The MEAM (Museu Europeu d’Art Modern / European Museum of Modern Art) is Barcelona’s museum of contemporary figurative art, in the Born district, inside the beautiful 18th-century Palau Gomis. It brings together 20th- and 21st-century painting and sculpture by more than 300 artists worldwide, with the largest collection of sculptor Josep Llimona. General admission costs around €13 (reduced €9-10; under-10s free) and includes the temporary exhibitions. It opens Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays) and hosts concerts at weekends. It’s just 45 metres from the Picasso Museum; metro Jaume I (L4).
Other museums in Barcelona…
- Museu Picasso Barcelona
- Fundació Joan Miró
- MNAC Barcelona
- MACBA Barcelona
- Museo Marítimo Barcelona
- CosmoCaixa Barcelona
- CaixaForum Barcelona
- Fundació Antoni Tàpies Barcelona
- MUHBA Barcelona
What is the MEAM?
A few steps from the Picasso Museum, down a side street in the Born, hides one of Barcelona’s most singular and least-known museums: the MEAM, the Museu Europeu d’Art Modern. It’s a gem for anyone looking for something off the main tourist circuit. While most modern art museums have turned towards the abstract, the MEAM proudly champions figurative art —painting and sculpture inspired by real figures and objects— from the 20th and 21st centuries. And it does so in an exceptional setting: an 18th-century palace whose centuries-old walls contrast fascinatingly with the contemporary art they house.
History of the MEAM and the Palau Gomis
The MEAM opened in June 2011, driven by the Fundació de les Arts i els Artistes, a private foundation created to promote and spread contemporary figurative art and support its creators at a time when this kind of art had ever less space in the major museums. It’s an unusual model: the artists themselves collaborate with the museum and exhibit their work there.
Its home is the Palau Gomis, an 18th-century palace in the heart of the Born, restored to house the museum while keeping its historic atmosphere. From the narrow street where it stands you enter an elegant, high-ceilinged hall, from which a grand staircase leads up to the exhibition floors. That dialogue between the palace’s venerable walls and the most current art is one of the MEAM’s signatures.
What to see at the MEAM?
The figurative art collection
The permanent collection brings together painting and sculpture by more than 300 artists from five continents, with works of great technical quality —from hyperrealism to the most expressive figuration— that are rarely seen in other museums. Spread across the palace’s various floors, it offers a complete journey through international contemporary figuration. The ticket also includes the temporary exhibitions, which refresh the programme regularly.
The Josep Llimona collection
One of the museum’s great treasures is on the top floor: the largest exhibition dedicated to the Catalan sculptor Josep Llimona. The MEAM holds around twenty of his works —including pieces as important as Desconsol, Vora l’aigua, Meditació and Idil·li— making up one of the most complete collections of the sculptor, alongside the one at the MNAC.
The concerts
The MEAM is also a living cultural centre. At weekends it holds concerts in the incomparable setting of the palace: blues on Fridays, classical music on Saturdays and opera on Sundays, usually around 6 pm. There’s a combined museum + concert ticket, a perfect plan for experiencing art and music in the same space.
What are the MEAM opening hours in 2026?
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Tuesday to Sunday | 11:00 – 19:00 |
| Monday | Closed |
How much does it cost to enter the MEAM in 2026?
| Ticket type | Price (2026) |
|---|---|
| General admission (adults) | ~€13 |
| Reduced (over-65s, students) | €9-10 |
| Under 10s | Free |
| Ticket + concert (weekends) | from ~€17 |
💡 Tip: if you’re in Barcelona at the weekend, combine your visit with one of the museum’s concerts: the combined ticket is usually great value and the experience in the palace is unique.
How to get to the MEAM?
The MEAM is at Carrer de la Barra de Ferro, 5, in the Born, just 45 metres from the Picasso Museum.
| Transport | Line / Detail | Stop |
|---|---|---|
| Metro | Line 4 (yellow) | Jaume I (5 min walk) |
| Bus | Lines 45, 47, 120, V15, V17, V19, H14, H16 | Nearby stops |
| Bus Turístic | Red Route | Barri Gòtic / Pla de Palau |
It’s easy to reach on foot from the centre: the Born is one of the most pleasant neighbourhoods to stroll through. Being so close to the Picasso Museum, many visitors combine the two in a single morning.
Practical tips for your visit
- Allow about 1.5 hours to see the collection at a relaxed pace.
- Unlike the Picasso Museum, there are rarely queues here: a good plan for escaping the crowds.
- Don’t miss the top floor, with the Josep Llimona collection.
- If you go at the weekend, consider the combined ticket with a concert (blues on Fridays, classical on Saturdays, opera on Sundays).
- Combine it with the Picasso Museum (45 m away), the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar and a stroll through the Born.
- The museum has no audio guide, so take your time to enjoy the works and the palace itself.
What to see near the MEAM in the Born
| Place | Why visit |
|---|---|
| Picasso Museum | The largest collection of Picasso’s formative years, 45 m away |
| Santa Maria del Mar | The jewel of Catalan Gothic, in the heart of the Born |
| El Born CCM | Cultural centre over an 18th-century archaeological site |
| Passeig del Born | The liveliest promenade in the neighbourhood |
| Palau de la Música Catalana | Domènech i Montaner’s Modernista jewel, very close |
Hotel Arc La Rambla, a stroll from the MEAM
From Hotel Arc La Rambla (La Rambla 19-21, next to Drassanes metro, L3), the MEAM is a pleasant 15-minute walk through the Gothic Quarter and the Born. A perfect location for spending a morning on the Born’s art —MEAM and the Picasso Museum— and going on to discover Santa Maria del Mar, the Palau de la Música and the medieval streets of La Ribera, all steps from the hotel.
💡 Book on our website with the code ARCBLOG and enjoy a special perk as a blog reader.
MEAM — frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter the MEAM?
General admission for adults costs around €13, with a reduced rate of €9-10 for over-65s and students; under-10s enter free. The ticket includes the permanent collection and the temporary exhibitions. There’s also a combined museum + concert ticket at weekends. It’s worth checking prices on the official website.
What are the MEAM opening hours?
It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 19:00. It’s closed on Mondays, 1 January and 25-26 December.
What kind of art can you see at the MEAM?
The MEAM is dedicated to 20th- and 21st-century figurative art: contemporary painting and sculpture inspired by real figures and objects, from hyperrealism to the most expressive figuration. It’s home to the largest collection of the Catalan sculptor Josep Llimona.
Does the MEAM host concerts?
Yes. At weekends the museum holds concerts in the palace: blues on Fridays, classical music on Saturdays and opera on Sundays, usually around 6 pm. There’s a combined museum and concert ticket.
How do you get to the MEAM?
It’s at Carrer de la Barra de Ferro, 5, in the Born, 45 metres from the Picasso Museum. The nearest metro is Jaume I (Line 4), about a 5-minute walk. Several bus lines also stop nearby.
