Free museum Sundays in Barcelona: where to go and when

The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) is housed in the impressive Palau Nacional of Montjuïc, which dates back to the 1929 World Fair, with a collection spanning sculpture, painting, drawings, prints, posters and photography from Catalonia, from the Romanesque period to the mid-20th century. It’s also home to part of the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection.

Sundays: Admission is free every Saturday from 3pm onwards and on the first Sunday of every month.

Any other days? Admission is also free September 11 and May 18, coinciding with Catalan National Day and International Museum Day respectively.

Fancy climbing Barcelona’s city wall and taking a trip back in time without leaving the city? The Baluard Gardens, the landscaped area located on top of the fourteenth-century wall, and the Portal de Santa Madrona, the only remaining gate from Barcelona's medieval wall, form one of the most exceptional corners of the monumental complex of the Royal Shipyards. You won’t be alone: the guards from the Historical Recreation Association of La Coronela de Barcelona will be there to welcome you.

Sundays: On the first and third Sunday of each month, the Maritime Museum opens these two spaces free of charge, from 11am-2pm.

Part of Barcelona’s Natural Sciences Museum, the Centre d'Exposicions Martorell takes a look at the history of natural sciences through exhibitions that take cabinets of curiosities, urban parks, nineteenth- and twentieth-century history museums, and territorial explorations as their subject matter. It also offers scientific exhibitions on socially impactful themes related to the climate crisis and biodiversity, as well as attempts to push forward scientific knowledge. Oh, and it offers the opportunity to see the technique of ‘moving taxidermy’, a faithful representation of nature where art, technique and science come together in extraordinary displays.

Sundays: Entrance is free on the first Sunday of each month throughout the day and every Sunday of the year from 3pm onwards.

Any other days? Admission is also free on February 12 (Santa Eulàlia Festival), May 18 (International Museum Day), and 24 September (Festival of La Mercè).

In 1326, Queen Elisenda de Montcada used her inheritance to purchase land and build a convent for the order of the Poor Clare nuns, which she joined shortly thereafter. The result is a stunning example of Gothic architecture: a single-nave church spanning three storeys, with stained glass windows and a fourteenth-century cloister. This monastery remained closed to the public until 1983 but today, visitors can explore the daily life of this female religious community by walking through the spaces in which they spent most of their daily lives. Moreover, in the Museu-Monestir, you will find beautiful works of art, liturgical objects, and furniture, as well as exhibitions that connect art with spirituality.

Sundays: Entrance is free on the first Sunday of every month and every Sunday after 3pm.

If you want to learn more about the formative years of Pablo Ruiz Picasso, then Barcelona’s Picasso Museum is the place to go. It was established by the artist himself and his longtime friend and secretary Jaume Sabartés, both of whom donated many of the artist’s works to the city of Barcelona. In 2020, the museum marked 50 years since the artist's donation to the city. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 8pm.

Sundays: Admission is free on Thursday afternoons, from 5pm-9pm (advance booking is recommended), and on the first Sunday of each month, from 9am-7pm.

Any other days? There are also open days on May 18 (International Museum Day) and September 24 (Festival of La Mercè).

A small gem that is often overlooked, the museum is based on the collection gathered by the sculptor Frederic Marès, which he donated to the city of Barcelona in 1946. Located in a historic setting, within part of the old Royal Palace, and featuring a beautiful courtyard, the museum is divided into several sections: the sculpture collection, the Collector’s Cabinet, and Frederic Marès’ Studio-Library. Advance booking is recommended.

Sundays: Free admission is available on the first Sunday of each month (from 11am-8pm) and every Sunday from 3pm onwards.

Any other days? Admission is also free on Santa Eulàlia, Corpus Christi, and on May 18 and September 24.

The Museu Blau opened in 2011 in Parc del Fòrum and is part of the Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona. It occupies 9,000 square metres spread across two floors and in the grand lobby, visitors are greeted by the skeleton of a whale that washed up on the beach of Llançà in 1862. Another of its notable features is the Living Terrace, which promotes biodiversity with its covering of herbaceous plants (currently closed for works). Opening hours are Tuesday-Saturday, from 10am-7pm, and Sundays and public holidays from 10am-8pm.

Sundays: Admission is free every Sunday from 3 pm onwards and on the first Sunday of each month (all day).

Any other days? Open days are held on Santa Eulalia Day, May 18 and September 24.

The construction of new access points for the 1992 Olympic Games facilities favoured the proposal to create a new botanical garden for the city. On Montjuïc, between the castle and the Olympic Stadium, the shape of the Jardí Botànic’s 14 hectares is reminiscent of a great amphitheatre. It boasts preserved collections of Mediterranean plants worldwide and magnificent views over the Llobregat delta, the Olympic Ring and part of the metropolitan area of Barcelona.

Sundays: Admission is free on Sundays from 3pm, as well as all day on the first Sunday of every month

Any other days? Admission is also free on Santa Eulàlia Day, May 18 (International Museum Day) and on September 24 (Festival of La Mercè).

Known as the Magic Mountain, Montjuïc Castle has a history as a military building. Nowadays, however, it is a museum space managed by the Barcelona City Council. Visitors can stroll around, climb the battlements to enjoy stunning views of the city, and have a picnic in the moat. There is also a café in the Plaza de Armas. The castle hosts temporary exhibitions on themes related to the mountain and its various uses throughout history.

Sundays: Entrance is free every Sunday from 3pm onwards, as well as all day on the first Sunday of every month.

Any other days? Admission is free for children under 8 years old.

The Barcelona Centre for Contemporary Culture is a multidisciplinary cultural centre which explores the key challenges of contemporary society through different languages and themes.

Sundays: free entry from 3pm-8pm (space is limited, so we recommend booking in advance)

Any other days? May 18 May (International Museum Day), September 24 (Festival of La Mercè) and Night of the Museums (tbc for 2025).