The first decision is not the price, it is which of the two sites you go to, because they are on opposite sides of the city. One sits on Carrer de Montcada, the same block as the Picasso Museum, in the middle of the old town. The other is up on Montjuïc, next to the MNAC, a funicular ride away. They charge the same, 5.20 euros, but they do not keep the same hours, and doing both in one day means crossing Barcelona. Once you have picked, there is a second thing worth knowing: the combined ticket costs exactly the same as the permanent collection, so the temporary exhibition is free if you ask for it by name.
How much is the Museu Etnològic and when is it free? 5.20 euros general and 3.70 reduced, the same at both sites. Free every Sunday from 3 pm to 7.30 pm and all of the first Sunday of the month from 10 am.
Which site fits your day
| Site | Where | Next door |
|---|---|---|
| Montcada | Carrer de Montcada, old town | Picasso Museum, metro Jaume I |
| Parc Montjuïc | Passeig de Santa Madrona | MNAC and the Miró Foundation |
Montcada is the one to combine with the Gothic and Born circuit, and it is the site that holds the temporary exhibition. Parc Montjuïc makes sense on a museum-hill day, with the MNAC and the castle above it, which charges 12 euros and 8 reduced.
The hours are not identical, and that catches people out on a weekday.
| Site | Hours |
|---|---|
| Parc Montjuïc, Tuesday to Saturday | 10 am to 7 pm |
| Parc Montjuïc, Sundays and holidays | 10 am to 8 pm |
| Montcada, Tuesday to Sunday and holidays | 10 am to 8 pm |
| Monday, both | Closed, unless a public holiday |
Montjuïc closes an hour earlier on weekdays. If you are arriving late in the afternoon, Montcada is the safer bet.
The line on the price list worth reading
| Ticket | General | Reduced |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent collection | 5.20 euros | 3.70 euros |
| Temporary exhibition, Montcada | 3.00 euros | 2.10 euros |
| Permanent plus temporary | 5.20 euros | 3.70 euros |
The third row is the one that matters. There is no supplement for the temporary show if you buy the combined ticket, so the temporary is only ever paid for when visited alone.
The catch is that the default rate at the counter is the permanent collection. Asking for “a ticket” gets you the same price without the temporary exhibition, so say the word combined.
Groups repeat the pattern: permanent 4.00 euros per person, temporary 2.40, and the combined also 4.00.
Free slots and reduced rates
| Slot | Hours |
|---|---|
| Every Sunday | 3 pm to 7.30 pm |
| First Sunday of the month | 10 am to 7.30 pm |
| Santa Eulàlia, 12 February | Open doors all day |
Santa Eulàlia does not apply if it falls on a Monday, the weekly closing day. The reduced 3.70 euros covers people out of work and visitors with a recognised disability, whose companion enters free.
Two details that rarely appear anywhere: buying the exhibition catalogue entitles you to two reduced tickets, and the Bus Turístic carries a 20 per cent discount on the general rate. The wider free-entry picture is in the free Barcelona guide.
The combined ticket with the Egyptian Museum
There is a 12-euro joint ticket with the Egyptian Museum of Barcelona that also covers the Parc Montjuïc site.
It only pays off if both museums are on the list. On its own the Etnològic is 5.20 euros, so the joint ticket makes sense as an Egyptian Museum decision rather than an ethnology one.
If you are building a museum day rather than a single visit, the Frederic Marès is nearby at Montcada for 4.40 euros, and the music museum covers the other end of town for 6. For getting between the two sites, the metro ticket worth buying compares the fares, and for a wet day the rainy day guide has the rest of the indoor options.
Pick the site that matches your afternoon, then ask for the combined ticket.
Frequently asked questions about the Museu Etnològic
Which of the two sites should you visit?
It depends on the rest of your day. The Montcada site sits on the same block as the Picasso Museum in the old town, and the Parc Montjuïc site is up the hill beside the MNAC. Both charge the same and doing both means crossing the city.
How much is the Museu Etnològic?
General admission is 5.20 euros and reduced 3.70, identical at both sites. The combined ticket with the temporary exhibition costs exactly the same as the permanent collection alone, so it is worth asking for by name.
Why is the temporary exhibition effectively free?
Because the combined ticket is 5.20 euros, the same as the permanent collection on its own. Bought separately the temporary show would be 3.00 euros. The default rate at the counter is the permanent one, so you have to ask.
When is the Museu Etnològic free?
Every Sunday from 3 pm to 7.30 pm and all of the first Sunday of the month, 10 am to 7.30 pm. Also on 12 February for Santa Eulàlia, unless that date falls on a Monday, which is the weekly closing day.
Is the combined ticket with the Egyptian Museum worth it?
It costs 12 euros and includes the Parc Montjuïc site. It only pays off if you are doing both museums, because the Etnològic alone is 5.20 euros. With the Egyptian Museum already on the list, it saves money.