Maritime Museum Barcelona

Located in the heart of the Drassanes Reials (the former royal shipyards — the largest civil Gothic building in the world), right next to the old port, the Barcelona Maritime Museum is a unique historical site dedicated to preserving and sharing the maritime history of Catalonia and the Mediterranean. Visitors dive into a world where the history and legends of the seas blend with the discovery of shipbuilding techniques and sailors' stories.

Collection and exhibitions

Needless to say, the museum tells the long story of Barcelona’s relationship with the sea. You can find all kinds of navigation instruments, and the interactive and audiovisual explanations are very well done.
The museum’s collections bring together tangible testimonies of a long-standing cultural tradition related to the sea, which has endured throughout Catalan history.

Since its creation in 1929, within the Mediterranean Nautical Institute, this museum, which was initially a small institution, has continuously grown its collections. This collection has expanded thanks to acquisitions made by the museum and also thanks to the generosity of organizations and individuals who donate to this institution.
Among the items preserved by the museum, it is worth mentioning the collections of ship models, nautical instruments, ex-votos, maritime paintings, figureheads, cartography (an extraordinary element in many aspects), the replica of the Royal Galley of John of Austria, the schooner Santa Eulàlia, and the historic ship from 1918.
Another notable collection of the museum is that of navigation instruments from all eras. It consists of instruments used to calculate latitude, such as cross-staffs and sundials; reflective instruments like the octant or sextant, used to determine the height of celestial bodies; various instruments for measuring time, particularly a marine chronometer that allowed accurate longitude determination at sea; and other instruments used for observation, like telescopes, or to measure sea depth, like sounding lines.

A Multisensory Experience

The majority of the collection consists of objects crafted between the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries and were donated by former nautical schools or descendants of Catalan sailors and navigators.
The museum possesses an extensive collection of maritime ex-votos. These are painted panels depicting the event that prompted them (accidents on board ships, shipwrecks, etc.) and the saint to whom they were offered, or ship models, often crudely crafted, yet reflecting the skilled hand of an artisan familiar with the ship and maritime world. They come from chapels along the Catalan coast dedicated to various saints and virgins, highly revered by those involved in maritime activities.
What makes the museum particularly fascinating is its immersive approach, with interactive installations and multisensory exhibitions that captivate visitors of all ages.

Practical information

Address: Av. de les Drassanes, s/n, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona, Spain.

Neighborhood: El Raval
Email: museu@maritim.barcelona
Phone: +34 933 429 920
Official Website: Museu Marítim de Barcelona

Opening hours

The Museum is open to the public every day of the week, from Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM (access allowed until 7:00 PM).
Barcelona Maritime Museum Free Entry: Free admission every Sunday after 3:00 PM.
Special Closures: The museum is closed on December 25th and 26th, as well as January 1st and 6th.
Reduced Hours: On December 24th and 31st, the museum exceptionally closes at 3:00 PM.

Access and transportation

The museum is easily accessible via multiple transportation options:
Barcelona Metro: Take Line L3 (Green Line) and get off at Drassanes station, just a few minutes' walk from the museum. Or L2 and L3 – Paral·lel station (exit Avinguda Paral·lel).
By bus: Several bus lines stop near the museum, including lines D20, H14, V13, 59, and 120, which drop you off nearby.
Hop on Hop off Barcelona : The Barcelona Bus Turístic has a stop close to the museum, perfect for visitors looking to combine multiple attractions in the city.
By taxi: Taxis are readily available throughout Barcelona and offer a quick way to reach the museum directly.
On foot: Located near Las Ramblas, the museum is easily accessible on foot from the city center. You can enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of this area on your way to the museum.
With Bicing: For those who prefer an eco-friendly mode of transport, the shared bike service Bicing in Barcelona has stations close to the museum.
Here are the closest Bicing stations to the museum: Station 56: Portal de Santa Madrona / Station 57: La Rambla, 2 / Station 361: Passeig de Colom (Les Rambles) / Station 410: Passeig de Colom (Les Rambles) / Station 425: Carrer Cervelló.

Nearby attractions

Make the most of your visit by exploring the Ramblas, the Barcelona Aquarium, or strolling through the Gothic Quarter just a few steps away.

Where is the museum located on a map of Barcelona