The city’s official pass, run by the tourist board, the Barcelona Card offers free entry – with skip the line privileges – to many of the best museums in the Catalan capital, most notably the superb Picasso Museum, but also the MNAC (National Museum of Catalan Art), MACBA, Joan Miro Foundation and most branches of the Barcelona History Museum.
There’s also free entry to many of the city’s less visited, but worthwhile treasures, such as the Frederic Mares Museum, Caixa Forum, CosmoCaixa (good for kids!), Design Museum, Egyptian Museum and the serene Botanical Gardens.
The card doubles as a free travel card around the city, which is handy and saves you faffing around at ticket machines for the duration of your stay.
After purchase, you will need to collect the card from the airport or one of the tourist offices / collection points in the centre. Usually it’s better to collect it at the airport, so you can take advantage of the metro transport direct from arrival. However the card is valid from the moment you first use it, so if you’re not planning to visit any museums on your first day you might want to wait to activate it later.
Sadly the Barcelona Card doesn’t include tickets to La Sagrada Familia nor Park Guell, nor any of Gaudi’s other UNESCO-listed works. Although it does at least provide you with discounts for Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, Casa Vicens and Palau Guell, and many many more attractions, shops and entertainment venues.
Overall this is the best choice for museum lovers who plan on using the excellent public metro system during their stay.
Top Tip: If you want museums plus Gaudi you could combine this with the Barcelona Pass or Go City Explorer Pass.
Free Major Attractions
- Picasso Museum. Skip the line entry to this Barcelona highlight (worth €12).
- MNAC. The excellent National Museum of Catalan Art (worth €12).
- MACBA. The city’s best modern art museum, in a stunning building (worth €10).
- Joan Miro Foundation. A look at Catalonia’s most famous artist (worth €12).
- MUHBA History Museum. Roman ruins, war bunkers and Jewish heritage across 4 different locations (worth 4 x €7).
- Egyptian Museum. A small but stunning collection of Egyptian artifacts (worth €12).
Plus many more free museums. For a full list check here.
Other Freebies
Barcelona Card holders receive a free guide and metro map with their purchase.
Free Transport
Includes free public transport (metro, buses, trains and trams) in Barcelona city centre, plus free metro ticket to the airport.
Is It Worth It?
Is it worth buying the Barcelona Card? The conclusion is yes, provided you plan on visiting at least one museum a day. If you do so, you’d be saving the 7-12 euros museum entry fee, plus travelling for free around the city using the excellent metro system, which will also now take you all the way to the airport. You’d have to buy your Park Guell and Sagrada Familia tickets separately, however, which is why for first-time visitors to the city I’d recommend checking the Barcelona Pass or the Go City All-Inclusive or Explorer pass, before making your decision. You may even be able to combine two passes to get everything you want.
