Montevideo – Museums

Montevideo offers amazing museums dedicated to the unique culture and identity that is that of Uruguay. Those seeking to explore everything from art to natural history, as well as the national history of both Uruguay and Montevideo, will find a museum of interest. In addition to local culture, the city houses many museums containing exhibits from around the world – including everything from Egyptian mummies to Samurai swords and famous Chinese paintings. Many of the museums are concentrated in the south / southwest quadrant of the city, including in and around the Ciudad Vieja and Palermo districts.

National Museum of Natural History

Established in 1838, the National Museum of Natural History contains more than 80,000 unique artefacts related to the natural sciences. The collection also includes many thousands of mammals, fish, birds and more. The on-site library contains more than 100,000 books and is one of the most important collections in the country. Visitors to the museum will enjoy various galleries, each dedicated to a unique natural science including biology, paleontology and geology.  The museum has also been the center of several discoveries, including the identification of a skull of a previously unknown species of prehistoric rodent.

Address: Miguelete 1825, Montevideo
Phone: +598 2929 0517
Operating Hours:
– Monday Closed
– Tuesday Closed
– Wednesday 1:00pm – 7:00pm
– Thursday 1:00pm – 7:00pm
– Friday 1:00pm – 7:00pm
– Saturday 1:00pm – 7:00pm
– Sunday 11:00am –5:00pm
Admission Cost:
– FREE
Website

Tile Museum

The Tile Museum showcases the private collection of Alejandro Artucio and includes more than 5,000 pieces. The collection represents 40 years of tile collecting and comprises of various styles, including but not limited to Portuguese tiles, French Tin tiles, Mexican tiles, Crystal tiles and more. Located in the center of Montevideo, the building is constructed in an art deco style and is home to various exhibitions throughout the year. Visitors can enjoy the rapidly changing exhibition schedule that includes presentations of paintings, sculptures, ceramics and other forms of art on a regular basis.

Address: Yi 1444, Montevideo
Phone: +598 2 1950 8572
Operating Hours:
– Monday Closed
– Tuesday 12:05pm – 5:55pm
– Wednesday 12:05pm – 5:55pm
– Thursday 12:05pm – 5:55pm
– Friday 12:05pm – – 5:55pm
– Saturday 10:05am – 3:55pm
– Sunday Closed
Admission Cost:
– FREE
Website

National Museum Of Visual Arts

Opened in 1911, the National Museum of Visual Arts is located in the Parque Rodó. Consisting of several floors, it features various temporary shows and exhibitions by both local and foreign artists. The museum houses the largest collection of Uruguayan art, including by such famous names as Olga Piria and Rafael Barradas. In addition to the museum, the structure also includes a conference center, library and landscaped garden designed by the landscaper Leandro Silva. At over a century old, the museum is considered to be one of the most important in Uruguay.

Located in: Parque Rodó
Address: Av Tomas Giribaldi 2283, 11300
Phone: +598 2711 6054 / 6124 / 6127
Operating Hours:
Monday Closed
Tuesday 1:00pm – 8:00pm
Wednesday 1:00pm – 8:00pm
Thursday 1:00pm – 8:00pm
Friday 1:00pm – 8:00pm
Saturday 1:00pm – 8:00pm
Sunday 1:00pm – 8:00pm
Admission Cost:
FREE
Website