There’s no better place to live modern art than at the Picasso Museum Barcelona, the first museum dedicated to Pablo Picasso and one of the most extensive collections going.
In fact, at the Museu Picasso you’ll find the world’s largest collection of Picassos.
Whether you’re just stopping in for a couple frescoes or going for the full Picasso Museum Tour you’re going to want to do this right – so let’s get into it.
The Barcelona Picasso Museum
This is a must on any Barcelona itinerary, as you’ll find a permanent collection of more than 4,000 of Picasso’s works here.
Most of the art is from his early years and showcases the maturation and evolution of a skilled artist.
The majority of these extensive collections were donated by Pablo Picasso himself, as a thanks to his friend Jaime Sabartés, the founder of the museum.
⚠️ Warning ⚠️: Barcelona’s top two attractions must now be booked in advance.
You can book fast track tickets to both individually or get them as part of a discount pass:
- ⛪ Buy now: Sagrada Familia Fast Track Admission (skip the lines)
- 🏞️ Buy now: Park Guell Fast Track Admission (skip the lines)
- 🎟️ Buy now: Best of Barcelona Bundle (Sagrada + Park Guell + 10% discount code for all else)
You will not be able to book these tickets on site – lock in your tickets ASAP or you could miss out.
The museum opened in 1963 and has been growing ever since, and aside from the new Moco Museum this is probably the most sought after art museum in the city.
The Museo Picasso is located in a historic building off Carrer de Montcada in the trendy Born district. Here, there are rooms dedicated to the different stages of Picasso’s life.
What to See at the Picasso Museum in Barcelona
Picasso’s Formative Years
The Barcelona Picasso museum begins with a fascinating cross-section of Picasso’s first academic years, featuring some of his darkest works created over the winter at the Madrid Academy.
You’ll also see more cheerful work created during his vacations to the village of Horta de San Joan.
There is some very impressive academic demonstration of light and shadow that are hard to believe he created while still just a boy. The adolescent age continues to be told later in other joyous paintings from his hometown of Malaga.
The Blue Period
The financial difficulties experienced by Pablo Picasso in this era meant he couldn’t even afford to buy colours. His solution? Not using them.
Here you notice the economical approach to his frescoes of the time – and it’s clear his state of mind made it impossible to create anything cheerful.
The period was prompted by the death childhood friend Carles Casagemas. Casagemas shot himself because of an unrequited love for one Germaine Pichot – later one of the five subjects of Picasso’s The Young Ladies of Avignon.
The Barcelona Picasso connection? All the ladies were prostitutes on the city’s famous Carrer d’Avinyó, one of the highlights of the Barcelona Gothic Quarter.
Under the Influence
Continuing the tour you’ll see and admire copies of Velazquez, who Picasso considered a blueprint of sorts, and many other copies of the old masters who influenced Picasso.
You’ll especially see the artistic kinship between Picasso’s work and that of Velazquez, though Picasso always maintained his own personal touch.
The Barcelona Spain Years
You could find Picasso in Barcelona between about 1895 and 1904.
He had an active presence in the area and you can see how the paintings absorbed the latest trends of a modern city.
You’ll even find some humour, like the fake newspaper clippings depicting his friend Sabartes in erotic exploits with several women.
The Rose Period
Here Picasso used cheerful reds, oranges, and pinks to depict clowns, harlequins and circus performers. Professional growth and maturity marked his move to Paris.
It was there that he realized he needed to use a stage name and his signature (which normally included two first names) became simply PICASSO. This is Picasso’s Pink Period.
You’ll end the tour passing through the Pigeon Room (which apparently Picasso painted because his terrace in California was infested) to the Las Meninas Room, where you’ll find an extravagant variety of works from Velazquez.
Picasso Museum Prices
General admission tickets to the Picasso Museum in Barcelona include access to the regular collection, access to the regular collection and temporary exhibitions, or just the temporary exhibitions.
Buying in advance online saves €1.00 per ticket and guarantees your spot.
If you show up to the ticket windows you’re paying more and risking it being sold out (common, especially weekends).
- Adult: €12.00 (or €14.00 with temporary exhibitions)
- 18-25, students with ID, and 65+: €7.00 (or €7.50 with temporary exhibitions)
- Temporary exhibitions only: €6.50 (adults) or €4.50 (discounted)
- Under 18: free.
- Audio guide in English: €5.00 extra.
For all discounted tickets ID must be shown – visitors under 14 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
A word of advice: if your Barcelona visit includes more than one of Barcelona’s best museums it’s worth it to grab yourself an Articket BCN discount pass.
With it you’ll save up to 45% off museum ticket window prices.
Where to Book Barcelona Picasso Museum Tickets
Again, since Picasso Museum tickets often sell out before closing it’s recommended to buy them in advance online.
Just select your type of ticket, a date, and your entrance time (times are staggered about every 15 minutes) to guarantee your spot.
An added bonus: if you’ve already got your Barcelona Picasso museum tickets you won’t have to wait in line. You’ll go straight in at the Calle Montcada 17 entrance.
Book your advance tickets clicking the button below:
Barcelona Picasso Museum Guided Tour Tickets
Sometimes a basic Picasso Museum ticket just isn’t enough and it’s better to have a licensed local guide.
There’s no better way to trace Picasso’s Barcelona life than with the 90 minute guided tours in English.
Along this Barcelona Picasso Museum tour (masks now optional! 😉) you’ll follow the man’s life in chronological order through the museum.
You’ll be fed interesting anecdotes on Picasso’s life, and get the full picture like no general admission could ever give you.
The super-informative presentation on the private life and career of Picasso even has some great history of the city of Barcelona thrown in.
- Adults: €33.00.
- Children (0-17): €23.00.
Picasso Museum tours run Tuesday to Sunday at 4:00 pm.
This is an exclusive Barcelona Picasso Museum tour offer that’s not even offered at the museum itself. For more info click the blue button below:
Wondering if it’s worth the extra money? Check out tons of Barcelona Picasso Museum tour reviews.
Free Days at the Barelona Picasso Museum
If you’re in Barcelona at the right time you’ll be happy to know that the Museu Picasso participates in free museum Sundays – in my opinion the best of all the free things to do in Barcelona.
Free entrance is found on the following dates:
- The first Sunday of every month from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.
- Thursday afternoons from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
- Open Door Days (February 12th, May 18th, and September 24th)
Careful! Free day entrance times must be booked in advance at the official Museu Picasso website.
Free tickets are subject to availability and can only be booked up to 4 days in advance.
Barcelona Picasso Museum Hours
All Picasso Museum hours listed below include holidays.
Keep in mind that the Barcelona Picasso Museum ticket office closes 30 minutes before the museum so if you haven’t booked online make sure you show up in time.
Updated hours for 2023:
- Monday: closed
- Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.
- Closed: January 1, May 1, June 24, December 25.
Free entrance: Thursday afternoons from 4:00 pm till 7:00 pm, the first Sunday of the Month, and during the Open Doors free museum days on May 18th, and September 24th.
Tickets for these dates can only be bought 4 days in advance using the the official website.
There are reduced hours on December 24 and December 31 – the museum closes at 2:00 pm. On January 5th it closes at 5:00 pm.
And how much time for a visit to the Picasso Museum in Barcelona?
Leave around 90 minutes for the visit, or 120 minutes if you’re including the temporary exhibition.
Related: How Many Days Should I Stay in Barcelona?
Where is the Picasso Museum in Barcelona?
The Picasso museum is located at 15-23 Carrer Montcada in the Born neighbourhood and just a stone’s throw from the legendary Gothic Quarter.
The nearest Barcelona metro stations are Jaume I (yellow line L4) and Arc de Triomf (red line L1)
Buses: 120, 45, V15, V17, 39, 51, H14.
🚌 Coming to the Picasso Museum? Make sure you know how to get around Barcelona on public transport first.
Related: Best Things to Do in Barcelona
Picasso Museum Barcelona Hacks
- Always book your Picasso museum tickets in advance to avoid lines and rejection.
- If you’re visiting more than one museum use the Articket BCN discount card.
- Go very early in the day to avoid the biggest crowds.
- Grab an audio guide unless you’re a complete Picasso expert.
- Combine your Picasso Museum visit with a look at the nearby Catalan Music Palace.
- Grab a drink or coffee nearby at the great outdoor bar Antic Cafe.
- Talk to a member of staff about exclusive entrance for kids with strollers/prams.
- Lockers can be rented on site for €1.00 (bring exact 1 euro coin change).
- There are shops near the Picasso museum selling similar souvenirs for much cheaper.
- Drinks are not allowed in so drink them up before you enter!
Temporary Exhibitions at the Museu Picasso Barcelona
Again, the Museu Picasso in Barcelona is home to some interesting Picasso Museum temporary exhibitions which are included in the general admission ticket.
Current and upcoming Picasso Museum Barcelona exhibitions include:
- Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler: Dealer & Publisher (2nd Dec 2022 to March 19th 2023)
- March 19th 2023 Onward: TBD.
Some examples of past temporary exhibitions in Barcelona include Mythologies, Cubism and War, Jacqueline (Picasso’s wife), and Picasso: Photography and Ceramic.
As mentioned before, temporary exhibitions at the Barcelona Picasso Museum can be had for the following prices:
- Temporary exhibition only (adult): €6.50.
- Temporary exhibition only (18-25 and 65+): €4.50.
- Temporary exhibition only (under 18): free.
Again, make sure to bring ID for the discounted tickets.
Where to Eat Near the Museu Picasso in Barcelona
You can have some of Barcelona’s best tapas nearby at El Xampanyet or Cal Pep. Both of these top Barcelona restaurants can only be described as high quality, homemade, and traditional.
Another great option is Nou Celler, a place serving traditional Catalan food at affordable prices. The lunch set menu costs just €12.00 with a starter, main, dessert, and drink.
I would personally go for the escalivada (a grilled veggie dish), buttifarra (a local sausage), or gazpacho (a cold tomato soup). Another option for €20.00 is the tapas tasting menu where you’ll get about a dozen different tastes.
You’ll find Nou Celler in Carrer de la Princesa 16 just two minutes away from the Picasso Museum.
Barcelona Picasso Museum FAQ
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Is the Picasso Museum worth it?
Fans of Pablo Picasso will no doubt find the museum the perfect way to experience his life and art – it is the most extensive collection of Picasso art in the world, covers every period of his life from childhood to death, and hosts nearly 5000 pieces of art.
The museum is also a perfect introduction for curious minds who have often heard the name but never bothered to dig deeper, especially when learning via the guided tour.
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Where is the Picasso Museum in Barcelona Spain?
You can find the Picasso Museum in the Born neighbourhood of the Old City (technically La Ribera), spread out over 5 medieval palaces on Montcada Street (Carrer de la Montcada). It’s just a short walk from Jaume I metro station.
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Why is the Picasso Museum in Barcelona?
Pablo Picasso spent some of his most productive artistic years in Barcelona, from about 1895 to 1904, and it was in the city’s bars and coffee houses that he met many acquaintances that changed his life forever.
One of these people was local Jaume Sabartés, who originally wanted to open the museum in Picasso’s hometown of Malaga, but was later persuaded by Picasso to change the location to Barcelona.
The original museum was opened with Sabartés’ private collection of just 500 or so works – under the name the the Sabartés Collection, with Picasso refusing to put his name on a building as a statement against the Franco regime.
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Do you need to book the Picasso Museum in advance?
Walk up tickets are available on normal days, though it is strictly recommended to book in advance to avoid having to wait in lines – which can get quite long, especially in the summer heat.
For free museum days (first Sunday of every month and Thursday afternoons) booking in advance is mandatory, though it can only be done up to 4 days in advance.
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Can I take pictures at the Picasso Museum?
Photography is allowed for standard cameras and smart phones, however the use of tripods and flash photography is strictly prohibited.
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How long does the Museu Picasso visit take?
For a thorough visit of all the exhibition rooms expect it to take about 70-90 minutes. Add on 15-20 minutes for the temporary exhibition if applicable.
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How much does the Picasso Museum cost?
Adult general admission tickets cost €12.00, while students/seniors cost €7.00. Audio guides can be added for €5.00.
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Is there a guided tour of the Barcelona Picasso Museum?
Yes, 90 minute guided tours in English run Tuesday through Sunday at 4:00 pm. Tickets cost €33.00 for adults and €23.00 for visitors between the ages of 0-17. Max group size is 15. Bookings can be made through at the Tiquets Picasso Museum Guided Tour page.
Need More Picasso in Barcelona?
If you still haven’t got enough information on the Picasso Museum in Barcelona or anything else related to your vacation then why not harass me with a little message below? I’d be happy to help.
Also! Any compliments or criticisms about the blog are greatly appreciated since I am always striving to make this resource better and better – fire away!
And don’t be afraid to join the Barcelona Picasso museum discussion by joining my group I’m Off to Barcelona – here you can ask any questions, air out grievances, and chat with thousands of Barcelona travelers.
Enjoy your Barcelona Picasso experience! 🎨
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September 9, 2021 at 8:20 pmThanks for the great information. We will be visiting the end of September with my 18 month old. Is the Picasso Museum stroller friendly? Also is tourism back to capacity in Barcelona. We are hoping to buy tickets the day of. Thanks!
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September 11, 2021 at 6:52 amHi Caitin, The museum is fully fitted for wheelchair guests with ramps/elevators etc. so should be no problem for a stroller. As for capacity... tourism is still very slow and since you'll be coming at the end of 'high' season (if we can call summer 2021 high!) I don't anticipate any big sell outs or anything so buying tickets day of should be fine. Cheers,
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February 26, 2020 at 8:00 pmHi! Thank you so much for all of the information you've provided me prior to our trip in May! We would like to visit the museum prior to embarking on a cruise, so we will have our luggage with us that morning. Is this something that the museum can handle? The website mentions a cloakroom that is free of charge, but I am not sure if checked size luggage as well as carry-ons are allowed. Thanks!
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February 27, 2020 at 11:34 amHola Courtney, I've contacted the museum to ask them directly, they have a special cloakroom for suitcases, so it's allowed ;) Cheers, Lucile
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February 24, 2020 at 7:14 pmCan I apply my Barcelona City Pass discount on Picasso Museum General Admission tickets? There is not a place to enter the discount code on the payment page.
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February 25, 2020 at 10:25 amHi Rose, Unfortunately with the City Pass the discount can only be applied to the guided tour. Cheers, Ash
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February 1, 2020 at 5:15 amI reserved a Barcelona Card and Museu Picasso is free; but the card states that I need to make reservations in advance? How do I do that? Thanks!
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February 1, 2020 at 3:49 pmHi Christine, Unless you're trying to go on one of the free days (listed above) you won't need to. Simply present the card at the Montcada 23 entrance and you'll be let right in :) Cheers, Ash
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December 8, 2019 at 2:20 amHello! Thank you for such a great site - it’s been extremely helpful. I’ve just booked three guided tours for 7 pm on Thursday night for 12 Euros (two adults, one child). It doesn’t look like the free admission tickets are available yet (its 2 am on the Sunday prior to the free admission day). Do I need to also get three free admissions when they become available (that is, have I just purchased the tour, but not the admission)? Thanks, Sheila
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November 11, 2019 at 1:36 amIf I buy a BCN discount pass, am I able to book a specific time slot for entrance to the Picasso Museum and other museums?
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November 11, 2019 at 12:40 pmHi Rozelle, Unfortunately with the Barcelona Card the discounts cannot be redeemed online and must be done at ticket windows. That said, for most museums unless you're going on a free day (not possible without booking) or at peak hours on weekends in high season there shouldn't be any problems with queues. Cheers, Ash
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October 28, 2019 at 9:37 pmHello: wondering if there are any benches as you go through the huge exhibit of Picasso's lifetime of work?
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October 29, 2019 at 8:12 amHi Carol, If my memory serves me correctly there are plenty of benches! :) Ash
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September 29, 2019 at 10:52 pmHey Ash, I'm trying to book tickets for the Picasso Museum on Thu Oct 3rd and, after completing all the fields and clicking the Finish button, I keep getting pop box with an error message "It is not allowed sales with zero amount". I tried adding in an audio guide for €5 but still get that message. I also tried using a different browser but still get the error. Am I a day early in trying to book? Any thoughts? Thanks
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September 30, 2019 at 2:02 pmHi Gordon, I've never heard of this message before so I'm assuming that it's either because it's already sold out or it's too early... have you tried today? I just tried for my friend and it worked! I'm using Chrome and a windows laptop. Cheers, Ash
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September 30, 2019 at 6:34 pmWe just tried again on my wife's Ipad and it worked! Immediately afterward I tried on my Mac & got that same weird "zero amount" error message. Can't figure it out but we have tickets now. Gordon
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October 1, 2019 at 10:43 amWow! That's very strange and sorry to hear you're having such troubles... but all is well that ends well eh? Technology confuses me sometimes. Enjoy the visit :)
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September 30, 2019 at 5:57 pmAsh, Yes, I have tried repeatedly today, even at 4am on my Android phone, but I still get the same result (Using a MAC & Safari & Firefox browsers). I can't figure out what, if anything I am doing wrong. I can tell by the calendar on the Museum site that others are seemingly having no problems booking as the time slots are filling up and the earlier ones are now closed. When my son comes home at lunch I am going to get him to try on his VPN to see if that makes any difference. Thanks Gordon Smith
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August 16, 2022 at 12:25 pmUnfortunately there is a mistake on this site. The Picasso museum is not free for students, it's only reduced ticket (7€)
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August 17, 2022 at 12:04 pmHi Karolina, That's exactly what we have written ;) Under 18s are free but students older than this can get a discount with ID. Sorry if it wasn't clear!
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September 19, 2019 at 6:01 pmShould I purchase tickets in advance if I'm going during a non-touristy time in early December?
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September 20, 2019 at 10:28 amHi John, I always recommend buying tickets in advance online for several reasons. You'll be able to skip the line, you'll be sure to enter in the attraction and sometimes you can even save money buying online ;) If you're only talking about Picasso museum tickets, I think it won't be too busy at this period of the year and don't forget that you can have free ticket on the first Sunday of the month and on Thursday's afternoon, you'll have to "buy" your ticket in advance online even if it's free!
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September 10, 2019 at 9:37 amHello, I found your site extremely detailed and useful. Thank you. I made several restaurant bookings through your site already. Just have a quick question if you have the time to answer, I would appreciate it. I'm traveling with my mom, and she's a senior. So, I'm sure at museums, they will ask to see her ID. I really don't want to carry around my passport when sightseeing. Do photocopies work in Barcelona? Can I use them to for VAT, museums, AVE trains...? Still pouring through your site every chance I get~ Really appreciate all the great info!
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September 10, 2019 at 11:43 amHi Anna, Thanks so much for your kid words, I am glad to help :) I totally understand the not wanting to carry passport thing... honestly I wouldn't worry about them checking IDs too much as I've heard it isn't so strict. I would definitely just take a snap of them on your phone and even a photocopy and it should be fine. Cheers, Ash
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