MACBA - Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art

Updated Aug 28 2023

Opened in 1985 and located in El Raval, one of the most cosmopolitan areas of the city, is MACBA or as it is officially known the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art.

All the information about the MACBA

Since the museum opened, MACBA has made a niche for itself to become one of the most important and iconic museums of the city.

The visit to MACBA and online ticket sales

The permanent collection of Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA), is seen as a very important collection. Although it’s classed as a permanent exhibition, it does undergo changes and updates at times, such as the various temporary exhibitions that are planned, all of which focus on the exhibition of original works from the second half of the 20th century and onwards.

<MACBA tickets

Visit the MACBA

Tickets

-5% online

Barcelona Turisme

Whether you buy your ticket online or decide to buy in the museum’s ticket office on the day of your visit, the ticket is valid for a month, which will allow you to access the museum as many times as you want during these 30 days. If you decide to buy online you’ll have the added benefit of a 5% discount.

Visiting the MACBA with the ArticketBCN Passport

The ArTicketBCN Passport is a card valid for access to the MACBA as well as to 5 more museums and foundations within Barcelona, all of which are leading institutions in the world of art, such as the Picasso Museum, the Joan Miró Foundation, Antoni Tàpies Foundation, MNAC and the CCCB.

purchase ArticketBCN Passport

ArticketBCN Passport

Purchase

Save money and avoid queuing

Barcelona Turisme

The cost of the ArTicketBCN is €38 and if you visit all the museums using this card, you’ll save around 45% compared to buying the tickets individually.

The sites of MACBA

The museum is made up of two different sites that are close to each other, but separated by the Plaça dels Àngels. The main site houses the permanent collection and occasional temporary exhibitions, and the second building, which is part of the former Convent dels Àngels convent, is where most of the temporary exhibitions take place.

MACBA main building

The American architect Richard Meier designed the main building which was quite controversial at the time for having such a modern design compared to its surroundings in El Raval, which is predominantly filled with historical buildings.

However, as time went on MACBA’s main headquarters has become a design success and now lives in harmony alongside the other buildings of the area.

Convent dels Àngels (Convent of the angels)

In complete contrast to the architecture of the main building, is the other headquarters for the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, the Convent del Ángels. A convent from the mid-16th century and despite restoration work and refurbishments carried out in order to be able to host a variety of exhibitions, the building still maintains many of its original features.

Permanent collection and temporary exhibitions

With over 5,000 works from across the world, a large part of the collection at MACBA comes from the MACBA Consortium as well as the Provincial Council of Barcelona and individual donations.


Here you can see the chronological evolution of contemporary art, from material abstraction in the mid-20th century through to the great European Pop icons of the 60s and the many photographic figurative representations of the 80s, right up to the most current works.

Additional activities organised by MACBA

MACBA is known for offering a variety of activities alongside their permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, such as their guided visits in English, Spanish and Catalan. They also organise modern art courses, seminars and many children’s activities with the aim of encouraging and engaging young ones into the world of modern art.

As well as the excellent permanent collection the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art also has many temporary exhibitions, which help it to remain as one of the leading exhibitors of modern art.

Where is MACBA? Map and how to get there


Barcelona larger Map

Address

Pl. (square) dels Àngels 1, Barcelona.

Opening Hours

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday: from 10:00 to 20:00.

Sundays and public holidays: from 10:00 to 15:00.

Closed: Tuesday (not public holidays), 1st January and 25th December.

Entry price

General admission: €11.

Discounts: for students, Carnet Jove holders or those with a Barcelona Public Library Card and groups of over 15 people.

Free entry: Saturday from 16:00 to 20:00, also for students, students of the Faculty of Geography and History, for art and art history students, for children under 14, for “Tarjeta Rosa” holders, for over 65, for teachers, for unemployed, for AAVC partners and ICOM members.

How to get there

Metro: Catalunya (lines 1 and 3) and Universitat (lines 1 and 2).

Bus: lines 7, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 24, 37, 41, 42, 50, 54, 55, 58, 59, 62, 63, 64, 66, 67, 68, 91, 120, 121, 141, H12 and tourist bus.

Nearby places of interest

Plaça de Catalunya (Catalonia Square)
La Rambla Street
Canaletes Fountain
CCCB
University of Barcelona Historic Building

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