Gran Teatre del Liceu
Gran Teatre del Liceu
4.5
About
This luxurious theater stages fine opera and ballet performances.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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The area
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Neighbourhood: La Rambla
Barcelona's most famous street was once a dry riverbed. Now, La Rambla is a 1200-metre boulevard, and a major draw for visitors. During the day, La Rambla fills with pedestrians, some of which stroll past impressive human statues and artists while others take a break to people-watch while enjoying a drink at one of the many terraces. Housed here is the iconic Boqueria Market that offers one of the most varied and appetising selections of local produce and specialty meats and treats. While it’s important for tourists to keep an eye on their belongings at all times, this area is most safely explored in the daytime and is a must see for everyone who visits.
How to get there
- Liceu • 2 min walk
- Drassanes • 6 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
710 reviews
Excellent
429
Very good
194
Average
38
Poor
19
Terrible
30
natasha y
Barcelona, Spain20 contributions
May 2022
Great theatre, really terrible customer service. Happy to change your seats to worse seats when it suits them, but won't make changes to your booking when you request it, even if the change you want to make involves you spending more money. Then, when you write to them to complain, they send a formulaic response. The only people allowed to make changes to a booking are season ticket holders, suggesting that if you're not loaded, the Liceu couldn't care less about your experience as a customer. Shame.
As a tourist, know that many of the cheaper seats have no, or very limited, view of the stage. Know too that, as has happened to me, no changes are allowed at all, Friend decides to come too and wants to sit with you? Tough, no changes. If you were unlucky enough to get Covid, they wouldn't allow you to make a change. If they have to make changes because of Covid, you have to suck it up.
Think seriously about buying tickets here in advance.
As a tourist, know that many of the cheaper seats have no, or very limited, view of the stage. Know too that, as has happened to me, no changes are allowed at all, Friend decides to come too and wants to sit with you? Tough, no changes. If you were unlucky enough to get Covid, they wouldn't allow you to make a change. If they have to make changes because of Covid, you have to suck it up.
Think seriously about buying tickets here in advance.
Written 9 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
136ruperth
Brighton, UK3 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
Well we did in fact not go. We had 2 performances booked but contracted Covid before our trip.
Just to voice my disappointment at the inflexibility of this Gran Theatre del Liceu when it comes to refund or Credit Vouchers.
To compare it to the Royal Opera House London who give Credit Vouchers for a small fee they are quite heartless and sticklers to their NO REFUND Rule, which is very disappointing. Be warned not to book ADVANCE tickets as your money will not be returned whatever the circumstances. No compassion was shown at all.
Just to voice my disappointment at the inflexibility of this Gran Theatre del Liceu when it comes to refund or Credit Vouchers.
To compare it to the Royal Opera House London who give Credit Vouchers for a small fee they are quite heartless and sticklers to their NO REFUND Rule, which is very disappointing. Be warned not to book ADVANCE tickets as your money will not be returned whatever the circumstances. No compassion was shown at all.
Written 28 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John W
Douglas, UK2,296 contributions
May 2024 • Solo
Called into box office on off chance and snagged a wheelchair space at rear of stalls for less than €40.
Access into the theatre via side entrance is straightforward and there are high speed lifts to all levels.
Chair space was on centre aisle. Great view and acoustics.
Good production. Colourful. Great singing and excellent band in pit.
Access into the theatre via side entrance is straightforward and there are high speed lifts to all levels.
Chair space was on centre aisle. Great view and acoustics.
Good production. Colourful. Great singing and excellent band in pit.
Written 27 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Septimus_2012
Winchester, UK19 contributions
Sold by box office personnel as seats with a perfect view, the photographs show the extremely restricted view from front row seats (59 & 61 in block 305). Selling seats without a warning of restricted view amounts to misrepresentation, an offence under civil law in many legal jurisdictions.
At the Gran Teatro del Liceu, Barcelona DO NOT BUY any seats in the first three blocks at each side of the stage. Only buy seats in the central three blocks or in the stalls.
If your seats are at the side in any of the first three blocks your view will be, at best, restricted or, at worst, very restricted - especially if your view is additionally obstructed by the large, dragon design light fittings attached at regular intervals to the sides of the balconies (see photographs).
You will see about 1/3 of the stage from the first row of these side blocks unless you lean flat on your front across the wide balcony edge - not very comfortable or a position that one can maintain with any degree of comfort or safety. If your seat is further back in these side blocks you will need to stand often to try to see the action on stage! Your charge for this will be close to Euros 100/seat.
If you complain, your complaint will be ignored or dismissed as irrelevant. There is a "no refund" policy so don't give them your money in the first place.
Good performance from musicians and singers - shame about the terrible seating arrangements and attitude of management to legitimate complaints.
At the Gran Teatro del Liceu, Barcelona DO NOT BUY any seats in the first three blocks at each side of the stage. Only buy seats in the central three blocks or in the stalls.
If your seats are at the side in any of the first three blocks your view will be, at best, restricted or, at worst, very restricted - especially if your view is additionally obstructed by the large, dragon design light fittings attached at regular intervals to the sides of the balconies (see photographs).
You will see about 1/3 of the stage from the first row of these side blocks unless you lean flat on your front across the wide balcony edge - not very comfortable or a position that one can maintain with any degree of comfort or safety. If your seat is further back in these side blocks you will need to stand often to try to see the action on stage! Your charge for this will be close to Euros 100/seat.
If you complain, your complaint will be ignored or dismissed as irrelevant. There is a "no refund" policy so don't give them your money in the first place.
Good performance from musicians and singers - shame about the terrible seating arrangements and attitude of management to legitimate complaints.
Written 1 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Quim Gener
Miami Beach, FL263 contributions
Oct 2014 • Friends
I attended La Traviata with some foreign friends and they were not able to follow the original sript since the subtitles were only in Catalan. Usage of the 2 co-offical lenguage and the original lenguage of the script (italian in that case) it's a must!
Written 31 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil B
Dallas, TX14 contributions
Sept 2017 • Friends
We purchased two tickets for an Italian opera for September 18 after being assured English subtitles were available via electronic boxes at our seats. Once the lights dimmed, so did our electronic boxes. We immediately alerted the usher who acknowledged that our section had been having these problems of late. However, the house manager on duty wasn't sympathetic. After 30 minutes of mishandling our requests for comparable seats with working screens, we realized we had lost too much of the opera’s plot and requested to exchange our tickets for the next night when we could see the full performance. Management refused our request and insisted we make another attempt to be re-seated. We declined that offer and requested a refund, which was also summarily dismissed. Management verbally insisted that fully operational boxes are not guaranteed, and they are not responsible for malfunctioning boxes. Thus, be aware you purchase tickets at your own risk.
Written 7 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Mr. Neil B
We’re sorry to know that you experience in our Theater wasn’t as we wanted. We always try to guarantee that the experience of our audience is completely satisfactory.
The individual subtitling service provided during performances is a free system that the Theater offers and that does not condition the price of the tickets.
The Theater, in order to guarantee the correct working of those screens during the shows, previously performs daily reviews. But it may happen that, in an unexpected moment, at some point in the performance those screens do not respond correctly to the system of the application, and therefore, do not allow the corresponding subtitling.
The collaboration of the users is very important for the Theater, since allows us to know what happens, and consequently the technical equipment can try to solve it as soon as possible. This can be done always in the breaks of the operas. But sometimes happens that we are not able to arrange it. We're sorry that we could not solve the problem of your subtitling screen.
Our staff offered you the possibility of changing your seat and you didn’t accept it. We’re sorry to inform you that we never refund the money back unless we cancel the performance.
We hope that next time you come you’ll be able to enjoy the whole performance.
All best wishes
Written 12 January 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Brandon426
Kirkcaldy, UK52 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
Me and my partner decided to book an opera show in advance for our trip to Barcelona. We were immediately drawn to this particular theatre because the interior gave a feeling of history, culture and purpose. We were not wrong the building was very impressive from the inside and the opera was great also. The event ran very smoothly. The theatre is situated on La Rambla and easily accessible by getting the subway to Liceu. Once you come up the stairs the theatre is just there.
I recommend you try this experiance even if you like opera or not. It will give you a sense of joy just being in the presence of such history and culture.
I recommend you try this experiance even if you like opera or not. It will give you a sense of joy just being in the presence of such history and culture.
Written 26 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Malpoet
West Kirby, UK634 contributions
Sept 2015 • Couples
For the second time in a year we went to Liceu. It is a beautiful building and it puts on very high quality opera, ballet and music.
On this occasion we were seeing the ballet Swan Lake. To fully appreciate this you need decent seats. I bought what I thought looked good seats in the circle. They were lotjes 19 seats 4 and 5. When we were last at the Liceu we had conventional seats and a very good experience. This time it turned out that the lotjes are small enclosures containing 8 movable seats. Our seats were the worst in there. I could not see over or around the person in front of me. The man in seat 6 put his seat in the centre of the lotje virtually separating me from my wife so we could not enjoy the performance as you would in seats next to each other.
The ballet was quite good, although not as stunning as other productions I have seen, but we really could not appreciate it properly with this silly seating system.
It is possible that I would go back to Liceu, but I would take very great care to get seats which suited me. If you book seats in these lotjes I would suggest you make sure to only accept seats 1 to 3. The others are unsatisfactory.
I can't remember exactly how much we paid for our tickets, but it was about 125 euros for each one. OK for a good experience, but way too much for what we got.
On this occasion we were seeing the ballet Swan Lake. To fully appreciate this you need decent seats. I bought what I thought looked good seats in the circle. They were lotjes 19 seats 4 and 5. When we were last at the Liceu we had conventional seats and a very good experience. This time it turned out that the lotjes are small enclosures containing 8 movable seats. Our seats were the worst in there. I could not see over or around the person in front of me. The man in seat 6 put his seat in the centre of the lotje virtually separating me from my wife so we could not enjoy the performance as you would in seats next to each other.
The ballet was quite good, although not as stunning as other productions I have seen, but we really could not appreciate it properly with this silly seating system.
It is possible that I would go back to Liceu, but I would take very great care to get seats which suited me. If you book seats in these lotjes I would suggest you make sure to only accept seats 1 to 3. The others are unsatisfactory.
I can't remember exactly how much we paid for our tickets, but it was about 125 euros for each one. OK for a good experience, but way too much for what we got.
Written 2 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John W
Douglas, UK2,296 contributions
Jan 2022 • Friends
It’s always difficult to separate out a review of a theatrical venue from the production you see. Especially when it’s a visiting company from a respected producing house. But the experience goes together.
So, Liceu as a venue, first. Easy booking on line. Fast and direct access on the level ( I use a wheelchair ) from the side entrance on Carrer S Pau. Good leg room, wide seats and unrestricted view on Tier 3. Beautiful interior. Amazing acoustics. Impressive loos.
The rebuild, 20 years ago, never ceases to impress. Carefully restoring all that was good about the auditorium and adding modern facilities, wide public areas, and lifts.
The production. Tchaikovsky massacred. Petipa flung out. This was an update of The Nutcracker by a respected French etoile and choreographer. Director of ballet at Theatre Capitole du Toulouse. On the evidence of this, he deserves to be sacked.
The concept was uninspired. Elements stolen from Mathew Bourne and Hans von Manen at random. No coherency. The story telling a mixed, incoherent jumble.
Somehow they added 40 minutes to the score. The additions were unpleasant, jarring. They added nothing, apart from drawing out an unpleasant choreographic experience even longer than need be. The traditional parts of the score were played very well by the Liceu orchestra.
I can only speculate that the choreographer was having some unpleasant drug induced trip when he conceived replacing the mice and soldiers with spiders and frogs, complete with flippers.
Snowflake scene transposed to late on in second act. Spoiled by Christmas trees. Act 2 started in a gauginesque world. Don’t ask. Choreography was uninspired, lacked feeling and was very angular. Reverting to tradition for the dances between the sugar plum fairy and the nutcracker prince. Except the dancers didn’t deliver.
I think I got the narrative of childrens home, presents given and cruelly snatched away, coming to life in an alternative world of escape. The breaking of the nutcracker doll by pulling its arms off, bizarrely mirrored by detached arms being used as props in act 2. But no sexual awakening for Clara, no “ was it a dream or reality “ conundrum.
The audience, limited to 70% by covid, applauded the cast at curtain call. Politely, but not enthusiastically. The cast milked it. Thunderous applause for the orchestra.
A poor choice by the Liceu management.
Lest anyone think I’m being snobby I’ve seen and enjoyed The Mark Morris and Mathew Bourne updates. And Spanish National Dance company version is stunning.
Venue 5. Production 1.
So, Liceu as a venue, first. Easy booking on line. Fast and direct access on the level ( I use a wheelchair ) from the side entrance on Carrer S Pau. Good leg room, wide seats and unrestricted view on Tier 3. Beautiful interior. Amazing acoustics. Impressive loos.
The rebuild, 20 years ago, never ceases to impress. Carefully restoring all that was good about the auditorium and adding modern facilities, wide public areas, and lifts.
The production. Tchaikovsky massacred. Petipa flung out. This was an update of The Nutcracker by a respected French etoile and choreographer. Director of ballet at Theatre Capitole du Toulouse. On the evidence of this, he deserves to be sacked.
The concept was uninspired. Elements stolen from Mathew Bourne and Hans von Manen at random. No coherency. The story telling a mixed, incoherent jumble.
Somehow they added 40 minutes to the score. The additions were unpleasant, jarring. They added nothing, apart from drawing out an unpleasant choreographic experience even longer than need be. The traditional parts of the score were played very well by the Liceu orchestra.
I can only speculate that the choreographer was having some unpleasant drug induced trip when he conceived replacing the mice and soldiers with spiders and frogs, complete with flippers.
Snowflake scene transposed to late on in second act. Spoiled by Christmas trees. Act 2 started in a gauginesque world. Don’t ask. Choreography was uninspired, lacked feeling and was very angular. Reverting to tradition for the dances between the sugar plum fairy and the nutcracker prince. Except the dancers didn’t deliver.
I think I got the narrative of childrens home, presents given and cruelly snatched away, coming to life in an alternative world of escape. The breaking of the nutcracker doll by pulling its arms off, bizarrely mirrored by detached arms being used as props in act 2. But no sexual awakening for Clara, no “ was it a dream or reality “ conundrum.
The audience, limited to 70% by covid, applauded the cast at curtain call. Politely, but not enthusiastically. The cast milked it. Thunderous applause for the orchestra.
A poor choice by the Liceu management.
Lest anyone think I’m being snobby I’ve seen and enjoyed The Mark Morris and Mathew Bourne updates. And Spanish National Dance company version is stunning.
Venue 5. Production 1.
Written 3 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Antonio
11 contributions
Nov 2019 • Friends
Good sound good light's good decoration . Right on the ramblas ,Barcelona best teathre ,yesterday was my 3rd time but is always like the first time
Written 12 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Добрый день! собираюсь посетить этот театр, и мучает вопрос с выбором мест. Подскажите пожалуйста на втором ярусе сидя на первом ряду, я увижу сцену?
Written 1 June 2024
Can I do a self tour of the opera house and what time in the morning does it open ??
Written 22 September 2022
Hola, desde las butacas más económicas se puede disfrutar de la ópera.
Gracias
Written 7 October 2019
Disfrutarás de la música pero si deseas apreciar decorado vestuario te aconsejo invertir un poco más
Written 7 October 2019
Hi, I've been trying to purchase a couple of tours tickets on their website. Unfortunately, there is no option for tickets purchase on their website as it looks like the last date of the tour was 3 Aug 19. Does anyone know when will the tour ticket opened to public again, please?
Thank you!!!!
Written 28 August 2019
I'm thinking about going to a ballet in the evening but as I'm travelling alone I'd feel safer to get a taxi back to my hotel near the Arc De Triomf in El born. Are taxis available outside after the performance & are they easy to get? Thanks!
Written 26 July 2019
Yes, you will have to cross La Rambla and maybe walk about a half a block east and you will be able to get a taxi fairly quickly.
Written 31 July 2019
En realidad hay para todos los gustos. No es necesaria la etiqueta si es lo que te procupa. Piensa en la asistencia a un evento notable, sin más. Seguro que no desentonarás.
Written 9 April 2019
Добрый день, друзья!
Подскажите, пожалуйста, какая форма одежды приемлема при посещении этого театра? Джинсы и рубашка со свитером будут восприняты адекватно?
Written 14 January 2019
VisitesL
Barcelona, Spain
Apreciado Антон,
No existe ningún dress code para acceder al Teatro, así que puede venir como Vd. desee.
Saludos!
Written 15 January 2019
Hello, I want to know the beginning time of the "guided tour" and "prestige tour".
Written 8 January 2019
Buenas tardes! Es la primera vez que asistiré al Liceu, la obra escojida sera Romeo e Julliete, he adquirido las más economicas en la zona 8, me gustaría saber si desde allí se ve algo del escenario y si es cierto de que hay unas pantallas para verlo tambien desde ahí, gracias.
Written 6 February 2018
VisitesL
Barcelona, Spain
Apreciada LaNaFe,
Antes que nada, darle la bienvenida, satisfechos que pueda venir al Liceu y disfrutar de esta magnífica ópera y del Teatro.
El Teatre del Liceu es un teatro a la italiana, con forma de herradura. Por este motivo, las localidades laterales en pisos superiores no tienen visión del escenario, de modo que las segundas filas de todos los laterales disponen de una pantalla de vídeo con imagen fija para que el espectador pueda disfrutar de la ópera desde esta ubicación. El Liceu ofrece este servicio adicional de forma gratuita, con un sistema de traducción simultánea en tres idiomas (catalán, español e inglés). La primera fila de los pisos no dispone de estas pantallas. Finalmente confirmarle que desde cualquier butaca de la zona 8, la acústica es muy buena y podrá disfrutar por completo de la función.
Cordialmente
Written 14 February 2018
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