Barcelona has museums for every age, with exhibits ranging from dinosaur skeletons and a rainforest to optical illusions and chocolate creations. Here’s how to pick the museums best for your family, grouped by age and interest and who gets in free.
Best for Younger Children
Museu Blau: Dinosaur skeletons and animals from around the world, plus the Science Nest play area for 0–6s. Under-16s go free.
Maritime Museum: A life-size royal galley to gaze at and a real schooner to step aboard. Under-17s go free.
Science, Sport and Illusions
CosmoCaixa: Best for all ages. Barcelona’s science museum, with a flooded rainforest and experiments to try. Under-16s go free.
Museum of Illusions: Best for all ages. Walk-in, hand-painted 3D murals that make great photos, near La Rambla. Under-5s go free.
Olympic Museum: Best for all ages. A sports museum with interactive challenges, right next to the 1992 Olympic Stadium on Montjuïc. Under-8s go free.
Art Museums for Kids
Fundació Joan Miró: Best for ages 4+. Miró’s art is full of bright colours and bold shapes, in a museum above the city on the hill of Montjuïc. Under-12s go free.
Moco Museum: Best for ages 7+. Banksy, Kusama and digital light rooms all together in a palace in the El Born neighbourhood. Under-10s go free.
Picasso Museum: Best for ages 10+. A good choice for children who enjoy drawing and art. Children can see Picasso’s early work and how his style developed. Don’t try to see everything: an hour or so in the most interesting rooms works well with kids. Entry is free for everyone on Thursday afternoons from 4pm to 7pm and on the first Sunday of the month, but you need to book online, from four days before. Under-18s go free.
Something a Little Different
Chocolate Museum: Best for all ages. Chocolate sculptures, the story of cocoa and a ticket you can eat. Under-7s go free.
Wax Museum: Best for ages 4+. Pose with film and sport stars at this long-standing museum just off La Rambla, with the Columbus viewpoint included. Under-6s go free.
White Rabbit: Best for ages 4+. Ten interactive rooms created by local artists, all about Catalan culture. Meet the giant heads from Catalan festivals, walk through rooms of mirrors and light, and finish with a virtual reality ride (recommended for ages 8 and up). It’s on Passeig de Gràcia, a short walk from Casa Batlló. Under-3s go free.
Banksy Museum: Best for ages 8+. More than 130 works by the famous street artist, near Plaça de Catalunya, and free with the Barcelona Card. Under-6s go free.
Museu Frederic Marès: Best for all ages. Sculpture and a quirky collection of everyday objects and toys, right beside the cathedral. It costs €4.20 per adult, so two adults and two children pay just €8.40, and it’s free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month and every Sunday from 3pm. Under-16s go free.
Free museum days
Many city museums are free on Sunday afternoons from 3pm or on the first Sunday of the month, including the Maritime Museum. Times vary, and some need a free ticket booked online, so check before you go.
Save with City Passes
The Barcelona Card includes free entry to more than 25 museums, and the dedicated Barcelona Family Card adds the Zoo, Tibidabo and the Aquarium.
