Museum of Art of Puerto Rico (Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico)
The Basics
Formerly San Juan’s municipal hospital, the museum's vast space is cleverly packed with essential Puerto Rican artists including Rafael Ferrer, Francisco Oller, and Jose Campeche, among others. A lovely garden landscaped with native flora, waterfalls, ponds and winding pathways leads to 16 sculptures, a theater, and a conservation lab. Skip the line by purchasing your ticket in advance.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Museum of Art of Puerto Rico is ideal for art and culture lovers.
- Admission fees may vary.
- Check the calendar for concerts and festivals.
- The museum is wheelchair accessible.
- Take your kids to the child-oriented section downstairs.
- Take a relaxing break in the leafy sculpture garden.
Trip ideas
How to Get There
The Museum of Art of Puerto Rico is 3.9 miles (6.3 kilometers) from Old San Juan. Walk to Terminal Covadonga bus station to catch the T3 Estacion Sagrado Corazon Bus to Reverendo Ollengo. From there, walk a few minutes to the museum.
When to Get There
The museum is open daily except Tuesday, from morning until evening. Visit in the early hours to avoid the crowds. Weather year-round on the island is pleasant. Peak season runs from December through March. An ideal time to visit is mid-April to June, when the crowds have left.
Wildcard
Museum Hopping Soak up San Juan’s rich cultural history by combining a visit to the nearby Museum of History, Anthropology and Art. Located in the campus of Puerto Rico University, this compact museum displays a fascinating collection of pre-Colombian relics. Don’t miss El Velorio (The Wake), the famous painting by Francisco Oller, which depicts the wake of a child’s funeral. Oller created the oversized artwork in 1893 and it is one of very few paintings by the master artist that have survived.
- Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center (Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré)
- San Juan Bay
- La Calle Loiza
- Fine Arts Miramar
- Old San Juan Piers
- Isla Verde
- Museum of History, Anthropology and Art (Museo de Historia, Antropología y Arte)
- Castillo San Cristobal
- La Fortaleza (The Fortress)
- Paseo de la Princesa
- Chapel of Christ (Capilla del Cristo)
- San Juan Cathedral (Catedral de San Juan Bautista)
- Mercado de Río Piedras
- Pine Grove Beach
- Old San Juan