The Best Museums in Buenos Aires

Considered one of the biggest museums in Latin America, due to its wonderful architecture and its invaluable permanent collection. Furthermore, it’s one of the oldest and most valued tourist attractions in Buenos Aires.

The MNBA, founded in 1895, was moved to different locations until it was established on Av. Libertador, in the Recoleta neighbourhood.

Its permanent collection not only includes great works by Argentine and Latin American artists but also by renowned figures such as Manet, Degas, El Greco, Goya, Picasso, Rembrandt, Rodin, Cándido López, Prilidiano Pueyrredón and Fernando Fader.  The collection by European impressionist artists is to a large extent, due to the wave of immigrants who arrived at the end of the last century. For this reason, the National Museum of Fine Arts is an authentic exhibition of Argentine tradition.

Whenever you visit the museum, you will have a unique experience. You will appreciate the vast heritage content and enjoy the temporary displays that are constantly being renewed.

The National Museum of Fine Arts is an ideal place for those who want to learn more about the history and development of Argentine artists in a global context. Among its thousands of pieces, you can see paintings, art prints, drawings, sculptures, tapestries, and other objects, which make up a total of 700 artworks throughout 34 rooms.

The MNBA also has an art library with more than 150 thousand volumes and a huge auditorium of 320 square meters. In addition, on the top floor, those who wish to see contemporary art will be able to appreciate a collection of Argentine pieces from the 20th century. This museum collects and exhibits the greatest artistic heritage of Argentina, which makes it one of the main museums in Latin America and a must-visit if you want to have a cultural immersion trip.

Schedules: Tuesday to Friday, from 12:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Data: Admission is free and you can request the audio guide service.

This beautiful and modern museum houses the art collection of the Costantini Foundation. Here, you can appreciate artworks by great artists such as Frida Kahlo, Roberto Matta, Diego Rivera, Antonio Berni, Tarsila do Amaral, and Wilfredo Lam. You will also enjoy temporary collections that always link Latin American art.

MALBA is a private, non-profit institution that preserves and exhibits approximately 400 invaluable works by the main modern and contemporary artists of Latin America from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. However, it is not only art that invites visitors to this incredible place; the building itself offers stunning modern architecture that amazes visitors.

Opened in 2001 by the Argentine economist and businessman Eduardo Costantini, the Museum of Latin American Art is located in the Palermo neighbourhood. It has a modern square limestone undercut structure, high walls, and large windows.

Inside it has three floors, which include permanent and temporary exhibition rooms, sculpture terraces, an auditorium, plus conservation and maintenance areas(closed to the public). Take your time to enjoy a drink and good food at the cafeteria and restaurant area with the chance of seating in an external garden.

The MALBA is much more than a museum. It is a cultural space dedicated to presenting temporary exhibitions and offering film cycles in the Cinematheque. This activity is constantly growing thanks to the acquisition and restoration of essential historical films from the national industry. Also, the museum has a literature and design sector where meetings with writers, courses, seminars, literary talks, and book presentations are held.

The works and exhibitions can be explored with guided tours on Wednesdays and Sundays at 4 p.m. It is not necessary to make a prior reservation unless the groups are larger than 10 people. If you visit the museum with children, MALBA has special programs focused on generating educational activities.

Schedules: Every day from 12 to 8 p.m. Tuesday closed. Holidays: open from 12:00 to 20:00.

Data: From Thursday to Monday, students, teachers and retirees with accreditation have a discount on the entrance fee. Free entrance for children under 5 years and people with disabilities.
On Wednesdays general admission has a special discount and students, teachers and retirees with accreditation enter for free.

The alternative for those who enjoy avant-garde is the Museum of Modern Art. Located in the emblematic neighbourhood of San Telmo and part of the Arts District of the City of Buenos Aires, this museum was created to show the public avant-garde artistic trends.

The museum building is a historic construction that belonged to the Nobleza Piccardo tobacco company. It opened its doors in 1956 as an idea of art critic Rafael Squirru and has an invaluable cultural heritage.

The MAMBA houses an immense production of contemporary art from the 1940s to the 21st century, along with some of the finest pieces by international artists such as Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Vasili Kandinsky and Henri Matisse.

It has a total of seven thousand works from different historical avant-garde, both of national origin and of international production, grouped in its different rooms with a clear thematic axis: minimalism, informalism, abstraction, conceptualism, kineticism, and figurative art.

In addition to appreciating the stable samples that make up the museum and the temporary exhibitions by contemporary Argentine artists, we also recommend that you take a tour around the building. The MAMBA has crucial architectural value dating back to 1918, with a striking façade of neo-renaissance influence from northern Italy.

The Museum of Modern Art has a library and also offers workshops and courses on different artistic activities.

Schedules: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.
Closed on Holidays: May 1st, Christmas and January 1st.

Data: Children under 12 years of age, retirees, people with disabilities, and their accompanying person with accreditation enter for free. Admission is free to the public on Wednesdays.

The MACBA is another of the most avant-garde proposals that you can find in Buenos Aires in terms of cultural attractions.

Located just a few blocks from the Museum of Modern Art, this space was promoted by Aldo Rubino, a contemporary art collector who had the objective of acquiring and preserving national and international contemporary art, as well as researching, documenting, communicating and exhibiting the art pieces of his collection

One of MACBA‘s main goals is to contribute to non-formal education through art. This is why, through the exhibition of artistic content, the museum seeks to awaken the love for art and stimulate the development of creativity among children, young people, and adults not only in the city of Buenos Aires but also all around the country. In addition, this space has the objective of deepening knowledge of Argentine art abroad, offering informative talks about each object exhibited in the museum.

The MACBA collection centres on historical geometric works by Raul Lozza, Julio Le Parc, Victor Vasarely, Enio Iommi and Gyula Kosice, to which new acquisitions by contemporary Argentinians that militate in geometry of genesis and eclectic projection are added; among them are Fabian Burgos, Veronica Di Toro, Lucio Dorr, Pablo Siquier, Beto de Volder, Silvina Lacarra and Gachi Hasper.

The Museum of Contemporary Art of Buenos Aires is located in a building made of noble and low-maintenance materials, such as its exposed concrete structure and its large glazed panels. It offers magnificent natural lighting that complements the technical and artificial conditioning devices, giving the place an overwhelming image.

Schedules: Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 19:00. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 12:00 to 19:00. It is closed on Tuesdays.

Data: Admission is discounted on Wednesdays, and students, children from 6 to 12 years old, and senior citizens with ID have access free of charge. A lower-value cultural pass is also available at the entrance to visit the museum. Children under 6 years old enter for free.

Settled in the Recoleta neighbourhood, the National Museum of Decorative Art is located in one of the best-preserved neoclassical palaces in Buenos Aires. The building itself is an architectural gem that is a pleasure to explore.

Built between 1911 and 1916 by architect René Sergent, this palace combines art and history, as it shows the lifestyle of its former residents, the aristocratic Errázuriz Alvear family.

In addition to housing different works, this museum preserves the art collection of the palace owners, which includes valuable sculptures, paintings, tapestries, weapons, books, ceramics, furniture, miniatures and pieces of metalwork, mainly European and Eastern, from XVI to XX centuries.

The museum’s collection offers nearly 6,000 high-value objects. The most iconic pieces are the oil on canvas by El Greco, tapestries from the 16th century, a sculpture by Auguste Rodin and a bronze clock, a wedding gift for King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

In the imposing French-style garden, an extension of the reception rooms, you can listen to orchestras usually performing for free. We recommend that you check the agenda on their website.

The museum also has a library specialized in decorative arts, organizes cultural activities, and offers guided tours. The Croque Madame café-restaurant is open in the museum courtyard.

Schedules: Wednesday to Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m.

Data: Admission is free. Guided tours take place every day with a maximum of 50 people per shift. The tours consist of ground-floor rooms and an outdoor garden. Tour times begin at 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m.

For those interested in the history of Argentina, the National Historical Museum is a must-visit. Located in the San Telmo neighbourhood, this museum houses a valuable collection of objects, documents, and artefacts related to Argentine history, from pre-Hispanic times to the establishment of the nation as an independent state. Among its most notable pieces is the original flag used by Manuel Belgrano and the portrait of José de San Martín.  

Schedules: Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00.  

Data: free access  

Housed in the historic building of the former National Directorate of Migrations, this museum offers a profound insight into the immigrant experience in Argentina. The Museum of Immigration displays objects and photographs that reflect the stories of those who arrived in Argentina seeking new opportunities and shaped the country’s culture. The permanent exhibition is complemented by temporary exhibitions exploring various aspects of migration and cultural diversity in Argentina.  

Schedules: Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00.  

Data:  free access  

In the La Boca neighbourhood, Fundación Proa is one of the most contemporary spaces in Buenos Aires. This cultural centre focuses on modern and contemporary art, both national and international, and offers a space for dialogue between different artistic expressions. Its temporary exhibitions, educational activities, and an auditorium for cinema and conferences make Proa a landmark in the cultural circuit. Additionally, the building features a terrace with views of the colourful neighbourhood, perfect for enjoying a break at the museum’s café.  

Schedules: Wednesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 20:00.  

Data: General admission has a cost, but Argentine residents can access discounts.