10 Under-the-Radar Museums in Barcelona

While Barcelona is known for its great tapas, you can’t live on savories alone. Once you’ve finished a tapas crawl, it’s time for dessert and a museum that tells you about the history and culture of chocolate. The Chocolate Museum (Museu de la Xocolata) tells the story of chocolate's origins in the Americas, its arrival in Europe, and its evolution around the world. Ideal for kids and adults alike, this underrated spot also is home to a collection of chocolate sculptures made to look like famous landmarks and characters from history and fiction.

Don’t miss: The museum hosts chocolate workshops and tastings, where you can even learn how to make your own bars and bonbons. See their calendar for upcoming events and plan your visit accordingly.

This Gothic monastery-turned-museum was founded in 1326 by Queen Elisenda de Montcada, the wife of King James II of Aragon. Take a tour of the building—itself a stunning spot with beautiful architecture, stained glass windows, and an impressive altarpiece—to see preserved rooms, such as the kitchen and chapel, and areas that have been repurposed as galleries for the monastery’s art and treasures. You also can wander around the courtyards and verdant gardens.

Don’t miss: The tomb of Queen Elisenda of Montcada, which has two individual faces: one facing the church, where the queen is shown as a widow in mourning, and one facing the cloister, where she's shown as a queen in royal attire.

Renowned for its unique exhibitions, the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona CCCB (located next to the famed Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art) is a cultural center that plays host to exhibitions, festivals, concerts, films, and even debates. The center is located in a former charity house that was renovated back in the 1990s, blending modern architecture with aesthetic nods to Barcelona's history.

While there, explore the “Artificial Intelligence” exhibition, which explores the past and the future of AI through talks, debates, and shows by international artists, scientists, and researchers. When it's sunny, make sure to head to the rooftop terrace for stunning views of the city.

Don’t miss: The Xcèntric Cinema, a program that features experimental and avant-garde films.

You'll find photo opportunities galore at Barcelona's Big Fun Museum. Home to thematic rooms such as the Magic Room, the Sweet Museum, and the Topsy-Turvy House, the Big Fun Museum brings eight museums together under one roof, and offers illusions and wonders to suit all ages. Wander through the hall of mirrors or get lost in the maze before checking out the ever-so-creepy Museum of Madness or chatting to the speaking flowers at Alice Through the Looking Glass.

Don’t miss: The Museum of Illusions, where you can transport yourself to famous places by standing in huge 3D paintings. In addition to optical illusion classics (like those that put you in an oversized world), you'll also find scenes based on famous images from Barcelona itself.

As the only perfume museum in Spain, Barcelona's Museum of Perfume (Museu del Perfum) checks off all the boxes for a unique (and aromatic) day out. Here, you'll find nearly 5,000 perfume bottles and vessels from all around the world, ranging from ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Arabic artifacts to present day industrial bottles. The museum's top hits include a perfume box that belonged to Marie Antoinette and a scent bottle designed by Barcelona's very own Salvador Dalí.

Don’t miss: The museum is housed in the Regia perfumery, which you also can walk around. Visitors get a 10 percent discount on anything purchased.

The Barcelona Museum of Modernism (Museu del Modernisme) highlights artwork and design from Catalan modernism, a movement that flourished at the end of the 19th century. A top choice for art lovers who've already seen the big hitters, the museum has more than 350 works by some of the most prominent artists and architects of the time, including Antoni Gaudí, Ramon Casas, and Santiago Rusiñol, as well as furniture, ceramics, glass, and textiles.

Don’t miss: The original furniture pieces Gaudí designed for Casa Batlló, Milà House (Casa Milà), and Casa Calvet.

The MUHBA Refugi 307, tucked away in the beautiful hillside Parc de la Primavera in the Poble Sec neighborhood, is a landmark and a museum all in one: The structure is one of 1,000 air-raid shelters built in Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) to protect citizens from bombings. Made up of 1,312 feet (400 meters) of tunnels, this shelter had space for up to 2,000 people. Today, you can see the different rooms, including bathrooms and an infirmary, as well as the graffiti people made on the walls during bombings.

Don’t miss: For the best experience, plan ahead so you can join a guided tour—there’s only one per language each week.

It's easy to wander past Antoni Tàpies Foundation (Fundació Antoni Tàpies) on your way to nearby Casa Batlló, but this museum and cultural center is well worth a stop. Created by renowned artist Antoni Tàpies—one of Europe's most influential—the museum boasts a large collection of his works including paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, and books. You'll also find temporary exhibitions featuring artists and movements related to Tàpies’ vision.

Don’t miss: The sculpture on the roof of the museum, called Núvol i Cadira (Cloud and Chair), which is made up of wire mesh with a chair hanging from it. It's one of Tàpies’ most iconic works and a symbol of his artistic expression.

The Egyptian Museum of Barcelona houses both permanent and temporary exhibitions, so you can always learn something new about ancient Egypt, whether you’re a hobbyist historian or a total novice. The museum features more than 1,100 pieces in its collection, including reconstructed temple pieces, hieroglyphics, mummies, funeral masks, and so much more. Save time and get straight to perusing the galleries with a skip-the-line ticket, or explore the museum’s programs if you’ve got extra time. From kid-friendly workshops to Egyptology courses for adults, the whole family will find an activity to enjoy here.

Don’t miss: The cat mummy, which you can find on the first floor in the funerary practices section.

You can always take a street art tour in Barcelona to spot tags, murals, and more around the city. But if you’d rather see the best of the city’s street art all in one place, the Moco Museum Barcelona features a collection of indoor street art, as well as digital and modern art.

See works by heavyweights including Banksy, Andy Warhol, and Yayoi Kusama, and make sure to check out the section dedicated to female masters of contemporary art such as Marina Abramović and Krista Kim. Plus, this is an easy spot to squeeze into a Barcelona sightseeing day, as the estimated visit time is only 90 minutes.

Don’t miss: The museum’s digital art section, a multisensory exhibition featuring advanced innovations in art technology.