One of the beautiful things about smoking weed is that it enhances pretty much any experience. As Jon Stewart’s character in Half Bakedtaught us, everything is better... on weed. Museums are no different, and we’re lucky to have some of the world's best right here in Barcelona. And with museums at 50 percent capacity because of Covid measures, now’s the perfect time to visit them without any lineups or crowds.
We’ve listed the best 5 museums for stoners in Barcelona, based on their exhibits, their location, and their proximity to delicious food. Read on, and let us know if you’ve got some other favorites!
Museu Frederic Mares
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Museu Frederic Mares is, hands down, the best museum in Barcelona. Not just for stoners, but the all-around best bang for your entertainment buck, and a totally unique experience.
Ol’ Fred Mares was a bit of a strange fellow. The Catalan sculptor (mysteriously) had a lot of money and spent it on strange medieval collections. And massive statues of the crucifixion. And on pretty much anything else you can collect: stamps, beautiful flower displays made of human hair, globes, watches, weapons…
There are 17 rooms laid out over 3 floors displaying his impressive collections and trust me when I tell you, it’s a stoner's paradise. You can get lost there for hours. If it’s a nice day, you can also enjoy the incredible courtyard with a fountain and orange trees at the entrance of the museum, which leads to a little patio and café.
Cosmo Caixa
My next choice is a close second. It’s the city’s natural history museum, Cosmo Caixa. Although it’s a bit out of the way, getting there is part of the fun — and the views of Barcelona once you get there are amazing.
This place is a dream, for kids and forever-kids alike. There is so much to see and do, and a lot of the installations have interactive elements that are equally entertaining and educational. Plenty of woaaaah stoner moments to be had. They have a planetarium, a new temporary exhibition every few months, and the best part is that the permanent exhibition includes a massive walk-through rainforest ecosystem.
The museum’s cafeteria is surprisingly delicious and reasonably priced. Bring a bit of extra money if you can, because the gift shop is AMAZING. Pro tip: If you bank with Caixabank, you and a friend get in for free!
Fundació Joan Miró
This modern art museum was first founded by the artist Joan Miró in 1975, born out of the desire to share his personal collection with the world. It now houses an amazing and pretty wild collection of art, including several sculptures and the infamous mercury fountain.
The building itself is a total trip and has some pretty privileged views of Barcelona. Fundació Joan Miró is located up on Montjuic, so not only are there plenty of places to get blazed before heading in, once you’re done at the museum you can walk around some of the parks nearby as well.
When the munchies hit, head over to Bar Marcelino, a great outdoor spot with awesome views, where the food is made with love.
MACBA & CCCB
Once you’ve seen one contemporary art museum, you’ve seen them all. Massive, colorful works of art, strange sculptures and impressive architecture. In other words, all great things to gaze at while under the influence. MACBA has the added bonus of housing one of the greatest skate spots in the entire world. You can sit on the granite steps just outside the building for hours, people-watching and witnessing some of skateboarding's greatest athletes flexing.
And since CCCB is right next door, you might as well check it out while you’re there. Sister museum to MACBA, there is always something going on here. With rotating temporary exhibitions and guest speakers from all walks of life, you can get a healthy dose of culture all in one city block.
Save some paper: Tickets to MACBA are cheaper if bought online, and CCCB is free on Sundays from 3pm to 8pm.
Museu Maritim
This museum is a bit of an overlooked treasure, mostly because its focus is so specific. Museu Maritim is housed in what was once the royal arsenal shipyard of Barcelona and is jammed with tidbits of Barcelona history, old photographs and reconstructions of old boats that you can explore. It’s a great place to feel like a kid again, and like CCCB, it’s also free Sundays after 3pm. The entrance also includes entry into an old schooner that’s parked at the nearby Port Vell, which means you can get another doobie in before visiting the second part of the exhibition.
Norai, the restaurant that’s attached to the museum, is a hidden gem. It’s tucked into the sunken courtyard complete with a turtle and koi fish-filled fountain, and has both indoor and outdoor seating. They only serve lunch but it’s one of the best menu del días that I’ve eaten in the entire city — I always bring friends here when they visit from out of town.
