Museu Picasso de Barcelona

About the museum

The Museu Picasso opened in 1963 in the Palau Aguilar on Carrer Montcada, in the Ribera district. Its origins lie in Picasso’s connection with Barcelona and in the determination of his secretary and friend Jaume Sabartés, whose collection formed the museum’s core, with the support of Barcelona friends, among them the Gaspar and Gili families, and of the City Council. In 1970 the artist himself donated to the city the works that his relatives had kept at his Passeig de Gràcia home.

The museum now occupies five large medieval palaces on Carrer Montcada, built between the 13th and 14th centuries and remodelled mainly in the 18th century. They are a fine example of Catalan civil Gothic architecture, among them Aguilar, Baró de Castellet, Meca and Finestres. All are organised around a courtyard with an outside staircase, and they communicate with each other.

The collection brings together some 5,000 pieces and is the most complete of Picasso’s formative period. It includes an exceptional group of works made in Málaga, A Coruña, Barcelona, Madrid and Horta de Sant Joan, works from the Blue Period, the oil paintings painted in Barcelona in 1917 and the complete series of “Las Meninas”, as well as graphic works and 41 ceramics donated by Jacqueline Picasso in 1982. Since 2011 the museum has had an annexe, the Centre of Knowledge and Research, which houses the archive and the library.

Highlights

• Most complete collection of Picasso’s formative years
• The complete series of “Las Meninas”
• Works from the Blue Period and oil paintings made in Barcelona in 1917
• Graphic works and 41 ceramics donated by Jacqueline Picasso
• Five Gothic palaces on Carrer Montcada with medieval courtyards
• Audio guide in ten languages and a route of 12 star works

Permanent exhibitions

• La Colección Picasso – Tour of the permanent collection, with early works, Blue Period works, graphic works and ceramics, illustrating Picasso’s artistic training.
• Las Meninas – The complete series of “Las Meninas”, in which Picasso reinterpreted Velázquez’s painting, displayed in the Palau Aguilar.

Founded

1963

Operated by

Ajuntament de Barcelona

Visitors per year

approx. 1,130,500

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of each month; open-day events on 12 February, 17 May (International Museum Day) and 24 September; Thursdays 16:00–19:00. Booking is compulsory and opens four days before the visit, from 10:00.

The general ticket costs €12 online and €13 at the ticket office. Holders of the Bicing card receive a 25% discount. Free admission is also available to holders of the Carnet Amigo/a, the free pink card, members of ICOM and of the Catalan Museologists’ Association, professional tourist guides, accredited journalists, teaching staff holding a Generalitat card, and people with free entry through Apropa Cultura.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum declares itself fully accessible: there is a lift (ask staff at the entrance), wheelchairs available free of charge on loan, folding chairs in the galleries and adapted toilets. Guide dogs are admitted. There is a guide for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and accessible activities from the education service.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

The museum organises family workshops and offers an interactive audio guide for children. Under-18s enter free; under-14s must be accompanied.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check

Cafè Pablo Museu Picasso, with the same hours as the museum and two terraces, and the Laie bookshop-shop (free entry, as are the ground-floor corridor and room 0). Free cloakroom with admission or booking confirmation, for bags up to 56 × 45 × 25 cm.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

The Aguilar, Baró de Castellet, Meca and Finestres palaces, the assembly hall and the classrooms can be hired, always outside public opening hours; events must end before 23:30.

Plan your visit