Guided Tour of the Dalí Museum, Everything You Need to Know
Geniuses Should Not Die
Does this phrase sound familiar?
It might, since it’s a famous quote from Salvador Dalí. It became well known thanks to one of his last interviews and inspired the popular song by Mecano, “Eungenio Salvador Dalí.”
Obviously, we can’t avoid the death of great geniuses (at least for now), but luckily, they leave us a legacy of works and teachings for humanity.
In Dalí’s case, much of his work is housed in the Dalí Museum, which was also designed by the artist himself, giving it a deeply personal touch.
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably looking for information about Dalí and might be considering taking a guided tour of the Dalí Museum. If so, you’re in the right place.
Here we’ll provide all the information you need before visiting the Dalí Museum and explain the different options Girona Tours offers for guided visits to the Dalí Museum depending on your preferences.
Ready to know everything about the Dalí Museum? Keep reading.
And if you want to book a guided tour right away, click this button:
BOOK YOUR GUIDED TOUR OF THE DALÍ MUSEUM HERE
Which Option Should You Choose for Your Guided Tour of the Dalí Museum?
At Girona Tour, we offer several alternatives depending on your needs to make your guided visit to the Dalí Museum an unforgettable experience.
Let’s take a look.
Figueres and Dalí Museum Tour
If you’re visiting Figueres and want to see the Dalí Museum as well, this tour is for you. It includes an express guided tour of Figueres plus the guided visit to the Dalí Museum.
Want to make the most of your trip and see Figueres and the Dalí Museum in one day? Then book this tour.
Book the Figueres and Dalí Museum Tour here
Dalí Museum Figueres + Dalí House Portlligat
If you want to fully immerse yourself in the life and work of the most important surrealist artist, this is the tour you’ve been looking for.
We’ll visit the genius’s home as well as the Dalí Museum, getting to know not only his work but also much more personal and intimate aspects.
Want to live the full Dalí experience?
Book the Dalí Museum and House Tour here
Dalí by Night
If you plan to visit the Dalí Theatre-Museum in summer, we highly recommend doing so at night as well, since the nighttime atmosphere gives it an even more surreal air and the experience is very different from the daytime visit.
Want to live a surreal night?
Book the Dalí by Night Tour here
Guided Tour Dalí Museum
This option offers a detailed and exclusive visit to the Dalí Museum, so it’s ideal if you and your companions only want a guided tour focused on the Museum itself.
During the guided visit, we will dive into the fantastic world of the artist, characterized by his eccentricity but also his genius.
You will learn not only about his works but also about the personal side of the most famous surrealist author.
Come and discover Salvador Dalí’s life and art in this guided tour, designed to explore the life and work of the genius.
Book the Dalí Museum Tour here
Complete Visit to Figueres
Besides the Dalí Museum, Figueres has many more charms.
That’s why we created a route where you’ll not only visit the marvelous theatre-museum but also see other monuments in the historic center like the Sant Pere church or the artist’s birthplace.
You can also enjoy its wonderful gastronomy and lively local shops.
Click here for more information about what to see in Figueres.
Practical Information and Frequently Asked Questions about the Dalí Museum
Where is the Dalí Museum?
The Dalí Theatre-Museum is located at Plaça Gala i Salvador Dalí, 5, 17600 Figueres.
If you have time before or after your visit, don’t miss this square, which features three very curious monuments. One of them has a marble plaque that reads: Sense la Gala e Dalí Encara no sería aquí.
From there, you can also see the tower of the Sant Pere church in Figueres, one of the monuments included in the Figueres and Dalí Museum guided tour.
How to get to the Dalí Museum?
Depending on your chosen mode of transport:
- By car: From Barcelona, take the AP7 highway (Barcelona–La Jonquera), exit at Figueres, or use the National Road II (Barcelona–France) heading toward the city center. From Perpignan, take the A9 highway (Perpignan–La Jonquera) and then National Road II or AP7 to Figueres.
- By train: There is a direct line to Figueres from Barcelona, Perpignan, or Cervera. The Dalí Theatre-Museum is a 12-minute walk from the Figueres train station. High-speed trains are also available from Paris or Barcelona.
- By plane: You can take a bus from Girona Airport, Perpignan, Vilafant, or Barcelona.
- By taxi: Taxi phone numbers for Figueres and Vilafant are 972 500 008.
Parking at the Dalí Museum
If you come by car, you may wonder where to park.
Near the museum, on Salvador Dalí Avenue, 107, there is a paid parking lot just a few meters away. There is also free parking available on Carrer del Rec Arnau.
Dalí Museum Hours
Opening hours vary throughout the year, so we recommend checking the official Dalí Theatre-Museum website for updates and to confirm it’s open on your planned visit date.
Summer hours differ from winter hours.
If you have questions, you can also contact us at [/en/contacto].
Ticket Prices
Here are the ticket prices:
High season (July 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022):
- Individual: €17
- Reduced: €11
- Groups (up to 25 people): €10 per person
Low season (January 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022, and September 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022):
- Individual: €15
- Reduced: €10
- Groups (up to 25 people): €10 per person
At Girona Tour, we can reserve your tickets; just click the link below.
How long does the guided tour last?
A guided tour with us takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
If you visit on your own, the duration depends on how many works you want to see and how well you navigate the museum.
Access Conditions and Rules
Please note these rules before your visit:
- Flash photography or professional photographic equipment is prohibited.
- The cloakroom is closed; enter the museum light. The following are not allowed:
- Items larger than 35 x 35 x 25 cm.
- Umbrellas, bulky luggage, backpacks or bags worn on the back.
- Strollers or any object deemed a security risk.
- Do not touch or move any artwork or display.
- Smoking, eating, and drinking are not allowed inside the museum.
- Animals are not allowed except guide dogs.
Accessibility for People with Disabilities or Reduced Mobility
The Dalí Theatre-Museum is located in the ruins of the old theatre, which makes access difficult for people with reduced mobility, as detailed in this section of the official museum website.
Wheelchair-accessible areas include:
- The central courtyard with the raining Cadillac installation.
- The stage.
- The ground floor and the crypt beneath the stage.
- The Fishmongers’ Hall.
Other areas are not accessible by wheelchair.
Accessible restrooms are available.
Entry is free for people with disabilities meeting these criteria:
- Disabilities of 50% or greater.
- Physical disabilities requiring wheelchairs or with reduced mobility.
Guided Tour of the Salvador Dalí Museum with Children: 6 Tips
Traveling with children means thinking about activities that will keep them interested and entertained.
Is visiting the Dalí Museum a good idea with kids? Will they get bored or learn something?
The answer is a resounding yes! The museum is unique, unlike others with just paintings and sculptures. Its works encourage imagination and fun, and the rooms are full of surprises that really engage children.
Here are six tips to make your visit even more fun and exciting for the little ones:
- Book tickets in advance to avoid long waits. Kids hate queues. With Girona Tour, you can book a guided tour or let us handle your ticket reservation by clicking here.
- Tell them about the museum and Dalí beforehand to build excitement, using photos, videos, etc. Our guides know how to explain the story in a fun, child-friendly way.
- Check opening hours ahead of time on the official museum website or contact us at [/en/contacto].
- Let kids have fun! For example, they can get inside the black Cadillac where you can see “rain” by inserting a coin—sure to delight them! Introduce art as a game, like showing the Mae West room from afar to see the actress’s face.
- Buy a souvenir at the end—there are affordable gifts like Mae West lip-shaped erasers (€2.90) that kids can use at school and keep great memories.
- Take a walk outside the museum to let kids run around. The museum’s beauty isn’t just inside; enjoy the surroundings too.
BOOK YOUR GUIDED TOUR OF THE DALÍ MUSEUM HERE
Why Book a Guided Tour at the Dalí Museum? 4 Reasons
- Save time: avoid long lines and risk of sold-out tickets.
- Focus on enjoying: no need to carry maps; guides know the museum inside out and will be your compass.
- Learn more: unless you’re an art history expert, guides provide fascinating stories, secrets, and curiosities you’d miss on your own.
- Meet new people: join groups beyond your travel companions.
Regarding health and safety measures due to the pandemic, rest assured that both the Museum and we strictly follow all protocols.
How do we do it?
- Working exclusively with small groups, which guarantees social distancing and avoids crowds.
- We wear masks throughout the visit and require visitors to do the same.
- Before starting the visit, our guides take the temperature of all visitors.
- We provide hand sanitizer before, during, and after the guided tour of the Dalí Museum.
BOOK YOUR GUIDED TOUR OF THE DALÍ MUSEUM HERE
History of the Dalí Museum
The Dalí Theatre-Museum was inaugurated in 1974. It is named so because it was built on the remains of the old Municipal Theatre of Figueres.
As mentioned earlier, a unique feature of this museum is that it was designed by Dalí himself with the goal that visitors experience a unique journey into the artist’s world and mind for a day.
Therefore, when you visit this museum, you will enjoy Dalí’s work and walk through the genius’s entire career.
Origin of the Dalí Theatre-Museum
In the early 1960s, Ramón Guardiola — then mayor of Figueres — asked Salvador Dalí for a donation of one of his works for the Empordà Museum.
Dalí’s response could not have been more surprising…
He decided to donate an entire museum filled with his works!
Thus, Salvador Dalí chose the Municipal Theatre — which was in ruins — as the site for the Dalí Museum, since it had been destroyed by fire at the end of the Civil War and only the facade and outer walls remained.
The reasons for choosing the old Municipal Theatre of Figueres were:
- The theatre is opposite the church where Dalí was baptized.
- It was in the theatre’s lobby where he exhibited his first painting.
- He considered himself a theatrical painter.
BOOK YOUR GUIDED TOUR OF THE DALÍ MUSEUM HERE
The Dalí Museum Today
Currently, the museum houses approximately 1,500 works by the genius, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, and more.
The Dalí Museum is divided into three sections:
- The Theatre-Museum proper: formed by the old Municipal Theatre.
- The rooms that are part of the Theatre-Museum extensions: where Dalí had little intervention but where many of his works are displayed.
- The Dalí-Jewelry exhibition rooms: opened in 2001. Dalí began designing jewelry in the 1940s and expanded the collection until 1970. Here you can find unique pieces alongside his jewelry designs.
Among the most notable works on display are Self-Portrait with “L’Humanité” (1923), Portrait of Gala with Two Lamb Ribs Balanced on Her Shoulder (1933), Soft Self-Portrait with Bacon (1941), Basket of Bread (1945), Atomic Leda (1949), and Galatea of the Spheres (1952).
But the museum also features works created specifically for the museum: paintings, sculptures, or monuments such as the Mae West Room and the Raining Cadillac, which we will discuss below.
In addition to Dalí’s own creations, you’ll also find works by other artists, including El Greco, Marcel Duchamp, and Bouguereau.
Finally, you can visit the crypt with Dalí’s tomb.
Museum Rooms
Now let’s take a brief tour of the Museum so you know it well before your guided visit.
Let’s explore the different floors and what you can find on each.
Patio and Stage of the Dalí Museum
The first room you’ll find in the museum is the lobby, named so because it was the old theatre lobby.
As the first room, Dalí gives prominence here to the artists, characters, and artistic movements that influenced him most.
After passing through the lobby, you enter a patio. Immediately, you’ll see the sculpture Raining Dalí Taxi, which is a Cadillac with two occupants who are mannequins. This piece was created as a gift for his wife Gala.
In the front seat is a male driver with a shark’s head, and in the back seat a woman.
Behind them, a column supports the boat Dalí and Gala used to sail.
Next, you will enter the famous dome where Salvador Dalí’s tomb lies. He died on January 23, 1989, and expressly requested to be buried in this museum.
Lastly, on this floor, note the Treasure Room, which houses important Dalí works such as Basket of Bread and The Specter of Sex Appeal.
Ground Floor
Here is the Fishmongers’ Hall, home to Dalí’s famous work Soft Self-Portrait with Bacon, which symbolizes organic matter and his breakfast at the Saint Regis Hotel in New York.
First Floor (Part One)
In the corridor of this floor is the unique piece Retrospective Bust of a Woman, one of Salvador Dalí’s first sculptures.
Next, you will enter the Mae West Room, one of the most popular in the Dalí Theatre-Museum, representing the actress through pieces of furniture:
- An organic fireplace representing the nose.
- A sofa shaped like lips.
- Two Impressionist paintings of the Seine River in Paris, serving as eyes.
Although surrealist, it might remind you of later artistic currents like Pop Art.
Feel like sitting on the sofa? We’ll tell you—it’s not very comfortable.
First Floor (Part Two)
Here is the Wind Palace Room, whose ceiling somewhat resembles Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, featuring Dalí and Gala as protagonists.
Also on this floor is the Loggia Room, where you can see stereoscopies—pairs of nearly identical images placed side by side that create a sense of depth and three-dimensionality.