Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca Photos
Recommended Reviews - Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca
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Walked here on a Thursday afternoon in early July 2023. There was a line when we got there. Google maps says it closes at 3pm but the staff said it closes at 5pm. The facility was very beautiful. There weren't that many displays but the grounds were nice to walk around in. The gardens around the museum were gorgeous. It was a nice change in pace to the city. Make sure you use the restroom before leaving because if you leave you will not be able to get back into the building without a ticket. There is a paid restroom near the Oxxo across the street diagonally. It costs MX$10 but the machine provides change for bills up to MX$50. They also have free bag storage for all guests. Probably why the line was moving so slow to get into the museum. The museum does not have any kind of cafe or food sold.
If you're visiting the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzman, don't miss this great museum (housed in the former convent connected to the church). It's beautiful (amazing architecture, great views of the botanic gardens and the mountains surrounding Oaxaca) and houses a great collection of pre-Columban artifacts (many from nearby Monte Alban). There are large signs that provide English translation of all historical plaques in each room, so don't worry if your Spanish isn't great. We spent more time here than I had anticipated, and I wish we'd had more! It's a great museum, don't miss it when you're exploring Oaxaca!
Splendid in every way--a magnificent 16th century Baroque building, extraordinary views of gardens from the windows, breath-taking exhibits, including the permanent exhibit of the precious objects found in Tomb 7 at Monte Alban and a temporary textile exhibit of the work of Elena Martinez Bolio, a Yucatecan embroiderer, painter, weaver, and seamstress. She says her work is an homage to both traditional wisdom and new expressions. You can spend hours in these lovely, cool rooms.
This museum was on the majority of To Do lists for Oaxaca. Culture museums can be hit or miss, but it was sweltering hot out and my husband and I needed a break from walking in the intense sun. We paid the 70 pesos and said "no thank you" to some guides offering their services at the entryway. If you speak/read Spanish you prob won't need a guide as the placards are in Spanish. Some areas such as the well-organized Tomb 7 exhibition have explanations written in both English in Spanish. There were also a few interactive tablets where you can read about items found in the tomb in Spanish and English. I liked the installment at the bottom floor with the jade and explanation of its use in burials. (The famous jade skull is located within the Tomb 7 exhibit). From the minute my husband and I set foot inside, we were both really impressed with the architecture and enjoyed learning about the history of the Oaxacan state. There was information about everything including textiles/clothing, food, art, and religion relating to pre-hispanic and up to modern culture. It was our first time in Oaxaca and everything we learned at the Museo de las Culturas set us up for a strong understanding of what we viewed throughout our trip and at the Monte Alban ruins the next day. Other: - entrance is to the left of the Templo de Santo Domingo - housed in a former Dominican convent - you can easily spend 3 hours in here, wear your walking shoes and if you get lost in the hallways - it is the usual!
The museum is inside a former convent. The entrance is to the left side of what seems like an active church - so don't get confused. No water is allowed inside. Admission is 90 Pesos - except on Sundays for local Mexicans with ID. There are various exhibits on different levels - with tickets scanned to enter the upper one. I actually thought the lower exhibit about dogs was more interesting - but it is only in Spanish. There is some signage in English in the upper exhibits - but not everywhere. The gardens are entered though a separate entrance outside. A gift shop is located near the entrance. There is no charge to use any of the restrooms. There are MANY uniformed police patrolling inside. Taking photographs is discouraged. There are optional paid selfie areas on the second level.
Its one of those experiences that frames the history of the place you're visiting and makes you say, "oh, now I get it! " Im not a mega museum fan but this one is curated from local history and artists and is a must when in Oaxaca. Let your imagination run wild with the events that must have taken place in the stunning corridors. It would be the perfect place for a masquerade ball. read more
Gorgeous museum showcasing history in Oaxaca, from the indigenous Zapotec era through the Spanish colonization. The architecture is stunning and spacious. The exhibits are super organized and clean. Highly recommended and well worth the $5 admission fee. Clean restrooms as well. read more
If you're looking to learn and see all the beauty that Oaxaca has to offer this place is worth spending time in! I am so sad I didn't have a lot of time due to a dinner reservation but I'd definitely come back. So much rich Oaxacan history and beauty! From the adorning ornamentation used to decorate and the beautiful paintings on the walls, long hallways, modern exhibitions, to the views from each window, the central courtyard, and the adjoining botanical garden (separate entrance). I seriously was awestruck everywhere I looked. read more
Walked here on a Thursday afternoon in early July 2023. There was a line when we got there. Google maps says it closes at 3pm but the staff said it closes at 5pm. The facility was very beautiful. There weren't that many displays but the grounds were nice to walk around in. The gardens around the museum were gorgeous. It was a nice change in pace to the city. Make sure you use the restroom before leaving because if you leave you will not be able to get back into the building without a ticket. There is a paid restroom near the Oxxo across the street diagonally. It costs MX$10 but the machine provides change for bills up to MX$50. They also have free bag storage for all guests. Probably why the line was moving so slow to get into the museum. The museum does not have any kind of cafe or food sold. read more
If you're visiting the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzman, don't miss this great museum (housed in the former convent connected to the church). It's beautiful (amazing architecture, great views of the botanic gardens and the mountains surrounding Oaxaca) and houses a great collection of pre-Columban artifacts (many from nearby Monte Alban). There are large signs that provide English translation of all historical plaques in each room, so don't worry if your Spanish isn't great. We spent more time here than I had anticipated, and I wish we'd had more! It's a great museum, don't miss it when you're exploring Oaxaca! read more
1 year ago
Spectacular time walking through this museum. One of the highlights of our trip. The exhibits were lovely but the building itself is the true gem read more
Splendid in every way--a magnificent 16th century Baroque building, extraordinary views of gardens from the windows, breath-taking exhibits, including the permanent exhibit of the precious objects found in Tomb 7 at Monte Alban and a temporary textile exhibit of the work of Elena Martinez Bolio, a Yucatecan embroiderer, painter, weaver, and seamstress. She says her work is an homage to both traditional wisdom and new expressions. You can spend hours in these lovely, cool rooms. read more
This museum was on the majority of To Do lists for Oaxaca. Culture museums can be hit or miss, but it was sweltering hot out and my husband and I needed a break from walking in the intense sun. We paid the 70 pesos and said "no thank you" to some guides offering their services at the entryway. If you speak/read Spanish you prob won't need a guide as the placards are in Spanish. Some areas such as the well-organized Tomb 7 exhibition have explanations written in both English in Spanish. There were also a few interactive tablets where you can read about items found in the tomb in Spanish and English. I liked the installment at the bottom floor with the jade and explanation of its use in burials. (The famous jade skull is located within the Tomb 7 exhibit). From the minute my husband and I set foot inside, we were both really impressed with the architecture and enjoyed learning about the history of the Oaxacan state. There was information about everything including textiles/clothing, food, art, and religion relating to pre-hispanic and up to modern culture. It was our first time in Oaxaca and everything we learned at the Museo de las Culturas set us up for a strong understanding of what we viewed throughout our trip and at the Monte Alban ruins the next day. Other: - entrance is to the left of the Templo de Santo Domingo - housed in a former Dominican convent - you can easily spend 3 hours in here, wear your walking shoes and if you get lost in the hallways - it is the usual! read more
The museum is inside a former convent. The entrance is to the left side of what seems like an active church - so don't get confused. No water is allowed inside. Admission is 90 Pesos - except on Sundays for local Mexicans with ID. There are various exhibits on different levels - with tickets scanned to enter the upper one. I actually thought the lower exhibit about dogs was more interesting - but it is only in Spanish. There is some signage in English in the upper exhibits - but not everywhere. The gardens are entered though a separate entrance outside. A gift shop is located near the entrance. There is no charge to use any of the restrooms. There are MANY uniformed police patrolling inside. Taking photographs is discouraged. There are optional paid selfie areas on the second level. read more
10 years ago
Beautifully historic and grand museum in Oaxaca that shares a lot of the cultural history of Oaxaca. The collection of art is vast and you can spend nearly 3-4 hours viewing. We decided to skip the scheduled tour and guide ourselves through this gorgeous structure, which was once the old convent of the Dominican order, next to the church of Santo Domingo. We visited the museum after the tour of Monte Alban, so we were able to see all of the collections of 14th Century items. The exhibit rooms contain displays from the stone era of hunters and gatherers, the first agricultural plants, early ceramics, the great treasure discovered in Tomb 7 of Monte Alban, to the recent renovation of the structure a few years ago. Being a fan of architecture, the historic old building blew me away. All of the details from the hallways, windows, the history and rich culture of Oaxaca. Great place to visit. read more
4 years ago
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