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Barcelona Museums that offer FREE Entry & Open Days
Museums in Barcelona that offer free entry, usually on the first Sunday of the month. Museums outside of Barcelona with free entry days
Description of free museum days
In Barcelona, unlike other European cities, the Museums are not free. However, there are still open days and events for visiting museums for free.
Free On first Sunday of the month or every Sunday from 15:00h
Barcelona has multiple Museums that are run by the city council and most of these museums offer free entry on the first Sunday of the month, some all day and some between certain hours. Additionally, a few privately run museums have also subscribed to this scheme. Note that due to demand on free Sunday's, the museums may ask that people book their free entry in advance, especially since the covid pandemic as limits are placed on the number of visitors. My personal favourites for free first Sunday are the Museum National of Art Catalan (MNAC) by Montjuic Magic fountains (also free), Barcelona City History Museum (MHB) in the gothic quarter, Montjuic Castle and the Maritime Museum (MMB) in the port.
Popular open days where some museums are free to visit
The patron saint of Barcelona is Sant Eulalia which is celebrated on the 12th of February.
The Patron Saint of Catalunya is Saint Jordi (saint George - dragon slayer) which is celebrated on the 23rd of April.
The international day of Museums is celebrated on the 18th of May with some of Barcelona`s Museums having free days on and around this date.
The national day of Calalunya is the 11th Of September with some museum offering free access on this date.
La Merce, 24th September, is another patron saint of Barcelona with religious origins (Mare de Deu de la Merce - the virgin of grace) although I think more of this as a pagan festival, The autumn equinox, or Mabon, celebrating the end of summer weather. Some Museums have free open days for La Merce.
Christmas Eve, 24th December. A few museums open for free on this day.
Noches de los Museos
On one or more evenings of the year many museums host special free open days where they open in the evening till late, some till 1am.
Click on any of the below museums to read more.
Attractions that offer free museum days
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El Modelo Museum Former Panopticon Prison
Former prison 1904 to 2017. Used for political prisoners & executions during Franco dictatorship. Now a museum
Free Entry Thursday & Friday 16:00h to 19:00h, Saturday 10:00h to 14:00h & 16:00h to 19:00h, Sunday 10:00h to 14:00h
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Palau Güell Antoni Gaudí castle themed Palace
Eusebi Güell mansion museum by architect Antoni Gaudí & restored in 2011. Tickets and info for visits. UNESCO World Heritage Site
1st Sunday of every month, 12 February, 23 April, 11 September, 24 September & 15 December
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Barcelona Ethnological Museum in Montjuïc mountain
The Ethnological Museum in Montjuïc is a collection of about 70,000 items of cultural heritage from Catalunya and includes items from former Spanish colonies
Every Sunday 15:00h to 19:30h, First Sunday of every month 10:00h to 19:30h, 12 February, 16 & 18 May, 24 September
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Montjuïc Castle Bastioned Fortress Visitor Info
Military Museum & Fortress. Former prison & execution site from the Civil War. Spanish Army Barracks till 2007. City Viewpoint
Free Sunday's after 15:00h, Free all day first Sunday of month
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Museo Nacional Art Catalunya MNAC in Palau Nacional
MNAC art museum in Montjuïc, Barcelona. Collections of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque plus Catalan Modern Art. Tickets & discounts
Free Sundays after 15, Free all day first Sunday of month
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Historic Funeral Carriages museum in Montjuïc Cemetery
Public display of funeral carriages. Museum dates from 1970, moved in 2012 to its current building, within the grounds of Montjuïc Historic Cemetery
Free Entry Saturday & Sunday 10:00h to 14:00h.
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Barcelona Botanical Gardens - Barcelona Jardí Botànic
Visit the botanical garden of Barcelona at Montjuïc hill to discover the Bonsai collection & Flowering plants and trees in spring
1st Sunday of every month, Every Sunday from 15:00h, 12th & 13th February, 18th May & 24th September
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Olympic and Sports Museum in Barcelona
2007 Museum dedicated to sport & 1992 Olympic games. Museum houses sports exhibits in an interactive children friendly space. Tickets & Opening Hours
First Sunday of every month, 12th February, 18th May, 24th September
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Frederic Marès Museum - sculptor's collections
Collections donated by Frederic Marès - twentieth century Catalan sculptor & renowned collector. Housed in part of the Palau Reial Major
1st Sunday of every month, Every Sunday from 15:00h, 12th February, 18th May & 25th September
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Barcelona City History Museum MUHBA Plaça del Rei
Ground floor is a large vault over preserved roman street ruins with extensive artefacts. The museum is inside Roman buildings and medieval palaces
1st Sunday of every month, Every Sunday from 15:00h
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Casa de la Ardiaca - Archdeacons house - city archives
Beautiful interior courtyard, exhibition space & roof terrace. Building also houses the Barcelona historical archives and is built into the Roman city walls
Free Entry to the interior patio and terrace plus any temporary exhibition
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Museu Marítim - Maritime Museum in Barcelona
Former Drassanes shipyards that housed up to 30 galleys, today the maritime museum. A varied collection from small fishing vessels to a large royal galley
Every Sunday from 15:00h, 18th May & 24th September
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Pailebot Santa Eulàlia - Schooner Santa Eulàlia
1918 Schooner Santa Eulàlia is a restored & fully functioning sailing boat. Part of the Maritime museum (MMB) collection
Every Sunday from 15:00h, 18th May & 24th September
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Puerta de Mar y baños termales - Roman sea wall gate
MUHBA Porta de Mar free museum with an explanation about the roman wall sea gate and the Roman thermal bathhouse
Free Entry Wednesday 10:00h to 13:00h and Saturday 10:00h to 13:30h (except August)
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Museu d'Història de Catalunya (MHCAT) - Catalonia History Museum
History of Catalonia Museum in Palau de Mar dock warehouse. Industrial building housing museum about stone age to present day. Multimedia exhibitions
1st Sunday of every month, 12th February, 23rd April, 16th, 17th & 18th May, 11th September, 24th September, 24th December
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Centre de Cultura i Memòria Born (CCM) - Born Cultural Centre
Spectacular exhibition space & archaeological ruins. Designed by Antoni Rovira i Trias as a food market for the wholesale of fruit & vegetables
Free Entry all year round to mezzanine ground floor. Closed Monday. Guided tours to ruins and exhibition rooms 4 Euros.
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Museo Picasso Barcelona - Picasso Museum Barcelona
Opening hours, tickets & tips for visiting the Picasso Museum. 4000+ works on display within 5 medieval palaces in El Born District
Thursday's 16:00h to 19:00h, first Sunday of each month. 12th and 13th February, 18th May and 24th September. Book free ticket online.
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Ethnological & World Cultures Museum Barcelona Montcada Site
The Ethnological Museum in Montcada street is a three-floor modern museum of cultural heritage from Africa, South America, India and pacific islands
First Sunday of month, Every Sunday from 15:00h, 12th February, 16th & 18th May, 24th September
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Fire Brigade Museum | Espai Bombers: Parc de la Prevenció
Former 1929 fire house converted to museum about the Barcelona fire service with historic fire fighting vehicles from 19th & early 20th century
12th February
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Sant Cugat Monastery and Wine Cellar near Parc Colserolla
Walled monastery & church museum. The wine co-operative was founded in 1921 by 50 local wine makers as a place to process the grapes
Monastery Free Entry Tuesday to Sunday. Wine Cellar Free entry Saturday & Sunday
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Parc Collserola Jacint Verdaguer Vila Joana museum
Farmhouse, later summer home of writer Jacint Verdaguer till his death in 1902, then a school 1921 - 1973. Now it is a Museum about Jacint Verdaguer
Free Tuesday & Thursday 10:00h to 14:00h, Saturday, Sunday & public holidays 10:00h to 15:00h. (Only weekends & public holidays in July & August)
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Sitges Cau Ferrat house and Maricel Art Gallery
Former home of artist Santiago Rusiñol now a museum that exhibits his art and collections. Art, furniture and sculptures by important Spanish modernist artists
Consult Website for free days
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Tarragona Port Museum | Museu del Port de Tarragona
Free museum run by Tarragona Port Authority. Artifacts from port activities & community of dock workers. History of the port from Roman times to current day
Tarragona Port Museum is Free Entry
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National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona (MNAT)
While the MNAT Plaça del Rei building is being refurbished visit the MNAT exhibition of the history of Tarraco in former port facilities in Serallo area
First Sunday of each month
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Modern Art Museum | Museo de Arte Moderno Tarragona
Modern & contemporary art from the 19th to 21st century contained inside three 18th century former noble houses called Casa Martí. Free Entry
Tarragona Modern Art Musem is Free Entry
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Vic Medieval Art Museum - Museu Episcopal de Vic (MEV)
Premier Religious medieval art museum of 29,000 artefacts distributed over 4 floors of space that includes paintings, sculptures, jewellery & iron work
Free 1st Thursday of every month.
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Vic Medival Town Centre Walking Guide
The buildings, squares, streets & points of interest on a historic walking route through medieval Vic town centre
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Vic Roman Temple | Temple romà de Vic
Dates from early 2nd century at height of Roman Empire. Rediscovered 1882 in the ruins of the former Vic castle. Today a small art Gallery and fascinating relic
The Roman Temple is free to enter
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Barcelona Natural Sciences Museum - Museo Ciències Naturales
Barcelona Museu Blau el Forum. Discover planet earth from creation to today's life on earth in a child friendly, informative & interactive space
1st Sunday of every month, Every Sunday from 15:00h, 12th February, 18th May & 24th September
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Monestir de Pedralbes - Pedralbes Monastery Museum
Former monastery Founded by King James II of Aragon in 1326. 3 tier courtyard garden and preserved rooms such as the kitchens, dining hall, basement and Church
First Sunday of month, Every Sunday from 15:00h, 3rd May, 18th May, 8th June, 24th September, 21st October
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Museu de Valls | Valls Museum
Art & Antiquities museum of works by artists from Valls in the Gothic, Renaissance & Baroque periods through to the 20th century plus temporary exhibitions
The Museum is Free Entry
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Museu de Musica | Music Museum
Within the L'Auditori music hall building is the Barcelona Music Museum. Dicover the evolution music through 500 plus instruments on display
Free Thursday's 18:00h to 21:00h, 1st Sunday of Month and Every Sunday from 15:00h
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Thanks for reading about Barcelona Museums that offer FREE Entry & Open Days
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