We look comprehensively at 26 Medellín museums including museums in other municipalities in the Aburrá Valley to find the 12 best museums in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley. Medellín is home to many excellent museums.
But the 10 English-language Colombia guidebooks that I have only include six to 11 out of the 26 museums in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley. And they all miss several of the best museums in the Medellin metro area.
In addition, there is no website I have seen that has a comprehensive list of all the museums in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley. The city of Medellín published a list of 23 museums in 2017 but one of these is currently closed – Casa Museo Zoológico Santa Fe. And some of the information in that list is out-of-date.
The 12 Best Medellín Museums
Medellín has many museums that are worth visiting. We first look at the 12 best Medellín museums and the Aburrá Valley.Note that we looked at each of these 12 museums previously in more detail in separate articles for each museum.
Also, these 12 best Medellín museums are in order based on my personal opinion, as well as the popularity of the museum articles on the Medellin Guru website.
Museo de Antioquia
1. Best Medellín Museums: Museo de Antioquia
Museo de Antioquia is reportedly the most popular museum in Medellín. In addition, it’s considered one of the city’s top tourist attractions.
Inside the museum are about 100 pieces of artwork donated by World-renowned Colombian artist Fernando Botero. The museum also includes pre-Colombian, colonial and modern art collections.
Museo de Antioquia is located in El Centro next to Plaza Botero, which has 23 abstract bronze sculptures created by Fernando Botero. Most notably, we also included Museo de Antioquia along with Plaza Botero in our recommended tourist itinerary for a day in Medellín.
No visit to the city of Medellín would be considered complete without visiting Museo de Antioquia and Plaza Botero located in front of the museum. Museo de Antioquia is considered one of the top attractions in the city of Medellín.
Entrance fee: 18,000 pesos for foreigners or 12,000 pesos if you are a Colombian citizen or a foreigner resident with a cedula. Furthermore, if you live in an estrato 1, 2 or 3 neighborhood and bring a utility bill, entrance to the museum is free. Also, there is a 50 percent discount if you are over 60 years old or a student
Website: https://www.museodeantioquia.co/
Address: Carrera 52 # 52-43, El Centro, Medellín
Phone: +57 4 251 3636
Hours: Monday to Saturday: 10:00 am to 5:30 pm; Sunday and Holidays 10:00 am to 4:30 pm
Nearest Metro station: Parque Berrio
Parque Explora, photo by Averpues
2. Best Medellín Museums: Parque Explora
Parque Explora is Medellín’s popular interactive science museum and aquarium. It has over 300 interactive activities and the largest freshwater aquarium in South America.
While its name is Parque Explora, it isn’t really a park. It’s actually an interactive science museum with over 300 interactive activities. In addition, there is a large aquarium, a terrarium (with frogs, snakes, turtles and other reptiles), an outdoor dinosaur exhibition, a small television studio, a 3D movie auditorium, restaurants, cafes and a souvenir shop.
Kids love all the interactive activities and also the aquarium at Parque Explora. So, you will see many families with kids at Parque Explora.
Parque Explora is perfect for families with children, as there are plenty of things for kids to do and it is very kid-friendly. But kids and adults alike can have a great time here. The bottom line is that it’s really a place for all ages.
This museum is extremely interactive inside and outside with so many interesting activities.
Entrance fee: 25,500 pesos per person. Or if over 60 years-old or a student with a student ID, the fee is 23,500 pesos. And children less than 1.1 meters (3 feet 7 inches) can enter for free. In addition, for a total fee of 38,500 pesos you can enter both Parque Explora and the Planetarium.
Website: http://www.parqueexplora.org/
Address: Carrera 52 # 73-74, Medellín
Phone: +57 4 516 8300
Hours: Tuesday to Friday: 8:30am to 5:30 pm. Saturday, Sunday and Holidays: 10:00 am to 6:30 pm. Closed on Monday except when it’s a holiday.
Nearest Metro station: Universidad
Jardín Botánico
3. Best Medellín Museums: Jardín Botánico
Jardín Botánico is the popular Medellín botanical gardens, which offers many sights to see and activities to enjoy. The botanical gardens are set in about 34 acres of land (14 hectares). And it has over 1,000 different living plant species.
Jardín Botánico is also considered a museum by the city of Medellín with its living plants on display.
The ambience of the botanical gardens is relaxed. You will see families, students, groups of friends plus individuals enjoying the green gardens and open space. The botanical gardens are free to enter. It is home to a tropical forest, a small lake, a desert garden, a butterfly farm and much more. And there is a decent variety of birds if you are into bird watching.
Especially relevant is the Orquideorama, which is a sizable outdoor event/theater area. It was designed in the shape of a bouquet of flowers. And it hosts a variety of events during the year.
Jardín Botanico is a great place to go on a picnic, take photos, read a book and relax. It’s a serene and tranquil place with lots of shade for hot days. And the botanical gardens are well maintained. We recommend bringing a blanket to lay on and relax.
Entrance fee: Free.
Website: https://www.botanicomedellin.org/
Address: Calle 73 # 51D-14
Telephone: 4 444 5500
Hours: open daily 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Yet it is sometimes closed for special events or special dates. Also, it sometimes hosts some events later in the day.
Nearest Metro station: Universidad
view from the Museo de Arte Moderno
4. Best Medellín Museums: Museo de Arte Moderno (Modern Art Museum) or MAMM
Medellín’s Museo de Arte Moderno (Modern Art Museum) or MAMM is definitely worth a visit with an intriguing mix of exhibitions located in a striking building.
The building and the terrace views of the Modern Art Museum are worth the visit alone. But the permanent exhibitions are why you should really come.
On the 4th Floor, you will find three permanent exhibitions that show a diverse collection of artworks from Colombian artists. This floor was the real draw for me.
So often exceptional artists are never shown outside of their home country due to the huge costs of insuring and transporting artworks. Without individuals interested in paying to see them on the other side of the world, they remain hidden gems in their countries of birth.
So, by visiting the Modern Art Museum you get the unique opportunity to encounter lessor known Colombian artists that are still greats. But more than that, art often provides a glimpse into the social and political issues occurring in a region at a specific point in time. The permanent exhibitions of MAMM is no exception.
This museum is recommended as it has an intriguing mix of exhibitions and public space that provides a civilized outing for a relaxing Sunday afternoon.
Entrance fee: Adults 10,000 pesos; children and students less then 25-years-old 7,000 COP; adults older than 60-years-old 7,000 pesos. And on the final Friday of each month the museum is open later with entry free from 6 pm to 10 pm.
Website: www.elmamm.org
Address: Carrera 44 #19A-100, Ciudad del Rio, MedellÍn, Colombia
Phone: +57 4 444 2622
Hours: Tuesday to Friday: 9 am – 6 pm; Saturday: 10 am – 6 pm; Sunday: 10 am – 5 pm; closed Monday except on holiday Mondays.
Nearest Metro station: Industriales
Museo El Castillo
5. Best Medellín Museums: Museo El Castillo
You wouldn’t expect to find a European-style castle in South America, but Medellín has a castle. Museo El Castillo is a Gothic-style castle in Medellín that was a former residence, which is now a museum.
The gardens of the castle are kept in very good condition and offer nice panoramic views of the city of Medellín. And it’s a great place to relax for an hour or more. Also, it’s a good place for a picnic.
Inside the castle, the museum preserves collections of works by Colombian masters, European artists and collections of decorative arts. This includes some furniture from the beginning of the last century, Baccarat glassware, china and porcelain from European manufacturers. Note no photos are permitted inside this museum.
Museo El Castillo is a unique building in Medellín that is worth visiting. Furthermore, it’s a great place to get away from the bustle of the city and relax in a nice setting with great views.
Entrance fee: 13,000 pesos for adults or 9,000 pesos for children and students.
Website: http://www.museoelcastillo.org/
Address: Calle 9 Sur 32-269 Loma Los Balsos, El Poblado, Medellín
Telephone: +57 (4) 266 0900
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9 am – noon and 2 pm – 6 pm; Saturday, Sunday and Holidays: 10 am – 5 pm.
Nearest metro station: Aguacatala
Museo Casa de la Memoria (House of Memory Museum)
6. Best Medellín Museums: Museo Casa de la Memoria
Museo Casa de la Memoria (House of Memory Museum) is a museum in Medellín dedicated to honoring the victims of urban conflict in Medellín and Colombia. And it’s worth seeing this museum to better understand the history of the city of Medellín.
The museum was created to contribute to the comprehension and overcoming of the armed conflict and the diverse kinds of violence of Medellín, Antioquia and Colombia.
In addition, Medellín’s Museo Casa de la Memoria is a place intended to give voices to Medellín’s victims of violence. Also, it’s intended to provide a place to grieve, reunite, remember, and develop strategies to avoid future violence.
Museo Casa de la Memoria is worth visiting to better understand the controversial history of Medellín and Colombia. The museum does a good job of documenting Colombia’s armed conflict. And it can help you understand how far Medellín and Colombia has really transformed over the past several decades.
Entrance fee: Free.
Website: http://museocasadelamemoria.gov.co/en/
Address: Calle 51 #36-66, Parque Bicentenario, Medellín
Telephone: +57 (4) 520 2020
Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 9 am – 6 pm; Saturday, Sunday and Holidays: 10 am – 4 pm. Closed on Monday.
Nearest Metro station: Bicentenario
Inside Museo Universidad Antioquia (MUUA)
7. Best Medellín Museums: Museo Universidad Antioquia (MUUA)
Museo Universidad Antioquia (MUUA) is an anthropology and natural sciences museum located on the University of Antioquia’s campus in Medellín. It’s worth a visit with a huge collection of nearly 40,000 archaeological and natural history pieces on two floors of the museum
Also, there are additional temporary exhibits found on two other floors of the museum. The museum has an impressive collection of items on display.
Museo Universidad Antioquia is definitely worth visiting to see the many exhibits in the museum. The most impressive exhibits in the museum are the anthropology and natural sciences exhibits.
Entrance fee: Free.
Website: http://www.udea.edu.co/wps/portal/udea/web/inicio/cultura/museo-universitario
Address: Calle 67 # 53-108, Bloque 15, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín
Hours: Monday to Friday: 8 am to 6 pm, Saturday 9 am to 1 pm.
Nearest Metro station: Universidad
Pedro Nel Gómez Casa Museo
8. Best Medellín Museums: Pedro Nel Gómez Casa Museo
Pedro Nel Gómez Casa Museo is a museum in Medellín dedicated to the life and works of Colombian artist Pedro Nel Gómez who is best known for his work as a muralist.
Gómez is one of the most famous and well-known artists in Latin America. And this museum is considered one of Medellín’s most important cultural tourist attractions. So, this museum is worth visiting.
The artwork displayed in the museum includes a large number of murals, water colors, oil paintings, pastels, engravings, sculptures and wood carvings.
Entrance fee: a voluntary donation is asked for.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/casamuseopedronelgomez/
Address: Carrera 51B # 85-24, Aranjuez, Medellín
Phone: +57 4 444 2633
Email:programacion@museopedronelgomez.org
Hours: Monday to Saturday: 9 am to 5 pm
Nearest Metro station: Universidad
Museo Cementerio San Pedro
9. Best Medellín Museums: Museo Cementerio San Pedro
Museo Cementerio San Pedro is a cemetery that is also a popular museum in Medellín. It may seem macabre to visit. But this cemetery museum is full of beautiful marble and bronze artwork and it’s also known for cultural events and tours.
In addition, Museo Cementerio San Pedro has a small church with some beautiful stained-glass windows.
This museum is worth a visit to learn about some of the history of Medellín and Colombia. And I recommend going with a tour guide, as there are some interesting stories about many of the tombs, mausoleums and sculptures.
Entrance fee: Free
Website: http://www.cementeriosanpedro.org.co/
Address: Carrera 51 # 68-68, Medellín
Phone: +57 4 516 7650
Hours: Daily 7:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Nearest Metro station: Hospital
The Casa Museo Otraparte
10. Best Medellín Museums: Casa Museo Otraparte
Casa Museo Otraparte is a small house in Envigado converted into a museum and dedicated to the life and works of Colombian philosopher and writer Fernando González (1895-1964). This museum is considered a hidden gem with its old villa, beautiful gardens and a popular café.
González wrote about art, economics, history, morality, sociology and theology in a creative way. And González is considered one of the most original and controversial writers of Colombia during the 20th century.
This museum with its old house, beautiful gardens and café is considered a hidden gem, which is worth seeing.
Entrance fee: Free
Website: https://www.otraparte.org/
Address: Carrera 43A # 27 Sur-11, Envigado
Phone: +57 4 448 2404
Hours: Monday to Friday: 8 am to 8 pm; Saturday and Sunday: 9 am to 5 pm.
Nearest Metro station: Ayurá
The Planetario de Medellín (Planetarium of Medellín)
11. Best Medellín Museums: Planetario de Medellín
Planetario de Medellín (Planetarium of Medellín) is a space museum located in north Medellín that is very popular and is worth seeing. It has many exhibits dedicated to the exploration and education about space, our planet and solar system.
The Planetario de Medellín Jesús Emilio Ramírez González offers its visitors one of the most modern planetariums in the world with a 57-foot digital dome for immersive film experiences of high quality.
Planetario de Medellín along with nearby Parque Explora are both perfect places to go for families with children, as there are plenty of things for kids to do and these attractions are considered very kid-friendly. But kids and adults alike can have a great time here.
Entrance fee: 15,500 pesos per person, 14,000 pesos if over 60 or a student with student ID.
Website: http://planetariomedellin.org/
Address: Carrera 52 # 71-117, Medellín
Phone: +57 4 516 8300
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday and Holidays: 10:00 am to 6:30 pm. Closed on Monday except when it’s a holiday.
Nearest Metro Station: Universidad
The Museo del Agua (Museum of Water)
12. Best Medellín Museums: Museo del Agua
Museo del Agua EPM is the popular water museum in Medellín that is dedicated to educating people how important water is to the planet. Museo del Agua EPM was created by Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM), the local public utility company in Medellín.
The goal of the museum is to educate citizens about how precious water is. In addition, Museo del Agua is considered a museum of science, art and technology.
Museo del Agua is an interesting and unique museum in Medellín. It has a beautifully designed series of interactive displays and high-tech entertainment that provides a lot of interesting information and is very kid friendly.
Entrance fee: 6,000 pesos and free for older than 60 or under 5 years old.
Website: http://www.grupo-epm.com/site/museodelagua/
Address: Carrera 57 # 42-139, Medellín
Telephone: +57 (4) 380 1790
Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 8:30 am – 4 pm; Saturday, Sunday and Holidays: 10:30 am – 5 pm. On Monday the museum is closed for maintenance.
Nearest Metro station: Alpujarra
The Other Medellín Museums
Medellín and the Aburrá Valley have another 13 museums that tend to be smaller museums without as many visitors as the 12 best Medellín museums.
Depending on your interests these other smaller museums may be worth visiting. Here are details about the other 13 smaller museums in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley:
Inside Museo Etnográfico Miguel Angel Builes
13. Other Medellín Museums: Museo Etnográfico Miguel Angel Builes
Museo Etnográfico Miguel Angel Builes (MEMAB) is a museum dedicated to preserving the cultural patrimony of Colombia by exhibiting ethnographic pieces showing the cultural diversity of ethnic groups in Colombia.
It’s worth a visit to the Miguel Angel Builes Ethnographic Museum to see the large collection of over two thousand ethnographic pieces of daily use, ritual and subsistence on display. The exhibits in the museum demonstrate the great cultural richness of the indigenous and Afro-ethnic groups in Colombia.
This museum doesn’t get as many visitors as the more well-known museums in Medellín.
Entrance fee: the museum asks for a 5,000 peso per person donation to support the museum. There is a small box to collect donations near the entrance.
Website: http://www.memab.org/
Address: Carrera 81 # 52B-120, Barrio Ferrini, Medellín
Phone: +57 4 320 4488
Hours: Monday to Friday: 8 am to noon and 2 pm to 5:30 pm, Saturday 8 am to noon. Closed on Sunday and holidays. Note that the museum many look closed from the outside but the guard will open the outside door during the hours the museum is open.
Nearest Metro station: Floresta
Photo exhibits in Museo de Ciudad – Medellín’s City Museum
14. Other Medellín Museums: Museo de Ciudad
Museo de Ciudad (Medellín’s City Museum) is intended to show the urban and social history of the city of Medellín. It has a very interesting photo exhibit with many photos from the 1890s to about 1950 showing the history of the city of Medellín.
Mueso de Ciudad is located at the top of Nutibara hill next to Pueblito Paisa.
Since the beginning of the 1980s, the Biblioteca Publica Piloto de Medellín started a process to collect the visual and photographic history of the city of Medellín. This impressive collection of photos now includes about 1,700,000 images. And many photos from this collection are displayed in Museo de Ciudad.
Also, there is an interesting scale model of the city of Medellín, which is a permanent exhibit in the museum.
Address: Calle 30 # 55-64
Entrance fee: Free.
Telephone: +57 4 444 2633 Ext. 113 and 114
Hours: Monday to Sunday 10 am to 6 pm.
Nearest Metro station: Industriales
Inside Museo Casa Gardeliana
15. Other Medellín Museums: Museo Casa Gardeliana
Museo Casa Gardeliana is a small house located in the Manrique neighborhood of Medellín converted into a museum that is dedicated to tango music and the life and works of tango musician Carlos Gardel.
Carlos Gardel (1890-1935) was a French Argentine singer, writer, composer and actor who was one of the biggest superstars in the history of tango music. Gardel tragically died in Medellín in a plane crash in 1935.
Even if you know little about Gardel and tango music, you likely have heard his popular song Por Una Cabeza, which was included in several movies including The Scent of a Woman, True Lies and Schindler’s List, among others.
This small museum in Manrique is worth a visit, particularly if you are interested in tango music.
Entrance fee: a voluntary donation is asked for.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/museocasagardeliana/
Address: Carrera 45 # 76-50, Manrique, Medellín
Phone: +57 4 444 2633 option 2
Hours: Monday to Saturday: 9 am to 5 pm
Nearest Metro station: Gardel
Inside Museo de Geociencias
16. Other Medellín Museums: Museo de Geociencias de la Universidad Nacional
Museo de Geosciencias de la Universidad Nacional is a small museum of geosciences or earth sciences. The museum has a collection of over 10,000 specimens with a representative sample on display in the museum’s exhibition hall.
On display are rocks, minerals and fossils from Colombia and the world. Also, there are tour guides from the university available (in Spanish in my experience).
The history of this museum is linked to the establishment of the National School of Mines in 1887. Since then, the growth of its collection has been possible due to the contributions of professors, students and people interested in geosciences.
Entrance fee: Free.
Address: Carrera 80 # 65-223, Bloque M3, second floor, Facultad de Minas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellín
Phone: +57 4 425 5129
Hours: Monday and Saturday: 9 am to 2 pm, Tuesday to Friday: 9 am to 5 pm. But they frequently close earlier than scheduled. So, I recommend going in the morning.
Nearest Metro station: Floresta
Inside Museo Entomológico Piedras Blancas
17. Other Medellín Museums: Museo Entornológico Piedras Blancas (MEPB)
Museo Entomológico Piedras Blancas is an insect museum located in Parque Piedras Blancas. On exhibit in one large room are hundreds of insects out of a collection of reportedly over 15,000 preserved insect specimens from various regions of Colombia.
You will see beetles, butterflies, ants, bees, wasps, flies, chinches, cockroaches, mosquitoes and other arthropods such as tarantulas, centipedes and many more species. There are even a few living insects on display. This museum is relatively small but is very popular with kids.
Entrance fee: 7,500 pesos for the museum plus 5,700 pesos to enter the park. Entrance to the museum is free for kids less than 7-years-old.
Address: Vereda Piedra Blancas
Telephone: +57 4 460 1100 ext. 327
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday and Holidays: 9 am to 5 pm.
Nearest Metro station: Arví
Some of the pre-Hispanic art on display at Fundación Aburrá
18. Other Medellín Museums: Fundación Aburrá
Fundación Aburrá is a museum with a collection of more than 3,000 pieces of pre-Hispanic and religious art, through which it investigates and promotes the history and ancestral values of Antioquia’s culture and identity.
Unfortunately, this is a very small museum, which only has space to display a few hundred items out of its large collection. I found the items on display to be very interesting and wish they could display more of the large collection. But they rotate some items on display every few months.
Entrance fee: a voluntary donation is asked for.
Website: http://www.culturantioquia.gov.co/
Address: Calle 44A # 72-35, Barrio Florida Nueva, Medellín
Phone: +57 4 413 7436
Hours: Monday to Friday: 9 am – 5 pm. If the front door is closed during this hours, knock on the door and they will open it.
Nearest Metro station: Estadio
Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture, photo by Jenny Bojinova
19. Other Medellín Museums: Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture
Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture (Palacio del la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe) is a very distinctive building located in El Centro in Medellín. It is likely the most photographed building in the city.
The building was designed by Belgian architect Agustin Goovaerts in the Gothic Revival style. With its use of intricate black and white bricks the building really stands out as an architectural gem in the city.
The dome in the building was modeled upon New York City skyscrapers. Most of all it was built using metal supports from Belgium with a complicated structure of nuts and bolts, rather than traditional welding methods.
Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture is located in El Centro right next to Plaza Botero and also near to Museo de Antioquia.
Inside the building, visitors reportedly have access to photographic and music archives. In addition, there is a small art gallery, a library, an interior courtyard and documentation centers. Also, in the dome there is an auditorium used to show films on occasion.
The city of Medellín considers Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture to be a museum but there really isn’t that much to see in the building except for the small art gallery.
Entrance fee: Free.
Website: http://www.culturantioquia.gov.co/
Address: Carrera 51 # 52-01, El Centro
Phone: +57 4 320 9780
Hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm; Saturday: 8:00 am – 3:30 pm; Sunday and Holidays: closed.
Nearest Metro station: Parque Berrio
Inside Museo Etnográfico Madre Laura
20. Other Medellín Museums: Museo Etnográfico Madre Laura
Museo Etnográfico Madre Laura is considered a museum of religious tourism in Medellín. It spreads the legacy and testimony of Saint Mother Laura who lived and died in Medellín in 1949.
The museum’s mission is to investigate, preserve and communicate the cultural elements that are part of the ethnic groups where Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate and Saint Catherine of Siena (Mother Laura) is present in different countries of Latin America, Europe and Africa.
This museum has four small halls: Clothing, Weaving, Ceramics and Basketwork and Hunting and Fishing. There are nearly 1,500 pieces of ceramics, musical instruments and pottery of indigenous Colombia cultures as well as 21 countries where missionaries of Mother Laura are active today.
This museum to me was like a smaller version of Museo Etnográfico Miguel Angel Builes (MEMAB). But Museo Etnográfico Madre Laura doesn’t permit you to take photos. However, they let me take one photo, seen above.
Entrance fee: Free.
Address: Carrera 92 # 34D-21, Barrio Belencito, Medellín
Telephone: +57 4 252 3017
Hours: Monday to Sunday: 9 am to noon and 2 pm to 5 pm
Nearest Metro station: San Javier
Part of the Philatelic collection on display at Area Cultural Banco de la República
21. Other Medellín Museums: Area Cultural Banco de la República
Banco de la República has assumed as one of its missions, the rescue, preservation, analysis and study of pre-Hispanic, numismatic, philatelic and documentary items that make up important parts of Colombia’s cultural heritage.
The Philatelic Museum of Medellín opened its doors on June 6, 1977 and is now known as the Philatelic Collection. It has a collection of nearly 450,000 stamps from Colombia and other countries around the world. This stamp collection is exhibited in rotating exhibitions.
In addition to the Philatelic collection, the Area Cultural Banco de la República has an exhibition hall where it displays art from the bank’s large art collection.
Unless you are a stamp collector, the Philatelic Collection won’t be of much interest. And the art on display varies from time to time. When I visited recently, the art on display was photos of passengers on public transportation.
Entrance fee: Free.
Address: Calle 50 # 50-21, floors 3 and 4, El Centro, Medellín
Telephone: +57 4 576 7400 ext. 4409, 4411, 4412
Hours: Monday to Friday: 8 am to 5 pm
Nearest Metro station: Parque Berrio
Inside Museo Madre Maria Berenice
22. Other Medellín Museums: Museo Madre Maria Berenice
Museo Madre Maria Berenice is a small museum dedicated to the life and works of Mother Maria Berenice, who in 1943 founded the Religious Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Annunciation, which is now present in 15 countries.
She began her religious life at age 19 and is currently in the process of being canonized. Her evangelical work was characterized by spirituality, humility and simplicity. She served those with scarce economic resources. In the museum you can see items from her work and also her personal objects, such as cutlery she used, her soap dish and the last vestment she wore before her death in 1993.
This is a small museum with only two rooms with items on display. The museum is located on a small enclosed campus with a church and school. And to enter you will need to be buzzed in at the outside door.
Unless interested in the religious history of someone that is in the process of being declared a saint, this small museum won’t be of interest.
Entrance fee: Free.
Address: Carrera 21 # 40-135, Medellín
Telephone: +54 4 221 9820
Hours: Monday to Sunday: 9 am to noon and 3 pm to 6 pm.
Nearest Metro station: Miraflores
Museo Choza Marco Fidel Suárez
23. Other Medellín Museums: Museo Choza Marco Fidel Suárez
Museo Choza Marco Fidel Suárez is located in Bello and is near Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario, which is arguably the most beautiful church in the Medellín metropolitan area. This museum is also considered a National Monument.
Suárez rose from humble beginnings in Bello to become the president of Colombia from 1918 to 1921. In addition, inside the museum is a small hut, which was where Suárez was born.
In the museum, there is also a collection of some of Suárez’s personal objects donated by his granddaughter Teresa Morales de Gómez. These include photographs, letters, manuscripts, the Presidential Band and the primer on which he learned to read. There is also a bust in honor of Rosalía Suárez, mother of the former president.
This is a very small museum that isn’t really worth visiting unless you are interested in Colombia’s presidential history.
Entrance fee: Free.
Address: Carrera 50 # 52-57, Bello
Phone: +57 4 275 8995
Nearest Metro station: Bello
24. Other Medellín Museums: Museo Biciclasicas y Antiguas
Museo Biciclasicas y Antiguas (Museum of Classic and Ancient Bicycles) is a small museum in Bello with many old bicycles and also restores bicycles.
This is reportedly the first museum of classic and ancient bicycles in Colombia. And it has over 600 bicycles. The owner is passionate about bicycles and is also a woodcarver and painter.
However, unless you are a fan of old bicycles this small museum likely won’t be of much interest.
Entrance fee: a voluntary donation is asked for.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/museobiciclasicas/
Address: Calle 47 # 46-41, Bello
Telephone: +57 4 597 2956
Nearest Metro Station: Bello
25. Other Medellín Museums: Museo Víztaz
Last but not least is Museo Víztaz. Museo Víztaz isn’t really a physical museum but it’s considered a museum by the city of Medellín. The Víztaz Museum offers a traveling “room” tour of photographic equipment from different periods, accompanied by some historical photographs taken with these cameras.
Museo Víztaz has many photos including many photos of Feria de las Flores, antique photos, contemporary photos, panoramic photos and many others.
Closed Medellín Museums
While researching the museums in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley, we discovered some that are closed.
For example, Casa Museo Zoológico Santa Fe is a museum located at Parque Zoológico Santa Fe that is currently closed for renovation.
We also found that Sala Museo Arqueológico in Envigado, El Museo Casablanca in Envigado and Museo Graciliano Arcila Vélez in Itagüí are three additional museums that appear to be closed.
In addition, a Pablo Escobar museum was closed in September 2018 by the city of Medellín. This museum was run by Pablo’s brother Robert. And it was closed for operating illegally and failing to have a license with the national tourism office.
The Best of Medellín
Besides this article about the 12 best museums of Medellín and the Aburrá Valley, Medellin Guru has several additional best of Medellín articles:
- 35 Top Things to Do in Medellín and Nearby: Top Tourist Attractions
- 21 Best FREE Things to Do in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 17 Top Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Medellín and Nearby
- 14 Best Malls of Medellín – the Ultimate Guide to Medellín Malls
- 12 Best Museums of Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 8 Best Pueblos Near Medellín Worth Visiting
- 7 Best Panoramic Views of Medellín
- 5 Best Neighborhoods in Medellín
- 2 Best Walking Tours in Medellín
- 14 Top Churches in Medellín Worth Visiting
- 22 Best Mobile Apps to Use in Medellín and Colombia
Also, Medellin Guru has several more articles about the best restaurants and coffee shops in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley:
- 19 Best restaurants in Laureles in Medellín
- 15 Best Restaurants in Envigado, Colombia
- 15 Best Restaurants in Sabaneta, Colombia
- 14 Best Pizza Places in Medellín: The Best Pizzerias in the City
- 13 Best Burgers in Medellín: Best Burger Places in the Aburrá Valley
- 12 Best Steakhouses in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 12 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in El Poblado
- 10 Best Mexican Restaurants in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 9 Best Colombian Restaurants in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 9 Best Italian Restaurants in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 9 Best Places for Brunch in El Poblado
- 5 Best Independent Coffee Shops in El Poblado
- 8 Top Coffee Shops in Laureles
- 5 Best Nano/Micro Breweries in Medellín
The Bottom Line: Medellín Museums – the 12 Best Museums in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
Medellin has many museums and we looked at a total of 26 museums in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley to select the 12 best museums that are definitely worth visiting.
Medellin Guru is the only website I am aware of that has information about all 26 of the museums in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley.
Also, if you know about any museums in the Aburrá Valley we missed, please let us know and we’ll add to this article.
In addition, “What are the best Medellín museums?” is a common question asked by expats visiting Medellín. So, we included this question in our list of Medellín frequently asked questions (FAQ).
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Editors note: updated on September 28, 2018 to add information that a Pablo Escobar museum in Medellín was closed.
Editors note: updated on November 23, 2018 to add the new Toucan Museo Del Cafe.
Editors note: updated on December 1, 2018 with new Museo El Castillo entrance fees.
Editors note: updated on December 5, 2020 to remove Toucan Museo Del Cafe, which has closed.
4 thoughts on “Medellín Museums: 12 Best Museums in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley”
Hi Jeff,
Do you know when the Museo Casablanca — Débora Arango’s museum — will open?
Saludos,
Nancy
It has been closed about 10 times I have gone by during the day and there is no phone number to be found online and no website, just some old articles about the museum from last year. So, it appears to be permanently closed.
Great post! Thank you.
Thanks for this helpful museum guide. I didn’t know about several of the museums on the list.