Palau de la Música Catalana: a beautiful palace of music in Barcelona that most tourists miss

Palau de la Música Catalana (Catalan Palace of Music) is one of the most beautiful buildings in Barcelona and a great example Catalan modernist architecture.

This music palace and its hall listed on UNESCO World Heritage List is located in city ​​center just a few steps from other sights.

And while it's often overlooked by tourists in favor of better-known attractions, definitely worth your visit!

The main concert hall and the pride of the Palau de la Musica Catalana

You will look at its exterior and especially the interior with open mouth and if you like architecture, this might just be the best thing you'll see this morning in Barcelona! 

What captivates you about the Palau de la Música Catalana? 

When you enter the Palau de la Música Catalana, you will immediately be captivated by the magnificent interiors, colorful stained glass windows and sculptural decoration. Literally at every turn, you will come across something interesting that will make you stop and examine it more closely. 

After all, there is nothing to be surprised about - the Palau de la Músca Catalana offers a really interesting visual spectacle, as evidenced by the tens of thousands of photos on Instagram from this place. 

Palau de la Música Catalana it contains everything that people love about modernism: colour, playfulness, elaborate details, mosaics, novel natural shapes and architectural elements... 

...it is such a characteristic modernist work, so much so that many people mistakenly believe that its author is the great man himself Antoni Gaudí. However, the truth is a little off: under the building is the signature of Gaudi's colleague, Lluís Domènech i Montaner (who, among other things, created a beautiful the Sant Pau modernist complex lying just a few steps from Sagrada Família). 

The exterior of the palace contains many beautiful details

But this place is not only a gem that pleases the eyes of architecture lovers – regularly hosts some of the best classical music concerts in Barcelona.

Listening to music in such an environment is an experience that delights your senses. After all, it's enough see the palace website and you will find that almost every day there are concerts of various musical genres, from classical music to jazz and pop. 

Must see: Unique glass roof

It is the heart and symbol of the Palau de la Música Catalana stunning glass roof.

Photogenic dome on the roof above the main hall

This majestic jewel is an unmissable element that forms an unmistakable dome with a beautiful stained-glass motif in the middle.

However, the roof has not only an aesthetic meaning, but also a practical one: it allows natural daylight to enter the concert hall. 

The hall has acoustics like no other...

Montaner was his founding practice and he knew very well that his buildings they must not only look good, but also function.

That is why the architectural charm of the Palau de la Música Catalana is not limited to the glass roof.

Compared to other halls and concert halls the Barcelona one has exceptional acoustics. There is a really balanced sound in the space, which works both for the performers on stage, but above all for the listeners in the auditorium. So whether you're on stage or in the audience, you will be literally immersed in the magic of music.

Don't miss the mosaic details and sculptures

Palau de la Música Catalana building it is also famous for its mosaic details. These are spread all over the roof edge of the concert hall and in many other places. Each mosaic painting offers a unique blend of colors and shapes that reflect the different emotions and themes emanating from the music.

Details where you look

Home of the Catalan Orchestra and favorite place of world classical music stars

The Palau de la Música Catalana is not just an ordinary concert hall, it is part of Catalan culture and heritage. The well-known Catalan Orchestra has its headquarters here. 

The importance of the hall is also evidenced by the number of events that take place here every year: it is not an exception that their number exceeds 300 annually, which means some kind of concert or performance almost every day...

Masters of classical music like the famous tenor Luciano Pavarotti, Leonard Bernstein or local singers also like the hall. Montserrat Caballé (who became famous for singing Barcelona hit on the occasion of the Summer Olympics in 1992 together with Freddie Mercury from the group Queen).

Visit the Palau de la Música with a significant discount!

My tip: Want to visit this beautiful place or other modernist monuments and save money on tickets? Then you might like her tourist card Barcelona Card Modernist, which includes entry to 10 architectural gems...

View card detail >>>

Tour of the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona: what you need to know before visiting?

Allow approximately an hour and a half to visit the palace. During this time, I also include a visit to the cafe, which you will find in the foyer. The tour itself – whether you go with or without a guide – takes less than an hour. (Guides speak English, German, Italian, French, Chinese, Spanish or Catalan). 

You can walk through all 3 floors during opening hours, which are available to the public. As part of the tour, explore all the details and don't forget to look at the outdoor balcony, whose colorful columns appear in many photos. The best light here is from about 13:00 to 15:00. 

Terrace with colonnade

You can take photos with your mobile here as you like, but if you had professional photo equipment with you, you will have to pay a little extra, so you can take photos here. 

There are also available for larger groups special sightseeing circuits, when you can look, for example, at the roof of the palace. Unfortunately, I haven't tried it yet, so I don't know what it's like - if you're lucky enough to do it, send me pictures :-) 

Tickets and prizes

Palau de la Música Catalana tickets are on par with other similar monuments or museums in Barcelona. 

Two versions are available in the base: 

• tickets for the tour without a guide: price €18, children under 10 free
• tickets for a guided tour: price €22, €16 if you were under 35 or over 65, €13 students, under 10 free

As with many other monuments, even in the case of the Palace of Music, I recommend buying tickets online. You will avoid queues and have a more restful sleep. 

Search for tickets >>>

My other tips for visiting

• Cafè Palau can be found in the foyer of the palace (open daily from 9am to midnight). If you don't have time to tour the entire palace, I definitely recommend stopping here at least for a coffee and something good to eat. Even the cafe itself will give you the opportunity to experience at least a little of the atmosphere of this beautiful modernist place. 
• If you were to arrive here in the evening, from 18:00 p.m Pizzicato Gastrobar is open here, where you can have food or tapas. On the menu you will find mainly oysters, seafood, tartares, meat, but also several options for vegans and vegetarians.
• There is also a shop right next to the cafe souvenir shop. This is useful if you want to take something from Barcelona as a souvenir or a gift for your loved ones. In the offer of the local shop, there are items connected - in any other way - than with the palace of music itself, music as such, architecture or modernism in general. One section is also dedicated to children's things and I think you will definitely choose... 
• In the Palace, unfortunately there is no wardrobe or lockers for storing things or luggage, I therefore recommend not taking them with you or leaving them in one of the kept around.

Address:	C/ Palau de la Música, 4-6, Ciutat Vella
Transportation:	Metro L1 (Urquinaona) or L4 (James I, Urquinaona)
Opening hours:	Every day, from 9:00 a.m. to 15:30 p.m
Entrance fee:	Unguided tour: €18, children under 10 free Guided tour: €22, €16 under 35 / over 65, €13 students, under 10 free Search for tickets >>> Tip: S Barcelona Card Modernist you can look here for free.
More information:	https://www.palaumusica.cat/