BARCELONA · SPAIN
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
Stop 14 of 18 on Travelhour's Barcelona walking day
About Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, abbreviated as MNAC, is a museum of Catalan visual art located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Situated on Montjuïc hill at the end of Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, near Pl Espanya, the museum is especially notable for its outstanding collection of Romanesque church paintings, and for Catalan art and design from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including modernisme and noucentisme. The museum is housed in the Palau Nacional, a huge, Italian-style building dating to 1929. The Palau Nacional, which has housed the Museu d'Art de Catalunya since 1934, was declared a national museum in 1990 under the Museums Law passed by the Catalan Government. That same year, a thorough renovation process was launched to refurbish the site, based on plans drawn up by the architects Gae Aulenti and Enric Steegmann, who were later joined in the undertaking by Josep Benedito Tobias. The Oval Hall was reopened for the 1992 Summer Olympic Games, and the various collections were installed and opened over the period from 1995 to 2004. The museum was officially inaugurated on 16 December 2004. It is one of the largest museums in Spain.
Plan your visit
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya — tickets, hours & how to get there
Tickets & prices
Adult tickets from €12.00, Free under 16 and for over-65s. Free every Saturday from 15:00 and the first Sunday of each month. Terrace + panoramic view are free year-round.
Opening hours
Tuesday–Saturday 10:00–18:00 (Oct–Apr) / 10:00–20:00 (May–Sep); Sunday 10:00–15:00; closed Mondays
How to get there
Espanya metro (Lines 1, 3 & 8) is a 10-minute walk uphill via the Magic Fountain. Escalators run up Montjuïc from the fountain level.
Best time to visit
Late afternoon into evening — MNAC panoramic terrace over Barcelona is the best free sunset view in the city. Allow 2–2.5 hours.
Insider tips
- The Romanesque frescoes (rescued from Pyrenees churches) are one of Europe’s most important medieval art collections — skip nothing on floor 0.
- The Òleum restaurant on the top floor is a real menu-priced sit-down, not a snack bar; book if you want a proper lunch with the view.
- Combine with the Magic Fountain (evenings Thu–Sat) and the Olympic Ring on Montjuïc for a full Montjuïc day.
Frequently asked
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya — questions travellers ask
- How much are Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya tickets?
- Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya tickets: adult from €12.00, child Free under 16 and for over-65s. Free every Saturday from 15:00 and the first Sunday of each month. Terrace + panoramic view are free year-round.
- What are Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya opening hours?
- Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya is open Tuesday–Saturday 10:00–18:00 (Oct–Apr) / 10:00–20:00 (May–Sep); Sunday 10:00–15:00; closed Mondays.
- How do you get to Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya?
- Espanya metro (Lines 1, 3 & 8) is a 10-minute walk uphill via the Magic Fountain. Escalators run up Montjuïc from the fountain level.
- Is Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya worth visiting?
- Yes — The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, abbreviated as MNAC, is a museum of Catalan visual art located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The Romanesque frescoes (rescued from Pyrenees churches) are one of Europe’s most important medieval art collections — skip nothing on floor 0.
- How long do you need at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya?
- Allow 2–2.5 hours to enjoy Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya at a comfortable pace.
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BARCELONA
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya