My boyfriend and I decided to spend our Saturday exploring Montjuïc, starting with a visit to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC). We had heard that the museum offers free entry on Saturday afternoons, so why not take advantage of it?
This started as a little cultural activity and turned into one of those days that reminds me why I love living in Barcelona so much. Beautiful architecture, centuries of art, magical gardens, house music, and a bottle of wine in the sun. A perfect combination, if you ask me!
FIRST STOP: MNAC, THE MUSEUM THAT LOOKS LIKE A PALACE
We took the metro to Plaça d'Espanya and made our way up towards the museum.
MNAC is located inside the Palau Nacional, a monumental building constructed for Barcelona's 1929 International Exposition. With its enormous dome, grand staircases, and beautiful façade, it looks more like a palace than a museum.
The walk up is part of the experience, too. As you make your way towards the museum, you get beautiful views over Barcelona. And luckily, there are outdoor escalators along the route that make the climb a little easier!
Even if you're not planning to visit the museum, I recommend coming up here just to admire the architecture and take in the views from the top. But if you have the time, definitely go inside.
THREE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WORLDS OF ART
One thing I particularly liked about MNAC was how varied the collection is. We explored three very different areas, each with its own character.
The Romanesque art takes you all the way back to the Middle Ages and shows one of the world's most important collections of mural paintings of this era. The Renaissance and Baroque section is filled with detailed portraits, religious scenes, rich colours, and dramatic lighting. Lastly, Modern Art focuses on a more recent period, with works connected to Catalan Modernisme, a movement that helped shape Barcelona's identity.
MNAC also has an important Gothic art collection, so there's even more to explore.
What I loved most was how each section felt different. You're not looking at the same style of art for hours, and I think that makes the museum enjoyable even if you're not usually a big museum person.
HOW TO VISIT MNAC FOR FREE
Now for one of the best parts: you don't necessarily have to pay to visit.
MNAC offers free admission on:
- Every Saturday from 3:00 PM
- The first Sunday of every month
- 18 May, International Museum Day
- 11 and 24 September, special free-entry dates
I'd recommend reserving your free ticket online in advance. When we arrived, the queue was already pretty long, but once the clock hit 3 PM, they started letting everyone in. In the end, we only waited around ten minutes.
Regular general admission is €12, so if you're travelling on a budget, planning your visit around the free-entry hours is a great idea.
CHECK MNAC TICKETS & OPENING HOURS ↗NEXT STOP: THE MAGICAL GARDENS OF MONTJUÏC
After the museum, we continued exploring Montjuïc on foot, and this is where the afternoon became even more special.
Think about pathways, stone staircases, beautiful plants, fountains, and greenery everywhere. Every little turn seems to lead to another lovely corner.
The gardens are also home to Font del Gat, a historic fountain whose name translates to Fountain of the Cat. It's one of those little details that makes this part of Montjuïc feel so charming.
I loved how peaceful and romantic everything felt. We weren't following a strict itinerary, just walking around and enjoying the surroundings.
LA FONT DEL GAT: THE PLACE THAT MADE OUR AFTERNOON
After exploring the gardens, we arrived at La Font del Gat, a restaurant tucked into Montjuïc's greenery. And, the atmosphere was just IT.
Imagine a sunny afternoon, house music playing, long tables filled with people, conversations everywhere, and everyone enjoying themselves.
It had that Spanish atmosphere where nobody seems to be in a rush. A place where you sit down for one drink and suddenly realise you've been there for hours.
My boyfriend and I ordered a bottle of wine, found ourselves a spot in the sun, and just enjoyed being there.
What made La Font del Gat so special wasn't necessarily one particular thing. It was how everything came together. The music, the people, the surroundings, and that feeling of everyone having a good time.
Would I recommend La Font del Gat? Absolutely.
I'd happily return just for the atmosphere. We only ordered wine, so I can't comment on the food yet, but as a place to spend a sunny afternoon? It's going straight onto my list of Barcelona favourites. Of course, the music and crowd might be different depending on when you visit. But if you catch it on a lively afternoon like we did, you're in for a treat.
THE
QUICK
EDIT.
Everything you need to know before spending an afternoon on Montjuïc.
WHERE
Montjuïc, Barcelona
GETTING THERE
Metro L1 or L3 to Espanya, followed by a walk uphill towards MNAC.
BEST TIME
Saturday afternoon, especially if you want to take advantage of free museum entry.
HOW LONG
Around 3–5 hours for the museum, gardens, and a relaxed drink.
BUDGET
Free museum entry during selected hours, free access to the public gardens, plus whatever you spend at La Font del Gat.
DON'T MISS
The architecture of Palau Nacional, the Romanesque art collection, the Jardins de Laribal, and a sunny afternoon at La Font del Gat.
IS MONTJUÏC WORTH VISITING?
A hundred percent. Montjuïc is one of those places in Barcelona where you can experience so many different things in just one afternoon. From impressive architecture and centuries of art to peaceful gardens and a lively restaurant tucked away in the gardens.
For me, La Font del Gat was definitely the highlight, but I think what made the afternoon so memorable was the combination of everything.
So, next time you're wondering what to do on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Barcelona, you know where I'd send you.
Found with curiosity. Chosen with taste.
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