The National Art Museum of Catalunya, also known as MNAC, is located in the Palau Nacional near the Magic Fountain on Montjuïc. The museum boasts an impressive art collection spanning over a thousand years, tracing the development of art in Catalonia.
The museum is famous for its impressive collection of Romanesque murals from the 11th and 12th centuries, removed from churches in the Vall d’Aran, in the Catalan Pyrenees. Additionally, the museum houses extensive collections of Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance art, as well as a section dedicated to Modern art, which focuses on Catalan Modernism but also includes works by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró.
In addition to the extensive art collection, the building itself, which was built for the Barcelona International Exposition of 1929, is also quite impressive and affords visitors panoramic views of Barcelona from its rooftop terraces.
Visiting the MNAC museum in Barcelona
Upon entering the museum, after showing your ticket, you come to a large foyer flanked by staircases leading to the museum’s four permanent collections: Romanesque art, Gothic Art, Renaissance/Baroque Art and Modern Art.
Directly ahead of you is the entrance to the impressive Oval Hall, which gives access to the roof terraces and where there is a small café.
It makes sense to visit the collections chronologically, although you should bear in mind that the museum is very large and that seeing the entire collection takes around four hours. If you don’t have time to visit the whole collection, the free audioguide highlights twenty of the museum’s most significant pieces and can be downloaded free of charge from the App Store or Google Play.
Standard tickets for the MNAC allow you to visit the museum twice in six months. If you’re in Barcelona for more than a few days, it’s worth taking your time and breaking your visit into two parts.
In addition to the four permanent collections, the museum hosts temporary exhibitions, usually lasting approximately four months. You can find out what’s currently on display on the museum’s website.
While you’re here, it’s worth taking the lift up to the roof terraces, which afford panoramic views of Barcelona and some of the other attractions on Montjuïc and are especially popular at sunset.
Time needed to visit the MNAC
You should allow between ninety minutes and two hours to visit the MNAC, although if you want to see the museum’s entire collection, including the temporary exhibits, you can expect to spend at least four hours here. There’s a restaurant and a café inside the museum where you can take a break and have something to eat.
Information in English?
Yes, most of the display boards are in English, Spanish and Catalan. There is also a free audioguide which is available in several languages.
Location
The MNAC is housed in the Palau Nacional, which is in the Parc de Montjuïc, near Plaça d’Espanya.
The nearest metro stop is Espanya on the red and green metro lines (Lines 1 and 3). Bus numbers 50 and 150 plus other routes, including the Bus Turistic stop nearby.
Opening times
| Day | Opening times |
| Tues – Sat | 10:00 to 20:00 |
| Sun & public holidays | 10:00 to 15:00 |
| Mon (except public holidays) | Closed |
| Day | Opening times |
| Tues – Sat | 10:00 to 18:00 |
| Sun & public holidays | 10:00 to 15:00 |
| Mon (except public holidays) | Closed |
*The museum remains closed on the following days: January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.
Tickets
| Ticket | Price |
| General admission (check availability) | €12 |
| Roof Terrace and Oval Hall (included with general admission) | €2 |
| Under €16 | Free |
| Over 65 years and resident in the EU | Free |
Articket (Barcelona Museum Pass)
If you plan on visiting three or more of the museums listed below, it will generally work out cheaper if you purchase the Articket, which includes skip-the-line entrance to all six museums for just €38.
- Barcelona Contemporary Art Museum (MACBA)
- The National Art Museum of Catalunya (MNAC)
- Picasso Museum
- Miró Foundation (Fundació Joan Miró)
- Antoni Tapies Foundation
- Barcelona Centre for Contemporary Culture (CCCB)
Barcelona Card
The museum is also covered by the Barcelona Card, which includes free access to twenty-five of the city’s best museums, unlimited journeys on public transport and discounts at many other attractions and activities.
Free Admission days
The MNAC can be visited free of charge every Saturday after 15:00 and all day on the first Sunday of each month.
Other attractions nearby
- The Magic Fountain
- Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village)
- Fundació Joan Miró
- CaixaForum Barcelona
- Archaeological Museum of Catalonia (MAC)
Map
Parc de Montjuïc, s/n, Barcelona
