MNAC Barcelona Free Admission: Saturdays, Sundays & Special Days (2026
MNAC offers free entry every Saturday from 3 PM and every first Sunday. It also handles crowds far better than you'd expect. Here's how to plan it.
MNAC is one of the most generous museums in Barcelona when it comes to free entry. Every Saturday afternoon, every first Sunday, plus five special days a year. And unlike the Picasso Museum — where free days mean shoulder-to-shoulder crowds in narrow medieval rooms — MNAC's 5,000 m² spread people out. You can actually see the art.
But there's a catch: you need to book online in advance, even for free tickets. Walk-ins aren't guaranteed. Here's how to do it right.
When Is It Free
Every Saturday from 3 PM. October–April: 3:00–6:00 PM (3 hours). May–September: 3:00–8:00 PM (5 hours). The summer window is significantly better — enough time for the full collection plus the rooftop at sunset.
First Sunday of every month. 10:00 AM–3:00 PM. This is the most popular free slot. Arrive before 10 or expect a queue down the steps of the Palau Nacional.
Special free days:
- February 12 (Santa Eulàlia)
- May 18 (International Museum Day)
- La Nit dels Museus (one evening in May — usually 7 PM to 1 AM)
- September 11 (Diada — Catalonia's National Day)
- September 24 (La Mercè)
Always free: Under 16, EU residents over 65, ICOM members, Carnet Jove holders, accredited unemployed persons, and disabled visitors with Generalitat card.
How to Book Free Tickets
Online reservation is required. Go to museunacional.cat, select your date, and book the general admission ticket — the system applies €0 automatically for free periods.
Pre-booked visitors get priority access over walk-ins. Free slots can sell out, especially on first Sundays in peak season. Book a few days ahead if you can.
What's Included
Free admission covers the same as the paid €12 ticket: permanent collection (Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Modern), temporary exhibitions, and rooftop access with panoramic views of Barcelona. There's no reduced version — you get everything.
The free "Second Canvas Museu Nacional" app works as an audio guide. Download it before you go.
Is Free Admission Worth It?
Free works well here. Unlike smaller museums, MNAC absorbs crowds. Even on a first Sunday in August, visitors on the Rick Steves forum report getting close to the art and moving freely. The Romanesque frescoes — the reason most people come — are displayed in large, reconstructed apses that handle groups better than a gallery wall would.
Saturday afternoons in summer are the best deal in Barcelona. Five hours of free access, the full collection, and golden-hour light on the rooftop terrace. Arrive at 3 PM, start with the Romanesque rooms, and end on the terrace before closing.
Pay if: You want a quiet weekday morning with no crowds at all. The Articket (€38) covers MNAC plus 5 more museums with skip-the-line. Or consider the annual pass — €18, unlimited visits, pays for itself after two.
Tips for Free Days
Start with the Romanesque rooms. They're the highlight and the reason MNAC exists. If you only have an hour, spend it here. The Pantocrator from Sant Climent de Taüll is in Room 7.
The rooftop is worth the detour. Two viewpoints with 360° panoramas. On summer Saturdays, the light at 7 PM is exceptional. Free entry includes access.
If it's crowded, go upstairs. The Numismatic Collection (east wing) and the Tharrats Collection (level 1) are nearly always empty. The Oval Room's upper balcony offers panoramic views without the crowd below.
Summer Saturday combo: Museum at 3 PM → rooftop terrace at sunset → walk down to the Magic Fountain show (free, evenings from Thursday to Saturday). One of the best free afternoons in Barcelona.
Wear comfortable shoes. The walk up Montjuïc from Plaça Espanya takes 15 minutes via escalators, and the museum itself is enormous.
Other Free Museum Days in Barcelona
If the MNAC slots are gone, these museums also offer free entry:
- Museu Picasso: Thursdays from 4 PM + first Sunday of the month. Full details here.
- Fundació Joan Miró: First Sunday of the month
- MACBA: Saturdays from 4 PM
- Museu Tàpies: Feb 12, May 18, Sep 24
Verified Facts
| Free Saturdays | From 3 PM · Oct–Apr: 3–6 PM · May–Sep: 3–8 PM |
| Free first Sunday | 10:00–15:00 (collection + temporary + rooftop) |
| Special free days | Feb 12, May 18, Nit dels Museus (May), Sep 11, Sep 24 |
| Always free | Under 16 · EU over 65 · Carnet Jove · ICOM · Unemployed · Disabled |
| Booking | Required — pre-booked visitors get priority access |
| Regular ticket | €12 (valid 2 days within 1 month) |
| Rooftop only | €2 (building + terrace, no collections) |
| Annual pass | €18 (unlimited visits) |
| Articket | €38 (6 museums, skip-the-line) |
| Winter hours | Tue–Sat 10:00–18:00 · Sun 10:00–15:00 |
| Summer hours | Tue–Sat 10:00–20:00 · Sun 10:00–15:00 |
| Closed | Mondays, Jan 1, May 1, Dec 25 |
| Address | Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc, 08038 Barcelona |
| Metro | Espanya (L1, L3) — 15 min walk via escalators |
| Free app | Second Canvas Museu Nacional (audio guide) |
| Website | museunacional.cat |
Hours and prices can change — confirm on the official site before you go.
