Picasso Museum Barcelona Free Admission: When, How, and Is It Worth It?
The Museu Picasso offers free entry on Thursdays, first Sundays, and four special days. But free slots sell out fast and crowds are real. Here's how it actually works.
Yes, you can visit the Museu Picasso for free. But here's what nobody tells you: free slots release four days in advance, sell out within hours, and the museum on free days is packed to the point where you're looking at the back of someone's head, not at Picasso.
If you're flexible on dates and don't mind crowds, free entry is a genuine option. If you want to actually see the art, paying €14 might be the better deal. Here's how to decide.
When Is It Free
Every Thursday evening. October–March: 4:00–7:00 PM (collection only). April–September: 7:00–9:00 PM (collection only). Temporary exhibitions are not included.
First Sunday of every month. Full day, 9:00 AM–7:00 PM. Collection and temporary exhibitions. This is the most popular free slot — expect the longest queues and the fullest rooms.
Four open days per year:
- January 4
- February 12 (Santa Eulàlia)
- May 18 (International Museum Day)
- September 24 (La Mercè)
Under 18: Always free, any day, no booking needed.
How to Book Free Tickets
Free does not mean walk-in. You need a reservation. Here's the process:
- Go to tickets.museupicassobcn.cat
- Free slots open 4 days before the visit date, at 10:00 AM
- Select your time slot and complete the booking (€0)
- You'll get a confirmation email — show it at the entrance
The Thursday slots are easier to get. First Sundays and open days sell out fast — set a reminder for 10:00 AM four days before and book the moment they go live.
Is Free Admission Worth It?
Honest answer: it depends on what you want from the visit.
Free works if: You're on a tight budget, you're curious but not deeply invested, or you're visiting with kids (who are free anyway). Thursday evenings in winter are the least crowded free option — you get 3 hours and the rooms are manageable.
Pay the €14 if: You want to spend time with the art instead of navigating crowds. First Sunday mornings in summer can feel like rush hour. The rooms are narrow — five medieval palaces weren't designed for 500 simultaneous visitors. If you're only visiting once, a quiet Tuesday morning at €14 will give you a fundamentally better experience than a packed Sunday at €0.
Best compromise: The Articket (€38) gives you skip-the-line at 6 museums. If you're doing Picasso + one more, you're already saving money — and you pick your own time.
Tips for Free Days
Arrive right at opening. On first Sundays, the first hour is the calmest. By 11 AM the rooms are full.
Start with Las Meninas (Room 12). Most visitors follow the chronological route. If you go straight to the top floor, you'll have the Velázquez series nearly to yourself before the crowd arrives.
Thursday evenings in winter are the smart pick. Three hours, smaller crowds, and the Gothic Quarter at dusk is beautiful on the walk home.
Don't skip the temporary exhibitions — but check if they're included. First Sundays: yes. Thursday evenings: no.
Other Free Museum Days in Barcelona
If the Picasso slots are gone, these museums also offer free entry:
- MNAC: First Sunday of the month (all day) + Saturdays from 3 PM. Full details here.
- MACBA: Saturdays from 4 PM
- Museu Tàpies: Feb 12, May 18, Sep 24
- Fundació Joan Miró: First Sunday of the month
Verified Facts
| Free Thursdays | Oct–Mar: 4–7 PM · Apr–Sep: 7–9 PM (collection only) |
| Free first Sunday | 9:00–19:00 (collection + temporary) |
| Open days | Jan 4, Feb 12, May 18, Sep 24 |
| Under 18 | Always free |
| Booking | Required — slots open 4 days before at 10:00 AM |
| Regular ticket | €14 online / €15 door |
| Articket | €38 (6 museums, skip-the-line) |
| Book at | tickets.museupicassobcn.cat |
Schedules can change — always confirm on the official site before you go.
