The Barcelona Card is a discount card that can be great value if you plan on visiting a lot of museums and attractions, but is the Barcelona Card worth it for you? In this article I’ll investigate the benefits of the Barcelona Card and whether this discount Barcelona City card is worth it for your trip to Barcelona!
What is the Barcelona Card?
The Barcelona Card is a city card created by Barcelona Turisme which includes free entry to over 25 Barcelona museums, as well as discounts on entry to additional attractions and activities, and unlimited public transport during the duration of the ticket. It also includes a free guidebook in 6 languages with a map of Barcelona.
Confusingly, a different card, the Hola Barcelona Travel Card, has a similar name but is just for transport in Barcelona and doesn’t include any museum or attraction entry fees. You can read my review of the Hola Barcelona Travel Card here.
Is the Barcelona Card Worth It?
As far as discount cards go, I think The Barcelona Card is great value as long as you are going to get the use out of it!
What I love about buying a card like this is that it encourages you to visit more museums and attractions than perhaps you normally would, so you really make the most of your time in Barcelona and go beyond the typical top tourist sites.
If you are visiting Barcelona for 2 days or less then it is not worth buying the Barcelona Card, but if you are spending 3-5 days or more in the city and going to visit some of the museums that are included in the card price, then it is worth buying.
Of course, if you’re not interested in the museums that are included, then it doesn’t make sense to buy the Barcelona Card, so another Barcelona city card may be better, or none at all! It all depends on your interests and what you have planned for your Barcelona trip itinerary.
If you are definitely going to visit the museums and attractions that are included, then the Barcelona Card is much better value than buying the individual adult entry tickets to each museum. It is also better value than the Hola Barcelona Travel card (which is just transport only).
Barcelona Card Prices
The price of your Barcelona discount card depends on how long you want to use it for. The minimum you can buy it for is 3 days, and the longest for 5 days – the current 2026 Adult Barcelona Card prices are as follows:
72-Hour/3 Day Barcelona Card: € 59
96-Hour/4 Day Barcelona Card: € 69
120-Hour/5 Day Barcelona Card: € 79
There are discounted cards available for children aged from 4 to 12 years old
Children’s 72-Hour/3 Day Barcelona Card: € 37
Children’s 96-Hour/4 Day Barcelona Card: € 46
Children’s 120-Hour/5 Day Barcelona Card: € 54
Children under 4 travel on public transport for free and don’t need the Barcelona Card for discounted entry. Everyone else will need their own card.
Barcelona Card Benefits
If you love museums and plan to visit several while you are in Barcelona, this card is great value. Even if you only visit a few of these popular Barcelona museums during your visit you will still save money using The Barcelona Card compared to buying the adult ticket prices separately.
The Barcelona Card validity period begins from the first time you use it and lasts for 72, 96, or 120 hours after the first use.
I have a list below of all of the museums and attractions included in the Barcelona Card, but it helps to plan out your trip before you decide if the Barcelona Card is worth it for you.
For example, if you plan to spend 3 days in Barcelona and get the 3-Day Barcelona Card, you could plan to spend 2 days visiting the included attractions, and then spend a day visiting the Gaudí sites or other activities which aren’t included. You can still get great value from the Barcelona Card like this:
Suggested 3 Day Barcelona Itinerary Using the Barcelona Card:
Day 0
Use your Barcelona Card to get free transport on the train or metro from Barcelona Airport to the city centre and get the next 72 hours to enjoy the benefits of the Barcelona Card.
Day 1
Start in the Born neighbourhood and visit the Picasso Museum (normal online ticket price €14) and the Moco Museum (normal ticket price from €16.95) in the morning, then the El Born MUHBA Centre (usually €4).
Have some delicious tapas in El Born, then head to the Gothic Quarter where you could visit the Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA) at Plaça del Rei (usually €7.30) and the Frederic Marès Museum (normal price €4.40) or just stroll around the beautiful streets.
Day 2
Take the funicular up to Montjuic (included in your transport ticket), and explore. Here you can go to the MNAC National Art Museum of Catalonia (normal price €12) and Montjuic Castle (normal price €12), as well as the Botanic Gardens (€5 for adults), Joan Miro Foundation (usually €18) and Olympic and Sports Museum Joan Antonio Samaranch (usually €6.30) all for free, and if you have time then you can use your card to get a discount on entry to Poble Espanyol.
Day 3
Use public transport which is included in your Barcelona Card to go to whatever other attractions you like, knowing that you have already saved money! You could buy tickets for the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, Casa Batlló, or the FC Barcelona Museum for example, or just walk around and admire the beautiful city of Barcelona.
Separate adult entry tickets to the listed museums and attractions would cost €99.95, and with the Barcelona costing just €59 for 3 days it is well worth getting – AND you also get all public transport included with your Barcelona card.
HOWEVER: If you are under 25 or over 65 then you can often get discounted entry tickets to museums as long as you have ID to prove your age. In this case, The Barcelona Card might not be worth the money so check that before you buy.
What is Included in The Barcelona Card: 25+ Museums, Free Public Transportation & Other Discounts
Free Entry to Attractions with the Barcelona Card
The entry tickets you get for free with the Barcelona Card include:
Art Museums
- Picasso Museum: €14 normal online price
- National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC): 12€
- Antoni Tàpies Foundation: 8€
- Frederic Marès Museum: €4.40
- Moco Museum – Museum of Contemporary Art: from €16.95
- Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA): €12
- Banksy Museum: €14
Natural History and Science Museums
- CosmoCaixa Science Museum: €8
- Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona: €6
Archaeology and Ethnology Museums
- Egyptian Museum of Barcelona: €14
- Ethnological Museum of Barcelona (Parc de Montjuïc): €5.20
- Ethnological Museum of Barcelona (Montcada): €5.20
Cultural Centers
- Center of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (CCCB): €6
- CaixaForum: €6
MUHBA History Museums – €7.30 all included
- Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA) Refugi 307 (Air-raid shelter)
- Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA): Via Sepulcral Romana (Roman funeral way)
- Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA): El Call (Jewish district)
- Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA): Plaça del Rei
- Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA): El Born
Other Attractions
- Design Museum of Barcelona: €6.20
- Joan Miró Foundation: €18
- Montjuïc Castle: €12
- Botanical Garden of Barcelona: €5
- Music Museum of Barcelona: €6
- Chocolate Museum: €7
- Olympic and Sports Museum Joan Antonio Samaranch: €6.30
- The Royal Monastery of St Mary of Pedralbes: €5.20
What Transport is Included in The Barcelona Card?
Within the validity period of your Barcelona Card, you are allowed an unlimited number of journeys on the following forms of public transport in Barcelona:
- Metro
- Buses (operated by the TMB Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona)
- Trams
- Montjuïc Funicular (not the cable car)
- Urban trains in Zone 1 (operated by the FGC Generalitat city network)
- Regional Railway trains in Zone 1 (operated by Rodalies de Catalunya)
- The metro or train journey to and from the airport is included in your ticket.
The validity of the ticket begins from the first time you use it, it is not based on calendar days – so if you first use a 48 hour Barcelona Card for entry to a museum at 6pm on Friday evening, it will be valid until 6pm on Sunday evening.
The Barcelona Card only includes the public transport listed above; Aerobus Barcelona tickets are not included, nor are the Night buses (NitBus).
SAVE MONEY WITH THE BARCELONA CARD
Discounts to Other Attractions
As well as free entry to the attractions listed above, The Barcelona Card also offers discounts on more than 40 other attractions and activities, including:
Casa Batlló -€7
Casa Mila La Pedrera -€3
Casa Vicens -20%
Palau de la Música Catalana -25%
Palau Guell -25%
Sant Pau Recinte Modernista -20%
Poble Espanyol de Barcelona -20%
Casa Amatller -20%
Museum Maritim de Barcelona -20%
Mirador de Colom -20%
Parc d’Atraccions del Tibidabo -20%
L’Aquarium de Barcelona -20%
Teleferic de Montjuic -15%
Barcelona Bus Turistic -10%
Downsides to The Barcelona Card
Unfortunately, The Barcelona Card doesn’t include entry to any of Gaudí’s famous attractions in Barcelona like the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell or Casa Batlló.
If you want to visit any other museums or things to do in Barcelona that aren’t included you’ll need to buy tickets for those separately – however you can get a discount on tickets on some attractions like La Pedrera and Casa Batlló if you present The Barcelona Card to the ticket office when you purchase your tickets.
(This does mean you won’t benefit from online tickets if you can only get the discount when you buy it directly from the attraction.)
You could also consider buying the Go City Barcelona pass which does include free entry to other popular attractions including guided tours of La Sagrada Familia and Park Guell, and entry to the FC Barcelona Museum, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera among others.
Extra Things to Know
When you buy your Barcelona Card in advance online you will need to exchange your voucher at one of the following Tourist Information Offices, so check your flight arrival times match up with these, otherwise you can buy it when you arrive from these locations as well:
- Barcelona Airport, Terminal T1 Metro: from Monday to Sunday, from 8:30am to 2:30pm. Christmas:25/12 and 1/1/26 closed. 24/12 and 5/1/26: from 8:30 to 6:30pm. 26/12 and 6/1/26: from 8:30 to 1:30pm. 31/12: from 8:30 to 1pm.
- Barcelona Airport, Terminal T2 Metro: Barcelona Airport. From Monday to Sunday, 8:30am to 2:30pm.Christmas: 25/12 and 1/1/26 closed. 24/12 and 5/1/26: from 8:30 to 6:30pm. 26/12 and 6/1/26: from 8:30 to 1:30pm. 31/12: from 8:30 to 1pm.
- Airport, Terminal T1: Barcelona Airport. From Monday to Sunday, 8:30am to 7:30pm. Christmas:25/12 closed. 24/12 and 5/1/26: from 8:30 to 6:30pm. 26/12 and 6/1/26: from 8:30 to 1:30pm. 31/12: from 8:30 to 5pm. 1/1/26:from 10:00 to 2:30pm.
- Airport, Terminal T2: Barcelona Airport. From Monday to Sunday, 8:30am to 7:30pm.Christmas:25/12 closed. 24/12 and 5/1/26: from 8:30 to 6:30pm 26/12 and 6/1/26: from 8:30 to 1:30pm. 31/12: from 8:30 to 5pm. 1/1/26: from 10:00 to 2:30pm.
- Pl. Catalunya: plaça de Catalunya, 17-basement. Daily from 8:30am to 8:30pm.Christmas:25/12 closed. 24/12 and 5/1/26: from 8:30 to 6:30pm. 26/12 and 6/1/26: from 8:30 to 1:30pm. 31/12: from 8:30 to 5pm.
- Pl. Catalunya (information booth in front of El Corte Inglés department store. From Monday to Sunday, from 8:30am to 2:30pm.Christmas:25/12 and 26/12 closed. 24/12 and 5/1/26: from 8:30 to 6:30pm. 26/12 and 6/1/26: from 8:30 to 1:30pm. 31/12: from 8:30 to 2:30pm.
- Plaça Espanya: plaça Espanya, s/n – Avinguda Maria Cristina. Daily, from 8:30am to 2:30pm.Christmas:25/12 and 1/1/26 closed. 24, 26/12 and 5–6/1/26: from 8:30 to 1:30pm. 31/12: from 8:30 to 5pm.
- Sagrada Familia tourist information booth: Daily, from 8:30am to 8pm.Christmas : 12/24 and 1/5/26, from 8:30 to 18:30; 12/26 1/1/26 and 1/6/26, from 8:30 to 13:30. 12/31 from 8:30 to 14:30. Closed: 12/25.
- Mirador de Colom (Columbus Monument): plaça Portal de la Pau, s/n. From Monday to Sunday, from 8.30am to 2.30pm, last admission to the the viewing gallery:1.30pm. Christmas: 25/12 and 1/1/26 closed. 24, 26/12 and 5–6/1/26: from 8:30–1:30pm. 31/12: from 8:30 to 1pm.
The opening times are correct at the time of publishing but may change without notice. Opening times may vary on January 6 and December 26, and in most cases, are closed on January 1 and December 25.
Alternatives to the Barcelona Card
Barcelona Go City All-Inclusive Pass with 45+ Attractions
The Go City Barcelona Card used to be known as the Barcelona Pass or Go Barcelona Pass and is another Barcelona city card that includes free entry to more than 45 different attractions in Barcelona.
This differs from The Barcelona Card because the Barcelona Go City Pass includes some of Gaudí’s popular attractions including guided tours of La Sagrada Familia and Park Guell, and entry to the FC Barcelona Museum, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera among others.
The Go City Barcelona pass doesn’t include public transport but it does include a ticket for the Barcelona Bus Turístic hop-on hop-off bus.
LEARN MORE ABOUT GO CITY BARCELONA
The Hola Barcelona Travel Card – Just Transport
The Hola Barcelona Travel Card is a popular travel card for visitors to Barcelona that gives you unlimited rides on any public transport in the city, including the metro, buses, trams, and suburban trains, within a specified time period (such as 2, 3, 4, or 5 days).
However, it doesn’t include any entry tickets for museums or attractions, it is just for transport only. You can read more about the Hola Barcelona Travel Card in my full review here.
Should You Buy the Barcelona Card?
If you plan on visiting several of the attractions and museums that are included in The Barcelona Card then it is excellent value and can save you money vs buying individual entry tickets. However, make sure you plan your itinerary and decide what to do in Barcelona during your trip before you buy, to make sure it is worthwhile for you.