10 Best Museums in Barcelona

The Museum of Illusions, also known as the Big Fun Museum, offers a fascinating look into the world of optical illusions where you get to be part of the artwork. The displays here are designed to involve you directly, so you can join in on the fun.

Unlike many museums, this one actually encourages you to bring your camera. Take plenty of pictures to showcase the optical illusions with you as a reference within the frame. You'll find this museum a few minutes' walk south of Plaça de Catalunya.

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya is a popular art museum that features a massive collection of work, some of which is centuries old. The collection here is predominantly focused on Romanesque church paintings and Catalan art from the 19th and 20th centuries.

This is one of the largest museums in Spain, so it takes quite a while to explore its entire collection, and you'll want to plan your visit accordingly. You can find it in a massive Italian-style building located just a short walk south of La Font Màgica de Montjuïc.

CosmoCaixa is a popular science museum in town that focuses on general science, nature and space with plenty of hands-on exhibitions. Given the extent of the interactive exhibits, this museum is quite popular with families who are traveling with children. Students under 18 even get in for free.

One of the most impressive aspects of this museum is the living rainforest, which can make you feel like you're walking through the Amazon. There's even a special planetarium designed for kids ages 3-8. You'll find this museum between Els Penitents and Sant Gervasi - La Bonanova.

Museu Picasso is a museum dedicated to showcasing the incredible work of 20th-century artist Pablo Picasso with more than 4,000 pieces on display. This museum is home to one of the largest permanent collections of Picasso's work anywhere in the world.

While this museum is home to a wide variety of the man's work, some of the most impressive exhibits showcase his earlier pieces created in the late 19th century. Additionally, the museum offers insight into Picasso's relationship with Barcelona. You'll find it all in the La Ribera neighbourhood among 5 adjoining medieval-style palaces.

The Erotic Museum of Barcelona is a unique kind of museum that shows the history of eroticism from all over the world with an emphasis on Spain and Catalonia. Some of the historical artifacts here date back centuries and come from places far away like Japan and India.

Some of the works in this museum are quite renowned, as it's home to works by Picasso. You can see it all for yourself on the west side of the Gothic Quarter near Liceu Station.

The Joan Miró Foundation is a museum dedicated to modern art and specifically the works of Joan Miró, a Barcelona-born painter, ceramicist and sculptor. You'll find several sculptures on display before you even enter the modernist-style building.

While Miró's work is the focus here, it's not all you'll find. This museum also has a space dedicated solely to showing off artworks by young and more experimental artists. You can see it all on a hilltop on the east side of Jardins de Laribal.

Museu d'Història de Catalunya is a fascinating history museum that focuses on the history of Catalonia as well as the region's impact on national and international culture. It was founded as a place to encourage a dialog between historians and the other social sciences to gain a greater understanding of Catalonia.

The historical artifacts and exhibits here are quite substantial with some dating back to prehistory. Every important era has left its mark here, though the relatively recent prosperity of Revolutionary Catalonia and the oppression of Francoist Spain are a prominent focus. You'll find this museum on the west side of Barceloneta near the water.

FC Barcelona Museum is a fascinating museum that offers a look into Camp Nou and the history of soccer in the city. Your visit to this museum not only features a tour of the stadium, but you can also see various artifacts from soccer legends on display.

In addition to the local soccer club's history, quite a few culturally significant pieces of Catalonia are on display. This includes artwork done by legendary locals like Dalí, Tàpies and Miró. You'll find the museum in the stadium in Les Corts.

Center de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona is an arts center that showcases exhibitions, festivals, concerts, movies and more that offer insight into Barcelona. You'll find several permanent displays here, but the overall experience is ever-changing.

When you plan to visit this museum, be sure to check their calendar beforehand. Events are often held here that you may want to check out, so make sure they can fit into your itinerary properly. You'll find the arts center in the Raval district a short walk from Universitat Station.

The Maritime Museum in Barcelona offers a fascinating look into the history of Spanish shipbuilding between the 13th and 18th centuries. Inside, you can explore how people centuries ago managed to navigate the seas and what tools they used.

Quite a few important historic artifacts are on display including portolans, navigation instruments and even naval weaponry used to wage war at sea. You'll find it all within the Barcelona Royal Shipyard just south of Drassanes Station and east of the Portal de Santa Madrona.