Barcelona City History Museum MUHBA Plaça del Rei

About Barcelona City History Museum MUHBA Plaça del Rei

Barcelona City History Museum, Museo d'Historia de Barcelona (MUHBA), in the Jewish Quarter, El Call, of the Gothic centre, (barri gótic) of Barcelona tells the history of the city from Roman times to present day.

The museum is situated in Plaça del Rei, One of Barcelona's most famous squares known for its gothic architecture and steps in one corner that act like a natural auditorium. Although this square was formerly the courtyard of a royal palace, for three centuries it was also a bustling straw and hay market.

This is a museum dedicated to the history of Barcelona with strong focus on the Roman period. The museum is a collection of conjoined buildings:

Barcelona History Museum MUHBA Buildings

• Casa Padelles: Is a Gothic palace, originally located at number 25, Carrer Mercaders, in Barcelona. Due to the construction of the Via Laietana in the early 20th century, The building was disassembled in 1931 and relocated to the Plaza del Rei, in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter. Palau Padelles was built between 1497 and 1515 at the intersection of the Carrer Mercaders and Carrer Tarasco.
• Count's Royal Palace and Greater Royal Palace: Is a complex of buildings that were the residence of the counts of Barcelona and Kings of Aragon. It can be described as three buildings:
  1. Tinell Hall: built 1359 to 1362 by King Peter.
  2. The Palatine chapel of Saint Agatha: built during the reign of King James II around 1302.
  3. Lloctinent Palace: built by the Catalan Generalitat under Charles V around 1549.

In the basement the remains of the Roman town of Barcino (Barcelona) were found and are preserved with a spectacular walkway route through the old streets, house ruins, bathhouses and old city walls.

Note: The History of Barcelona Museum (MUHBA) should not be confused with the History of Catalunya Museum (MHCAT) which is a more broader overview about life in Catalunya and Barcelona from the Iberian tribes to present day.

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Visiting Barcelona City History Museum MUHBA Plaça del Rei

Allow one to two hours to fully explore all floors and rooms of the museum.

Barcelona History Museum MUHBA Opening Hours

• Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00h to 19:00h.
• Sunday: 10:00h to 20:00h.
• Closed: Monday's, 1st January, 1st May, 24th June and 25th December.

Barcelona History Museum MUHBA Free Days

• 1st Sunday of the month all day
• Every Sunday after 15:00h
• 24th September

Barcelona History Museum MUHBA Tickets

The Barcelona City History Museum (MUHBA) is included in the Barcelona Card bundle, Alternatively individual tickets can be purchased online through the MHUBA website or in the ticket office of the museum.

What to take with you for Barcelona City History Museum MUHBA Plaça del Rei

The Barcelona City History Museum (MUHBA) is fully accessible for people with reduced mobility or pushchairs.

There is bicycle anchorage Plaça del Angel here 41.383918, 2.178326 next to the Metro entrance, although this is not a location I would consider it safe to leave a bicycle chained up unattended.

The museum has lockers. When I visited I was allowed inside with my small 10L museum rucksack.

Don't forget headphones for the audio guide.

Day Trip Rucksack

Small 10L day trip and museums rucksack

In Ear Headphones

With 3.5mm jack. For running and for museum visits that have an audio guide. Museums don't provide headphones since Covid.

Emergency Poncho

Small folded lightweight Water proof poncho for emergencies

Getting to Barcelona City History Museum MUHBA Plaça del Rei

Address: Plaza del Rei s/n, Barcelona. 08002

Nearest TMB Metro is Juame I on the yellow (L4) line. Plaça del Rei can be found by walking up Carrer del Veguer from Baixada de la Llibreteria.