Barcelona, the cultural jewel of Catalonia, is a must-see destination for art and history lovers. With its rich artistic and architectural heritage, this summer, several museums in Barcelona are expanding their free cultural offerings.
However, many of the most emblematic attractions can be expensive for the traveler’s pocket.
Fortunately, Barcelona also offers the opportunity to enjoy its cultural offerings free of charge, allowing visitors to explore its artistic wealth without financial worries.
Explore art and culture at no cost in Barcelona’s museums
For those travelers who wish to immerse themselves in the culture of Barcelona without worrying about the cost of admission, there are a variety of options to choose from.
A number of museums and art galleries offer free access on specific days, giving visitors the opportunity to explore their collections in an economical way.
Some of these museums are free every day they are open, such as Arts Santa Mònica, Arxiu Fotogràfic de Barcelona, Casa Seat, Fabra i Coats Centre D’Art, La Capella, La Virreina Centre de la Imatge, Museu de les Arts Escèniques de l’Institut del Teatre (MAE), MUHBA Oliva Artés and Palau Robert.
Special free days
The Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona (MACBA) opens its doors on Saturday afternoons from 3:00 pm without the need to buy a ticket.
The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya also offers free access on Saturdays from 15:00.
On Sunday afternoons from 3:00 pm, several museums, galleries and art galleries allow free admission, including the Castell de Montjuïc, the Center of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (CCCB), the Museu Marítim, the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Mon, the Museu de la Música, the Museu del Disseny, the Jardí Botànic and the Museu de Ciències Naturals.
First Sunday of the month: museums in Barcelona
On the first Sunday of each month, a wide variety of cultural sites offer free admission, giving visitors the opportunity to enter at no cost.
Among the places participating in this initiative are the Castell de Montjuïc, the Mies Van der Rohe Pavilion, the Pedralbes Monastery, the Picasso Museum of Barcelona, the Museu Olímpic i de l’esport Joan Antoni Samaranch, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Mon, the Museu d’Història de Catalunya.
Some museums also offer special free hours on specific days of the week. For example, the KBR Fundación Mapfre opens its doors free of charge on Tuesday afternoons on non-holidays. On Thursdays, both the Museu Picasso de Barcelona from 4:00 p.m. and the Museu de la Música from 6:00 p.m. also allow free access.
