11 Buenos Aires museums you must see

Housed in the Errázuriz Alvear Palace (a building dating back to 1911 and designed by architect René Sergent), the National Museum of Decorative Art is a classic space visited for both its exhibitions and its impressive building. With an inventory of over 600 objects, visitors can enjoy sculptures, paintings, tapestries, weapons, books, ceramics, furniture, and European and Oriental miniatures dating from the 16th to the 20th centuries. It's good to know that they offer free guided tours from Wednesday to Saturday at 16:00, and to join the group, you just need to show up at the meeting point. Additionally, the museum offers thematic guided tours, announced on the official website and changing according to the monthly calendar. Another important note is that on Saturdays, there are workshops for children, a fantastic plan for the little ones in the family.

What you can see: The restoration of Josefina de Alvear de Errázuriz's Pompeian bathroom was recently completed and is one of the most interesting points of this museum. In addition to the different rooms of the palace, if you like glassware, one of its permanent exhibitions was donated by the Embassy of Sweden and consists of a collection of Nordic crystals.

Where: Av. del Libertador 1902

The National Museum of Decorative Art is open Wednesday to Sunday (13:00 to 19:00). It's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission is free.

An ideal spot to add to your visit to La Boca neighborhood, the museum was founded in 1938 in a building donated by Benito Quinquela Martín, with the aim of creating a cultural and educational development center. Being one of the most important artists in the country and with paintings representing the daily life of what was the most vibrant immigrant neighborhood in Buenos Aires, it also exhibits works of figurative currents of Argentine art, a collection of figureheads, and, on the terrace, different sculptures. Beyond the exhibitions, there is also a floor dedicated to the painter, showcasing objects from his personal life with the aim of telling his story.

What you can see: During the first months of 2024, the museum is home to the temporary exhibition "Building Territories." It's a collection of social cartography telling the history of Argentina.

Where: Av. Don Pedro de Mendoza 1835

The Benito Quinquela Martín Museum of Argentine Artists is open Tuesday to Sunday (11:00 to 18:00). It's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission is free, but a contribution can be left to help conserve the works.

Founded in 1956, now with an imposing building in the historic center of San Telmo (inaugurated in 2018), the Modern Museum has become the favorite space to explore one of the largest collections of works by Argentine artists. With a heritage that includes over 7,000 pieces, the museum also exhibits some international works from the 20th and 21st centuries and a unique collection of Argentine photographs, the result of the inauguration of the MAMBA Argentine Photography project that began in 1999.

What you can see: With its exhibition agenda available on the museum's official website, the three main exhibitions today are: "Art, that endless river" (with the most important works of contemporary Argentine art, from the 70s to the present. Available until August 2024), "Green Manifesto" (composed of pieces made in the 1940s that sought to pay homage to the richness of the Earth), and "The Fishermen's Sunset" (the exhibition by Victoria Volpini and Delfina Estrada, who collected stories around the Río de la Plata and its ecosystem).

Where: Avenida San Juan 350.

The Modern Museum is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (11:00 to 19:00) and Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (11:00 to 20:00). It's closed on Tuesdays. Admission is free for retirees, children under 12, and people with disabilities (and their companions).

Within the imposing Palace of Posts and Telegraphs (a masterpiece of Buenos Aires architecture), the Kirchner Cultural Center is very close to Puerto Madero and is another place you should definitely visit.

With a vast area, it is divided into La Sala Argentina (a space designed for musical and performative shows), the National Auditorium (with a 1912 Klais organ), the Dome (with a fully glazed cover that allows a magical view of the city), and La Gran Lámpara (the space for exhibitions). The center offers guided tours (the schedules are detailed on its website), as well as a children's area with different creative activities.

What you can see: During 2024, the CCK will have two key exhibitions: the work "Illuminated Heart" by Alejandro Marmo (which will be in the main hall) and "Philately - Cultural Space and Philately Store," an exhibition closely connected to the building as it consists of huge collections of stamps, envelopes, and postal documents.

Where: Sarmiento 151

The Kirchner Cultural Center is open Wednesday to Sunday (14:00 to 20:00). It's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission is free.

One of the most mystical and historic museums in Buenos Aires, the building was inaugurated as an ice rink (located in what is now the central hall), which is why it has a circular shape with boxes. While for some years it was also a television studio, since 1932 it has exhibited different art shows.

In recent years, many resources have been dedicated to its restoration with the aim of reinforcing the structure and updating some sectors of the building. With a collection of over 1,100 works, it was the chosen venue to exhibit the works presented in the country's most important contest awarding prizes in painting, sculpture, drawing, engraving, ceramics, textile art, photography, and new media and installations.

What you can see: Until the end of March, the exhibition of the 8M Acquisition Prize will be held, which consists of the 48 works that were awarded in the 2021, 2022, and 2023 editions of the contest organized by the museum. In different formats (from photographs to sculptures), each work explores sexuality, identity, motherhood, care tasks, education, religion, the body, violence, poetry, fears, illusions, links, and traditions.

Where: Viamonte 525

The National Palace of the Arts is open Tuesday to Friday (12:00 to 20:00) and weekends and holidays (10:00 to 20:00). It's closed on Mondays. Admission is free.

Located in one of the most beautiful areas of Buenos Aires, Palermo Chico, MALBA ranks among the favorite museums of Argentinians. It combines permanent exhibitions with temporary ones, offering always interesting proposals suitable for the whole family. The event program is monthly published on its website, and guided tours can be joined by simply going to the meeting point at the specified time.

Key points about MALBA? It boasts a cinema room showcasing a variety of films (the schedule is on its website). Also, right next to the museum is Ninina, a renowned Argentine bakery where you can enjoy a delicious snack.

What you can see: Until June of this year, on level 1, there is the exhibition "Frida Kahlo Diego and I", where besides the iconic work "Third Eye", there are many photographs, letters, and personal objects of the Mexican artist. Additionally, works by Antonio Berni, Wifredo Lam, and Tarsila do Amaral, among other Latin artists, are exhibited.

Where: Av. Pres. Figueroa Alcorta 3415

MALBA is open Thursday to Monday (12:00 to 20:00) and Wednesdays (11:00 to 20:00). It's closed on Tuesdays. On Wednesdays, tickets have a 50% discount. Admission tickets can be purchased from their website.

Opened in 2012, this modern museum is a must-visit during the day when you visit San Telmo, as it is relatively close. Driven by private collector Aldo Rubino and housed in an impressive building, its proposal also combines permanent exhibitions with temporary ones.

The event schedule is very comprehensive, so before visiting, we recommend checking their official website to see what events are organized that week. They also have guided tours from Monday to Friday at 16:00, which are included with the price of admission.

What you can see: Until March, the museum offers insights into the work of Argentine visual artist Pablo Siquier. With a style where symbolism is the main identity of his work, the exhibition is called "Obscene" and is a collection of unpublished works never before exhibited to the public.

Where: Av. San Juan 328.

The Museum of Contemporary Art of Buenos Aires is open Wednesday to Monday (12:00 to 19:00) and weekends and holidays (12:00 to 19:00). It's closed on Tuesdays. Check the value of the general admission. Children under 6 enter for free. Tickets can be purchased directly from their website.

Perhaps one of the most important and traditional museums in the entire City of Buenos Aires, it combines two floors of permanent exhibitions with some temporary exhibition rooms that change monthly.

Focused on promoting and sharing the work of the great Argentine artists, its collection features over 2,500 works. As if that weren't enough, it has a very rich schedule of events that take place within the museum (you can see it monthly on their official site) and include various activities specially designed for children (in addition to guided tours of its different rooms).

What you can see: Until March, the exhibition "From the Margins: Gumier Maier in the 80s" will be open, bringing together about 90 paintings, drawings, illustrations, photographs, publications, and documents from the early years of the career of Argentine artist Jorge Gumier Maier.

Where: Av. del Libertador 1473

The National Museum of Fine Arts is open Tuesday to Friday (11:00 to 20:00) and Saturdays and Sundays (10:00 to 20:00). It's closed on Mondays. Admission is free.

Located in Puerto Madero, the exhibitions combine local and international artists and have a very extensive agenda of activities that are renewed monthly (the program is updated month by month on its website). Just like in major museums such as MoMA in New York, inside the modern building, there is a beautiful cafeteria, Croque Madame, where you can enjoy a delicious snack with an impressive view.

What you can see: The museum is celebrating its anniversary, and the main exhibition is related to this milestone: to celebrate its 15 years, it inaugurated "RED Pallière. painting, family, and friendship in the 19th century." "This exhibition proposes to think about artistic productions from the concept of a network, in this case family and friendship, whose analysis allows us to account for the learning, productions, and exchanges between Europe and South America," they explain from the institution.

Where: Olga Cossettini 141

The Amalia Lacroze de Fortabat Art Collection is only open Thursday to Sunday (12:00 to 20:00)

Check the value of the general admission. Children under 5 enter for free. On Thursdays, tickets have a 50% discount.

Focused on Argentine historical events, this museum in Buenos Aires invites you to learn about important objects, artworks, and documents from Argentine history, from native peoples to the May Revolution. But beware, it also enjoys adding more current exhibitions like "1983. Volver a votar" in which you can see different posters from the political parties that were part of the electoral campaign for the return to Argentine democracy.

What you can see: As it is an incredible space to learn more about Argentine culture and folklore, its main exhibitions are dedicated to historical objects: from ponchos and musical instruments to paintings of historical moments and classic furniture for storage.

Where: Defensa 1600.

The National Historical Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday (11:00 to 19:00). It's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission is free.