Celebrated from February 9 to 12 this year, the Santa Eulàlia festival program is packed with things to do and see. The streets will be filled with fire-breathing dragons, capgrossos (big heads), esbarts (traditional dance groups), bastoners (stick dancers), trabucaires (ancient armed bandits) and gegants (giants). Effigies of kings, queens and other courtly figures spin and dance through the streets, towering above the crowds. Measuring up to four meters high, the gegants parade is a sight not to be missed. Then, you can set your sights even higher as the castellers build their dizzyingly tall human towers up to 10 levels high!
But if all the festivities of Santa Eulàlia get to be a bit too much, why not take a culture break? Many of the city’s museums observe the holiday with a jornada de portes obertes (open doors). Check out our interactive map above with all the locations that are throwing open their doors for free. You should note that because these visits are so popular, a number of locations either require or recommend that you reserve your ticket in advance so you're not left waiting in long lines or get stuck without a ticket.
Casa de l'Ardiaca, Arxiu Històric de Barcelona. Photo by Vicente Zambrano González courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
Open Doors for Santa Eulàlia
- Arts Santa Mònica Always free, open Tuesday-Sunday and public holidays, 11:00-20:30.
- Arxiu Fotogràfic de Barcelona Always free, Monday-Saturday, 10:00-19:00, Sundays and holidays 10:00-14:00.
- Arxiu Històric de la Ciutat de Barcelona Always free, Monday-Friday, 9:00-19:30, Saturday 10:00-19:30.
- Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA) Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-15:00. Advance booking is recommended.
- Biblioteca Pública Arús Free entry February 9, 2024, 10:00-14:30.
- Born Centre Cultural Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-20:00.
CaixaForum, photo by Vicente Zambrano González courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
- CaixaForum Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-20:00. Tickets must be booked in advance on the museum website.
- Can Framis Free entry February 11, 2024, 11:00-14:00.
- Casa dels Entremesos Free entry February 9-10, 2024, 10:00-13:00 and 16:00-19:00.
- Castell de Montjuïc Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-18:00.
- Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB), Free entry February 11, 2024, 11:00-20:00.
- CosmoCaixa Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-20:00. Tickets must be booked in advance on the museum website.
- Espai Bombers: Parc de la Prevenció Free entry February 11, 2024, 11:00-15:00.
Fabra i Coats Centre d'Art Contemporani
- Fabra i Coats Centre d'Art Contemporani Free entry February 11, 2024, 11:00-15:00.
- Fundació Antoni Tàpies Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-15:00.
- Fundació Foto Colectania To be confirmed.
- Fundació Joan Brossa. Centre de les Arts Lliures Free entry February 11, 2024, 11:00-18:00.
- Fundació Joan Miró Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-19:00. Tickets must be booked in advance on the museum website.
Jardí Botànic de Barcelona
- Jardí Botànic de Barcelona Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-18:00.
- La Capella Always free, February 10 & 11, 2024, 12:00-20:00.
- La Virreina Centre de la Imatge Always free, February 10 & 11, 2024, 11:00-20:00.
- Monestir de Pedralbes Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-17:00.
- MUHBA Museu d'Història de Barcelona, Plaça del Rei Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-20:00.
- MUHBA Museu d'Història de Barcelona El Call Free entry February 11, 2024, 11:00-15:00 and 16:00-19:00.
MUHBA Oliva Artés, photo by JosepBC, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
- MUHBA Oliva Artés Free entry February 11, 2024, 11:00-15:00 and 16:00-18:00.
- MUHBA Temple d’August Always free, Mondays 10:00-14:00; Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00-19:00; Sunday 10:00-20:00.
- MUHBA Turó de la Rovira Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-15:00.
- Museu d’Arqueologia de Catalunya Free entry February 12, 2024, 9:30-14:30.
- Museu d’Història de Catalunya Free entry February 11 & 12, 2024, 10:00-14:30.
- Museu de Carrosses Fúnebres Always free. There will be a one-hour tour on February 10 & 11, 2024 at 12:00 (in Catalan). Open February 10 & 11, 2024, 10:00-14:00.
Museu de Ciències Naturals, photo by Aronu (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
- Museu de Ciències Naturals Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-20:00.
- Museu de la Música Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-19:00.
- Museu del Disseny Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-20:00.
- Museu Etnològic i Cultures del món (Montcada) Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-20:00.
- Museu Etnològic i Cultures del món (Montjuïc) Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-20:00.
- Museu Frederic Marès Free entry February 11, 2024, 11:00-20:00.
- Museu Marítim de Barcelona Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-20:00.
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC)
- Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) Free entry February 6-11, 2024 for all women named Laia, Eulalia or Olaya (plus a guest). Then, on February 11, 2024 the museum is free to all 10:00-15:00.
- Museu Olímpic i de l’Esport Joan Antoni Samaranch Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-14:30.
- Museu Picasso Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-19:00.
- Palau Güell Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-17:30. Reservation required.
- Palau Robert Always free, Open Monday to Saturday 9:00-20:00, Sundays and public holidays 9:00-14:30.
- Pavelló Mies van der Rohe Free entry February 11, 2024, 10:00-18:00.