What to do · Agaete and the North-West of Gran Canaria
Cueva Pintada Museum and Archaeological Park in Gáldar
Information
- From
- €6 per person
- Duration
- 1 h 10
- Season
- All year, Tuesday to Sunday
- Who it's for
- All ages; no architectural barriers
What it is
The Cueva Pintada museum and archaeological park, in the centre of Gáldar, protects a village of the ancient Canarians with some sixty excavated structures and, at its heart, the painted chamber: a dug-out chamber with walls decorated in several colours, the best-known piece of Gran Canaria's archaeology. The route starts in the museum rooms, with audiovisual displays about pre-Hispanic society, the discovery of the cave and the excavations, and objects found in them. Then you go down into the archaeological park along walkways, among houses rebuilt at full size with their doors, roofs and walls.
Hours and price
From October to May it is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 and Sundays and public holidays from 11:00 to 18:00; from June to September, Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 to 19:30 and Sundays from 11:00 to 19:30. On Mondays it is closed all year, and also on 1, 5 and 6 January, 1 May and 24, 25 and 31 December. General admission costs €6; reduced, €3, for over-65s and students up to 23. Under-18s, the unemployed and people with disabilities get in free.
Sunday is free
Every Sunday admission is free, but it cannot be booked: tickets are handed out on the day at the museum, until capacity is full and with a maximum of two per person. Arrive at opening, at 11:00. On Sundays there is only a self-guided or assisted visit, with no guide. The rest of the week it is best to buy in advance on the museum's ticket website: capacity is limited and cash is no longer accepted.
Guided visits
In Spanish they leave every half hour from opening, with a maximum of 25 people. In English at 12:30, in German at 14:30 and in French at 15:00. The last guided tour leaves at 16:30 in winter and at 18:00 in summer.
Getting there
The museum is at Calle Audiencia 2, in the centre of Gáldar, about 27 km from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria along the GC-2. The nearest car park is at Calle Guillén Morales 1A. By bus, Global lines 103 and 105, and the 100, which runs direct between Las Palmas and Gáldar.
Tips
- Allow 70 minutes That is what the museum recommends for seeing everything. If you go in half an hour before closing you will only see half.
- No flash, and nothing inside the cave Photos are allowed along the whole route except in the painted chamber.
- Eat in the square The Agáldar Restaurant is on Plaza de Santiago, a couple of minutes' walk away.
Frequently asked questions
How much is admission?
€6 general and €3 reduced. Free on Sundays, and for under-18s every day.
Is it open on Mondays?
No. It is open Tuesday to Sunday.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The museum and the village are covered by walkways with lifts and wide doors.
Do I need to book?
Tuesday to Saturday, it is better to buy in advance on the website. On Sunday, when it is free, you cannot book: you collect the ticket at the ticket office.
As a familyWith teenagers
