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.
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.
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.
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.
