National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC)

The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC), housed in the monumental Palau Nacional on Montjuïc, holds the world's finest collection of Romanesque mural paintings alongside a thousand years of Catalan art — from medieval frescoes to Modernisme — and a panoramic 360° rooftop terrace overlooking Barcelona.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

Are there discount passes that include MNAC?

Yes. The Articket BCN (€38) covers MNAC plus five other major Barcelona art museums — Fundació Joan Miró, MACBA, Fundació Antoni Tàpies, CCCB, and Museu Picasso — valid for one year. The Barcelona Card also includes free MNAC entry along with unlimited public transport and discounts at other attractions.

When is MNAC free to visit?

Entry is free every Saturday from 15:00 until closing, and all day on the first Sunday of each month. Advance online reservation is strongly recommended for free slots, as they fill up quickly. The museum is also free on open-door days such as 18 May (International Museum Day) and 11 and 24 September.

How much does MNAC admission cost?

General admission is €12, which covers the permanent collection, all temporary exhibitions, and the rooftop viewpoint, and is valid for two visits within one month of purchase. A basic entry ticket (building and terraces only) costs €2. Children under 16 and seniors over 65 enter free.

How do I get to MNAC by public transport?

Take Metro L1 or L3 to Plaça Espanya, then walk up Avinguda Maria Cristina — escalators are available for the uphill stretch. Bus 55 drops you closest, stopping directly at the Museu Nacional–Museu Etnològic stop. Bus 150 also serves the museum from Plaça Espanya.

Is the MNAC rooftop terrace included in the ticket?

Yes, the 360° rooftop viewpoint is included with the €12 general admission ticket. It offers panoramic views stretching from the Sagrada Família to the sea. A basic €2 ticket covers building access and the terraces only, without entry to the galleries.

What is MNAC most famous for?

MNAC holds the world's finest collection of Romanesque mural paintings — frescoes rescued from abandoned Pyrenean churches in the 1920s and reinstalled in replicas of their original apse structures. The crown jewel is the Pantocrator from the apse of Sant Climent de Taüll, a 12th-century masterpiece of Byzantine-influenced Catalan painting.

How long does a visit to MNAC take?

A focused visit covering the Romanesque frescoes, Gothic altarpieces, Modernisme wing, and rooftop terrace takes approximately 2–3 hours. The full collection — including Renaissance, Baroque, and 20th-century galleries — spans over 32,000 m² of exhibition space and can easily fill a second visit, which is why the ticket is valid for two days.

What are MNAC's opening hours?

October to April: Tuesday–Saturday 10:00–18:00, Sundays and public holidays 10:00–15:00. May to September: Tuesday–Saturday 10:00–20:00, Sundays and public holidays 10:00–15:00. The museum is closed on Mondays (except public holidays) and on 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December.

Nearby in Ask Barcelona

• Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya — Romanesque CollectionMuseum0.02 km · 0 min walk
• Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC)Attraction0.02 km · 0 min walk
• Jardins de LaribalPark0.3 km · 4 min walk
• Magic Fountain of MontjuicAttraction0.35 km · 4 min walk
• Fundació Joan MiróMuseum0.55 km · 7 min walk