Best Art Museums in Barcelona | Highlights, Timings & More

1. Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC)

The Palau Nacional of Montjuïc, initially constructed for the international exhibition in 1929 is now known as Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC). The museum now showcases an extensive collection of Catalan art from the 12th to 20th centuries.  

Why Visit - From religious paintings and Romanesque murals to gothic and modern collections, you’ll find the change in art over the centuries here. 

Timings - 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Tuesdays to Saturdays. 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sundays. 

Address - Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc, s/n, 08038 Barcelona, Spain.

Google map location. 

2. CaixaForum Barcelona

Established in 2002, the CaixaForum Barcelona is a cultural center as well as a museum designed by Herzog and de Meuron. The museum was originally created as a textile factory by Casimir Casaramona i Puigcercós, and later the building was restored and a new entrance was built.  

Why Visit - The museum showcases the art in its ancient, contemporary, and modern form, hosts music festivals, and conducts social conferences. 

Timings - 10 am to 8 pm daily. 

Address - Av. Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 6-8, 08038 Barcelona, Spain

Google map location. 

3. Fundació Joan Miró

Fundació Joan Miró is a modern art museum founded by Joan Miro. Founded in 1968, the museum has a separate permanent exhibition of the works by Miro. It also exhibits the works of André Masson and Marcel Duchamp. Most of the other works are a dedication to Miro from other artists. 

Why Visit - The museum has most of the trademark work by Miro. Besides, the collection of art includes Alexander Calder's 4 Wings and Mercury Fountain, where liquid metal mercury was used to create a fountain.

Timings - 10 am to 6 pm on Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10 am to 3 pm on Sundays. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Address - Parc de Montjuïc, s/n, 08038 Barcelona, Spain

Google map location.

4. Museu Europeu d'Art Modern (MEAM)

Owned by the Foundation of Arts and Artists, MEAM displays the best contemporary art. The museum was established with the purpose of promoting 20th and 21st Century figurative art. It displays the collections of sculptures as well as modern paintings by contemporary artists from all around the world. 

Why Visit - The museum displays modern art in its true form. Apart from that, you’ll get to meet most of the Contemporary Figurative artists, as a lot of artists attend the Figurativas Painting and Sculpture Awards. 

Timings - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm from Tuesday to Sunday. Museum is closed on Mondays.

Address - Carrer de la Barra de Ferro, 5, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

Google map location.

5. Design Museum of Barcelona

One of the new centers of Barcelona's Institute of Culture, Design Museum of Barcelona was founded in 2008. It acts as a museum as well as a laboratory and aims at promoting good use and a better understanding of the design world. 

Why Visit - The museum visit will be a memorable experience for design enthusiasts as it focuses on four branches of design - space design, information design, product design, and fashion. 

Timings - 10 am to 8 pm from Tuesday to Sunday. Mondays are closed.

Address - Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes,, 37, 08018 Barcelona, Spain

Google map location.

6. Picasso Museum

As the name suggests, Picasso museum is entirely dedicated to the art maestro Pablo Picasso. Founded in 1963, the museum showcases almost all the major works by Picasso and also reveals his relationship with Barcelona city. 

Why Visit - The museum has a permanent collection of around 4251 art works by Picasso. The collection of his two early works First Communion and Science and Charity, makes it a must visit place for art admirers.  

Timings - Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 7 pm.

Address - Carrer Montcada, 15-23, 08003 Barcelona, Spain. 

Google map location. 

7. Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA)

Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona (MACBA) is one of the museums that showcase the contemporary art of Barcelona. It also has a permanent exhibition focused on the artworks by Catalan and Spanish artists. 

Why Visit - The museum is unmissable as it exhibits some iconic pieces, crafted in a contemporary way, and that represents the bygone culture, art, and society. 

Timings - 11 am to 7:30 pm on Monday to Friday. Sundays and public holidays - 10 am to 3 pm 

Address - Plaça dels Àngels, 1, 08001 Barcelona, Spain

Google map location.

8. Fundacio Antoni Tapies

Created by Catalan artist, Antoni Tàpies, Fundacio Antoni Tapies is a museum and the cultural center situated in Barcelona’s Carrer d'Aragó region. It has been established to promote the study of contemporary art. The gallery exhibits the artwork of Tàpies’ and conducts temporary exhibitions as well. 

Why Visit - Enjoy the unique, original works of the famous artist Tapies, who used mud, rags, and aste paper for painting. 

Timings - 10:00 am to 7:00 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday 

10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sunday 

Address - C/ d'Aragó, 255, 08007 Barcelona, Spain

Google map location.

9. Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB)

Created by Barcelona City Council and Barcelona Provincial Council, the CCCB is an arts center or a public consortium located in Raval district that showcases contemporary art. 

Why Visit - The center hosts several debates and concerts related to contemporary art, and invites great speakers in the field of art as guests. 

Timings - 11am to 8pm from Tuesdays to Sundays. Closed on Mondays.

Address - Carrer de Montalegre, 5, 08001 Barcelona, Spain

Google map location.

10. MOCO Museum Barcelona

The Moco museum in Barcelona exhibits unique, modern, contemporary art pieces. The art collection also showcases the work of modern artists like Yayoi Kusam and Harland Miller. 

Why Visit - MOCO museum is Europe's first exhibition space dedicated to the NFT. 

Timings - 9 am - 6 pm on Monday to Thursday. 9 am - 8 pm Fridays and Sundays.

Address - Carrer de Montcada, 25, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

Google map location.

12. Museu del Modernisme

Museu del Modernisme Català exhibits sculptures, paintings, and other form of arts by modern artists. There are around 350 artworks by 42 modern artists like Joan Busquets, Antoni Gaudi, and Ramón Casas. 

Why Visit - Admire the works of modern Catalan art by several artists as Museu Del Modernisme is the only museum dedicated to Catalan Art Nouveau. 

Timings - 11 am - 7 pm daily.

Address - Carrer de Balmes, 48, 08007 Barcelona, Spain.

Google map location. 

13. Fundación Francisco Godia

The Fundación Francisco Godia museum exhibits works by famous artists from the 12th to 21st centuries. The museum has around 1,500 works, sculptures, ceramics, and paintings that reflect the history of Spanish, Catalan, and international art.

Why Visit - Get a chance to catch sight of thousands of art works of all forms from all parts of the world, as this museum is one of the largest private art collections in Spain. 

Timings - 10 am to 8 pm Mondays to Saturdays. 10 am to 3pm on Sundays. Tuesdays closed. 

Address - Avinguda Diagonal, 477, 18º, 08036 Barcelona, Spain

Google map location.

14. Can Framis Museum

Opened in 2009, Can Framis Museum is one of the latest Fundació Vila Casas museums, a center that promotes contemporary Catalan painting. The gallery displays around 250 paintings ranging from the sixties to the present by the artists living or who had lived in Catalonia.

Why Visit - The museum provides an enchanting visual experience through their permanent art collection highlighting the contemporary art by several Catalonian artists, as well as education programs for students. 

Timings - 11am to 6 pm on Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Mondays. 

Address - Carrer de Roc Boronat, 116, 126, 08018 Barcelona, Spain

Google map location.

15. IDEAL Centre d'Arts Digitals de Barcelona

The center is established with an aim of becoming a point of connection between science, technology, and science.  It displays the artworks of famous artists such as Klimt & Monet.

Why Visit - Experience Spain’s first digital 3D, audio/visual displays, as well as the spell-binding modern artworks by visiting this museum. 

Timings - Wednesday to Monday - 10 am to 8.30 pm. Tuesdays closed.

Address - Carrer del Dr. Trueta, 196, 198, 08005 Barcelona, Spain.

Google map location.

16. Museu Frederic Marès

Museu Frederic Marès is an art gallery that mostly displays the works by Frederic Marès, the museum’s founder and a famous sculptor. The museum has a prominent collection of 12th to 19th Century Spanish sculptures, as well as thousands of objects that reflect the bygone custom and lifestyle. 

Why Visit - Get a chance to catch sight of the wildest collection of art and antiques from medieval Spanish art, including some sculptures of the Crucifixion curated in wooden polychrome.

Timings - Tuesday to Friday - 10 am to 7 pm. Sundays - 11 am to 8 pm. The museum is closed on Saturdays and Mondays.

Address - Plaça Sant Iu, 5, 08002 Barcelona, Spain.

Google map location.

17. Mies van der Rohe Pavilion (Barcelona Pavilion)

Initially served as German Pavilion for the International Exposition in Barcelona in 1929, the building was demolished in 1930. However, fifty years later, in 1983, it was reconstructed exactly as it was. The pavilion was not built as a hall for conducting exhibitions, but as an exhibit itself. 

Why Visit - Visit the place to get a glimpse of the new architecture, the reflection of peace and democracy that Germany has attained after the world war. 

Timings - Monday to Friday 10 am to 6 pm. Sundays 10 am to 6 pm. The museum will be closed on Saturdays. 

Address - Av. Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 7, 08038 Barcelona, Spain

Google map location.

18. Artevistas Art Gallery

Created in 2007, Artevistas Art Gallery aims at letting everyone discover the beauty and the diversity of contemporary art. The gallery promotes the work of established as well as emerging artists. They have a collection of around 500 contemporary artworks. 

Why Visit - Witness the splendid monumental ensemble created using the decorative wrought-ironwork and some original contemporary artworks including photography, sculptures, paintings, and prints.

Timings - Tuesday to Sunday 11 am to 8pm. Monday visits are allowed only through appointment. 

Address - Passatge del Crèdit, 408002 Barcelona – Spain

Google map location

19. Arts Santa Mònica

Arts Santa Mònica or Centre d'Art Santa Mònica (CASM) is a multidisciplinary art space that organizes art exhibitions as well as activities from other creative disciplines. Built in 1636 as a convent, it was later declared as a place of historic-artistic interest in 1984. 

Why Visit - Explore the museum to witness the artistic diversity ranging from visual arts to music, design and audiovisual creation. 

Timings - Tuesday to Saturday - 11 am to 9 pm. Sundays and public holidays - 11 am to 5 pm.

Address - La Rambla, 7, 08002 Barcelona, Spain

Google map location.