Pablo Picasso, the renowned painter, lived and studied in Barcelona. In the 1960s, a museum dedicated to the works of this great master opened right in the heart of the city’s historic center. Today, the Picasso Museum is one of Barcelona’s most popular attractions. In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about this must-see museum.
Table of contents
- Tickets, tours and guided tours
- FAQs Picasso Museum
- Practical info
- How do you get to the Picasso Museum?
- What to see and do during your visit to the Picasso Museum?
- Who was Picasso?
- History of the Picasso Museum in Barcelona
- Other Picasso places in Barcelona
Tickets and guided tours Picasso Museum
Be smart and buy your tickets in advance online
1. Basic entrance ticket
You can purchase a skip-the-line ticket for the Picasso Museum online in advance. The cost is €14 per adult. Admission is free for visitors under 18, while seniors (65+) and those aged 18-25 pay a reduced price of €7.50. If you wish you can choose a ticket with an audioguide as well. Available in 10 different languages. You can easily order your tickets online through the official site.
2. Barcelona Card including entrance to Picasso Museum
The Barcelona Card offers free public transportation and free entry to several attractions, including the Picasso Museum. Order yours now!
3. Articket: access to the six major art museums in Barcelona
Planning to visit multiple art museums in Barcelona? We recommend the Articket museum pass. For just €38, you’ll have access not only to the Picasso Museum but also to the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB), the Fundació Antoni Tàpies, the Fundació Joan Miró, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC), and the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA). Order yours now!
4. Guided tour at the Picasso Museum
You can join a guided tour of the permanent collection every Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m., led by an English-speaking guide. Reservations are required in advance. On Saturdays at 3:30 p.m., there are also English-guided tours for the temporary exhibitions.
How It works:
- Reserve your spot: Book your guided tour by email for up to six people at museupicasso_reserves@bcn.cat. Please note that there are no guided tours in August at the Picasso Museum.
- Arrive early: Make sure to arrive at least ten minutes before the start time, or your spot may be given to those on the waiting list.
- Meeting point: Meet at the entrance at No. 23 “Room Zero” (Palau Finestres).
5. Picasso Walking Tour
Discover Picasso’s Barcelona on a guided tour. Interested in exploring Barcelona through the eyes of Pablo Picasso? Join a Picasso Tour that takes you to key spots like his favorite café and the art school where he studied. We recommend this tour offered by Barcelona Turisme.
Practical info
| Picasso Museum | Tickets, opening hours & public transportation |
|---|---|
| Tickets | |
| Adress | Carrer Montcada 15-23 (El Born) |
| Public transportation / subway | Metro: L4 Jaume I L1 Arc de Triomf Bus: 47, H14, H16, V15, V17 |
| Opening hours | Tuesday to Sunday: 09:00 – 20:00 Closed on Mondays Closed January 1, May 1, June 24 and December 25. January 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. December 24 and 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free: Thursday afternoons from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. First Sunday of each month. Open house days: February 12, May 18 and September 24. |
FAQ’s Picasso Museum
Yes, it is recommended to purchase tickets for the Picasso Museum in advance. This allows you to skip the line and ensures entry, as the museum can be very busy, especially during peak tourist seasons.
The Picasso Museum is large enough that you could easily spend hours exploring. On average, visitors spend about two hours at the museum. In addition to the permanent collection, there are also temporary exhibitions that you can enjoy.
Yes, you can leave your coat and belongings in the checkroom for free with your admission ticket (a €1 deposit is required). Lockers are also available for smaller items, but please note that suitcases will not fit.
You can visit the Picasso Museum free of charge during the following times:
First Sunday of each month: The museum offers free admission on the first Sunday of every month.
Special Holidays: Free entry is available on certain holidays, including Sant Eulàlia (February 12 and 13), Museum Night (May 17), La Mercè (September 24), and from December 18 to 20.
Thursday Evenings: On Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the museum is open for free.
Additionally, holders of the Barcelona Card and Articket also receive free entry to the museum.
Please note you cannot just show up, but you will need to reserve a spot through the official website. Free admission days can be very crowded, and the surrounding area may be busy with visitors.
The best time to visit the Picasso Museum is early in the morning or late in the afternoon when it is generally quieter. During free admission times, the museum can become very crowded, making for a more hectic experience. At other times, while you might encounter a longer line, the museum’s large size helps ensure that it doesn’t feel too crowded inside.
The Picasso Museum is centrally located in the El Born neighborhood, just a 5-minute walk from the Jaume 1 metro stop (yellow line). This area is known for its charming shops, tapas bars, and historic sites. While visiting the museum, you can easily explore the vibrant El Born district. Enjoy a stroll through the neighborhood, dine at local tapas bars, visit the beautiful Basilica of Santa María del Mar, and check out the El Born CCM museum located in the old market hall.
The Picasso Museum is centrally located in the El Born neighborhood of Barcelona. You can easily reach the museum by taking the metro to Jaume 1 (yellow line), which is just a 5-minute walk away. Additionally, several bus lines serve the area. Check this list of all options and detailed information.
Yes, when you purchase tickets online for the Picasso Museum, you need to choose a fixed time slot for your visit. Make sure to select your preferred entry time when reserving your tickets. Arrive at the museum entrance on time for the time slot you have chosen. You can either print your tickets or save them on your smartphone for entry.
How do I get to the Picasso Museum?
Metro: The most convenient way to reach the Picasso Museum is by metro. Take Line 4 (yellow line) to Jaume I station, which is about a 5-minute walk from the museum. Alternatively, you can take Line 1 (red line) to Arc de Triomf station, and then walk approximately 10 to 15 minutes to the museum.
Walking: If you are staying in central Barcelona (around La Rambla, the Gothic Quarter, La Barceloneta, or El Born), the Picasso Museum is easily reachable on foot, with a walk of about 20 minutes or less.
Hop On Hop Off Bus: The Hop On Hop Off tourist bus does not stop directly at the Picasso Museum. The nearest stops are at Pla de Palau and along Via Laietana, both of which are less than a 10-minute walk from the museum.
Cycling: The museum is also accessible by bike. From central areas, it takes about 5 to 10 minutes, and from Eixample, it’s a pleasant downhill ride. While there are no bike racks directly outside the museum, several bike parking facilities are available nearby.
Parking: If you are driving, note that the museum does not have its own parking garage. Nearby parking options include Carrer Princesa, Passeig del Born / Plaça Comercial, Plaça de la Catedral, Avinguda Cambó, and Via Laietana.
What to see and do during your visit to the Picasso Museum?
The museum collection
Postcard of Las Meninas, painted by Picasso in Cannes (1957)
The Picasso Museum in Barcelona holds the most extensive collection of Picasso’s works, with more than 4,250 pieces on display. The permanent collection is organized into sixteen rooms, each dedicated to a specific period of Picasso’s artistic journey. This arrangement allows visitors to trace Picasso’s evolution from his early years to his later works. The museum is particularly noted for its vast collection from Picasso’s early period (1891-1905).
One of the most remarkable features of the collection is Picasso’s series based on Diego Velázquez’s Las Meninas, which comprises 58 works. These pieces showcase Picasso’s reinterpretation of the famous painting, reflecting his innovative approach to art and his engagement with historical themes.
Highlights at the Picasso Museum
When visiting the Picasso Museum, make sure not to miss these five highlights:
- Science and Charity (1897) – Located in Room 3, this painting reflects Picasso’s academic training and showcases his early technical skills and his focus on social themes.
- Las Meninas series (1957) – Displayed in Rooms 12, 13, and 14, this series is a bold reinterpretation of Velázquez’s masterpiece and demonstrates Picasso’s creative genius in exploring perspective, form, and composition.
- The Madman (L’idiot, 1904) – Found in Room 8, this painting is a significant work from Picasso’s Blue Period, characterized by its somber tones and emotional depth.
- The Wait (Margot, 1901) – This piece, located in Room 7, is another example of Picasso’s early exploration of color and form, capturing a fleeting moment with vivid emotion.
- Still Life (1901) – Also in Room 7, this work showcases Picasso’s experimentation with still life, using bold colors and dynamic composition.
The Building Itself
The Picasso Museum is housed in five interconnected medieval palaces in Barcelona’s El Born neighborhood. The buildings date back to the 15th century and include Palau Aguilar, Palau Baró de Castellet, Palau Meca, Casa Mauri, and Palau Finestres. The architecture alone is worth a visit, featuring stunning medieval entrances, beautiful courtyards, and charming interiors that provide a unique setting for Picasso’s art.
The most recent expansion of the museum occurred in 1999 with the addition of Casa Mauri at Carrer de Montcada, 21 and Palau Finestres at Carrer de Montcada, 23. These spaces are primarily used for temporary exhibitions, adding to the museum’s dynamic presentation of Picasso’s work.
For more information on exhibitions, tickets, and visiting hours, please visit the official website of the Picasso Museum.
Picasso and his connection to Barcelona
Pablo Picasso, regarded as the most influential artist of the 20th century, had a profound impact on modern art. Born with the full name Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso, he was known for his innovative styles and intense personality.
In 1895, Picasso’s family moved to Barcelona, a city that became pivotal in his development as an artist. His father, an art teacher at the prestigious La Llotja art academy, recognized Picasso’s extraordinary talent early on. At just 14, Picasso was accepted into the academy, though he never completed his studies.
Barcelona provided Picasso with his first artistic community and studio in Carrer de la Plata, where he created some of his earliest works, including “Ciencia y Caridad,” which reflects the personal tragedy of his sister’s death. The city also inspired his groundbreaking piece, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, which marked the beginning of Cubism—a style he developed with Georges Braque that broke away from traditional perspectives in art.
Although Picasso moved to Paris in 1904, he frequently returned to Barcelona, which he considered a second home. The city was a backdrop for his personal life and artistic evolution, influencing his many styles, from the Blue and Rose periods to Cubism and Surrealism.
Picasso’s connection to Barcelona is celebrated today at the Picasso Museum, which houses many of his early works and pieces from his formative years in the city. Barcelona was more than just a place Picasso lived; it was a vital part of his artistic journey and growth as a creator.
History of the Picasso Museum in Barcelona
The Picasso Museum in Barcelona is one of three dedicated to Picasso worldwide, with the others located in Paris and Málaga. Notably, Barcelona’s Picasso Museum boasts the largest collection, featuring works spanning from 1890 to 1957.
The museum, situated in the historic El Born neighborhood, occupies five medieval palaces and comprises 35 rooms over three floors. It draws over a million visitors annually, making it a must-see for art lovers and cultural enthusiasts.
Front of the Picasso Museum in Carrer de Montcada
When the museum first opened its doors on March 9, 1963, Spain was under Franco’s dictatorship. In protest against Franco’s regime, Picasso had vowed never to return to Spain while Franco remained in power and, therefore, was not present at the museum’s inauguration, despite his close involvement in its creation.
Initially, the museum was named “Colección Sabartés” after Jaume Sabartés, Picasso’s close friend, who donated his personal collection to the museum, including many of Picasso’s early drawings, etchings, lithographs, and the famous painting El Arlequín. Additional pieces came from other art institutions in Barcelona.
In 1970, Picasso significantly expanded the museum’s collection by donating 921 works from his family’s holdings, including many oil paintings and sketches from his youth. In the early 1980s, Picasso’s widow, Jacqueline Roque, further enriched the museum with a donation of ceramics and the painting La mujer de la cofia.
The Picasso Museum has grown over the years, with the most notable expansion in 1999 when Casa Mauri and Palacio Finestres were added. These newer spaces now house temporary exhibitions, continuing to offer visitors fresh insights into Picasso’s diverse body of work and his enduring influence on modern art.
Other Picasso places in Barcelona
Art Academy – La Llotja
Before moving to Barcelona in 1895, Pablo Picasso lived in Málaga, where he began developing his artistic talent. Picasso’s father, also an artist, was offered a teaching position at the art academy La Llotja. The academy, located at Passeig d’Isabel II, 1 is where Picasso continued honing his skills after moving to Barcelona at the age of 13.
Picasso’s home
The Picasso family lived between the El Born and La Barceloneta neighborhoods in a building called Porxos d’en Xifre, located at Passeig d’Isabel II, 1. Picasso often spent time on the terrace here, and the view is said to have inspired some of his early works.
Picasso Cafés
Els Quatre Gats, located at Carrer de Montsió, 3, was a popular meeting spot for artists, architects, and designers during the Modernisme period, and Pablo Picasso was a regular visitor. This café also hosted his first solo exhibition. Picasso even designed the menus for the café-restaurant. Besides Els Quatre Gats, he also frequented Bar Marsella at Carrer de Sant Pau, 65, in El Raval, and Bar La Plata at Carrer de la Mercè, 28, in the Barri Gòtic. Both bars are still open today and worth a visit.
Picasso Street Art
Many people don’t know that there is a large Picasso artwork right in the open air in Barcelona. It is located on the facade of the Architects’ Association building at Plaça Nova, 5, opposite the Roman walls near the cathedral.
MNAC
Additionally, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) at Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc also features some of Picasso’s works, including Woman in Hat and Fur Collar from 1937.
Art Studios
Picasso’s first art studio was on Carrer de la Plata, 4 or 5, in the same street where Bar La Plata is located. Picasso was only 14 years old at the time. The former owners of the tapas bar at number 3 commissioned a large reproduction of one of Picasso’s most famous paintings, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, for their facade. The inspiration for this work came from the nearby Carrer d’Avinyó, which was known for its brothels at the time, and the women in the painting are portrayed as prostitutes.
Later, Picasso had other studios, including one at Carrer Nou de La Rambla, 10, in El Raval, where he shared space with sculptor Ángel Fernández de Soto and painter Josep Rocarol. He also worked at Carrer de la Riera de Sant Joan, 17. Picasso’s last studio in Barcelona, in 1904, was lent to him by sculptor Pau Gargallo. This studio was also shared by artist Isidre Nonell.
Sala Parés
Picasso’s first joint exhibition with Ramon Casas took place at Sala Parés, located at Carrer de Petritxol, 5. Sala Parés is one of the oldest art galleries in the world.
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My name is Annebeth, I’m originally from The Netherlands and I have been home in Barcelona for 22 years. As an online guide, journalist, author of many travel guides about the city and co-owner of bicycle tour company El Ciclo, Barcelona is my great inspiration and I am happy to share everything I know (and learn) with you. You will also find personal tips and recommendations so you can experience that authentic, local and unique Barcelona feeling once you’re here.
