around the world.

It is full of grey stone, red carpets and black ironwork on the stairways. It almost feels like a mansion that Batman would live in! 🦇😅

But then on the rooftop there is a collection of colorful spires and mushroom-shaped objects that look like something out of Alice in Wonderland. 🐰🍄

I found it super interesting how Gaudi liked to use styles that seemed to clash horrendously yet somehow make it work.

There is a free audio tour we took advantage of, so you can learn about all the different rooms as you walk through.

A red carpeted grand staircase surrounded by dark marble walls, columns, and an intricate wooden ceiling inside Palau Güell in Barcelona.
Allan walking up stairs on the rooftop of Palau Güell next to unique mosaic-tiled chimneys in Barcelona.
A close-up of a colorful, trencadís ceramic mosaic chimney on the rooftop of Palau Güell against a blue sky in Barcelona.

2. Barcelona History Museum (MUHBA)

  • Free entry:
    • Every Sunday from 3 pm
    • First Sunday of the month
  • Free ticket: Not needed, just walk in
  • Can’t make the free days? Buy tickets for €7.30 here
  • Location: Placa del Rei (Gothic Quarter)

The Barcelona History Museum is my second favourite free museum in Barcelona. Luckily, it’s much easier to visit than Palau Güell as it is free every Sunday from 3 pm.

Because it’s right in the middle of the Gothic Quarter, it is also super easy to stop in while you’re sightseeing.

This museum takes you through the history of Barcelona dating back over 2000 years to Roman times.

But the main focus is the Roman ruins discovered underground during the relocation of Casa Padellàs, a private mansion of a wealthy Catalan family.

They moved the mansion stone by stone from another location because they needed to build a road. Pretty mind-blowing that they moved a whole building that way! 🤯

I found it super interesting to see all the Roman ruins so far underground. It’s crazy to think an entire city was just built on top of an old one. It really illustrates the sheer amount of time that has passed since that city existed.

There is not a tonne of detail left on the ruins. But if you are interested in history, I am sure you will like this museum.

You can read quite a lot of information about how the size of Barcelona has progressed over hundreds of years.

I recommend combining a visit to MUHBA with the nearby historic and hidden Sant Felipe Neri Square, one of our favorite free things to do in Barcelona.

Allan pointing at an aerial historical display map inside Barcelona's History Museum.
The grand medieval stone arches and wooden ceiling inside the Saló del Tinell hall at MUHBA Museu d'Història de Barcelona.
A arched gothic window inside MUHBA Plaça del Rei framing a view of historic stone buildings and a street in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter.

3. Picasso Museum

  • Free entry:
    • First Sunday of the month
    • Thursday from 4-7 pm between Sept 29 and March 29
  • Free ticket: Required. Get them on the Picasso Museum website
    • For free Sundays: Released Wednesdays at 10 am prior
    • For free Thursdays: Released Sundays at 10 am prior
    • Be quick, they go fast!
  • Can’t make the free days? Get tickets for €14 here
  • Location: Carrer de Montcada, 15-23 (El Born)

Over a million people visit the Picasso Museum in Barcelona every year, so you have to be quick to grab free tickets.

It took us a few attempts before we got some, so be ready at your computer or phone as soon as they become available!

Even though it is super popular, it never felt crowded when we visited. They do a good job of managing the number of people for your given time slot.

Once you are inside the museum, you will be taken through the progression of Picasso’s artistic style.

I found it interesting to see how he first started painting in a different style before painting the classic blocky artworks that are known around the world.

It took us about 30-45 minutes to go through the building, so it won’t take up too much of your time.

Gothic-style stone arches, gargoyles, and an upper gallery inside the central courtyard of the Picasso Museum in Barcelona.
A view through a carved stone Gothic doorway into a white gallery room displaying framed artwork at the Picasso Museum in Barcelona.
A framed abstract painting by Pablo Picasso depicting a painter with a palette and brush working in front of a canvas, on display at the Picasso Museum in Barcelona.

4. Ethnology & World Cultures Museum

The Ethnology & World Cultures Museum was surprisingly one of our favourite museums in Barcelona.

It is right opposite the Picasso Museum, but much quieter and unknown.

Probably because none of the information in the museum is about Barcelona. It’s about cultures from all over the world – and done so well!

It’s inside a beautiful old and massive Gothic building, which I really liked, so you can see some history of the city while you walk around.

All the exhibits are separated into different rooms and floors and cover the Pacific, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

From Buddha statues to hunting artifacts, jewellery, and masks, there is lots of interesting information about each region.

So if you like learning about new cultures, I highly recommend visiting. It’s one of the best underrated free museums in Barcelona, and it was nearly empty when we visited.

An underground stone-vaulted room in a medieval palace with glass display cases showing traditional masks at the Museu Etnològic in Barcelona.
Allan standing in a bright gallery room at the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món beneath an ornate medieval painted wooden ceiling.
Bronze standing figure carving with raised hands on display in a glass case at the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món in Barcelona.

5. Montjuïc Cemetery & Funeral Carriage Museum

  • Free entry:
    • Cemetery: Always free
      • Scan the QR codes there for a free audio tour (English)
    • Funeral Carriage Museum: Free on weekends 10 am – 2 pm
      • Join the free guided tour at 12 pm (Spanish)
  • Free ticket: Not needed
  • Location: Carrer de la Mare de Déu de Port, 56 (Montjuïc)

The Montjuïc Cemetery is not a traditional museum, but it definitely deserves a spot on this list!

It is an underrated, beautiful area in Barcelona that is full of history, and you can take a free audio tour through the cemetery that pretty much turns it into a museum.

Just scan the QR codes with your phone that are scattered around the buildings there.

We just walked freely around, but you can follow an artistic, historic or combined route that takes you along famous tombs.

There is also a small free museum about funeral carriages at the entrance that is worth a visit, but only open on weekends between 10 am and 2 pm.

What really blew me away though, was the sheer size of the cemetery. It covers the whole side of the mountain and just seems to keep going and going.

It contains over a million burials!

Many rich and famous people are buried here and they have built extravagant tombs with beautiful statues on top overlooking the ocean.

We visited on a late Friday afternoon and were almost the only people there in such a huge area, which made the visit extra special and peaceful.

While cemeteries can be a bit creepy or depressing, we left in awe.

Allan looking up at a detailed stone Neo-Gothic mausoleum next to wide stairs inside Montjuïc Cemetery in Barcelona.
Sunlit pathway through Montjuïc Cemetery featuring terraced niches and elaborate historic stone tombs under a cloudy blue sky.
A winged angel statue resting on a stone mausoleum with hillside tombs in the background at Montjuïc Cemetery.

6. Palau Robert

  • Free entry: Always free
  • Free ticket: Not needed
  • Location: Passeig de Gràcia, 107 (Eixample)

When we went to Palau Robert, we were not sure what to expect. We just read that it was an old mansion that was free to visit. But it is much more than just an old building.

The government of Catalonia bought the old mansion years ago and now uses it to house exhibitions that are rotated frequently.

When we visited, there was an exhibition about the changes social media and technology have brought to our lives that was very interesting and interactive.

On the floor above was an exhibition about a Spanish photojournalist displaying interesting historical photos and videos of the transition from dictatorship to democracy in the 1970s.

All in all, it was very well done.

We also enjoyed the garden out the back, which had a collection of photos taken from important moments in history all around the world.

Locals seem to come to the garden just to socialize, which I found nice to watch.

Palau Robert is just across the road from our favorite neighborhood in Barcelona, so I recommend exploring Gràcia before or afterwards.

There are also many of our favorite cafes in Barcelona nearby, serving freshly ground speciality coffee with some sweet treats.

A black and white photograph of an Olympic diver mid-air with the Sagrada Família in the background, displayed inside Palau Robert in Barcelona.
Allan walking past hanging digital display screens and glowing wall projections inside Palau Robert in Barcelona.

7. Contemporary Art Museum Barcelona (MACBA)

I have to admit, whenever I visit a Contemporary Art museum, I always go in half expecting not to like it.

Often the art is so abstract that you are not even sure what it is.

However, I think that MACBA is worth visiting as I enjoyed quite a few of the exhibitions and also wandering through the modern building itself.

When we were there, there was an exhibition on the Israel-Palestine conflict that I thought was done particularly well.

But we also walked into a few rooms with borderline disturbing videos playing. But I always expect that kind of stuff in contemporary art museums.

And that’s why walking in for free is the best way to see it, in my opinion 🙂

Another unique quirk of MACBA is that it is the skating mecca of Barcelona. Apparently, it is one of the most famous skating spots in the world! 🛹

So you will see huge groups of skaters outside performing some pretty impressive tricks. If you are a fan of skateboarding, it may be worth visiting just for that.

Overall, I would say to visit MACBA if you are interested in modern art or if you stay for a long time in Barcelona, as we do every summer.

A modern art sculpture featuring a projected face on a figure lying across traditional black chairs at MACBA.
A large translucent orange mesh spiral artwork suspended from the ceiling inside a MACBA exhibition room.
Outdoor view of the MACBA museum banners and rainbow mural with people sitting in Plaça dels Àngels plaza in Barcelona.
Allan standing inside a dark purple gallery room surrounded by suspended artwork at MACBA in Barcelona

8. Contemporary Culture Center of Barcelona (CCCB)

The Contemporary Culture Center of Barcelona is right next to MACBA and hosts changing contemporary art exhibits as well as theater nights.

We visited to see an exhibition called the Cult of Beauty, which was very popular. So we had to book a free time slot a day in advance.

It was about the different ideals of beauty throughout history and how they change over time.

I did not agree with everything they had to say, but it was an interesting exhibition, with a mix of abstract pieces and cult items like Barbies and ads from the 80s.

I recommend checking what is on when you visit and if it looks interesting.

The CCB is a big building, but only a part was used for the exhibition we visited. So it felt very crowded despite sticking to our free time slot.

Contemporary art wall collage featuring lipstick tubes in clear resin blocks and a mirror reading "I've mistaken social pressure with self expression" at CCCB in Barcelona.
Modern alchemy and skincare artwork installation featuring colorful marbled tiles, glass retorts, and organic sculptures at the CCCB museum in Barcelona.

9. National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC)

The National Art Museum of Catalonia is a beast of a museum, so plan to spend a few hours of your time!

It’s inside the National Palace on top of Montjuïc Hill with great views over the city. Just seeing this building from the inside is well worth a visit.

I was actually more impressed by the building itself than the exhibition. A lot of the art on display is church paintings and frescoes, which isn’t our thing.

I found major art museums in cities like Madrid or London to be much more interesting.

But there is a modern art section and one with furniture designed by Gaudi that we really liked. The paintings in the round roofs are also beautiful.

At the end of the rooms, we stepped into a big open indoor space with a tribune, a huge organ, and a cafe called Oval. A friend told us that this part is often used for events.

Pretty cool!

There is lots to see around the National Palace, like the Magic Fountain Show at night. So I recommend combining a visit to MNAC with these other free Montjuïc attractions.

Impressive vaulted ceiling, ornate balcony pillars, and the Oval Cafe inside the grand central hall of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.
Looking directly up at the intricate painted frescoes and architectural details inside the central dome of the MNAC museum in Barcelona.
Wide exterior view of the Four Columns and the majestic Palau Nacional building housing the MNAC museum on Montjuïc hill in Barcelona.

10. El Born Cultural Center

  • Free entry: Always free
  • Free ticket: Not needed
  • Location: Mercat del Born, Plaça Comercial, 12 (El Born)

To me, the El Born Cultural Center is a must-visit because it is so easy to pop in while you are exploring El Born.

It’s inside a massive modern steel frame of the old El Born food market and a great escape from the summer heat.

The original idea was to turn the old market building into a library. But when the foundations were dug in 2002, an archaeological site was found.

So when you walk into it now, you can see a huge pit with the remains of parts of the city from the 1700s, instead of bookshelves.

I enjoyed visiting because once again it gave me an insight into how much history must be buried under your feet wherever you travel in Europe.

Don’t miss the information boards that tell about the old market and the evolution of El Born, which we both found very interesting.

Wide elevated view of excavated 18th-century stone street and house ruins beneath the iron roof of El Born Cultural Center in Barcelona.

11. Barcelona Maritime Museum

  • Free entry: Every Sunday from 3 pm
  • Free ticket: Not needed
  • Can’t make the free day? Get a ticket for €10 here
  • Location: Av. de les Drassanes (El Raval)

I arrived at the Maritime Museum at 3 pm on a Sunday and was not the only one. 😅 There was a huge line at the entrance, waiting for free entry.

I actually went for a walk and came back when the line was gone. But even then, the museum was very busy and tonnes of kids were running around.

So don’t make the same mistake and aim to be there later!

But once inside, I found the museum to be quite interesting. Because Barcelona is next to the water, it has a strong connection with the ocean throughout history.

One particular exhibit that stands out is a l large reconstruction of a ship that was used several hundred years ago in battle and to transport slaves.

There are also many other models of ships on display that were used for everything from transporting goods to racing or pleasure.

Once again, the museum is inside a really cool building, an old shipyard where boats were built as long ago as the 1200s.

So if you like architecture and ships, this is a great place to go on a Sunday afternoon. ⚓️

Visitors standing in front of the ornate gilded stern and golden lanterns of the Royal Galley inside the Barcelona Maritime Museum.
Overhead view of visitors admiring the massive ornate royal galley ship inside the stone arched hall of the Barcelona Maritime Museum.
A detailed model sailing ship reflecting on a polished glass display inside the stone hall of the Barcelona Maritime Museum.

Museums to Skip

While most museums in Barcelona are worth a visit, there are two we went into for free that we didn’t like.

  • Frederic Mares Museum: It’s right next to the Barcelona Cathedral in a beautiful building, but filled with hundreds of statues of Jesus on the Cross without any explanations. Not our thing! (Free every Sunday from 3 pm)
  • Palau de la Virreina: It’s right next to La Rambla with changing exhibitions. Unfortunately, all the explanations were only in Catalan. We speak enough Spanish to get by but couldn’t figure out what this one was about. It was very abstract, but you might have better luck! (Always free)

More Free Things To Do in Barcelona

While Barcelona is home to a lot of great museums, I know that only visiting museums can get old very quickly.

So if you are looking for more budget-friendly things to do in Barcelona, check out our favorite free things to do in Barcelona guide.

From amazing street festivals to local beaches and hikes with 360° city views – we find the best way to explore Barcelona is for free!

READ ALSO

  • Exploring Barcelona’s Best Neighborhood Gràcia
  • Where to Stay in Barcelona on a Budget
  • Ultimate Digital Nomad Guide to Barcelona
  • Barcelona’s Best Specialty Cafes with Seating

BARCELONA TRAVEL CHECKLIST

These are the exact sites we use to save money in Barcelona. For more, check out our Slow Travel Resources.

✔ TrustedHousesitters – How we stay in Barcelona for free by pet sitting! Use code TRUSTED15 for 15% off your membership.

✔ Saily – The eSIM we use for mobile data in Spain. It’s set up in minutes and includes free NordVPN security. Use code NOMADS9597 for $5 off!

✔ Wise – The free travel debit card we use for all our daily payments and ATM withdrawals in Spain. It lets us hold and convert euros at the real exchange rate without hidden bank or markup fees.

✔ SafetyWing – The travel health insurance we use for all our trips, including Spain. It’s super easy to start, pause or cancel and only costs us about $2/day.

✔ AllTrails – Did you know there’s lots of nature around Barcelona? We always find local trails and hikes on AllTrails – it’s free!

✔ GuruWalk – Our go-to site for free walking tours in Barcelona. We find it the best way to explore a city and get cool local insights from a guide. So if it’s your first visit, make sure to join one.

Allan is a digital nomad and full-time traveler from New Zealand who has lived in 4 countries and visited 45+ more. Years of slow travel have taught him how to travel on a budget and discover places most tourists miss. On Nomads Beyond, he shares practical guides for offbeat destinations, active adventures, and delicious street food.

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