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8 Things to Do While Waiting in Line for the Dalí Museum, Figueres

As I mentioned in my post about the Dalí Theatre-Museum, we were stupid enough not to book tickets ahead of time, forcing us to wait in line in the center of Figueres, Spain.

It was the middle of the day in August and, believe me, it was hot in Figueres. We waited about  45 minutes to get to the ticket booth.

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some of the line for the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres. You can see the museum straight ahead and the church on the right.
some of the line for the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres. You can see the museum straight ahead and the church on the right.

Nevertheless, we managed to keep ourselves entertained. If you end up in Figueres, Spain, waiting to get into the museum, here are some suggestions. (I’m assuming you’re not visiting alone; most of these suggestions would necessitate taking turns leaving the line.)

1. Eat Ice Cream

Get an ice cream. The stand right next to where we joined the line has delicious ice cream. I have no idea if it really was excellent ice cream or if it just tasted so good because it was hot and we had to wait.

"our" ice cream stand in Figueres, Spain
“our” ice cream stand in Figueres, Spain

2. Cool off in the Church of Sant Pere

The museum is right in the center of Figueres and so is the old Church of Sant Pere. The line meanders past the entrance, so you might as well take a look inside. It’s dark and cool in there, so it makes sense to take turns so each person in your group gets a break from the heat. Parts of it date back to the 13th century, but most of what you see is in later, gothic style. This was the church where Dalí was baptized, by the way.

above the entrance to the church of Sant Pere in Figueres, Spain
above the entrance to the church of Sant Pere in Figueres, Spain

3. Study the Dalí Theatre-Museum

Take a close look at the façade of the Dalí Theatre-Museum. Notice the man with the diving suit. And the women who are missing bellies but carry baguettes on their heads. Or any of the other oddities on the building. Take lots of pictures.

one of many pictures I took of the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres, Spain
one of many pictures I took of the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres, Spain

4. Visit the Surrealist Bookstore

Visit the surrealist bookstore. You can buy a mobile with melted watches, or jewelry with the same.

a Dali-themed mobile in the Surrealist Bookstore in Figueres, Spain
a Dali-themed mobile in the Surrealist Bookstore in Figueres, Spain

5. Admire the Pujols Monument

Take pictures of the strange statue in front of the museum. Dalí designed this monument to his friend Francesc Pujols, a writer and philosopher.

the upper portion of the Dali-designed monument to Francesc Pujols in Figueres, Spain
the upper portion of the Dali-designed monument to Francesc Pujols in Figueres, Spain

6. Plan your trip

Check out the tourist information office, also right in the center of Figueres. Plan out the rest of your trip better than you planned today’s museum visit!

If you have a day or more to spend in Figueres, read this.

7. People-watch

Watch the tourists pose in front of the Pujols monument. Why do they do that? Does seeing them in front of the statue somehow improve the picture?

8. View the artwork

Check out the painting on the wall near the entrance, just left of the tourist information office. I love this one!

This artwork is just to the left of the tourist information office in Figueres, Spain.
This artwork is just to the left of the tourist information office in Figueres, Spain.

Of course, you could do all these things in any case, even if you’re smart enough to reserve your tickets ahead of time.

In a way, having to wait in line forced us to stand still long enough to notice things that we might have overlooked otherwise. That’s a good thing. Sometimes we get so goal-oriented that we forget to look at what’s going on around us.

While my teenagers were distinctly unimpressed by any of these things to do (except for the ice cream and sitting in the cool shade of the church), I was glad I was forced to take the time.

On the other hand, there are plenty of ways to see this museum and more without wasting time in line. Here are various much easier options to see the museum.

My travel recommendations

Planning travel

  • Skyscanner is where I always start my flight searches.
  • Booking.com is the company I use most for finding accommodations. If you prefer, Expedia offers more or less the same.
  • Discover Cars offers an easy way to compare prices from all of the major car-rental companies in one place.
  • Use Viator or GetYourGuide to find walking tours, day tours, airport pickups, city cards, tickets and whatever else you need at your destination.
  • Bookmundi is great when you’re looking for a longer tour of a few days to a few weeks, private or with a group, pretty much anywhere in the world. Lots of different tour companies list their tours here, so you can comparison shop.
  • Get a Priority Pass if you fly a lot so that you can use airport lounges while you wait for flights. Plan your visits around meals and/or drink times and it’s definitely worth the investment!
  • I’m a fan of SCOTTeVEST’s jackets and vests because when I wear one, I don’t have to carry a handbag. I feel like all my stuff is safer when I travel because it’s in inside pockets close to my body.
  • Airalo is an e-sim card. You buy it through an app and activate it when you need it. I tried it on my trip to Thailand and it worked just like any other sim card, but without my having to fuss with physical cards.
  • I use ExpressVPN on my phone and laptop when I travel. It keeps me safe from hackers when I use public or hotel wifi.

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about Rachel

Hi, I’m Rachel!

Rachel’s Ruminations is a travel blog focused on independent travel with an emphasis on cultural and historical sites/sights. I also occasionally write about life as an expatriate. I hope you enjoy what I post here; feel free to leave comments!  Read more…
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I’m a big Dali fan… That painting with the ladder going off onto the wall is amazing.

Impressed with your patience to wait but more so with the creativity of how to “survive” it.
Peta

Hi Rachel:
Sometimes unexpected or unwanted delays do turn out into wonderful opportunities to discover some hidden treasure! Thx for sharing more about your visit to Figueres, Spain.

I visited the Dali Theatre-Museum as part of a tour so fortunately did not have long to wait outside. But I agree there is a lot to look at in the square in front of the museum. Great suggestions even if you aren’t forced to wait in line!

Standing in lines, on a hot day no less, sounds like my idea of purgatory. I however, love your approach and it’s true – if plans get derailed and you’re ‘stuck’ look around! Get creative!

I too visited Figueres and the Dali Museum there on a tour, but even so, there was a bit of a wait and enough time to admire the amazing, fantasy building adornments.
Surreal is indeed the word!
Thanks for these tips. Ice cream can make any lineup a better experience!

Cool posting about what do do while waiting in line for the Dali Museum. I might have simply pulled out my ipad and started writing a blog article! Thanks for a very enjoyable posting!

Such a smart way to introduce the area. It is amazing what we notice when forced to stay still for 45 minutes. Love it.

Hopefully, your teenagers weren’t complaining during the waiting time. Seems like there is a lot to observe in the area. I wouldn’t mind waiting if the entrance is guaranteed. In Barcelona, I waited in line for some things (like Park Guell) just to find out the entrances for the day were sold out.

Terrific tips on what to do when you might otherwise get frustrated while waiting in line. I personally would go for the ice cream idea.

I hate to admit it, but I’m really not a Dali fan. Still, I’d go to Figueres and visit the museum. I love your positive spin on waiting in line!

By creatively filling your wait, time you simply added to your fantastic experience…what a fun post!!