Museu de la Música de Barcelona

Museu de la Música de Barcelona is a musical instrument museum in Barcelona, showcasing collections that range from ancient civilisations to 21st-century technology.

What can visitors see inside?

The collection holds around 2,000 musical instruments, of which 500 are on permanent display. Visitors will find string, keyboard, wind and percussion instruments spanning many eras and cultures. A standout is the guitar collection — one of the most extensive in the world, including historically significant pieces that trace how the instrument's construction evolved over time. The displays are accompanied by biographical material on composers and performers, so a visit combines looking at objects with learning the story behind them.

What role does the museum play in the city?

Beyond exhibiting its holdings, the institution is also involved in their conservation and in academic research. The museum actively promotes Barcelona's musical heritage, documenting the city's instrumental and performance traditions against the backdrop of global music history. This makes it a reference point both for tourists and for people professionally connected to music, such as musicologists, instrument makers and students.

Who is this museum for?

The museum draws both dedicated music lovers and visitors with no prior background in classical or ethnographic music. Because the exhibition spans everything from instruments of ancient civilisations to 21st-century technology, there is something for nearly everyone: guitar collectors will appreciate the rare pieces on show, while families with children can use the visit to see how instruments have changed across the centuries.

When is the best time to visit?

The museum is open most days of the week, with extended evening hours on Thursdays, making it a good option after work or as part of an evening out in the city. On Saturdays and Sundays it opens at the same time as on weekdays but closes earlier than on Thursdays. The museum is closed on Mondays and on public holidays, and shortened hours apply on a few dates around the winter holidays (24 and 31 December, and 5 January).

Frequently asked questions

How many instruments are on display at the museum? Around 500 of the roughly 2,000 instruments in the museum's total collection are shown in the permanent exhibition.

Is there anything special here for guitar enthusiasts? Yes, the museum holds one of the world's most extensive guitar collections, including instruments of significant historical importance.

Is the museum open on Mondays? No, the museum is closed to visitors on Mondays as well as on public holidays.

Does the museum stay open later on any particular day? Yes, on Thursdays the museum keeps extended evening hours, unlike the rest of the week.