The Royal Galley (La Real)
A full-size replica of the flagship of the Holy League fleet at Lepanto in 1571 under Don John of Austria; the original was built in these very halls.
Antoni I. Alomar — Public domain · Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — CC BY 2.0 · Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — CC BY 2.0 · Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — CC BY 2.0
The Maritime Museum occupies the Drassanes Reials, the royal shipyards the Crown of Aragon built at the foot of La Rambla in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The building is the first reason to come: long stone halls under tall arches, a rare European survival of Gothic architecture built for industry, not worship. At its centre is a full-size replica of the Royal Galley (La Real), flagship of the Holy League fleet at Lepanto in 1571 under Don John of Austria; the original was built in these same halls. The rest — ship models, instruments, port history — is well arranged but ordinary. If your Barcelona days are few, the Gaudí sites, MNAC (the national art museum on Montjuïc) and the Picasso Museum come first. Its natural slot is a rainy afternoon, or a stop walking down to the old port. It is cheaper and calmer than the Aquarium across the harbour, and easier with children than the art museums. The ticket usually also covers the Santa Eulàlia, a historic schooner moored nearby in the old port; check when buying. Nearest Metro is Drassanes on L3, by the Columbus monument.
A full-size replica of the flagship of the Holy League fleet at Lepanto in 1571 under Don John of Austria; the original was built in these very halls.
Long stone naves under tall arches, Gothic building put up for industry rather than worship — rare anywhere in Europe.
A historic schooner moored in the old port a few minutes away, usually included on the same ticket.
Avinguda de les Drassanes, s/n, 08001 Barcelona (Ciutat Vella)
Columbus MonumentThe Columbus Monument stands at the sea end of La Rambla, where the old city mee2 minutes walk4.4
Arts Santa MònicaA contemporary arts centre at the lower end of La Rambla near the port, in a sev3 minutes walk4.4
Palau GüellPalau Güell is young Gaudí in his first great work: a palace built in the 1880s 6 minutes walk4.7
Basílica de la MercèA Baroque church on a small square near the harbour, dedicated to the Virgin und7 minutes walk4.7
L'Aquàrium de BarcelonaBarcelona's aquarium in the old harbour is one of Europe's great Mediterranean h8 minutes walk4.0Yes if architecture is: the Gothic building alone justifies the ticket. But with three days or fewer in Barcelona, skip it — the Gaudí sites and the big museums come first.
Nearest Metro is Drassanes on L3, at the end of La Rambla by the Columbus monument. The easy order is to walk down La Rambla, do the museum, then the old port and the Santa Eulàlia; the Aquarium is a ten-minute walk around the harbour if you want it.
Better than the art museums for them: the huge galley and the ship models work without much reading. Ninety minutes is usually enough, followed by a walk around the port.