Museums and galleries in Montevideo

Museums and galleries in Montevideo

1. Buy

   Acatras del Mercado

   A gallery that specializes in ceramics and also features a selection of contemporary paintings of Uruguayan artists, interesting sculptures in metal, wood, etc. Art pieces of more than 30 different artists from all over the country. This gallery has been operating since 2003 and is part of the MAD (Mercado Arte y diseño) circuit that joins the main galleries and ateliers in Montevideo.

   Open now · closes 6:30 pm·all

2. See

   Casa de Fructuoso Rivera

   The home of the first president of Uruguay is today a museum of the country's political history.

   Mon-Fri 11:00-16:45

3. See

   Casa de Lavalleja

   The house of Juan Antolio Lavalleja, leader of the Thirty-Three Orientals who fought against Brazil for Uruguayan independence in the 1820s. Part of the National History Museum.

4. See

   El Cabildo

   Cabildo de Montevideo

   During the Spanish rule in the early 19th century and the first decades of independence, El Cabildo was the parliament building. Later on various governmental departments were housed there, but since 1959 the building has been a museum, Museo Histórico Municipal, displaying the city governments archives.

   Mon-Fri 12:00-17:45, Sat 10:00-16:00·Free

5. See

   El Prado

   Parque del Prado

   The largest park in the city proper is a few kilometers north of Palacio Legislativo. It is bisected by a creek named Miguelete. The botanical garden of the city is here too, as is the Juan Blanes museum and several pretty residences from the turn of the century. A popular place to hang out for locals.

6. Eat

   K Fe

   Corner of Juan Paullier and Maldonado, Cordon area: You will feel like in Lavapiez in Madrid, Friedrichshain in Berlin or a Melbourne back alley. Enjoy a coffee in the afternoon or a home cooked meal (always veggie option) in this unique rotiseria cultural in the heart of the city. Clothes, design, exhibition, roots, dub, dubstep, urban art.

   12:00-02:00.

7. See

   MAPI

   Museo de Arte Precolombino e Indígena

   Museum of indigenous art and Uruguayan archaeology. As the name reveals, it showcases native American artefacts from all of South America.

   Mon-Fri 11:30-17:30, Sat 10:00-16:00·U$65

8. See

   MNAV

   Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales

   National museum of modern Uruguayan art, exhibiting paintings. They have a permanent exhibition featuring works of Juan Blanes, Rafael Barradas, Pedro Figari and José Cuneo.

   Tue-Sun 14:00-19:00·$U200

9. See

   Museo Andes 1972

   In October 1972 a plane carrying Uruguayan rugby players to Santiago crashed in the Andes, 16 of the passengers managing to survive over two months in terrifying circumstances before they eventually were found and rescued. This museum tells the story of the event, known as the 1972 Andes flight disaster.

   U$200

10. See

    Museo Blanes

    Museum of Uruguayan art from the 19th to early 20th centuries, named after one of the most famous Uruguayan painters, Juan Manuel Blanes. Also features a Japanese garden.

    Tue-Sun 12:00-17:45·free

11. See

    Museo Casa Vilamajó

    Built in 1930, Uruguayan architect Julio Vilamajó`s house has been fully restored by the local architecture university and functions as a museum. Fine example of early modernist Uruguayan architecture. The house is open just a few times per week; be sure to check beforehand on the museum`s website.

    free

12. See

    Museo de Historia del Arte

    MuHAr

    Archeological museum with exhibits from Uruguay and other parts of the world, the exhibits include even Egyptian mummies.

    Tue-Sun 12:00-17:30·free

13. See

    Museo del Carnaval

    Small museum with carnival costumes and paraphernalia. If you don't have the opportunity to visit Montevideo during the yearly carnival, at least you will get to see some costumes and drums here.

    Wed-Sun 11:00-17:00·U$80

14. See

    Museo del Fútbol

    Football museum

    It's in the stadium where the first football world championships were held in 1930. You can see old photos, flags, jerseys, posters, trophies, flags and such. You will also get access to the stadium itself (unless there is a game going on).

    Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00·U$100

15. See

    Museo del Gaucho y de la Moneda

    Two museums in one building. The one showing the gaucho (South American cowboy) culture has everyday objects from drinking horns to weapons, as well as silverware, all from the 19th century, when the gauchos were riding around on the Pampas. The other museum, Museo de la Moneda, is a numismatic museum featuring bills, coins and medals from the last centuries. The museums are in Palacio Heber Jackson, a Cultural Heritage Monument and one of several iconic buildings along the avenue.

    Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00·free

16. See

    Museo del Tango de Montevideo

    Tango Museum of Montevideo

    The historic place of Tango music in Uruguay. It is the place where La Cumparsita, the Tango of all Tangos was first played 100 years ago, in 1917. It conserves the original pieces of the time, and a large collection of Uruguayan Tango history. Working victrols play tango all day long on original records. It is one of the most visited sites in Montevideo.

17. See

    National History Museum

    Museo Histórico Nacional

    Spread between five old historic houses, holds important bits of the country's history.

    No entrance fee

18. See

    Palacio Estévez

    Estévez Palace

    The Palacio Estévez was the office building of Uruguayan presidents until 1985. Today it is a museum of the Uruguayan presidency.

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    Palacio Taranco

    Museo de Artes Decorativas

    Location of the Museum of Decorative Art with over 2000 exhibits from all periods. Here you can see works by European masters from the last five centuries and ancient archeological artefacts such as Roman amphoras and furniture used by French kings. The building was built as the residence of the Taranco Ortiz family.

    Mon-Fri 12:30-17:30·Free

20. See

    Teatro Solís

    The main theater of Montevideo — consider going here if you want to see a theater performance. It hosts a museum of its own history and is one of the old town's most iconic buildings.

21. See

    Tile Museum

    Museo del Azulejo

    Exhibiting over 5000 different colorful decorative tiles used in various buildings throughout the centuries. There are tiles from Uruguay and from other parts of Latin America and Europe. Also features special exhibitions of ceramics and paintings.

    Tue-Sun 12:15-17:45·free

22. See

    Museum of Zoology

    Built in the form of a mosque at the beach promenade.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Montevideo (CC BY-SA 4.0).