Art and museum weekend in Barcelona: culture in all its forms
If you happen to have an artistic soul, you will have plenty to do in Barcelona! The hard part will be choosing from the many museums and the numerous art galleries. Our special “art weekend” programme should help!
Art weekend: accommodation with an artistic twist
Whatever your budget you can find somewhere to stay where you are surrounded by art!
At Christopher’s Inn, different artists have worked on the decoration of the youth hostel’s walls. At the Generator, the colourful decor is also pretty charming (we love it), and at the Hipstel, we have fallen for its trendy style.
If you love authenticity as much as you love art, then spend your holiday at the Bed & Breakfast La Casa Gran, where you will be delighted by a whole host of artistic details!
A huge palette to discover
If you are planning to visit a number of museums, the Articket can help you save a few precious euros. But be careful, it’s only a top tip in certain cases. See our article Articketbcn: your passport to art in Barcelona to find out more.
- Our Comparison of art museums in Barcelona will be useful when you’re choosing which museums to visit, so remember to take a look!
In any case, here is our programme for a 100% artistic weekend.
Option nº1: Great masters of classical and modern art
Saturday: immersion in Catalan art
Why not start with the Miró Foundation, in the heights of Montjuïc? It’s a really worthwhile visit, as much for the works of art as for the architecture.
Then head to the Catalan National Art Museum. The good news is it’s free on Saturdays from 3pm! It holds a gigantic collection of Catalan art dating as far back as the 11th and 12th Centuries.
Sunday: temporary exhibitions and cubism
To start the day well, choose a temporary exhibition from the CaixaForum programme in the Palau de la Virreina or the Palau Robert.
- The CaixaForum is set in an old textile factory with a modernist style. Exhibitions cost 4 euros, but they are free for CaixaBank customers.
- The Palau de la Virreina is an image centre dedicated to photography and visual arts generally. Entry is free.
- Palau Robert offers beautiful exhibitions that are always free.
And to end the weekend in style, the Picasso museum is free on Sundays from 3pm to 7pm. What more could you ask for?
Option nº2: Contemporary art
If you’re more into trendy contemporary art, here is a plan that should make you happy.
Saturday: From big museums to Street art
To dive right in, start your weekend with the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA to its friends). You will no doubt be just as impressed by the immense building that houses it as by the great variety of works that it brings together. Entry costs around 10 euros.
We then invite you to hunt among Barcelona’s many galleries. Free to enter, thewill immerse you in Barcelona’s artistic world. Find the list of Barcelona’s free galleries at artbarcelona.es, in the column “galerías”.
Finally, end your tour with a free guided tour discovering Barcelona’s street art and graffiti. A really top tip!
Sunday: art, more art!
For Sunday we suggest a museum, a foundation and a cultural centre. For a bit of variety!
In the morning head to the European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM), beside Parc de la Ciutadella. Tickets cost €9 ( or €8.55 if you buy here).
Then (re)discover Catalan artist Antoni Tàpies by strolling through the foundation dedicated to him. Entry costs around 7 euros.
Finally, as it’s Sunday you can visit the Barcelona Centre of Contemporary Culture (CCCB) for free from 3pm. For an avant garde touch!
- A number of other Barcelona museums are free from 3pm. Take a look at our article Top tip: free museum visits on Sunday afternoons!.
- Want more top tips? Head to our article on Free museums in Barcelona or culture on a shoestring.
Barcelona art souvenirs
When it’s time to go home you will certainly be nostalgic over your fantastic art weekend in Barcelona… But don’t panic! It is possible to leave with a typical piece of Barcelona art for a reasonable price. Check out Galería Maxó, a favourite of ours.
- If you love architecture, our article A Gaudí-themed weekend in Barcelona might interest you!
So come on, get your art on!
