Wax Museum of Barcelona

Where can you see Superman, Princess Diana, Elvis Presley and Joan of Arc, Mao Tse Tung, and Master Yoda under one roof? Where can you also go on Captain Nemo's submarine, fly in an intergalactic shuttle with the Star Wars crew, and travel to King Kong's lair hidden in the impenetrable jungle? It might not seem so, but it's, in fact, the Wax Museum of Barcelona.

This is perhaps one of the best family-friendly attractions, and the exhibits will appeal to children and parents alike. Little ones love the fairy tale characters: gnomes, mermaids and fairies. Teenagers will find their idols here: sports, movies and pop stars. Conversely, adults will find politicians and historical figures who have played an essential role in shaping our world as we know it today.

Museum History

The Wax Museum is located in the heart of Barcelona, on La Rambla. The building is easily recognisable at a glance, not so much by the signboard but rather by the Superman on the roof. The museum is housed in an old building from 1867 that was formerly the headquarters of Barcelona's central bank, the Banco de Barcelona. The history of the building became part of the exhibition — one of the museum locations is stylised as a bank vault.

The old neoclassical building became the site of a waxwork exhibition in 1973, thanks to the initiative of the famous Spanish film director Enrique Alarcón.

The figures displayed in the museum are life-size, using real human hair, which gives the characters an incredibly realistic look. In addition, the designers paid great attention to costumes and accessories — all mannequins are dressed in the clothes of the era in which their actual prototypes lived.

To create the wax figures, not only sculptors and designers were involved, but also many other specialists, including historians, anthropologists, art historians, hairdressers, make-up artists, computer modellers, etc.

Museum halls and exhibits

The two-storey museum has more than 350 figures spread over themed halls. There are 20+ individual locations, but the tour begins with a spacious entrance hall where you can see the layout of the rooms.

In some of the halls, the exhibits are arranged in such a way as to recreate a famous scene. You can also see dioramas and interact with interactive mannequins.

Please note that not all areas are suitable for visiting with young children. Some exhibits, scenes, and sound and light effects can be frightening for young children. Therefore, parents should know which areas are best avoided so as not to traumatise children.

Ground floor:

1. Sala Barcelona. In the first room, visitors can see famous historical figures essential in forming our civilisation: the Pope, Mother Teresa and even Jesus Christ, Mary and Joseph.
2. Rambla 360. Here, sightseers are invited to explore one of the city's most iconic landmarks — the promenade. The diorama is so masterfully executed that these real Spaniards take a leisurely evening stroll, admiring the sunset on the Mediterranean Sea.
3. Thieves and police. The following location is the most protected corner of Barcelona, the armoured room of the central bank, which has always fired the imagination of thieves and been a headache for law enforcement. The exhibit housed in this room is a mock bank robbery. The main characters of the robbery are Nairobi and Tokyo from the acclaimed Spanish crime drama television series Paper House.
4. The Jungle. Visitors here will encounter incredible inhabitants, including the giant King Kong. However, most exhibits represent real creatures, such as gorillas, anacondas, cats of prey and more.
5. Climate emergency. Today the climate problem has reached such a critical point that it is being discussed by politicians, highly specialised organisations, and ordinary people. A hall is devoted to this problem in the Wax Museum in Barcelona. The central figure is Greta Thunberg, the Swedish eco-activist whose fiery speech at the UN climate change conference resonated with people worldwide.
6. Galactic Journey. This intergalactic spaceship-themed attraction is sure to excite children and adults alike. You can feel like an astronaut and even meet the aliens, Chewbacca and R2-D2.
7. Pirates. Straight out of space, you can go to Treasure Island and meet cheeky and fun-loving pirates. Of course, the star of this exhibit is Captain Jack Sparrow.
8. A magical world. Who doesn't love magic? Even adults wouldn't turn down the chance to believe in miracles, even for a moment. Crossing the threshold of this room, guests are transported from the real world into a world of fantasy, fairy tales and miracles. Alice and the belligerent army of cards, Pinocchio, Little Red Riding Hood and many other familiar characters from childhood are waiting for you.
9. On the seabed. Do you want to swim in Nemo's submarine? Then this area is just for you! There are figures of sailors and fantastic sea creatures, such as sirens and mermaids.
10. Universe. You can go into outer space from the star shuttle and observe stars, galaxies and black holes.

First floor:

1. Masters of the Word. The hall is dedicated to writers whose names are known worldwide, whose books are in every library, and whose works are studied in schools and universities.
2. The world of science. Were it not for the works of world scientists, the modern world would not be such a comfortable and technologically advanced place. Here you will find famous scientists who have reached incredible heights in various fields, like physics, mathematics or medicine.
3. Pop stars. Various artists are represented in this hall, ranging from stars of the 70s to performers of the "new 20s". Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Lady Gaga, Billy Eilish and others have all "taken up residence" here.  
4. Hall of Fame. You'll find plenty of glamour in this room, as its exhibit is dedicated to the legendary Hollywood stars who have ever shone on the red carpet. You will see mannequins depicting stars and be shown the nuances of the director's work and secrets of special effects.
5. Masters of cuisine. Some consider cooking to be a separate art form, and this statement is indeed true. The history of cooking is quite exciting, and many chefs have inscribed their names. The youngest visitors will be charmed by a replica of Ratatouille's cute little mouse.
6. Masters of painting. Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali are just a few of the inhabitants of this location. Some of the most iconic figures from the world of painting from different eras are represented here.
7. Music Teachers. All the iconic musicians in history, from classical music to the present day, are brought together in this room.
8. Ice and Fire. A location created for fans of George Martin's saga, A Song of Ice and Fire. As well as kings, bastards and legendary warriors, there are dragons - far from being minor characters in the epic. The centrepiece of the exhibition is the iron throne, of course.
9. Characters of good and evil. Here visitors will see characters who have left their mark on history through their words and deeds.
10. Types of sports. Visitors here will meet global sports legends such as Lionel Messi, Shaquille O'Neal, and Serena Williams.
11. Terror. The most bloodthirsty characters from history, literature and film are gathered here. The creepy clown Pennywise, Count Dracula, serial killers led by Hannibal Lecter, victims and instruments of torture and — this area is not for the faint of heart and young children.
12. Interactive hall. This room features interactive characters that can move and make different sounds. The star of the location is Frankenstein, who likes to tease the guests and repeat their movements. A thrill for visitors is assured.

After the tour and photo session, guests can grab a bite to eat at the local cafeteria, located right inside the museum building. The cafeteria is considered a separate tour room, as its interior is stylised to resemble a fairytale forest and caves where elves live. At the end of the tour, we recommend stopping by the local gift shop to buy gifts for family and friends.

Services

Except for two areas, the entire museum is barrier-free and accessible to people with disabilities. On request, guests can also be provided with a wheelchair for the tour.

Free Wi-Fi is available on all museum floors.

There are lockers near the ticket office for storing personal belongings. There is a charge for this service of €1 per suitcase (or any other item). The building has several toilets, including one for people with disabilities.

Tips

• It is advisable to subscribe to the museum's social media pages or regularly update the "Prices" tab on the website, as guests are often offered temporary discounts.
• It is more convenient and economical to buy tickets online. Tickets at the box office are more expensive because they include administration costs. In addition, the digital ticket indicates the time of admission, whereas if you purchase through a box office, you have to wait in a live line to enter. Ticket reservations are available one month in advance of your planned visit.
• Entering the museum with animals is forbidden, except for guide dogs and small dogs in purses (provided the owners do not let them run freely through the halls).
• Parents of small children can visit the museum with a pram — there's a lift between the floors, so they don't have to carry their pram up and down by hand. There's also a designated area for prams — you can leave the pram downstairs and enjoy the tour by putting the baby in a sling.
• Allow at least one hour for your visit to the museum — the average tour lasts 60 minutes, but guests usually need more time to take photos of the most exciting exhibits.
• Do not use tripods or bulky equipment that may interfere with other people's movement during the photo and video sessions.