Choosing a show
Barcelona flamenco shows compared
A palace, a cellar and a theatre: how the Palau Dalmases, Las Brujas and Gran Gala flamenco shows differ, and which setting suits which traveller.
Reserve your Palau Dalmases seats ↗Three settings, one art form
All three shows present live flamenco in Barcelona, but they differ in size, setting and terms. The Palau Dalmases show is in a baroque palace on Carrer de Montcada. Las Brujas is in a 17th-century cellar in the Gothic Quarter. Gran Gala is on a theatre stage, at either the Palau de la Música Catalana or Teatre Poliorama. A tablao, the Spanish word for a place where flamenco is performed, can be any of these. The right choice depends on what you want to see.
Palau Dalmases: the baroque palace
Expect 50 to 55 minutes of flamenco from a singer, a guitarist and two dancers in colourful costumes. Seating is in three zones at different distances from the stage, with a drink in VIP and Zone A and the palace's art gallery open to every ticket holder. You can cancel free until 24 hours before and pay later. The venue is marked wheelchair accessible. It suits visitors who want a small cast and a historic building.
Las Brujas: the cellar
At Las Brujas Flamenco Club the show lasts about 50 minutes and takes place close-up, in a 17th-century cellar in the Gothic Quarter that echoes an Andalusian flamenco cave, with an exhibition by local artists and photographers. Entry is not allowed once the show has started, and large bags are discouraged. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before, payment can wait until later, and the booking page marks the show as wheelchair accessible. It suits travellers who want the smallest room.
Gran Gala: the theatre
Gran Gala lasts 75 minutes and uses castanets, fans, dress trains and original music, with choreography from Catalan and Spanish dance companies. You choose the Palau de la Música Catalana, which seats 1,900, or Teatre Poliorama, which seats 700; the best seat is assigned when you book. Unlike the other two shows, the ticket is non-refundable. It suits anyone who wants a full stage, a bigger company and a grand venue.
Questions to ask before you book
Check four things on the booking page for your date. First, the cancellation window: two shows are free to cancel up to 24 hours before, and one is non-refundable. Second, what your seat includes, since a drink comes with VIP and Zone A at Palau Dalmases. Third, access, if anyone in your party uses a wheelchair or has limited mobility. Fourth, the start time, which the booking calendar and your confirmation show, and whether late entry is allowed. At Las Brujas it is not.
How to choose
Choose by setting first. If you want old stone, a staircase carved with myths and a small cast, choose the Palau Dalmases. If you want the most intimate room, choose Las Brujas. If you want a stage, a longer show and a famous theatre, choose Gran Gala. Then check the terms: two of the three shows are free to cancel up to 24 hours before and can be paid for later, while the theatre show cannot be refunded. Choose the show that suits the least flexible person in your group, because they will care most about the terms and the setting.
If you can only see one
For a first flamenco show, the shortest ones are the easiest to fit around a day of sightseeing, and a 50 minute performance leaves the evening free. For a celebration or a visit with family, a larger theatre may feel more occasion-like. Whatever you pick, book once your date is fixed, and compare what each zone or option includes before you pay.
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