Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) in Bogota, Colombia 2024-2025

The biggest Gold museum in the world!

Best time: all year round

Museo del Oro is a source of pride and one of the most visited highlights of Colombia. Every year it welcomes around 500,000 visitors. The museum consists of four floors and contains more than 55,000 pieces of gold and other materials like ceramics, textiles, stone, and wood from pre-Hispanic cultures in Colombia.

For indigenous cultures gold was sacred. They used to believe that gold has an invaluable power—it can send the divine energy of the sun out to the people. You'll find out how gold was used in ancient rituals. Also you can see a vast collection of vases, earrings, masks, bags, and shells made of gold. On Sunday and on public holidays entrence is free.

Practical info

What are the opening hours of Museo del Oro?

The Museo del Oro in Bogota is open daily from 9 in the morning to 5 in the evening, with the exception of Mondays, when the museum is closed. Visitors are required to allocate a minimum of two hours to explore the galleries, which are spread over four floors. Entrance to the museum is free of charge on Sundays and public holidays.

What is the significance of gold in pre-Hispanic cultures in Colombia?

Gold was revered by pre-Hispanic cultures in Colombia as it was believed to possess the power to bring the energy of the sun to the people. The indigenous peoples used gold in religious and political ceremonies, as well as for personal adornment. Visitors can view an extensive selection of gold earrings, masks, vases, shells, and bags, among other items that were used both for secular and spiritual purposes during the exhibit.

Can non-Spanish speaking visitors fully appreciate Museo del Oro?

Visitors who require non-Spanish explanations can benefit from the provision of explanatory labels in Spanish and English, as well as audio guides in both languages. English-speaking tourists can also rely on museum staff for assistance, as they are generally fluent in the language. However, there may be challenges in navigating the galleries and understanding the significance of the pieces for tourists who are not fluent in either language, requiring help from translators or guides.

Are there any restrictions when taking pictures or videos inside the museum?

Visitors can take photographs in the galleries as long as they use flashless cameras or smartphones. Flash photography and tripods are not permitted, and any use of images for commercial purposes is forbidden. Additionally, large bags, backpacks, or items that could potentially damage exhibits must be checked in before entering the museum.

Apart from gold pieces, what other pre-Hispanic materials can be seen in the museum?

Besides the extensive collection of over 55,000 gold objects, visitors can also find other materials such as ceramics, textiles, stone, and wood in Museo del Oro's collections. Showcasing the rich and varied pre-Hispanic cultures of Tairona, Zenú, Muisca, Quimbaya, and Calima in Colombia, visitors can focus on a range of sacred artefacts and objects. One of the highlights of the exhibit is a precise and detailed copy of the gold sculpture Muisca raft, a symbol of the El Dorado myth, and an outstanding collection of ceramics from the Tumaco-La Tolita culture.