The Maritime Museum of Barcelona (Museu Marítim) is dedicated to the maritime history of the city and the Mediterranean, in an exceptional setting: the Drassanes Reials, the old royal Gothic shipyards, considered the largest civil Gothic building in the world. Its star exhibit is the full-size replica of the Royal Galley from the Battle of Lepanto (1571). It opens every day from 10:00 to 20:00, and is free on Sundays from 3 pm. It’s next to the Columbus Monument, one minute from Drassanes metro (L3). The ticket includes the Santa Eulàlia schooner.
Other museums in Barcelona…
- Museu Picasso Barcelona
- Fundació Joan Miró
- MNAC Barcelona
- MACBA Barcelona
- MEAM Barcelona
- CosmoCaixa Barcelona
- CaixaForum Barcelona
- Fundació Antoni Tàpies Barcelona
- MUHBA Barcelona
What is the Maritime Museum of Barcelona?
Between the waterfront and the foot of Montjuïc, steps from Las Ramblas and the harbour, stands one of Barcelona’s most impressive and unexpected buildings: the Drassanes Reials, the old royal shipyards where the galleys of the Crown of Aragon were built for centuries. Today they house the Maritime Museum of Barcelona, dedicated to the city’s deep relationship with the sea. It’s a double visit: on the one hand, the building itself —a jewel of civil Gothic architecture; on the other, a collection spanning centuries of navigation, discovery and seafaring life with a modern, interactive and very visual display.
The Drassanes Reials: the largest civil Gothic building in the world
The real star is the building. The Drassanes Reials were begun in the late 13th century, driven by King Peter the Great, and expanded between the 14th and 18th centuries. Its enormous stone bays, almost free of columns, with high ceilings and giant arcades, were for centuries the shipyards where warship galleys were built and repaired. It’s the best-preserved medieval shipyard complex in the world and is considered the largest civil Gothic building in existence. It was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1976. Walking through its bays justifies the visit on its own.
What to see at the Maritime Museum?
The Royal Galley of Lepanto
The museum’s most spectacular piece is the full-size replica of the Royal Galley of Don Juan of Austria, the flagship of the Christian fleet at the Battle of Lepanto (1571). Nearly 60 metres long and built in the Drassanes themselves, it’s an impressive recreation that gives you the measure of what shipbuilding was like in these bays.
The collection and exhibitions
The collection brings together navigation instruments, ship models, nautical charts, figureheads, paintings and all kinds of records of the Catalan and Mediterranean maritime tradition, with well-crafted interactive and audiovisual displays. Highlights include the exhibition “Catalunya mar enllà. Three centuries of Catalan seafaring (18th-20th c.)”. The temporary exhibitions in the lobby and the Espai Mirador are free to access.
The Santa Eulàlia schooner
The museum ticket includes a visit to the Santa Eulàlia, a three-masted schooner launched in 1918 and restored by the museum, moored at the Moll de la Fusta (a few minutes’ walk away). It’s a unique chance to step aboard a historic sailing ship. On some Saturday mornings it even sails, with prior booking.
The garden and the Mirador space
The museum also has a quiet inner garden, a haven of peace away from the bustle of Las Ramblas, and the Espai Mirador, also accessible by lift. There’s a shop, café and restaurant in the lobby area.
What are the Maritime Museum opening hours in 2026?
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Sunday | 10:00 – 20:00 (last entry 19:00) |
| Sundays from 3 pm | Free admission |
How much does it cost to enter the Maritime Museum in 2026?
| Ticket type | Price (2026) |
|---|---|
| General admission (includes Santa Eulàlia) | Check official website |
| Reduced (students under 25, Carnet Jove, 65+, Libraries Card…) | Reduced rate |
| Under 17s | Free |
| Unemployed residents, disability, ICOM, Friends of the Museum | Free |
| Every Sunday from 3 pm | Free |
💡 Tip: if you’re on a budget, go on a Sunday from 3 pm: admission is free. Note that tickets are bought in person at the museum’s ticket desk, not online.
How to get to the Maritime Museum?
The museum is at Avinguda de les Drassanes, s/n, next to Plaça del Portal de la Pau and the Columbus Monument, at the end of Las Ramblas.
| Transport | Line / Detail | Stop |
|---|---|---|
| Metro | Line 3 (green) | Drassanes (1-2 min walk) |
| Metro | Lines 2 and 3 | Paral·lel (Av. Paral·lel exit) |
| Bus | Lines 59, 120, D20, H14, V13 | Nearby stops |
| Bus Turístic | Red Route | Colom – Museu Marítim |
Practical tips for your visit
- Allow 1.5 to 2 hours to see the museum at a relaxed pace, plus extra time for the Santa Eulàlia.
- Tickets are bought at the desk, not online: allow time in high season.
- For free entry, go on a Sunday from 3 pm.
- Don’t miss the Royal Galley or the inner garden, a very peaceful corner.
- The Santa Eulàlia schooner is at the Moll de la Fusta, a few minutes away: check its timetable, which differs from the museum’s.
- It’s an ideal plan for rainy or very hot days, and highly recommended with children thanks to its interactive displays.
What to see near the Maritime Museum
| Place | Why visit |
|---|---|
| Columbus Monument | Right opposite, with a viewpoint (subject to availability) |
| Las Ramblas | The city’s most iconic promenade, which begins here |
| Port Vell & Maremagnum | The old harbour and the Aquarium, a short stroll away |
| Palau Güell | A Gaudí work in the Raval, a few minutes away |
| Gothic Quarter | The medieval old town, next to Las Ramblas |
Hotel Arc La Rambla, a minute from the Maritime Museum
Hotel Arc La Rambla (La Rambla 19-21) is practically next door to the Maritime Museum: walking down to the end of Las Ramblas, by the Columbus Monument, you reach it in just a few minutes on foot, and you share the same metro stop with the museum, Drassanes (L3). It’s without doubt one of the easiest museums to visit from the hotel, and a perfect plan to combine with Las Ramblas, the Port Vell and the Gothic Quarter, all just steps away.
💡 Book on our website with the code ARCBLOG and enjoy a special perk as a blog reader.
Maritime Museum of Barcelona — frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter the Maritime Museum of Barcelona?
The museum has a general rate (with a reduced rate for students under 25, Carnet Jove holders, over-65s and other groups) and includes a visit to the Santa Eulàlia schooner. Under-17s, unemployed residents in Spain and people with disabilities enter free, and everyone gets in free on Sundays from 3 pm. It’s worth checking current prices on the official website, as tickets are sold at the desk only.
What are the Maritime Museum opening hours?
It opens every day, Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 20:00, with last entry at 19:00. It’s closed on 25-26 December and 1 & 6 January; on 24 and 31 December it closes at 15:00.
When is the Maritime Museum free?
Admission is free every Sunday from 3 pm, and on several special days: 12 February (Santa Eulàlia), 23 April (Sant Jordi), 18 May (International Museum Day), 11 September, 24 September (La Mercè) and Museum Night.
What are the highlights of the Maritime Museum?
The building itself, the Drassanes Reials, considered the largest civil Gothic building in the world, and the full-size replica of the Royal Galley from the Battle of Lepanto (1571). The ticket also includes the Santa Eulàlia, a 1918 schooner.
How do you get to the Maritime Museum?
It’s at Avinguda de les Drassanes, next to the Columbus Monument, at the end of Las Ramblas. The nearest metro is Drassanes (Line 3), 1-2 minutes’ walk. Several bus lines and the Bus Turístic (Colom – Museu Marítim stop) also serve it.
