La Noche de Los Museos is a yearly Buenos Aires cultural extravaganza where it seems virtually every door in the city is swung open, inviting visitors to wander through to take in some art and culture.
Every year, tens of thousands take to the streets to visit museums, galleries and even government and private historic buildings to see exhibitions, live music, theater, spoken word and dance performances throughout the city.
What to See on Buenos Aires Museum Night
While some plan their evening in advance, carefully selecting which events and museums they will visit, it is also enjoyable to have a whimsical night following the crowds to see what one finds.
A good starting point for those downtown is the stunning Casa de Cultura at Avenida de Mayo near Peru Street.
From there one can walk to the to the City Legislature, the Cabildo and the World Tango Museum, and the crazy-looking Bank of London/Banco Hipotecario building by Clorinda Testa at Reconquista 101. The Palacio de las Aguas Corrientes is also worth checking out early in the evening. All those centrally-located buildings and more have special events on Museum Night.
Down by the water in La Boca, visitors can visit Fundación Proa, see an exhibition put on by the city’s Fine Art Museum on El Caminito, visit the El Rincón de Lucia Tenement Museum and enjoy live entertainment on the waterfront and at the Teatro de La Ribera, among other offerings.
In Recoleta, the Centro Cultural Recoleta will be ground zero, with various events and exhibitions. Nearby, doors will be open at the Palais de Glace, the Architecture Museum and the University of Buenos Aires Law Department Archive.
When Museum Night began in 1995, the neighborhood of Puerto Madero was barely on the map. Today the neighborhood offers enough art and culture that one could spend the whole evening there. One gallery that starving artists won’t want to miss is the Colección de Arte Amalia Lacroze de Fortabat. The entrance fee to view the private collection is normally one of the most expensive in the city.
From there, museum goers can walk over to the old Munich Brewery, now the Humor Museum, or the Frigate President Sarmiento Museum and the Corbeta Uruguay Museum.
Free La Noche de los Museos Bus Pass
For those who want to get around to various sites across the city, the major bus lines will allow museum goers to ride free as long as you have a copy of the La Noche de Los Museos bus pass. Even better, you can make it a two-wheeled adventure, using the free bikes available through the free ‘Eco-bike’ program.
While some of the city’s largest and most popular museums such as MALBA, El Museo de Bella Artes and the Natural Science Museum participate, they typically attract big crowds and might be better left until after midnight or another day.
With over 240 museums and cultural spaces participating in every neighborhood of the city, it’s impossible to see it all. To search for specific events or to do a search by neighborhood, see the guide linked below.
The evening begins at 8 p.m. and ends at a rather tame 3 a.m. for nocturnal Buenos Aires.
La Noche de los Museos 2019
La Noche de Los Museos Guide
November 2
Time 8:00 p.m. — 3:00 a.m.
-Across Buenos Aires
-Free