The Fundació Antoni Tàpies is the museum dedicated to the great Catalan artist, in the heart of the Eixample, steps from Passeig de Gràcia. It occupies a Modernista building by Lluís Domènech i Montaner (the former Montaner i Simón publishing house), crowned by Tàpies’s famous wire sculpture Núvol i cadira (“Cloud and Chair”). It holds more than 300 works by the artist and programmes temporary contemporary art exhibitions. It opens Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays). It’s a few metres from Casa Batlló; metro Passeig de Gràcia (L2/L3/L4).
Other museums in Barcelona…
- Museu Picasso Barcelona
- Fundació Joan Miró
- MNAC Barcelona
- MACBA Barcelona
- MEAM Barcelona
- Museo Marítimo Barcelona
- CosmoCaixa Barcelona
- CaixaForum Barcelona
- MUHBA Barcelona
What is the Fundació Antoni Tàpies?
In the heart of the Eixample, between Passeig de Gràcia and Rambla de Catalunya, the Fundació Antoni Tàpies is a must for lovers of contemporary art and architecture. Created by Antoni Tàpies himself in 1984 and opened to the public in 1990, it’s at once a museum, a study centre and a space for promoting modern and contemporary art. It holds one of the world’s most important collections of the artist and, like its neighbours on the Block of Discord, occupies a Modernista building that’s a work of art in itself.
The building: the former Montaner i Simón publishing house
The foundation’s home is a magnificent Modernista building constructed between 1880 and 1885 by Lluís Domènech i Montaner —the same architect behind the Palau de la Música Catalana and the Sant Pau Hospital— to house the Montaner i Simón publishing house. It’s a pioneering work: one of the first buildings in the Eixample to combine exposed brick with an iron structure, anticipating Modernisme. It was declared a historic monument in 1997 and restored between 2008 and 2010.
As the building was slightly lower than its neighbours, Tàpies himself decided to crown it with one of his works: Núvol i cadira (“Cloud and Chair”, 1990), a great tangle of aluminium and stainless-steel wire that seems to float above the façade. A controversial intervention at the time, it’s now a distinctive symbol of the institution and the city. The visit, in a way, begins before you go in.
What to see at the Fundació Antoni Tàpies?
The Antoni Tàpies collection
The museum holds more than 300 works donated by the artist and his wife, Teresa Tàpies, spanning every stage of his career: from the drawings of the 1940s and the paintings of the 50s and 60s to the objects and sculptures of the 90s. It’s the best way to understand the evolution of one of the great names of 20th-century abstract art and his characteristic use of poor, material-based media (sand, earth, rags, paper). The collection display is rotating, so it changes over time. Between July and September, the whole space is usually devoted entirely to Tàpies’s work.
El Mitjó (The Sock) and the terrace
On the building’s terrace is one of the museum’s most surprising works: Mitjó (“Sock”, 1991), a nearly three-metre sculpture in the shape of a giant sock that caused quite a controversy in its day. A perfect example of Tàpies’s humour and provocation.
The temporary exhibitions and the library
For much of the year, the Tàpies collection is combined with temporary exhibitions of other contemporary artists, along with lectures, film seasons and activities. The foundation also houses a magnificent library specialising in modern and contemporary art —with some 50,000 volumes and a notable Asian art collection— considered one of the most complete of its kind in the world.
What are the Fundació Antoni Tàpies opening hours in 2026?
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Tuesday to Saturday | 10:00 – 19:00 |
| Sundays and public holidays | 10:00 – 15:00 |
| Monday | Closed |
How much does it cost to enter the Fundació Antoni Tàpies in 2026?
| Ticket type | Price (2026) |
|---|---|
| General admission | Check official website |
| Reduced (students over 16, seniors, Carnet Jove, Libraries Card) | Reduced rate |
| Under 16s | Free |
| Over-65s and unemployed | Free / reduced (check) |
💡 Tip: if you plan to see several art museums, the Articket BCN includes the Fundació Antoni Tàpies alongside the MNAC, the Picasso Museum, the MACBA, the Joan Miró Foundation and the CCCB, and is great value.
How to get to the Fundació Antoni Tàpies?
The foundation is at Carrer d’Aragó, 255, in the Eixample, a few metres from Passeig de Gràcia.
| Transport | Line / Detail | Stop |
|---|---|---|
| Metro | Lines 2, 3 and 4 | Passeig de Gràcia (2 min walk) |
| FGC | Plaça Catalunya lines | Provença |
| Bus | Lines 7, 22, 24, 39, 47, H10, V15, V17… | Nearby stops |
| Bus Turístic | Red Route and Blue Route | Casa Batlló – Fundació Antoni Tàpies |
From Plaça de Catalunya it’s a pleasant 10-minute walk up Passeig de Gràcia, past some of the city’s most famous Modernista buildings.
Practical tips for your visit
- Don’t leave without seeing the façade from the street: the Núvol i cadira sculpture is a must.
- Allow about 1 to 1.5 hours for the visit.
- It’s recommended to start on the lower floors and work up; don’t miss the terrace with El Mitjó.
- Check which temporary exhibition is on: the programme changes through the year.
- It’s right on the Block of Discord: combine it with Casa Batlló, Casa Amatller and Casa Lleó Morera, all next door.
- It’s a calm, uncrowded museum, ideal for escaping the queues of Passeig de Gràcia.
What to see near the Fundació Antoni Tàpies
| Place | Why visit |
|---|---|
| Casa Batlló | Gaudí’s masterpiece, a few metres away |
| Casa Amatller | Puig i Cadafalch’s Modernisme, on the same block |
| La Pedrera (Casa Milà) | Another Gaudí masterpiece, up Passeig de Gràcia |
| Casa Lleó Morera | A Domènech i Montaner work on the Block of Discord |
| Passeig de Gràcia | Barcelona’s great Modernista and shopping avenue |
Hotel Arc La Rambla, your base for the Modernista Eixample
From Hotel Arc La Rambla (La Rambla 19-21, next to Drassanes metro, L3), the Fundació Antoni Tàpies is an easy trip away: a few minutes on the metro (L3) takes you to Passeig de Gràcia, right in the heart of the Modernista Eixample. A perfect base for spending a day on the jewels of Gaudí and Domènech i Montaner —Tàpies, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera— and returning to the old town to enjoy the Gothic Quarter, Las Ramblas and the harbour, all steps from the hotel.
💡 Book on our website with the code ARCBLOG and enjoy a special perk as a blog reader.
Fundació Antoni Tàpies — frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter the Fundació Antoni Tàpies?
The foundation has a general admission, with a reduced rate for students over 16, seniors, Carnet Jove and Libraries Card holders. Under-16s enter free, and there are special conditions for over-65s and the unemployed. The ticket includes the collection and the temporary exhibitions, and is included in the Articket BCN. It’s worth checking the current price on the official website.
What are the Fundació Antoni Tàpies opening hours?
It opens Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00 and Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 to 15:00. It’s closed on Mondays, 1 & 6 January and 25 December. Last entry is 15 minutes before closing.
What is the sculpture on the roof of the Fundació Tàpies?
It’s Núvol i cadira (“Cloud and Chair”), an aluminium and stainless-steel wire sculpture that Antoni Tàpies created in 1990 to crown the building. It depicts a cloud with a chair and has become a symbol of the museum and the city.
Who designed the Fundació Antoni Tàpies building?
The Modernista architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, also behind the Palau de la Música Catalana and the Sant Pau Hospital. He built it between 1880 and 1885 for the Montaner i Simón publishing house, and it was one of the first buildings in the Eixample to combine exposed brick and iron. It’s been a historic monument since 1997.
How do you get to the Fundació Antoni Tàpies?
It’s at Carrer d’Aragó, 255, in the Eixample. The nearest metro is Passeig de Gràcia (lines 2, 3 and 4), a 2-minute walk. Several bus lines and the Bus Turístic (Casa Batlló – Fundació Antoni Tàpies stop) also serve it.
