In this guide
Museo del Barro is inside Asunción, in the Isla de Francia neighbourhood, and only opens at 14:00, Tuesday to Saturday (Museo del Barro (opens in a new tab)). That makes the best day out a ceramics route: a morning in Areguá, about 30 km away, seeing how pottery is made today, and an afternoon at the museum seeing four centuries of that tradition. Go on a Friday or Saturday, when the museum is free and everything in Areguá is open.
The route at a glance
Time · Stop · Where
Morning · Centro Cultural del Lago and potters' fair · Central Areguá
Midday · Estación A, La Candelaria church, lunch · Central Areguá
Afternoon · Museo del Barro, 14:00 to 20:00 · Isla de Francia, Asunción
If you only have the afternoon, skip Areguá and give the museum two or three hours.
Morning in Areguá: where pottery is still made
Areguá is about 30 km from Asunción, on the shore of Lake Ypacaraí (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). Park near La Candelaria church and walk, because the centre has narrow cobbled streets.
- Centro Cultural del Lago. At Yegros 855. Its Ceramics Museum holds pieces from Areguá, Itá and Tobatí, and the shop sells pottery, books and textiles (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab); ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)). In March 2025 it opened Thursday and Friday 9:00–17:00 and Saturday 10:00–18:00; check its Instagram, @centroculturaldellago, before you go. It is the best warm-up for the afternoon.
- Potters' fair on Avenida De la Candelaria. The town's craft strip, with planters, amphorae, religious figures, tableware and ornaments. In 2023 it opened 08:00–22:00 with prices from G. 5,000 (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)). Buy small pieces if you are taking the bus to the museum.
- Asociación de Artesanos Aregüeños. On the Areguá–Patiño road on the way out of town, selling high-fired tableware from the Noborigama kiln (ABC Revista, 2023 (opens in a new tab); Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). It is on your way if you leave via Patiño.
Midday: station, church and lunch
- Estación A. The old railway station is now a cultural space, and its platform has been turned into a lawn for sitting down with tereré (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- La Candelaria church. Old houses on cobbled streets lead up to it (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- Lunch: the centre has pizzerias, cafés and snack bars. Eat there and leave for Asunción around 13:00 so you reach the museum as it opens.
One thread links both stops: artist Carlos Colombino lived in Areguá (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)) and designed the Museo del Barro building (Museo del Barro (opens in a new tab)).
Afternoon: Museo del Barro
Go in at 14:00 and start with the folk art rooms, which connect directly with your morning: more than 4,000 mestizo pieces from the 17th century on, 300 pre-Columbian ceramics, Kamba Ra'anga masks from the festivals of Tobatí and Altos, and ñandutí lace (collection (opens in a new tab)). Then move on to the Indigenous art museum and finish with contemporary art.
- Entry: free on Friday and Saturday; G. 50,000 Tuesday to Thursday (Museo del Barro (opens in a new tab)).
- Address: Grabadores del Cabichuí 2716, between Cañada and Emeterio Miranda.
- Guided tour: book 48 hours ahead on (0993) 36 00 33; G. 200,000 for up to 20 people (Museo del Barro (opens in a new tab)).
- Shop: El Almacén de Doña Estela sells pottery from Itá and Tobatí, Aché basketry and textiles from Carapeguá, Itauguá and Yataity (Museo del Barro (opens in a new tab)).
In October 2026 the museum closed for a few days after hail damaged its roof and announced it would reopen on 9 October (Museo del Barro (opens in a new tab)). Check its home page on the morning of your trip.
Getting between the stops
- By car: the simplest way to do both places in one day. At the museum, the landmark is Avenida Aviadores del Chaco at Molas López (Museo del Barro (opens in a new tab)).
- By bus: the museum lists the Luque-Areguá line (Petrobras stop) among the routes that drop you nearby, along with lines 28, 30 Aeropuerto and 44 Autopista (Museo del Barro (opens in a new tab)). Ask the driver whether your bus passes that stop.
- Heat: in summer, Paraguay's Health Ministry advises outdoor activity before 10:00 or after 17:00 (MSPBS (opens in a new tab)). This route fits: walk Areguá early, then spend the hot afternoon indoors at the museum.
Days when this route does not work
- Sunday and Monday: Museo del Barro is closed.
- Tuesday and Wednesday: the museum opens, but the Centro Cultural del Lago did not on its 2025 schedule.
- Thursday: it works, but you pay museum entry.
FAQ
Which day is best for a Museo del Barro day trip?
Friday or Saturday: the museum is free and Areguá's Centro Cultural del Lago is open too. The museum is closed on Sunday and Monday.
What time does Museo del Barro open?
Tuesday to Saturday, 14:00 to 20:00. Use the morning for another stop, such as Areguá.
How far is Areguá from Asunción?
About 30 km. By car you can do Areguá in the morning and the museum in the afternoon without rushing.
Can you get to Museo del Barro by bus?
Yes. The museum lists lines 28, 30 Aeropuerto, 44 Autopista and Luque-Areguá (Petrobras stop).
