What it is and context
If you think Cartagena is just beach, rum, and salsa after sunset, you are missing half the city. Once a year, when the sun hides behind the walls and the heat of the day subsides, something happens that transforms the Centro Histórico, Getsemaní, and San Diego into a giant open-air exhibition hall. We are talking about the Night of the Museums, an event that in May 2026 promises to be the most ambitious to date.
To give you an idea: this year's edition (confirmed for May 15, 2026) will open the doors of 17 official museums and more than 27 additional cultural and historical spaces, adding up to over 40 places that normally close at 5 p.m. But beware, not everything that shines in the city council brochures is worth it. Massive exhibitions like the Museo del Oro or the Palacio de la Inquisición will always be packed with tourists. What is really worth it, what a true local from Cartagena will tell you about, are those five exhibitions that almost nobody knows about and that define the intellectual Cartagena.
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Event details
The Night of the Museums is not a new event, but in 2026 it has gained tremendous momentum. The organization has managed to get private collectors to open their homes, galleries of contemporary art that normally operate by appointment only to bring out their best pieces, and entire routes of colonial houses to become ephemeral galleries.
Here is the program with the five mandatory stops that no mass tour will recommend:
1. The hidden gem of San Diego neighborhood: Private collection at Casa del Arzobispado
On a cobblestone street in San Diego, right next to the Iglesia de Santo Domingo, there is a carved wooden door that almost nobody notices. It is the Casa del Arzobispado, and during the Night of the Museums it opens its private collection of religious art and 17th-century colonial furniture. The cool thing here is not just the paintings, but the hidden details: a series of old maps of Cartagena drawn by Spanish military engineers showing what the city was like before the Getsemaní neighborhood existed. It is only open from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and capacity is extremely limited. Arrive early.
2. The contemporary art space that only opens that night: La Galería del Pasaje
On the second floor of a commercial passage in the Centro, hidden between craft shops and a laundromat, there is a 200-square-meter loft that during the year functions as a private workshop for a collective of local artists. It is called La Galería del Pasaje (it has no official name on Google Maps, ask any old taxi driver for "the workshop of the guys from Calle Larga"). This 19th-century industrial warehouse only opens its doors to the public during the Night of the Museums. This year's exhibition is called "Cartagena Invisible" and features installations made with recycled materials from the metro works, photographs of the inner courtyards that tourists never see, and a video installation about the street vendors of the Centro. It is raw, it is real, and it is the antithesis of the postcard. Free entry, but they ask for a $10,000 COP donation for the venue's electricity.
3. The route of colonial houses with temporary exhibitions: El Circuito de los Patios
This is not a single museum, but a route connecting three colonial houses in the La Matuna neighborhood (yes, the ugly one, but its old houses are gems). The Casa de la Proclamación, the Casa del Virrey, and the Casa del Marqués de Torrehoyo open their central courtyards with temporary exhibitions by emerging Colombian artists. The interesting thing is that each house has a different theme: the first features contemporary Wayuu textile art, the second has photographs of Cartagena from the 1950s, and the third has a sound installation with recordings of the city's street vendors' calls. The full tour takes about two hours walking at a leisurely pace. All are open until midnight.
4. The Museum of Slavery (nighttime version)
This is a small space, run by an Afro-descendant foundation, located in a narrow alley in Getsemaní. During the day it is a serious, academic museum, but on the Night of the Museums it transforms. At 8:00 p.m. they turn off the electric lights and light candles and oil lamps. They offer a guided tour in the dark where a local historian narrates the stories of the enslaved people who built the walls. It is a sensory experience that gives you goosebumps. Capacity is 20 people per session, so you must book in advance at the museum's ticket office (they don't have a website, you have to go in person the day before). Entry costs $15,000 COP.
5. Palacio Molina: The night of wine and private collections
The Palacio Molina, that 18th-century aristocratic mansion on Plaza de los Coches, is usually closed to the public most of the year. But on the Night of the Museums, it opens its halls with a selection of pieces from private collections of Cartagena families: Chinese porcelain from the colonial era, hand-carved mahogany furniture, and a series of portraits of the city's founders that have never been exhibited publicly. Additionally, they serve Spanish wine and typical snacks (egg empanadas and costeño cheese) in the central courtyard. The atmosphere is elegant but relaxed. Entry costs $25,000 COP and includes a glass of wine.
Prices and how to get tickets
Most of the spaces in the Night of the Museums are free or have symbolic costs. But beware, the exhibitions I mentioned above have limited capacity and fill up quickly. Here is the summary:
- Casa del Arzobispado: Free entry, but arrive 30 minutes before opening (7:00 p.m.). No reservation.
- La Galería del Pasaje: Free with a voluntary donation of $10,000 COP. No reservation, it is first-come, first-served.
- Circuito de los Patios (3 houses): Free entry. No reservation needed, but avoid peak hours (9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.).
- Museum of Slavery (nighttime version): $15,000 COP. Mandatory reservation at the ticket office one day in advance. Ask for the "visit in the dark".
- Palacio Molina: $25,000 COP (includes wine and snacks). It is recommended to buy tickets at the door from 6:00 p.m. They do not accept credit cards.
Prices are reference for May 2026. Bring cash, as many spaces do not have card machines.
How to get there
The Night of the Museums covers the entire Centro Histórico, Getsemaní, and San Diego. The best way to get around is on foot. The streets will be closed to vehicular traffic from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. within the perimeter of the walled city.
If you are coming from Bocagrande or El Laguito, take a taxi to the Torre del Reloj (it costs about $12,000 COP). From there, walk inward. If you are in Getsemaní, everything is a 10-minute walk away.
For those coming by private car, the best parking lot is on Avenida Santander (in front of the Convention Center), with a flat rate of $15,000 COP for the whole night. Do not try to park inside the walls, you will get a fine or your car will be scratched.
Tips for attendees
Here are the tips that no tourist brochure will give you:
- Start at 6:30 p.m. Most people arrive at 8:00 p.m. If you start early, you will get the most exclusive spots without lines.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You will walk about 8 kilometers in total. The cobblestone streets are beautiful but will destroy your feet if you wear heels or flat sandals.
- Bring a reusable water bottle. There are hydration points at Plaza de los Coches and Plaza de la Aduana, but they are scarce.
- Do not be fooled by informal guides. At the Torre del Reloj you will find dozens of people offering "exclusive tours" for $50,000 COP. Most of them only take you to the big, crowded museums. I