How to visit Palau de la Musica in Barcelona

The Palau de la Música in Barcelona is an early 20th-century building in the modernist style. It is a music auditorium of outstanding architectural beauty, with imposing stained glass windows and a play of light that leaves anyone speechless. A visit is essential for anyone planning a trip to Barcelona, as it is one of the great treasures of the Catalan capital.

In this article I will answer any questions you may have about your visit, such as ticket prices, the different types of tickets, the best places to eat near the Palau and the great treasures it houses.

My favourite

Barcelona Palau de la Musica Tickets

The most convenient way to visit the Palau de la Música

The perfect way to discover all the rooms and the impressive stained glass windows and works of art inside this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From ₹1,967 at Hellotickets

These tickets for the Palau de la Música in Barcelona include a tour of the different areas of the building, such as the Lluis Millet Hall, the Petit Palau and the Concert Hall. The whole visit will be accompanied by an audio guide, which will tell you all the interesting facts about the Palau.

The ticket also allows you to enter without queuing, so you won't have to waste time waiting to get in. This is an ideal experience if you're a lover of architecture, music and art.

Recommended if... you want to get to know one of Barcelona's main tourist attractions in depth.

Tickets to the Palau de la Música in Barcelona are available from 17 euros, which varies depending on the time of year and the conditions of each visitor. Tickets are skip-the-line, so you won't have to wait to enter this imposing building declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The tickets I offer also include an audio guide so you can find out interesting facts about the works you are seeing and the architectural features of the building. The tickets are valid for the different rooms that make up the Palau de la Música de Barcelona: the Orfeó Catalá Rehearsal Hall, the Lluís Millet Hall and the Concert Hall.

You can get tickets for the Palau de la Música in Barcelona online and securely through official websites such as Hellotickets. You will not be able to buy tickets from the Palau's website, as it does not offer the possibility of buying tickets online.

So, my personal recommendation is that you buy your tickets when you have a clear idea of the days you are going to spend in Barcelona and your travel itinerary. This way, you will be sure to be able to enter this architectural marvel. Plus, you won't waste valuable sightseeing time queuing.

In addition to the two tours I've suggested, you can also book the Barcelona Card Express. This is a discount card with which you can get special offers on tickets to Barcelona's main monuments and attractions. It also includes free access to transport and major tourist attractions.

What's more, if you get the Barcelona Card Express, you also get special offers at some restaurants. As you can see, this is a highly recommendable option, as you'll be able to reduce the cost of your trip for a very low price.

Among the places with free access included in this card are the Born Cultural Centre, the Fundació Joan Miró, the Museu Entològic and the Jardí Botànic de Barcelona. Other monuments with discounts include the Sagrada Familia Basilica, Casa Batlló, the Barcelona Port Tour and, of course, the Palau de la Música de Barcelona.

Other options

As well as being able to buy tickets for the Palau de la Música de Barcelona individually, there are also tourist passes that include a visit to the Palau de la Música de Barcelona. One of the best is the tour of Barcelona's Old Town and Gothic Quarter. This tour lasts two hours and takes place in small groups of about 12 people.

The tour is on foot and along the way you'll discover the city's main sights, such as Las Ramblas, La Boqueria, the Basilica of Santa Maria, Barcelona Cathedral and the Fountain of the Three Graces.

We also highly recommend the personalised private tour. In this tour, you choose the itinerary, the duration and the time of the route. It can last from 2 to 6 hours. It is completely private, with a local guide leading you through the whole route and the corresponding visits. The expert will tell you the main curiosities of each monument, as well as its historical importance.

Yes, the Palau de la Música in Barcelona has special tickets for children. So this is a great advantage if you're travelling with the whole family. The latter is great, as entry to the Palau de la Música is one of the best things to do with children in Barcelona. Children from 0 to 9 years old have free admission to the Palau. If the children are over this age, they will have to pay the price set for adults, which is approximately 17 euros.

Confirmation, as with adult tickets, is immediate. On the other hand, cancellations are free of charge if made at least 24 hours before the scheduled date of the visit. I should point out that the price I am mentioning includes all charges and taxes.

Yes, there are guided tours of the Palau de la Música in Barcelona. First of all, there are tickets that include an audio guide. This way, you can learn about the different curiosities of this place, as well as its history. All of this at your own pace and at your own time, enjoying total independence.

If you prefer a local guide, I recommend a private guided tour. As it is personalised, you will be able to mark the Palau de la Música as one of your visits, as well as other places of tourist interest that catch your attention during your trip to Barcelona.

There are different options for getting to the Palau de la Música in Barcelona. It all depends on where you are staying or where you are. If possible, I recommend that you make the journey on foot. Walking is the way to really get to know a city, as you'll be able to discover curious streets and shops and soak up the way of life of its people.

If you can't or it's not easy for you to go on foot, you can opt to hire a tourist bus. This type of transport runs through the most touristy areas of the city, making different stops. They also include an audio guide and offer total flexibility.

In addition, it is also advisable to have the Hola Barcelona transport card, with which you can save money on public transport in the city.

How to get to the Palau de la Música in Barcelona

To get to the Palau de la Música in Barcelona, you can take a bus. In this case, the line you should take will depend on where you are coming from. The lines to the Palau are the V15, the V17 or the 45. If you are lucky, you will be able to go directly to the Palau. In the worst case, you will have to walk or combine two different lines.

In addition to the above option, you can also go to the Palau de la Música by Metro. The corresponding stop is Urquinaona station. This station is served by both lines 1 and 4. Finally, you should know that the venue has a private car park, the SABA car park. So, if you go by car, you won't have any problems when it comes to parking.

The Palau de la Música in Barcelona is considered the most modernist building in the world. Its construction dates back to the beginning of the 20th century and is the work of the architect Luis Domenech. This makes the Palau's architecture itself its great attraction. For this reason, it is recommended that you visit with a guide to help you understand each of the elements that make up the building.

Beyond the modernist architectural character of the building, it has different areas of great interest. The first of these is the Concert Hall, full of music-themed sculptures. Here you will find the famous skylight designed by Antoni Rigalt i Blanch.

The second stop is the Sala Petit Palau, where different cultural events are organised. This is followed by the Orfeó Catalá Rehearsal Hall, under which is the first stone laid in the construction of the Palau. Finally, the visit should end with a visit to the Lluís Millet Hall, where the columns and the ceiling lamp stand out.

The time it will take you to visit the Palau de la Música is entirely up to you. The length of the visit is very variable, as it can take more or less time depending on how fast you go. You may want to stop and admire each of the architectural elements that make up the Palau, such as its ceilings or stained-glass windows. However, it is also possible that you might just take a quick look at each of the rooms.

The guided tour usually lasts approximately one hour. Tours last 50 minutes. Bearing in mind that different explanations are given, this would be the average time it should take you to see the Palau de la Música.

The opening hours of the Palau de la Música in Barcelona are from 9 am to 3.30 pm. In July and August, the closing time is delayed until 6 pm. On the other hand, it is open from Monday to Sunday, i.e. every day of the week.

This means that you can visit it at any time during your trip, which gives you a great deal of freedom, as there are other places of tourist interest that close their doors on certain days of the week. However, you should bear in mind that in the evenings, except in summer, the Palau is closed.

If you want to visit the Palau de la Música in Barcelona and make the most of your visit, you should follow certain tips. The first is to avoid peak visiting hours, as it is always better to visit places of interest when there are few people. At times when there are too many visitors, it is difficult to see the different elements clearly.

Therefore, you will have to dodge heads to get a good look at what interests you. The peak time to visit the Palau de la Música is usually at 13:00. My personal recommendation is that you visit it first thing in the morning.

On the other hand, if you are not an expert in art and architecture, I think it is necessary to take a guided tour. The ideal option, if you want freedom and independence, is the audio guide. Finally, if you want to top off your visit, I recommend the On Top visit, which includes access to the terrace, where you can have a coffee.

The Palau shop is open from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 3 pm and from 5 pm to 8 pm. On public holidays and weekends, the opening hours are from 10 am to 5 pm. The shop has all kinds of decorative objects inspired by the architectural elements of the Palau. It also has a collection of classical music CDs, including those by the Palau's own choirs.

In addition to the above, the Palau shop has a selection of books, perfect for book lovers. The themes of these books are: modernist architecture, music and, lastly, books on the curiosities and history of the building. Finally, the shop includes a section for the youngest members of the family, with products designed to nourish them musically speaking.

Barcelona's Palau de la Música is located in the famous Ribera neighbourhood, also known as El Born. In addition to the Palau itself, this area of the city is also home to other places of great tourist interest, such as the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, the Picasso Museum and the Palau Dalmases. It is therefore a very busy area where you will find a multitude of establishments.

So you won't have any problems finding a place to eat near the Palau de la Música. However, as it is a very touristy area, there are some establishments that are best avoided. They tend to be more expensive than average and the quality of the food is not excellent. If you want to savour true Catalan gastronomy, there are some very good options near the Palau.

Best bars and restaurants near the Palau de la Música in Barcelona

One of the most typical places in the area is the Santa Caterina market, located less than 5 minutes walk from the Palau. Here, as well as the typical food stalls of a food market, there are restaurants where you can savour dishes made with fresh seasonal produce. The market itself is worth seeing, as it reflects the architectural style of the period.

A little further from the Palau, just over 10 minutes' walk away, is La Paradeta Born. This is a very typical restaurant in the district and specialises in seafood. Its dishes are made with fresh, quality ingredients, so if you love the taste of the sea, it is highly recommended. Very close to this establishment is the Cervecería Vaso de Oro, where you can have a cool beer and a tapa. Among the bar's specialities are sirloin steak with foie gras and Jabugo chorizo sausage.