There are four discount programs that may or may not work for you, depending on what you want to see and how you’re planning to get around.
A ticket on the Barcelona Bus Turistic gets you a coupon book good for the calendar year. Most discounts are modest, and the Museu Picasso is not included, but if you decide to ride the bus, be sure to use the coupons.
The Barcelona Card features several free museum admissions and allows you to skip the lines. It also provides discounts on other admissions and tours, including 15–20% on admissions to major Modernista buildings. Unlimited use of Metro, buses, and commuter rail can be a plus. Available at all Barcelona Turisme offices and El Corte Inglés department stores, it costs 46€ for 72 hours, 56€ for 96 hours, 61€ for 120 hours. The corresponding prices for children ages 4 to 12 are 22€, 28€, 33€. A 2-day option, the Barcelona Card Express, costs only 20€, but gives you discounts rather than free museum admissions; it also gives you free public transit for 48 hours, including to/from the airport.
The Articket BCN is geared to the major art museums, providing priority entry to six museums for 30€: Museu Picasso, Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, Fundació Joan Miró, Fundació Antoni Tàpies, the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB), and the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA). Tickets to the first three alone will cost more than the pass. The pass also allows you to skip the line—a huge timesaver at the Museu Picasso.
Purchasing the Ruta de Modernisme guide (12€) at any bookstore or tourist office supplies you with a coupon book with up to 50% off entrance fees to the Modernista buildings. The guide itself and its accompanying map make invaluable, if highly detailed, references to 116 Modernista sites around the city.
When weighing the options, keep in mind that on the first Sunday of each month, admission is free anyway at the Museu Picasso, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC), and the Museu d’Història de Catalunya. Museu Picasso is also free every Sunday after 3pm, while MNAC is free every Saturday after 3pm.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
