Workshops, guided tours, live music and, of course, the city’s best exhibitions—on May 17th, La Nit dels Museus returns, with over 90 museums across the city opening their doors for free from 19:00 until 1:00 in the morning! From Montjuïc to the Museu Blau and everywhere in between, culture vultures can get their fill of all the best the city's museums have to offer. Here’s our pick of the top spots to get your culture fix on the night. (Just remember that due to limitations on capacity, advance reservations are required at many places!)
This year, there are new six spaces on the list that didn’t participate in last year’s Nit dels Museus event: Museu de les Aigües, the Palau Mercader, the Museu d’Història de la Immigració de Catalunya (MhiC), the Fundació MAPFRE, Casa Batlló and the Espai Moja. Read on for our favorite spots, and for a full list of locations and activities you can check out the city's website (in Catalan and Spanish).
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Biblioteca Pública Arús
Passeig de Sant Joan 26, 08010 BarcelonaLovers of culture, history and society will find a true haven of peace at the Biblioteca Pública Arús. Set up by the philanthropist, free-thinker and pro-Catalan liberal Rossend Arús, the library opened to the public in 1895 and has become a research center specializing in contemporary social movements (mainly labor organizations and freemasonry) and books published in the 19th and early 20th centuries. When it opened, the library’s collection consisted of some 24,000 volumes that encompassed all the fields of knowledge of the day, including philosophy, religion, social sciences, law, languages, biology, botany, medicine, art, music, literature, geography and history. This highly prized collection survives almost intact today and bears witness to the age when the library was founded. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00. No prior registration required, attendance is limited, spaces filled in order of arrival.
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CaixaForum Barcelona
Av. de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia 6-8, 08038 BarcelonaCaixaForum has organized a fun-filled program of activities to get in the spirit of La Nit dels Museus. In addition to free access to its exhibits Uncertain Times, Germany Between Wars and Out of Frame. Works by Rineke Dijkstra and Philippe Parreno you can enjoy exhibit tours, childrens’ activities and a cycle of "microconcerts" with a wide variety of musical styles ranging from jazz to classical music, swing, electronica and world music. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00. Prior registration is not required, but it is recommended if you want to be sure to save your spot.
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Casa Batlló Gaudi Museum Barcelona
Passeig de Gràcia 43, 08007 BarcelonaEnjoy an immersive experience through the architectural genius of Antoni Gaudí; explore the noble floor, the main space where the Batlló family lived, the recently restored back patio, the fascinating courtyard of lights, the emblematic attic known as the “belly of the dragon” and the iconic roof with its famous chimneys. The visit includes the access staircase renovated by the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and the LED Cube, an immersive installation that completes this modernist experience. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00. The tour lasts about an hour and tickets must be reserved in advance via the Casa Batlló website.
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Castell de Montjuïc
Carretera de Montjuïc 66, 08038 BarcelonaSpend your night under the stars at this hilltop castle, dating as far back as 1073. Discover hidden corners of the castle on a tour through dungeons and old barracks, and when you're ready for a break grab a snack at the gastronomical space in the courtyard. After checking out the castle’s visitor center and temporary exhibition, you can drink in the some of the best views of the city at night from the castle's terrace. No prior registration required, access to the castle is free on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00. A shuttle bus service will run uninterruptedly from 21:00 until 1:30 between Rius i Taulet Avenue, 15 and Montjuïc Castle, with the last drop off at 1:30.
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Centre Martorell d’Exposicions
Passeig de Picasso 9, 08003 BarcelonaFeed your inner natural science buff at the Centre Martorell d’Exposicions. Reflect on human beings' relationship with nature at the Nature or Culture? exhibit and marvel at six naturalized scenes that recreate natural behaviors of Mediterranean and African animals at the WOW. Museum Animals exhibit. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00 and Sunday, May 18, 10:00-13:00. No prior registration required.
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Egyptian Museum
Carrer de València 284, 08007 BarcelonaImmerse yourself in the magic of the ancient Egyptians; pharaohs and gods, sarcophagi and mummies await your visit. The collection has areas dedicated to hieroglyphic writing, funerary beliefs and practices, jewelry, cosmetics, worship in temples and much more. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00. Reservations must be made in advance via the museum website.
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Fundació Antoni Tàpies photo by M. Peinado (CC BY 2.0).
Fundació Antoni Tàpies
Carrer d’Aragó 255, 08007 BarcelonaVisitors to the Fundació Antoni Tàpies will be able to enjoy free entry to the exhibitions Antoni Tàpies: The Imagination of the World and Marta Palau. My Paths are Earthly as well as free guided tours at 20:00, 21:00, 22:00 and 23:00. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00. No prior registration required, attendance is limited, spaces filled in order of arrival.
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Fundació Joan Miró
Parc de Montjuïc s/n, 08038 BarcelonaIn celebration of La Nit dels Museus, the Miró foundation, home to the Catalan artist Joan Miró’s private collection, throws open its doors providing free access to its exhibits. For a preview, the foundation shares key insights into the collection in the Miró at Hand series of short online videos to inspire you and spark your creativity. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00 and Sunday, May 18, 10:00-19:00. Reservations must be made in advance via the museum website; tickets will be made available on May 2nd.
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La model, photo by Laura Guerrero courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0).
La Model
Carrer d'Entença 155, 08029 BarcelonaDiscover one of Barcelona's most imposing buildings from the beginning of the 20th century and the details of its controversial history at La Nit dels Museu. In addition to access to the cells and corridors of the old prison, you can also visit the photographic exhibition Mauthausen, the Universe of Horror, a striking testimony to historical memory. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00. No prior registration required, attendance is limited, spaces filled in order of arrival.
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MUHBA Bon Pastor
Carrer de Barnola 22, 08030 BarcelonaRecently opened to the public, the MUHBA Bon Pastor reflects the memory of the history of housing in Barcelona during the 20th century by preserving an island of cheap houses in this working class neighborhood, one of the four housing estates built in the city in 1929. Inside you will find two exhibitions: Living in Cheap Houses. Bon Pastor, 1929-2010 and Accommodating the Majority. Barcelona, 1860-2010. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00. No prior registration required.
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MUHBA Santa Caterina
Carrer d'En Giralt el Pellicer 25, 08003 BarcelonaLocated inside the current Mercat de Santa Caterina, the Espai Santa Caterina - Archaeological Interpretation Center summarizes some of the fundamental facts of Barcelona's history from the Bronze Age to the latest manifestations of contemporary architecture. In the 13th century, the Dominican convent of Santa Caterina was built there, the first seat of the city's Consell de Cent. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00. No prior registration required.
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Moco Museum Barcelona
Carrer de Montcada 25, 08003 BarcelonaIn the Moco Masters gallery you’ll find works by world-renowned artists, including Warhol, Basquiat, Dalí, Haring, Hirst, Kusama and many more. In the Moco Contemporary gallery, you can see original works by artists such as Murakami, Hayden Kays and David LaChapelle. Digital art is also represented with immersive exhibitions by teamlab, Les Fantômes and Studio Irma. A visit to the Moco Museum will show you things from a different perspective and make you question the world around you. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00. Tickets must be reserved in advance on the museum website.
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Museu de Ciències Naturals, photo by Aronu (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
Museu Blau -Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona
Plaça Leonardo da Vinci 4-5, 08019 BarcelonaEnjoy all of the museum's exhibits and activities free of charge all night long! Check out the permanent exhibit Planet Life, or immerse yourself in The Earth. Nature Is Speaking, an audio and visual experience that invites you to pause, listen and reconnect with the Earth through the powerful voices of some of the world’s most celebrated actors and actresses. Each voice reminds us of nature’s beauty, strength and resilience—but also of its vulnerability to human actions. It’s an invitation to listen deeply, reflect and be inspired to protect the only home we have: our planet. Then head up to the reopening of the museum's Live Rooftop—the first wild green roof of the city. This space of 7,100 square meters covered in Mediterranean flora and fauna offers fantastic views of Barcelona's coast. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00 and Sunday, May 18, 10:00-13:00. No prior registration required.
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Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC)
Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjüic, 08038 BarcelonaTake in the spectacular views of the city from the terrace, peruse the museum's exhibits and from 20:30 to midnight the Oval Hall will resonate with rock, pop, indie, blues, folk and funk, in a melting pot of music that expresses the energy of the region. The Marching Band from the Taller de Músic will also be there filling the museum with music throughout the night. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00. Advance registration required via the museum website.
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Museu Palau Mercader
Parc de Can Mercader, 08940 Cornellà de LlobregatLocated in the stately palace that was the residence of the Counts of Bell-lloc, the Palau Mercader Museum hosts a collection of decorative objects and elements that belonged to archaeologist Joaquim Mercader, Count of Bell-lloc. The decoration and furniture on display show the lifestyle and cultural affinities of this Barcelona aristocrat and his family, who lived in the second half of the 19th century. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00. No prior registration required, access is on a first-come, first-served basis and at time intervals controlled by museum staff.
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Museu Picasso (Flickr).
Museu Picasso
Carrer de Montcada 15-23, 08003 BarcelonaInaugurated in 1963, the Picasso Museum in Barcelona was the first museum dedicated to the work of Pablo Picasso. Its permanent collection stands out for the many works from his youth, pieces from his Blue Period, the oils he painted in Barcelona in 1917 and the complete series of Las Meninas. Located in five Gothic palaces from the 13th and 14th centuries, La Nit dels Museus is the perfect opportunity to discover (or rediscover) this impressive collection. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00. Advance registration is required on the museum website; tickets will be made available four days in advance.
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Museu Terra Sala Barcelona
Carrer dels Almogàvers 214, 08018 BarcelonaThe Museu Terra in l'Espluga de Francolí opened the temporary exhibition hall in Barcelona just last year. You’ll find currently on display Plastic. Great or Perverse, an exhibition that invites us to reflect on the fine balance between the use and abuse of plastic through the visual arts. The exhibition explores the history of plastic and provides us with several perspectives on this material and the use we make of it today. Plastic has transformed our lives with its resistance, lightness and versatility, but precisely these virtues have turned it into a serious environmental problem that affects the health of the planet and people. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00 to midnight. Free guided tours will be given at 19:30, 20:30, 21:30 and 22:30 with prior reservation via the museum website.
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Photo by Pepe Navarro (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA)
Plaça dels Àngels 1, 08001 BarcelonaFeaturing family activities, guided tours of the museum and live performances, MACBA’s open house includes access to its temporary and permanent exhibits. And when you're ready for a break, head over to the MACBA Bar for a drink and a bite to eat. Free entry all day, Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 10:00 to 1:00, and on Sunday, May 18th from 10:00 to 15:00 with a varied program of activities inside and outside the museum. No prior registration required for entry, but tickets must be reserved in advance for the activities.
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Museu de la Música
Carrer de Lepant 150, 08013 BarcelonaThe Music Museum in l'Auditori conserves the rich musical heritage of the city; its instruments, artworks, archival documents and sound recordings are a window open to musical cultures around the world. The permanent exhibition shows more than half a thousand pieces of well-profile provenance, from large Baroque organs to guitars. Explore the museums' exhibits and enjoy concerts throughout the evening, all for free! Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00. No prior registration required.
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Main hall of Palau Güell with the chapel doors open. Photo by Pepe Navarro courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
Palau Güell
Carrer Nou de la Rambla 3-5, 08001 BarcelonaPalau Güell is one of the first important assignments Antoni Gaudí received at the beginning of his career. Eusebi Guell, industrialist, politician and patron, wanted Gaudí to build this peculiar urban palace as an extension of the family home he had on the Rambla de Barcelona. It is a magnificent example of domestic architecture of the period. In addition to free entry, the evening will be rounded out with a number of short concerts. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00. Tickets must be reserved in advance via the museum website, tickets will be made available a few days before the event.
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Image courtesy of the Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau
Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167, 08025 BarcelonaRediscover the most representative corners of this classic modernista jewel; explore the underground tunnels, the Sant Salvador exhibition space, the Operations House, the gardens and the heritage rooms of the Administration Pavilion. But there's more! From 19:30 to 20:30 enjoy a concert by artists from the Orpheus Jove Camerata and from 20:30 to 23:00 artists from the Victoria de los Ángeles Foundation will perform in a lieder jam session. Free entry on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 19:00-1:00. Tickets must be reserved in advance via the Sant Pau Recinte Modernista website, tickets will be made available a few days before the event.
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