Attraction
Teatro Colón
Buenos Aires' great opera house, opened in 1908 with Verdi's Aida and famed for its acoustics, with daily 50-minute guided tours of its halls.
MALBA
A modern museum of Latin American art opened in 2001, with works by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Tarsila do Amaral and Antonio Berni.
At a glance
- Type
- Latin American art museum
- Area
- Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Tuesday)
- Official site
- malba.org.ar
Good to know
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
- Cinema programme
- Closed Tuesdays
Why we recommend it
MALBA, the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires, opened on 21 September 2001 and is devoted to 20th-century and contemporary Latin American art. It was founded by the businessman and collector Eduardo Costantini and is run by a not-for-profit foundation. The building, on Avenida Figueroa Alcorta in Palermo, came out of an open architectural competition that drew 450 proposals from 45 countries and was won by Gastón Atelman, Martín Fourcade and Alfredo Tapia, and the Argentine firm AFT Architects carried out the project. Construction began in 1998.
The heart of the museum is the Malba–Costantini collection, shown as a permanent exhibition. Its best-known work is Tarsila do Amaral's Abaporu of 1928, a founding image of Brazilian modernism. Other highlights include Frida Kahlo's Self-Portrait with Monkey and Parrot of 1942 and Diego and I of 1949, Diego Rivera's portrait of Ramón Gómez de la Serna, Antonio Berni's Manifestación of 1934, Emilio Pettoruti's La canción del pueblo, and works by Remedios Varo, Wifredo Lam, Roberto Matta, Leonora Carrington, Candido Portinari and Joaquín Torres García. In December 2025 the museum acquired the Daros Latinamerica Collection, which comprises 1,233 works by 117 artists.
Temporary exhibitions change regularly. At the time of writing, the museum was showing Viva Frida and a Belkis Ayón exhibition, Mito y desobediencia, both until 15 March 2027. MALBA marked its 25th anniversary in September 2026 and also runs a second venue, Malba Puertos, which opened in Escobar, outside the city, in 2024.
The museum is open from Thursday to Monday from 12:00 to 20:00 and on Wednesday from 11:00 to 20:00; it is closed on Tuesday. Two hours is enough for the collection and one exhibition. There is also a restaurant, Coronado, a shop with catalogues, books and objects, and a cinema programme that shows new releases, with regular Friday evening screenings.
MALBA suits anyone with an interest in modern art, and its Wednesday opening at 11:00 makes it a good choice for an early start. It sits at Avenida Figueroa Alcorta 3415 in Palermo, so it combines well with the Japanese Garden, which is also beside the avenue, and with the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in neighbouring Recoleta.
MALBA FAQs
What are MALBA's opening hours?
Thursday to Monday 12:00 to 20:00 and Wednesday 11:00 to 20:00; the museum is closed on Tuesday.
What are the most famous works?
Tarsila do Amaral's Abaporu, Frida Kahlo's Self-Portrait with Monkey and Parrot and Diego and I, and works by Diego Rivera and Antonio Berni.
What exhibitions are on?
Viva Frida and Belkis Ayón's Mito y desobediencia run until 15 March 2027; check the website for the latest programme.
Is there somewhere to eat?
Yes, the museum restaurant is called Coronado.
How long should I allow?
Around two hours for the permanent collection and one temporary exhibition.
How can I contact the museum?
The website lists the email [email protected].
What is nearby?
The Japanese Garden is also beside Avenida Figueroa Alcorta, and the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes is in neighbouring Recoleta.