CosmoCaixa: An Interactive Science Museum in Barcelona

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Remember this? Your physics teacher tells you to turn to page 137 of your textbook. He rattles on about a formula or a chart. You try to understand it, but you find the “hugs not drugs” posters on the wall much more intriguing. Yawwwwnnnn… So, how do you make learning science FUN AND EXCITING? You go to CosmoCaixa, the largest interactive science museum in Barcelona. Of course!

What is Cosmocaixa?

CosmoCaixa is a hands-on science museum run by the “La Caixa” bank community projects. It has a host of permanent and temporary exhibitions, activities, and installations – all designed to help you get your brain enthused about learning science, instead of having it taste like a cardboard box.

The modernist building that houses it was built between 1904 and 1909 by Josep Domènech i Estapà, and was an asylum for the blind. It closed in 1979. It re-opened as the first interactive science in Spain, conserving the decorative facade. In 2004, CosmoCaixa was renovated – with an enlarged space of over 30,000 square meters. (It’s HUGE!)

La Plaza de La Ciencia

Cool thing #1. The museum opens up to an extensive plaza, La Plaza de la Ciencia, with lots of room for your kids to run around. It has a few outdoor science installments with explanations – like a sundial, the meteorological station, and the Mediterranean garden. Since CosmoCaixa is not in the busy city centre and higher in altitude, the air feels crisp and clean!

CosmoCaixa Barcelona
Ciencia al aire libre: More fun experiments in the museum’s plaza.

Let’s go inside!

So let’s go down, down, down, shall we? The place to start is the spiral staircase that surrounds this Amazonian tree. It takes you all the way to the permanent exhibition, La Sala de La Materia on floor -5.Cosmocaixa Barcelona

La Sala de La Materia explores four eras: inert matter, living matter, intelligent matter, and civilized matter. And the interactive installations are phenomonal. I don’t know how many we interacted with – possibly 100, and we didn’t catch all of it. In short, you explore matter from the beginning of time to now. 

Cosmocaixa Barcelona

Cosmocaixa Barcelona

Cosmocaixa Barcelona

To really get the most knowledge juice out of the museum, you need an explanation. That’s why the installments have a description. However, most of them are too dense and cryptic, at least in English.  I’m sure it goes the same in the other languages, Catalan and Spanish. I find myself reading them, then having to think about it too hard. But maybe I’m just dense. It has been awhile… :O

Either way, you’ll love interacting with anything and everything you can TOUCH!

CosmoCaixa Barcelona
Science experiment! The heat of your hand can transform the block of ice into steam or liquid.
Hello darkness, my old friend. It’s light enough to see. But it’s dark enough to have your 1-year-old fall asleep in his buggy while you enjoy. Ahhhh…

The Bosc Inundat (The Flooded Forest)

Flooded Forest of CosmoCaixa, Barcelona
Inside this Amazon rainforest live 100 animals. I think I saw 27. Do you dare enter?

Now, my favorite part of the museum! The Bosc Inundant, or the Flooded Forest. This 1,000-meter Amazon rainforest is a replica of this humid ecological environment in a greenhouse. I’m talking boas, tropical birds, boa constrictors, and alligators! It even rains every 15 minutes.Now, time to take off your coat and sweater, because you can get behind the museum glass and enter the rainforest.

CosmoCaixa has a few other paid exhibitions:

Toca toca. Kids get a chance to touch exotic animals like snakes, spiders, and starfish. They explore the different ecosystems and environments. More here. 

Clik. For kids ages 3-6. More experiments, but this time with an educator. Kids can experiment with magnifying glasses, mirrors, bubbles, and more.

Planetario Cosmocaixa – Kids put on their 3D glasses and sit in a dark theater! Showings vary throughout the year – with the common theme of the sky, stars, and our great big universe. Check out showings here in Spanish.

Planetario Burbuja – For kids ages 5-8. Get to know the stars, planets, and constellations and understanding how rotations create days and seasons.

The activities and workshops are changing, so check out more here.

Why this museum is worth visiting

I came home thinking, did I learn much? I would say yes! For 4 euros, it’s well worth the price and going “out of the way” (for me) to Sant Gervasi.

The textures and displays are fascinating. Personally, I enjoyed seeing how fractals, spirals, and hexagons appear in nature. There are truly beautiful nature-scapes found in the most minuscule items – like a wasp hive or the horn of a goat. Or you’ll love to discover how colored light combines to make white light, or how the Foucault pendulum explains the earth’s rotation.

Cosmocaixa Barcelona

Cosmocaixa Barcelona

Is it really a kids’ museum?

Not necessarily. If you love science in general, you’re going to enjoy the interactiveness of CosmoCaixa. I dare say that it has romantic parts: the flooded forest, the displays of nature, and the outside views of Barcelona!

So, yes, there are tons of families with young children who go here on the weekends. Kids from the local schools also come here on weekdays. But if you hate kids, don’t come. 😛

Where to eat

You have 3 options:

  1. Bring a lunch. They have a picnic area. If it’s a sunny day outside, you will enjoy the gorgeous plaza outside.
  2. The Cafeteria. Sandwiches, chips / crisps….you have your basic on-the-go style grub. They have indoor and outdoor seating that opens up to the Plaza de La Ciencia, where you can eat and watch your kids while they play.
  3. The buffet T-Rextaurant. This is a fantastic option, which we did. It’s a buffet, but a high-quality one. It serves about 8 warm dishes like meatballs, hake, rice, roasted potatoes – all very tasty! Waiters were constantly on hand available for an order or a question. At the end of the meal when you pay, the kids get a toy too! My kids got a small teddy bear keychain that lights up.

Helpful tips

  1. Schedule at least two hours to stay here. As of today, Google shows that people typically spend 3 1/2 hours here. Me, I was there for 5 1/2 hours! And we didn’t even see everything.
  2. If you prefer to go by car, you can park your car using their underground parking. We arrived at 12:30h, and a sign said “Complet” (complete) with 4 cars queueing in front if us. We took the chance and went inside to find at least 20 free spaces. So don’t fret if you see the sign, go inside. CosmoCaixa parking comes with two free hours.
  3. Buy your tickets in advance. The line to buy tickets was insane! We bought our tickets online, and we entered right away. See below for a discount!

More information

Website

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10am – 8pm

Address: Isaac Newton, 26, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, 08022 Barcelona

Public Transportation: Bus (H4, V13, V15, 22, 73, 75, 60 and 196); FCG (Line L7, CosmoCaixa – Av. Tibidabo station); Tramvia Blau 

Cost: Kids ages 16 and under, free. Adults, 4 euros. Or click on the button below to buy your advance tickets and get a 5% discount.


CosmoCaixa Barcelona: an Amazon flooded forest, planetarium, and interactive experiments. The best science museum in Barcelona

This is my second time here, and it’s still amazing. And we didn’t finish! I’m considering buying a family membership once my kids are older and have to learn science at school.

Have you been to CosmoCaixa? What did you think? Would you come here? Do you want to know more? Let me know in a comment or send me an email!

By Justine Ancheta

California native, churro aficionado, and mom of 3, Justine Ancheta writes fervently about Barcelona and Spain. Since 2008, she's been eating burnt onions (calçots) and tripping on cobblestones in the Gothic Quarter. She shares tips on popular attractions, exposes offbeat non-touristy spots, and gives insight on exploring Barcelona with kids. Her next Catalan culture challenge: top level of a human castle (castellers).

2 comments

  1. Hi Justine, Enjoyed this page especially the section about Cosmo Caixa. We’ll be in Barcelona late July with one teen and one tween grandson in tow. Is Cosmo Caixa a good visit for two older boys with a science leaning or is it a bit twee? I take your point about it being good for all ages but just seeking a little more confirmation. Thanks.

    1. Hi Steve, I had to look up what “twee” meant. I honestly think it’s good for ages 10-adult. Once you have a fair grasp of science concepts, you can appreciate it more. It’s not “fluffy” but quite educational and engaging. Hope that helps!

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