Museo de Arte Contemporáneo "Eduardo Westerdahl"

The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo "Eduardo Westerdahl" is a small but historically significant museum of 20th-century art in the heart of Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife. Named after the art critic who founded it in 1953, it was among the very first institutions in Spain dedicated entirely to contemporary art, launched around the same time as the Museo Español de Arte Contemporáneo in Madrid.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The museum occupies the Casa de la Real Aduana, a 17th-century former customs house standing near the old harbour of Puerto de la Cruz. It sits right in the walkable old town, just a few minutes from Plaza del Charco and the seafront, surrounded by other historic buildings. If you're exploring the old quarter on foot, you'll pass close to it naturally — no bus or car needed.

What will you actually see inside?

The collection covers 20th-century art starting in the 1930s and is arranged around several themes: Surrealism, international art from 1935 to 1964, post-war Spanish art, and Canarian art from the 1950s and 1960s. Names on display include figures associated with the European avant-garde, such as Eileen Agar and Oscar Domínguez, alongside Spanish and island artists like César Manrique, Manuel Millares, and Juan Ismael. In one compact building you can trace how currents of European modernism reached the Canary Islands and how local artists reworked those ideas in their own visual language.

The building itself — a former customs warehouse with thick stone walls and an interior courtyard — is worth a look on its own terms, offering a striking contrast between colonial-era architecture and the often abstract, modern works hung inside it.

When should you go, and how long does it take?

The museum opens Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00, with extra evening hours on Fridays from 17:00 to 19:30. It's closed on Sundays. Given the modest size of the collection, a full visit typically takes 45 minutes to an hour — a good stop to break up a walk through the old town, perhaps combined with the nearby Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia church or the town's market. It's worth checking current hours before you go, since they can shift on public holidays.

Who is this museum for?

This is a destination for anyone curious about 20th-century art and the cultural history of the Canary Islands, rather than a full-day gallery. It's an intimate space where you can spend real time with original Surrealist and post-war avant-garde works without the crowds you'd find at larger museums.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee? Yes, the museum charges a small admission fee; it's worth checking the current price locally or at the tourist information point, since rates and any discounts can change.

How much time should I plan for a visit? Given the compact size of the collection, 45 to 60 minutes is enough even if you look at everything carefully.

Is it a good stop for families with children? It's a calm, uncrowded place, but given the abstract and Surrealist nature of the collection, it will likely appeal more to older children and teenagers than to very young kids.

Can I combine it with other sights in Puerto de la Cruz? Easily — the museum sits in the historic centre, so it fits naturally into a walking route that also covers Plaza del Charco, the old harbour, and the nearby churches.