Buenos Aires is a huge global hub for all things culture. That means the city is homes to more museums than you can even imagine. The most wonderful thing about the museums in Buenos Aires is that they are very accessible for anyone on a budget, with many even free for students and teachers once a week. Whether you are in Buenos Aires to study Spanish, volunteer or learn to dance tango, there is a museum in Buenos Aires that will match your interests.
One of our favorite cultural activities at Mente Argentina is going to a museum and here are just a few of our absolute favorites. All of these are currently open, but keep in mind that due to the current situation with COVID-19 many have limited hours and require tickets to be reserved in advance. You can find more information on their websites.
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Price: free
Location: Av. del Libertador 1473 (Recoleta)
Buenos Aires’ fine arts museum is one of the city’s most popular, commonly referred to simply as ‘Bellas Artes’. You’ll find all sorts of paintings, sculptures and other art installments by both Argentine and international artists alike. Entrance to Bellas Artes is free for everyone, conveniently located in Recoleta, near the cemetery, so it’s definitely one worth checking out.
Price: approximately 3 USD (general), 1.50 USD (students) and on Wednesdays 1.50 USD (general), free (students)
Location: Av. Pres. Figueroa Alcorta 3415 (Barrio Norte)
The MALBA is one of the most famous museums in Buenos Aires, home to an interesting collection of modern Latin American art as well as host to a variety of international exhibits. This is one of our absolute favorites to visit, with many different permanent and temporary exhibits to explore during an afternoon, followed by a merienda at the café. Within the museum there is also a cinema that shows different Argentine and international films at a low cost.
Price: approximately 2 USD (general), 1 USD (students) and on Tuesdays 1 USD (general), free (students)
Location: Laprida 1212 (Recoleta)
Xul Solar was an Argentine painter, sculptor, writer and inventor of imaginary languages, saying of himself “I am the maestro of a language that no one reads yet”. His paintings often depict surreal scenes and creatures using striking contrasts and bright colors. He also worked with some very unorthodox artistic media, such as modifying pianos. This is one of our absolute favorite museums at Mente, and probably the one we visit the most as a group, given that it is often left out of classic tour books.
Price: 3 USD (general, foreigners) and on Wednesday free (general)
Location: Av. San Juan 350 (San Telmo)
The Buenos Aires modern art museum, commonly known as MAMBA, is definitely a fun one to explore, always hosting a variety of different exhibits and collections. Always changing, check their website for current exhibits to explore and take at least a couple of hours in the museum before or after wandering the streets of historic San Telmo.
