Navigating Barcelona’s museum maze like a pro

Many people come to Barcelona for architecture, tapas, and late nights out, but you’re missing out if you don’t take the time to visit a museum or two. Me? I’m in it for the architecture and the museums. This is a city where you can immerse yourself in the work of Pablo Picasso, explore Catalan art, or check out modern masterpieces in museums that are architectural masterpieces themselves. So go ahead, get out of the heat and skip that siesta. These museums will make it worth it—and I’ve even got an exhaustion rating so that you can figure out what you can handle.

I’ve gotten pretty good at picking out a Picasso over the years, but I never invested much time into learning the details of Picasso’s life. If you’re like me, there’s no better place to fill in the gaps than Museu Picasso, housed in five adjoining medieval palaces in the stylish La Ribera neighborhood. This museum tells the story of Pablo Picasso’s formative years, chronicles his Blue Period and offers a window into the Malaga-born artist’s relationship with Barcelona. This museum is home to more than 4,000 items, but that doesn’t mean you should skip it if you’re tight on time. Instead, check out the 39 collection highlights curated by the museum staff.

Tip: Visit on Saturday, Sunday, or Tuesday to join a guided tour. Go on the first Sunday of the month or on a Thursday evening for free admission. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Exhaustion level: 3/10

Moco Museum ticks all my Barcelona boxes: small enough to not be overwhelming but still a lot to see. It’s a celebration of modern art set inside a 16th century palace in the heart of the city’s Gothic Quarter. Wander through intimate rooms filled with works by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Banksy, and more. The museum is also home to Woman Aflame, a Salvador Dali sculpture that brings together two of the artist’s obsessions: fire and the female figure. Don’t skip the Yayoi Kusama light installation: It feels like walking through an endless web of polka dots.

Tip: This museum is small, and it has luggage storage, making it an excellent place to check out while you’re waiting to check into your hotel.

Exhaustion level: 2/10

I love whimsical sculptures, and that’s one area where Fundació Joan Miró overdelivers.

This modern art museum is dedicated to the work of Joan Miró, a Catalan sculptor and painter known for fusing abstraction and surrealist fantasy. This space itself is a work of art—created by Miró himself in an effort to make art accessible to all. It brings together art, architecture, and landscape design to create a Mediterranean-style oasis.

The museum is home to more than 10,000 paintings, drawings, sculptures, stage designs, and tapestries, so be sure to give yourself ample time to explore. And if you’re a fan of classical music, plan to visit on a Thursday evening between June and September when the museum hosts a magical Nights of Music series.

Tip: While you’re here, take some time to explore Montjuïc. There are several walking paths through this scenic wooded area, and the top of Montjuïc offers dreamy views of Barcelona and the Mediterranean sea.

Exhaustion level: 5/10

Sure, you can come to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya for a crash course in Catalan art history in an opulent palace built for the International Exposition of 1929. But let’s admit—you’re really here for the epic city views. For the full experience, stroll along the tree-lined Avinguda Reina Maria Cristina before you climb the majestic stone staircase to the museum’s entrance. Turn around at the top of the staircase to take in the sweeping panorama of Barcelona.

Inside, take a walk from the 12th through the 20th century as you examine one of the largest Romanesque mural collections in the world. The collection also includes a behind-the-scenes look at Antoni Gaudi’s plans for the interiors of Casa Batllo, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a Barcelona icon.

Tip: Combine a visit to this museum with a visit to its neighbor, Fundació Joan Miró. Or make a full day of it by visiting both museums, exploring the green spaces surrounding them, and taking the cable car to the top of Montjuïc.

Exhaustion level: 6/10

I’m not a morning person, but even I’ll tell you it’s worth it to wake up early to visit Casa Mila—the last private apartment building designed by architect Antoni Gaudi—before the crowds arrive. I took a pre-opening tour, and there were more than a few times I could almost feel what it might be like to live here. Nowadays Casa Mila, also known as La Pedrera, is part museum and part apartment building—it still has a handful of long-term residents who are lucky to live in this dazzling space.

This property may not appear as ornate as Casa Batllo, but in my opinion, its interior—with its classic curves, circular underground garage, and meticulously restored apartments—is far more interesting.

Tip: For a peek behind the scenes of modern life at La Pedrara, follow resident Ana Viladomiu Pérez-Sala on Instagram. The author frequently shares photos of her gorgeous apartment and adorable dog.

Exhaustion level: 3/10

If you want to know more about how Antoni Gaudi lived, head to the Gaudi House Museum inside Park Guell. This house isn’t quite as glamorous as some of the other spaces that Gaudi designed in Barcelona, but it is where he lived for nearly 20 years, from 1906 until 1925. Several rooms have been restored to reflect their original condition and provide a peek into the artist’s day-to-day life. In Gaudi’s former bedroom and studio, you can check out his furniture, climb the stairs he climbed, and take in his idyllic park views.

Tip: This museum is located inside Park Guell, so spend some time strolling through this Gaudi-touched urban greenspace before or after your museum visit.

Exhaustion level: 4/10

Barcelona’s history museum, Museu d’Historia de Barcelona (a.k.a. MUHBA), is spread across several sites in the city. If you only make it to one of them, make it MUHBA Refugi 307. This site was once a bomb shelter built during the Spanish Civil War—one of more than 1,000 shelters used to protect the city. There’s nothing quite like walking through here to understand how the Spanish Civil War affected daily life.

If you’ve got time for more, add Placa del Rei—another MUHBA site just a 10-minute stroll away. Here, you can explore the streets of Roman Barcelona and check out a 2nd century laundry.

Tip: After your visit, join a Spanish Civil War walking tour to learn more about how Barcelona became a backdrop for a bloody civil war in the 1930s and the decades-long dictatorship that followed. These tours show visitors a different side of sites like La Rambla, the popular pedestrian thoroughfare where the war’s opening shots were fired.

Exhaustion level: 6/10

CaixaForum is my favorite kind of space. It’s part art gallery and part cultural center, set in an old Modernist textile factory built by the groundbreaking Spanish Modernista architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, who created many of Barcelona’s most important buildings. The center is home to several exhibition spaces, some of which are free to enter. A permanent exhibit from Joseph Beuys looks almost like a spacious cell. It’s meant as a call for withdrawal and isolation from the outside. You’ll find tons of activities for kids on the calendar, as well as a couple of VR experiences like a symphony.

Tip: It’s free to visit the building’s inner courtyard and roof terrace. Adult museum entry is just 6€, and admission is free for anyone under 16.

Exhaustion level: 4/10

Banksy, the world famous street artist, may be a mystery, but his art doesn’t have to be. The Museo Banksy brings together more than 130 pieces—and may just be the friendliest museum in the city. It’s one of the best places in Europe to dive deep into the mysterious artist’s work, and the staff here is especially enthusiastic about sharing what they’ve learned (and if they know more, they’re not telling).

Tip: Head to Casa Lolea Barcelona for tapas after your visit. My go-to here is the patatas brava, which is made with new potatoes instead of traditional white potatoes, and its cava blend will change your mind about sangria.

Exhaustion level: 2/10

CosmoCaixa is a hidden gem—a science museum at the edge of the city. It’ll take you an hour to get there from central Barcelona on public transit, but in return for your effort you’ll get to witness a flooded Amazonian rain forest (complete with piranhas and crocodiles) that’s set inside a huge glass house. There’s also a geological wall made of seven rock sections, interactive exhibits designed to teach kids about science, and a permanent exhibit that explains the evolution of the universe.

Tip: Wondering where to start? Head to the top of the spiral staircase surrounding the giant tree and work your way down.

Exhaustion level: 5/10