Last Updated: 23/10/2017
If it’s a spot of culture you’re after on your trip to Barcelona, then the Catalan capital certainly won’t disappoint! With thousands of exhibitions dedicated to everything from obscure artifacts, to motorbikes, to celebrities, there’s something for visitors of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy at the museums of Barcelona. From the weird and wacky art on display at the Dali Museum to the delectable carvings of the Sagrada Familia in chocolate, Barcelona’s museums grant tourists an up-close look at some of the city’s most valued works. Plus, there are plenty of events, shows, activities and workshops going on at these unmissable venues all year, so you’ll never be stuck for something to do on one of those infrequent rainy days in Barcelona.
Here are just a few of the top museums in Barcelona:
1. Picasso Museum
Pablo Picasso, perhaps one of the greatest artists of all time, found great inspiration in the city of Barcelona, so naturally it follows that some of his best works are proudly displayed in the Picasso Museum in Barcelona. Home to more than 4,500 pieces by this talented artist who brought Cubism to the forefront of the industry during the early 20th century, everyone, whether a die-hard art connoisseur, or simply a painter seeking inspiration, is sure to find something stirring here! For more information on the current exhibitions and hours of operation, check out the Picasso Museum’s official website.
How to get there: C/Montcada 15. Metro station: Jaume I
2. F.C. Barcelona Museum
A trip to the Camp Nou Museum is a must for any footy fan visiting Barcelona! Home to a glass case with all of the team’s trophies on display, as well as a giant interactive touch screen which allows you access to the squad’s details since it was founded by Joan Gamperin 1899, this will truly be an unforgettable experience for any football lover. A special section dedicated to the values of FC Barcelona is also on display. “Mes Que Un Club”, the team’s motto which means “more than a club,” is defined by four ideals; Catalan identity, universality, social commitment and democratic commitment. For more information and accessibility, visit the FC Barcelona website. iVisca Barça!
How to get there: C/ d’Arístides Maillol. Metro station: Les Corts (L3) or Collblanc (L5)
3. MACBA 
For those who prefer a more modern twist to art, be sure to make your way to the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona, also known as the MACBA. For a closer look at some of the most influential art from the mid-20th century onward, there is no better choice of museum. The museum also offers events ranging from seminars to concerts, and much more. For more information, check out the MACBA official website.
How to get there: Plaça dels Àngels, 1. Metro station: Universitat (L1)
4. CosmoCaixa Museum
If it’s something more hands-on that floats your boat, then there’s one place you absolutely have to go: the CosmoCaixa Museum of Science! With a planetarium, a 1000m2 recreation of the Amazon rainforest and plenty of cool temporary exhibits, as well as hands-on activities, this is the ideal place for families visiting Barcelona! For more information and current exhibits, check out the CosmoCaixa official website.
How to get there: C/Isaac Newton, 26. By train: Take the L7 (FGC) from Plaça Catalunya to Avinguda Tibidabo, and then switch to the 196 Bus.
5. National Art Museum of Catalonia
For a deeper understanding of all things Catalan, a trip to the National Art Museum of Catalonia is a must! From sculptures to paintings, engravings to posters, and photography to coinage, visitors to the MNAC will get an up-close look at the history of Catalan art, starting with the Roman period all the way to the mid-twentieth century.
How to get there: Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc. Metro station: Espanya (L1 or L3)
6. Barcelona Chocolate Museum
Prefer the taste of chocolate to the stroke of a brush? Then, you are in luck as Barcelona is home to a chocolate museum, known as the Museu de la Xocolata, where you’ll find all things Barcelona… carved in chocolate! From an informative tour explaining how this sweet treat made its way to Spain, to an in-depth look at the numerous recipes used to create this delicious snack, here you’ll see the cocoa bean in a whole new light! This museum should definitely be on your list if you’re traveling to Barcelona with kids!
How to get there: C/ Comerç, 36. Metro station: Jaume I
7. Dali Museum
For an in-depth look at a private collection by revered surrealist artist, Salvador Dali, head to the Real Círculo Artístico Museum of Barcelona. The exhibition hosts 44 original sculptures from Dali’s Clot collection and also allows you to peek into the mind of the genius himself with an exhibit featuring works inspired by themes including eroticism, the sea and Don Quixote! For those Dali-addicts out there who want to see a little more, we recommend a day trip to Figueres where you will find the Dali Museum, sure to satisfy all your curiosities about this mysterious artist.
How to get there: C/ Arcs, 5. Metro station: Jaume I
8. Gaudí, Gaudí, Gaudí…
Of course no trip to Barcelona would be complete without admiring the works of the famous architect, Antoni Gaudí. For an in-depth look at the construction of Gaudí’s most revered structure, the Sagrada Familia, check out the Sagrada Familia Museum right on the site of his unfinished masterpiece. And for those who are more intrigued by his nature-inspired modernist designs, the exhibition at Casa Batlló may be just what you are looking for! You can even check out the residence of this amazing architect at the Gaudí house in Park Güell, which is now open to the public, allowing visitors a chance to get even closer to the Catalan genius!
How to get there: Sagrada Familia – Sagrada Familia Metro station (L2 or L5) Casa Batlló – Passeig de Gràcia Metro station (L2, L3 or L4). Park Güell – Lesseps Metro station (L3), or bus 24 from Plaça Catalunya.
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