Contemporary Art in the Heart of Raval
MACBA Barcelona: Tickets, Hours, and Visit
The MACBA is the major contemporary art museum in Barcelona. Housed in a bright white building designed by Richard Meier, it offers a visit that's quite different from the city's classic museums: open spaces, temporary exhibitions, a contemporary collection, and an urban atmosphere on the Plaça dels Àngels.
Discover contemporary art in Richard Meier's white building, right in the heart of the Raval district.
- Contemporary Art
- Temporary Exhibitions
- In the Heart of Raval
MACBA Tickets
Book Your Tickets for the MACBA
Choose the entry ticket for a visit focused on the MACBA, the Barcelona Card to combine museum and transport, or the Articket to discover six major art museums in Barcelona.
The Easiest Way
MACBA: Entry Ticket
Explore the museum at your own pace
- General Admission to MACBA
- Permanent Collection
- Temporary Exhibitions
- Audioguide in Spanish, Catalan, and English
For a city break
Barcelona Card: transport and museums
MACBA and travel around Barcelona
- Free entry to MACBA
- Unlimited public transport
- Museums and partner sites
- Discounts in Barcelona
For art lovers
Articket: pass for six museums
Six museums with skip-the-line access
- MACBA and five other museums
- Skip-the-line access
- Pass valid for 12 months
- One visit per museum
At a Glance
The MACBA at a Glance
| Full Name | Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona |
|---|---|
| Neighborhood | El Raval |
| Address | Plaça dels Àngels, 1 |
| Metro | Catalunya, Universitat or Liceu |
| Visit Duration | Approximately 1 to 1.5 hours |
| Style | Contemporary art, temporary exhibitions, modern architecture |
| Architect | Richard Meier |
| Must-See Attractions | The white façade, the spacious interiors, the current exhibitions |
| Official Site | macba.cat |
| Good to Know | Reservation recommended depending on the exhibitions |
Official website: macba.cat
The MACBA is a great visit if you enjoy contemporary art, modern architecture, or museums that are quieter than Barcelona's major classics. The building itself is part of the experience: its white facade, ramps, glass walls, and large, bright rooms bring a real sense of openness to the Raval neighborhood.
Tip: Combine your visit with a stroll through the Raval, the nearby CCCB, or a break at Plaça dels Àngels, well-known for its urban vibe and skateboarders.
Not to be missed
What to See at the MACBA?
The White Façade of the Museum
Even before entering, the MACBA impresses with its architecture. Richard Meier's large white building contrasts with the old streets of the Raval. It is one of the most recognizable contemporary facades in Barcelona.
The Details of Architecture
The façade, the geometric lines, the glass volumes, and the play of light are worth a closer look. The museum is photogenic both outside and inside.
The Exhibition Halls
Inside, the MACBA showcases contemporary art, with a collection focused on 20th and 21st-century art and regularly updated temporary exhibitions. You'll find installations, photographs, videos, sculptures, and experimental works.
A Tour That Changes with the Exhibitions
The MACBA is not a museum where you come to see just one famous piece. The appeal lies in discovering the current exhibitions, the installations, contemporary artists, and the way the artworks interact with the architecture of the space.
Practical Information
MACBA Opening Hours
Opening hours vary depending on the season.
| Sept 25 - June 24 | Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday: 11:00 AM - 7:30 PM |
|---|---|
| June 25 - Sept. 24 | Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM-3:00 PM |
| Last entry | 30 minutes before closing |
| Closure of Rooms | The rooms begin to close 15 minutes before the closing time. |
| Annual Closures | January 1st and December 25th |
Official website: macba.cat · Check the opening hours for your visit date.
Museum passes
The MACBA is included in the Articket and the Barcelona Card
If you plan to visit several museums, two passes cover entry to the MACBA. The Articket combines the MACBA, the Picasso Museum, the Joan Miró Foundation, the Tàpies Museum, the MNAC and the CCCB in a pass valid for 12 months, worth it from three museums onwards. For a stay of 2 to 5 days, the Barcelona Card also includes the MACBA, many other museums and unlimited public transport.
Museums & Culture
Barcelona's Must-See Museums
The MACBA is one of Barcelona’s major museums, but the city holds many other important collections. Among the essentials: the CCCB, its immediate neighbour in the Raval, for contemporary culture, CaixaForum and its temporary exhibitions in the former Casaramona factory, the Tàpies Museum, devoted to one of the great figures of twentieth-century Catalan art, and the Joan Miró Foundation to explore his world.
All of them round out a visit to the MACBA and reveal Barcelona’s artistic range, from the medieval art of the MNAC to the avant-gardes and the work being made today.
Getting there
Getting to MACBA
MACBA is located in El Raval, in the heart of Barcelona's Ciutat Vella district. It is easy to reach by public transport, on foot from the city centre or by taxi.
Getting there
Nearby
CCCB
CCCB focuses on contemporary culture, making it a natural second cultural stop beside MACBA.
Palau de la Virreina
Palau de la Virreina hosts visual-arts exhibitions, extending the contemporary-art route from MACBA to La Rambla.
Mercat de la Boqueria
La Boqueria is a food market on La Rambla, adding a local-life break after MACBA's galleries.
Old monastery of Sant Pau del Camp
Sant Pau del Camp is a former monastery, providing a historic architectural contrast to MACBA's contemporary setting.
Plaça de Catalunya
Plaça de Catalunya links the old city with Eixample, providing a practical orientation point before or after MACBA.
FAQ
FAQ, MACBA Barcelona
Yes, especially if you love contemporary art, temporary exhibitions, and modern architecture. It's a short visit, easy to fit into a day in the center of Barcelona.
Expect to spend about 1 to 1.5 hours. The duration mainly depends on the current exhibitions.
The MACBA sometimes offers free entry or special conditions depending on profiles, days, or events. Check the current conditions on the official website before your visit.
The quietest times are often during the week, especially in the early afternoon. On weekends, it's best to visit in the morning.
Yes, photos without flash are allowed for personal and non-commercial use, unless there are specific restrictions on certain works or exhibitions.