19 Best Museums in Medellin: Art, History and Culture

With a rich, interesting and dark history, Colombia’s second largest city of Medellin is chock full of museums. Sara and I are avid museum-goers (I know, we’re so cool…) so we wanted to see as many as possible!

We strongly believe that museums are the best way to learn about the culture and history of a place. Everytime we move to a new location, we always track down and visit the best museums, and Medellin was no different.

Therefore, we present to you our list of the best museums in Medellin!

Spoiler: our five top picks that are definitely worth visiting if you’re limited on time are:

• University of Antioquia Museum
• Comuna 13 (not really a museum, but we’ll talk about it!)
• Parque Explora
• Memory House
• Museum of Antioquia

Table of Contents

1. Museum of Antioquia
2. Parque Explora
3. Medellin Botanical Gardens
4. Geosciences Mineralogy Museum
5. Pueblito Paisa
6. The City Museum
7. San Pedro Cemetery Museum in Medellin
8. Memory House Museum
9. University of Antioquia Museum
10. Comuna 13
11. Modern Art Museum
12. Parque de la Conservación
13. Castle Museum and Gardens
14. Medellin Planetarium
15. Palace of Culture Rafael Uribe Uribe
16. Fundación Casa Museo Maestro Pedro Nel Gómez
17. Gardeliana House
18. Casa Museo Otraparte
19. Miguel Angel Builes Ethnographic Museum

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Tips for visiting museums in Medellin

We know what you’re thinking… “Why do we need tips for visiting museums?” Well my friends, there’s a few things you should take note of:

• Check the opening times – it seems like a simple tip, but just know that some museums on this list have strange opening hours. Especially in terms of which days they are closed (sometimes on weekends). We do mention all opening hours in this guide!
• Check for public holidays – along a similar vein, Colombia has a lot of public holidays. The museums are usually open on the public holiday themselves, but closed the following Monday. We fell for this trap a few times!
• Avoid weekends – if you can, visit the museums on a weekday. Weekends can get busy with local tourists.
• Bring cash – a lot of the smaller museums may not take card payments for entry.
• Bring sunscreen and an umbrella – yes, the whether in Medellin can be that unpredictable, especially during the rainy seasons!

Museum of Antioquia

The Museum of Antioquia (Museo de Antioquia) is probably the most popular museum in Medellin. Located at the west side of Plaza Botero in downtown Medellin, this museum boasts a range of art from local Antioquian artists. 

Most famously, there is an entire exhibit dedicated to famous Colombian artist: Fernando Botero. The entire third floor is covered in his art depicting large, over-exaggerated figures representing either humour or political criticism. A style that has become synonymous with Botero himself. There are also bronze statues created by the artists in the plaza outside of the museum.

Other permanent exhibits show amazing and unique art such as ‘Promises Of Modernity’, ‘Stories To Rethink’ and ‘The Mud Has A Voice’.

Overall, we really enjoyed this museum, we do highly recommend it!

HOW TO GET HERE: we got here via Uber, but the nearest metro station is Parque Berrío which is a short 5 minute walk from the museum. The Museum closes at 4pm on Sundays.

Parque Explora

Parque Explora was an interesting one for us and one of the best Museums in Medellin! We weren’t really sure what we were getting into before we went. But it turns out, it’s an incredibly fun and interactive science museum!

When we first entered, we walked to the other side of the museum grounds and did a quick tour of the aquarium. It’s a small, yet very informative aquarium with staff ready to answer any of your questions.

Then we entered the main building. There are two floors to Parque Explora with multiple different exhibitions. From learning about your senses, to the history of the dinosaurs, there’s certainly something for everyone!

One thing we would note is that this would be a great place to bring your kids! We can only imagine the amount of fun they would have in a museum like this.

Tip: take a full day to visit Parque Explora, the Botanical Gardens, the Planetarium and the University of Antioquia museum. They are all in the same area of Medellin!

HOW TO GET HERE: the nearest metro station is Universidad which is right beside Parque Explora. This museum is closed on Tuesday’s.

Medellin Botanical Gardens

Okay, so this one isn’t a museum per se, but we believe it deserves a spot on this list! Medellin’s botanical garden (Jardín Botánico de Medellín) is a place that aims to educate the masses on plant conservation and cultivation. 

We spent a couple of hours here and the botanical gardens are absolutely beautiful. Everything from the lakes to the trees, you’ll be surrounded by nature. And the best bit? Medellin’s botanical gardens are full of iguanas!

A lot of locals come here with a picnic and some drinks to spend the day socialising and relaxing. Or if a picnic’s not your style, the restaurant in the gardens will be! We ordered a bandeja paisa at Restaurante IN SITU, and it was delicious! 

HOW TO GET HERE: the nearest metro stations is Universidad – it’s right beside the botanical garden. Combine your day with Parque Explora, the Planetarium and the University of Antioquia Museum. The gardens are closed on Mondays.

Geosciences Mineralogy Museum in Medellin

The Geosciences Mineralogy Museum is found inside the National University of Colombia. Showcasing a large range of minerals, fossils and rocks, this museum serves as an academic resource for scientists. 

However, scientist or not, this is a great place to come to learn about the earth, its geology and its resources. This museum is a bit out of the way in terms of most on this list. If you’re running low on time, we’d recommend skipping this one. Unless, of course, you’re a curious academic!

HOW TO GET HERE: there aren’t any metro stations nearby. The closest metro station is Floresta which is a 35 minute walk away. There as a bus system, but we recommend taking a cab!

Pueblito Paisa

Another one of our favourite places to visit in Medellín! We’re not sure if Pueblito Paisa would be considered one of the museums in Medellin or not, but the place certainly has a vibe! 

Here you can find an exact replica of what a typical Colombian pueblo (town) looks like in Antioquia. If you don’t have time during your trip to head somewhere else in Antioquia – like Jardin – this is a great second option!

Blending everything culturally about Antioquia, you can explore the colourful buildings, eat Antioquian food and listen to singers and buskers performing traditional music.

Speaking of food, we’d recommend ordering a bandeja paisa from La Fonda del Pueblo (delicious!) and a natural juice from one of the stands.

A highlight for us was also the buskers! There was a group of percussionists and singers near the entrance drawing huge crowds. And around the back of Pueblito Paisa were a couple of guys asking people their names and where they’re from, and then singing back and forth a freestyle to each other. These types of buskers have a name, but unfortunately we don’t know it!

And finally, being on a hill 80m above the city on one of the tutelary hills, you’re treated to 360° panoramic views of the entire city of Medellin!

HOW TO GET HERE: we took a taxi as if you take public transport you’ll need to climb to the top of the hill when arriving. The closest metro station is Exposiciones and it’s a 27-minute walk to Pueblito Paisa including the climb up.

We created a full guide on visiting Pueblito Paisa with all the information you need to know to play your day out!

The City Museum

The City Museum (Museo de Ciudad) is a small museum found right next to Pueblito Paisa. Here you can take a walk through the history of Medellin from as far back as the 1890’s.

This museum took us on a journey through Medellin’s social issues throughout the 20th century. Through a large collection of images, we read about the history of Plaza Mayor, Guayaquil, La Villa Nueva and much more.

The centrepiece of the City Museum is a huge scale model of Medellin city. Made from wood, this model is insane to comprehend and depicts the relief and network of the entire city of Medellin.

We fully recommend visiting as it will give you a great insight into Medellin and its past. We felt a lot stronger connection to the city after leaving and we’re sure that you will too!

Tip: the entrance fee to the City Museum was free, but we went with a group from our Spanish school and a 5000 COP donation was expected.

HOW TO GET HERE: The same way as we mentioned for Pueblito Paisa. Combine the two for a great morning out!

San Pedro Cemetery Museum in Medellin

An interesting addition to this list of museums in Medellin is San Pedro Cemetery Museum. Among the usual services of a cemetery, this one also offers guided tours. The cemetery offers, and I’m taking this directly from the site:

“…a variety of private guided tours to take devotees and visitors through the collection, offering them tools for approximation, observation, assessment and sensitivity to the complex and inescapable cultural experience that is dying and the forms that we have built, materially and symbolically, to represent it.”

Visiting will allow you to learn about the traditional funeral rites of Colombians. In addition, you can come to admire the decorative marble work build for some of the tombs. There are a few notable Colombian’s buried here but it’s likely you’ll miss them without a guide.

Unfortunately we were unable to take a tour as the day we visited San Pedro Cemetery museum was closed. But if, like myself, you find cemeteries strangely fascinating, this would be one for you!

HOW TO GET HERE: the closest metro station is Hospital and it’s a short 5-minute walk. It’s also close by to the Botanical Gardens and Parque Explora.

Memory House Museum

One of the smaller museums in Medellin, yet a truly eye-opening one, is the Memory House Museum (Museo Casa de la Memoria). This museum offers a cathartic experience as it is dedicated to the devastating effects of the violence in Medellin in the late 20th century.

Opening in 2006, Memory House Museum was created through the initiatives and experience of victims of Colombian armed conflicts. Their main goal is to take care of the memories that have arisen from the realities of this time in Medellin. 

The whole idea is to teach visitors about the history, memorialise the victims and educate so that such a thing never happens again.

We were truly touched as we read the accounts from old newspaper articles from these terrible times. There’s also a deep hitting memorial room for the victims that state their age and what happened to them. 

It’s a sombre experience, but one we believe everyone should have in Medellin.

HOW TO GET HERE: there is not close by metro station, but there is the Bicentenario tram station about a 10-minute walk away. We never figured out the tram system (some stations don’t have ticket counters and this is one of them) so we recommend a taxi. The museum closes early (3:30pm) on weekends.

University of Antioquia Museum in Medellin

Not to be confused with the Museum of Antioquia, the University of Antioquia Museum is actually a completely different establishment! Also known as ‘MUUA’, this was actually our favourite museums in Medellin!

When we first decided to go, we weren’t expecting a lot. But then MUUA took us through a journey of Antioquia and the surrounding regions over the past 5000 years! We got to see 4500y/o ceramics, learn about different Antioquian indigenous groups and learn about tools these groups used to use.

On the second level there was also a huge nature, taxonomy and science exhibition. The science exhibition was even a bit interactive! You may have not considered this museum during your trip to Medellin, but we strongly suggest you visit!

To get to this museum, you need to enter the University of Antioquia campus. At the gates they’ll ask you for your ID to enter. Then head to building 15 next to the parking lot and walk straight in!

HOW TO GET HERE: the nearest metro station is Universidad, right outside of the university campus. There are multiple entry points around the campus. We do not recommend the entry point by the river (the way Google maps will take you). It’s a vehicle entry point and the walk besides the river is very sketchy, we felt quite unsafe. The museum closes early (2:40pm) on Saturdays.

Comuna 13

Again, a bit of an anomaly on this list of museums in Medellin, but Comuna 13 is a must-visit. Have you heard of the place with the famous outdoor escalators? Well that’s Comuna 13!

Comuna 13 is a neighbourhood of favela’s in Medellin that used to be rampant with narco’s. Then guerilla groups came to force out the narco’s, and then paramilitary forced out the guerilla groups. And finally gangs forced out the paramilitaries and a peace treaty was signed.

As you can imagine, Comuna 13 was overrun with shootings, crime and drugs. It was once the most dangerous place in the city. However the neighbourhood has done a full one-eighty! It has rebranded itself as a cool place to come and drink, party and enjoy street art. Oh, and the Comuna prides itself on being extremely safe, even at night!

You can visit Comuna 13 alone, but we definitely recommend a guided tour. This way you’ll get to learn about all the history as you visit with a local! We decided to go with Zippy Tours and our guide George was an absolute star! The guided tour is free but tips are expected.

We go into detail about our experience on our walking tour and provide an in-depth history over in our full guide to Comuna 13!

HOW TO GET HERE: the easiest way to get to Comuna 13 is obviously by taxi. The cheapest way is to take the metro to San Javier and walk around 20-minutes to the main area of Comuna 13. It’s safe to walk this route.

Modern Art Museum in Medellin

If you’re a fan of the Tate Modern in London, then you need to check out the Modern Art Museum (Museo de Arte Moderno). Although smaller than the Tate Modern, it still has a lot to offer in terms of art from the 21st century.

Over two floors, you get to admire more than 2000 works from artists such as Débora Arango, Remedios Varo, Olga Costa and much more!

There’s also the MAAM cinema. For 11,500 COP ($2.88), you can buy tickets to the screening of an independent film. Bear in mind, most of the films are in Spanish though!

We also really enjoyed the terraces that can be found on the top two floors. The view isn’t the craziest, but it’s still nice to see!

HOW TO GET HERE: the nearest metro stations to the Modern Art Museum in Medellin are Poblado and Exposiciones. Poblado is the closest at a 20-minute walk away. Combine with Parque de la Conservacion as they’re relatively close.

Parque de la Conservación

Another one of our favourite museums in Medellin, Parque de la Conservacion is basically a zoo. Found pretty close to the Modern Art Museum, here you can have a great day out learning about different animals from across the world.

Now, we know some people are against zoos and for good reason. There are some zoos out there that definitely fall below the ethics line. However, Parque de la Conservacion pride themselves on animal rescue from illegal trade. 

In Colombia in the late 20th century, owning exotic animals was seen as a symbol of power. Now, there are a lot of invasive species in Colombia, and Parque de la Conservacion helps give them a home. Or, as the park likes to call it, “…a second chance for their lives”.

Parque de la Conservacion also helps educate people on biodiversity and animal conservation. Colombia has one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world and this park helps bring awareness to the importance of its protection. 

The only things we did not like are that a lot of the larger animals could use bigger enclosures. Although overall, all the animals seem to be treated well.

HOW TO GET HERE: the closest metro station to Parque de la Conservacion is Poblado but it’s not an easy walk. We would recommend taking a taxi.

Castle Museum and Gardens

Castle Museum and Gardens (Museo el Castillo) is exactly what it says on the tin: a castle and gardens.

To start, the castle museum boasts the biggest collection of decorative arts all of the museums in Medellin. This means you’ll be able to see ceramics, glassware, furniture and much more created by craftsmen across the country.

If you’re a lover of history, culture and pristine gardens, then this is the place for you. It’s just a tad out the way, towards the south end of Medellin.

HOW TO GET HERE: the nearest metro station is Aguacatala, but it’s still a 30-minute walk to Castle Museum and Gardens so we recommend a taxi. Weekend opening times are 10am – 5pm.

Medellin Planetarium

Medellin Planetarium (Planetario de Medellín) is another science museum found right next to Parque Explora. In fact, you can actually get two-for-one ticket deals between the two!

As with most planetariums, here you’ll be able to enter their dome and enjoy an immersive journey through the stars. They offer many shows including ‘Travel in a Ray of Light’, ‘Invisible Universe’, ‘The Question of Life’ and many more. With new shows added to the line up regularly, you can visit multiple times without experiencing the same show twice!

HOW TO GET HERE: the closest metro station is Universidad and it’s right besides the planetarium. You can also purchase combo tickets with Parque Explora. Weekend opening times are 10am – 6:30pm.

Palace of Culture Rafael Uribe Uribe

The Palace of Culture Rafael Uribe Uribe (wow that’s a mouthful) sits in Plaza Botero right beside the Museum of Antioquia. It’s an old gothic style building that houses Antioquian cultural programs related to concerts, conferences and art exhibitions.

What made this place stand out for us was the architectural design of the building. Built over decades (there’s a whole story about the delays), this structure almost looks like a giant chessboard. The contrast of white light and dark stones almost give a feel of an optical illusion.

There’s also a great city view from the top floor!

HOW TO GET HERE: the Parque Berrío metro station is right besides the Palace of Culture Rafael Uribe Uribe. The hours are kind of strange: on Saturdays it’s only open until 2pm, and it closes between 12pm – 2pm Monday to Friday.

Other notable museums in Medellin

Here are some museums in Medellin that we planned on visiting, but unfortunately weren’t able to. So we have no photos from this point on, sorry!

Fundación Casa Museo Maestro Pedro Nel Gómez

This house-turned-museum offers a collection of over 3000 works of the teacher Pedro Nel Gómez. Gómez was a driver of art in Medellín back in the day, and was known mainly as a muralist. Now his own house has been converted into a museum to memorialise his works indefinitely.

Gardeliana House

Gardeliana House (Casa Gardeliana) is a small museum that was created to honour tango: a form of dance. Its aim is to preserve the memory of tango as an artistic genre since its emergence in the 1970’s. Just bear in mind, this is one of those museums that’s closed on Sundays.

Casa Museo Otraparte

Casa Museo Otraparte is a place that honours the life of Fernando Gonzalez – a Colombian writer and philosopher. Come here to see works of Gonzalez on display in his own home and learn about his life as a writer. It’s a colonial style house with a small shaded garden, as well as being a place to learn more about the culture of Medellin.

Weekend opening hours are 10am – 5pm (Sat) and 10am – 2pm (Sun).

Miguel Angel Builes Ethnographic Museum

Miguel Angel Builes Ethnographic Museum (Museo Etnográfico Miguel Ángel Builes) is a small place showcasing Colombian diversity and history. Spread across three floors, come to see artefacts from native Colombian cultures and learn about the roots of indigenous Colombians pre-Spanish conquest.

According to reviews on Google, if it looks closed you can ask the guard to enter and he’ll let you in. This museum closes between 12pm – 2pm on weekdays, and closes at 2pm on Saturdays.

Final Thoughts on Museums in Medellin

Like we said, we think that visiting museums is the best way to discover and learn the culture of a place. We tried to visit as many as we could in Medellin and as a result, we left feeling much closer to the city and department of Antioquia. 

If you’re only visiting Medellin for a short time, the main three we recommend visiting are Comuna 13, University of Antioquia Museum and Parque Explora. Each of the places offer completely different experiences to expand your understanding of Medellin and Colombia.

Definitely double check the opening times. Some museums in Medellin close on strange days, like Sunday’s (which is when we planned a lot of our days out). Also, some museums in Medellin close for lunch, or close earlier on weekends, so plan in advanced!