Picasso Museum (Museu Picasso) Tours and Tickets

No. Buying Picasso Museum tickets in advance is not compulsory, but it’s a good idea, as reserving a timed slot means less waiting in line. Booking ahead is essential for times when entry is free or for the first few days of a special exhibition and is advisable at weekends.

The Picasso Museum occupies five historic mansions, but two are used for temporary exhibitions. Most travelers find they can get a taste of Picasso’s blue, cubist, and early periods in a 1.5-hour walkthrough; art enthusiasts will want half a day; time-pressed sightseers can nip around in 45 minutes.

The Picasso Museum is least busy at 9am, when it opens, with Tuesdays and Wednesdays the quietest times of the week: like most Spanish museums, it shuts on Mondays. On the first Sunday of the month and between 5pm and 8pm every Thursday, admission is free, which means big crowds.

Yes, you can take pictures in the Picasso Museum—but only for personal use. You’re not allowed to use flash, tripods, or selfie sticks, and photographing or filming other visitors without their consent is forbidden. The museum also asks that you switch your phone to silent during your visit.

No. The Picasso Museum is a museum, not a place of worship, so there’s no written dress code, and you can wear whatever you would wear to walk around Barcelona. A T-shirt and shorts are fine, but bare chests are not; minidresses are AOK, but save the bikini for the beach.

The Picasso Museum’s permanent collection contains around 5,000 works, most from his early years, but only some are on display. His most famous pieces are elsewhere, but highlights include beautiful, life-like family portraits, lovely Barcelona paintings, and his first-ever sculpture. The museum also hosts regular special exhibitions.