What are the Top 10 Art Museums in Barcelona

Barcelona has some outstanding Art Museums

We’ve compiled a fantastic overview of the top art museums in Barcelona! Each museum highlights a different aspect of art, from the historical roots at the Picasso Museum to contemporary expressions at MOCO and MACBA. The additional notes on special tours and free entry times are especially helpful for anyone planning a visit. If you have any specific questions about these museums or need more information, feel free to ask!

Picasso Museum

The most visited Art Museum in Barcelona and with good reason- Picasso has been hailed as the ‘Father of Modern Art.’ This Museum is unique in that it doesn’t hold many works from his mature period, but rather the earlier works he produced while living in the city, displayed chronologically. It’s a bit like the origin story of an Art Hero.

Editor’s note: This Museum as unmissable for any art lover. A great compliment to the Museum is the ‘Underground Picasso’ Tour, a 2.5-hour walk through the life of Picasso in Barcelona, find out more here.

MOCO – Museum of Contemporary Art

The newly opened MOCO museum is the most Instagrammable museum in the city. Don’t expect a deep exploration of the philosophical side of art, but rather a fun Museum that shows off the fun playful side of art. Including works by Banksy, Basquiat and Keith Haring.

Editor’s note: If you’re into Street Art, then the best experience you can gift yourself is the Hidden Street Art Experience, get away from the crowds and come and check out the real face of Street Art in the city. Find out more here.

MNAC – Museum National of Art of Catalonia

The MNAC Museum in Barcelona is a cultural gem, housing an impressive collection of Catalan Art spanning over a thousand years. Among its masterpieces are iconic works such as the Romanesque mural paintings from churches in the Pyrenees, exquisite Gothic altarpieces, and renowned pieces by local art nouveau artists like Ramon Casas and Santiago Rusiñol. 

Editor’s note: This museum is free to enter after 15h00 on Saturday afternoons. Don’t let the queue put you off as it moves quickly.

MACBA – Museum of Art Contemporary Barcelona

The MACBA Museum in Barcelona stands as a beacon of contemporary art, showcasing innovative works from both established and emerging artists. Its collection encompasses various mediums, including painting, sculpture, video art, and performance pieces.

Editor’s note: One of the unexpected highlights is that the Plaza del MACBA, the square in front of the Museum, is one of the most important skateboarding sites in Europe, where you will find many pros doing the kind of tricks you only see on TV.

CCCB – Centre for Contemporary Culture Barcelona

The CCCB Museum in Barcelona is a vibrant cultural centre known for its exploration of art, technology, and contemporary society. While it doesn’t focus on traditional masterpieces, it showcases thought-provoking installations and multimedia projects that challenge societal norms.

Editor’s note: The building itself is a fantastic contemporary remix of a 19th-century palace and worth visiting just to see the architecture.

Miró Foundation

The Miró Museum in Barcelona is a celebration of the iconic Spanish artist Joan Miró’s vibrant and imaginative works. Situated in the picturesque Montjuïc Park, the museum houses a comprehensive collection of Miró’s paintings, sculptures, and drawings spanning his prolific career. 

Editor’s note: Not to be missed is the museum’s striking architecture- designed by Josep Lluís Sert, which provides a fitting backdrop for Miró’s playful and surreal creations.

Tápies Museum

The Tapies Museum in Barcelona is a tribute to the pioneering Catalan artist Antoni Tàpies, an ‘informalist’, or ‘abstract expressionist.’

Editor’s note: The museum has a striking façade, perched above the modernist building by the famous architect LLuis Doménech, you will find one of Tàpies’ sculptures entitled ‘Chair in Clouds,’ which leaves many a passer-by baffled as to what’s going on.

Santa Monica Art Centre

Whereas it doesn’t boast masterpieces by world-famous artists, it does host a range of multi-disciplinary contemporary art of both up-and-coming and local international artists and is certainly worth the time to enter while strolling along the most famous (and busy) street in the city.

Editor’s note: Alongside the Palau de la Virreina (next on the list) this museum is found right in the centre of the city, on Las Ramblas Boulevard, and is free to enter.

Palau de la Virreina Image Centre

The Vicereine’s Palace is a contemporary museum showcasing multidisciplinary artists in a beautiful setting- an 18th-century palace. This museum has had exhibitions of such important artists as Ai Wei-Wei and Paula Rego.

Editor’s note: Alongside the Santa Monica (previous on the list) the Palau de la Virreina is found right in the centre of the city, on Las Ramblas Boulevard, and is free to enter.

Caixaforum

The Palau de la CaixaForum Museum in Barcelona is a captivating cultural hub situated in a striking modernist building. Boasting a diverse array of exhibitions spanning art, photography, and multimedia installations, the museum offers a fun exploration of cultural and artistic themes of a broad spectrum.

Editor’s note: This museum has the reputation as having some of the most thoughtful curation of the Art Museums in the city.

BONUS – Museum of Montserrat

Here at Artspace Tours we always like to go the extra mile, as such our eleventh and bonus Museum is a little-known wonder found outside of the city nestled in the mountains. The Montserrat Mountain houses a Monastery about an hour outside of the city, and the Monastery boasts an art museum which will shock you at its collection- expect pieces by Picasso, Dali, Monet and even Caravaggio.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *