Picasso Mueseum Free Sundays

I assume you're referring to the museum in Barcelona?

My understanding is that on the free Sunday you will have to wait in line with or without a ticket. We were there in February and the line was horrendously long. I would buy advance tickets and visit another day when you are able to skip the line.

That museum was packed to the gills on the non-free day I visited on an early-August late afternoon last year. If you're a serious Picasso fan (skip it if not), I'd recommend pre-puchading a ticket for the first entry time on a non-free day. That might give you a bit of breathing room. If that doesn't work with your schedule, you might try the period when people are thinking about lunch--perhaps around 2 PM. What is it like? Think pictures you may have seen of current conditions in the Vatican Museums. There weren't many people interested in tne ceramics, so that area was blissfully uncrowded.

Ditto... don't you even think of visiting on a free day.

I had the idea of visiting on the free day. If I go later in the day, say 1-2 hours before closing will that be a better idea?

Unfortunately no. It's located very centrally.

If you show up 1 or 2 hours before it closes without a pre-purchased ticket, you may well not even get into the museum. You certainly will be in line long enough that you won't have adequate time inside. Remember, you'll be slowed down significantly by the crowds. Truly, if the museum is important to you, you need to prioritize it in your scheduling. If you aren't all that interested in Picasso (the museum displays mainly early works), just skip it. Barcelona has many other museums that can be visited under much more pleasant conditions.

I missed it when I was in BCN last year and had hoped to visit this time around (I'll return in less than a month), but I really won't be able to schedule a reservation time due to other activities I have planned. I'm ok if I miss it again, however I remember when I passed the museum last year in September (I think it was afternoon) there was no line. So, going back to the OP's question, can one get a ticket online for the free Sundays?

Thursdays, from 6pm onwards, first Sunday of each month, 12 February (Santa Eulàlia), 18 May (the International day of Museums) and 24 September (Day of La Mercè) free entrance for everybody.
Limited capacity, timed tickets are required. Advance tickets are available online up to 4 days before the date. The ticket includes admission to the Collection and temporary exhibitions.

Oh yeah, I forgot I saw this. Ok, so let's go back for a second. I will be going online 4 days before that Sunday to get a timed ticket. I shouldn't encounter a very long wait to get inside then?

It will be full to capacity, but the most important thing: you are not going to find free tickets anyway now in August and probably not in Sept. Bet you on that.

Enric, there are indeed tickets available for my planned visit date of September 3rd. At the moment, there are only guided tours available in three languages at three different times. However, I've confirmed with museum staff that there seems to be a bug with the website as it's not allowing me to "purchase" the free ticket. They are trying to sort out the issue.

I always avoid the free days. Remember, European are not stupid and like free things just as much as American tourists. And there are a many more locals than tourists.

We purchased a walking tour that included admission to the museum. We bought the tix the same day at the Info booth under Placa de Catalunya. I don't remember the cost. The guide was good, we walked about several interesting locations, including the 4 Gats bar. He told us some interesting stories and we ended up at the museum, where we jumped to the front of the line. For us, we'd rather spend a little money, rather than spend our vacation waiting in lines.

Per museum staff, one can purchase the free ticket beginning 4 days prior to the visit. This is specifically for a guided visit. If I show up and the line is too long, then I'll just enjoy my free time at El Xampanyet :-).

The tour mentioned by marctshark cost 22 euros last year, which included the entry fee. I think it began at 3 PM and after 2 hours with the guide, we were on our own for the last hour the museum was open. Information is on the Office of Tourism's website. I'm not sure the tour runs everyday, however