The Museums of Tijuana

Tijuana is a vibrant cultural crossroads—and its museums offer a fascinating look at the city’s history, creativity, and playful spirit. Whether you’re taking a quick day trip across the border, or spending a weekend to enjoy all the culture that TJ has to offer, here’s an overview of some of the standout museums you won’t want to miss.

Centro Cultural Tijuana (CECUT) & Its Museums

The iconic Centro Cultural Tijuana, affectionately known as La Bola for its spherical IMAX dome, is a landmark and cultural hub hosting more than a million visitors annually. It includes theaters, an aquarium, botanical gardens, galleries, and more. Inside, you’ll find Museo de las Californias, a permanent exhibition covering Baja California’s history—from indigenous times through colonial influences into the Mexican Revolution—with eight themed rooms and over 1,000 artifacts. Nearby is El Cubo, a contemporary art space at CECUT, featuring rotating international exhibitions across multiple indoor and outdoor gallery areas.

El Trompo Interactive Museum

Perfect for families and curious minds, El Trompo Museo Interactivo combines science, technology, and play. With six interactive exhibit zones, an auditorium, a large outdoor concert arena, and creative programming, El Trompo makes learning engaging and lively for all ages.

Museo de Historia de Tijuana (MUHTI)

Located in the Palacio de la Cultura downtown, MUHTI preserves Tijuana’s history through permanent galleries dedicated to natural history, social and economic life, urban development, and culture. It offers a permanent exhibition hall as a tribute to the city, its history, and its inhabitants, showing its natural and urban landscape, economic and social life, artistic and sporting expressions. It also offers engaging exhibits for kids and special temporary shows.

Museo de la Lucha Libre Mexicana (MULLME) & Museo del Coleccionista

Located along Avenida Revolución, MULLME is Mexico’s first museum dedicated to lucha libre (professional wrestling that’s a cultural spectacle in addition to a sport). It houses nearly 7,000 pieces—from masks and costumes to posters, magazines, and memorabilia—offering a colorful tribute to one of the country’s most beloved traditions. In the same building, the Museo del Coleccionista displays vintage treasures like collectible toys, cameras, matchbooks, and everyday objects that showcase niche passions and local history.

Museo de Cera (Wax Museum)

For entertainment and whimsy, the Museo de Cera wax museum offers lifelike figures of Mexican icons—artists, leaders, and celebrities. The museum has ten rooms divided into four thematic areas: Pre-Hispanic Mexico; Missionary Period of Baja California; and History of Tijuana; Legends and Stories; and Heroes of Mexico. Here you can see replicas of historical figures such as Hidalgo, Moctezuma, Zapata, J.F. Kennedy, Gandhi, and John Paul II. And also of showbiz idols: Cantinflas, Marilyn Monroe, Pedro Infante, Elvis Presley, and more.

Museo del Taco

Nestled on the iconic Avenida Revolución in downtown Tijuana, El Museo del Taco is a playful, multi-sensory tribute to the taco, particularly the Baja‑style varieties that define the city’s vibrant food scene. Spread across three stories, the museum unfolds as a sequence of nine immersive and interactive themed rooms that walk visitors step‑by‑step through the life of a taco while inviting playful photo ops and hands‑on fun like sliding through a taco‑shaped chute or popping into an onion pit. From the moment you stash your shoes in a locker and don neon non‑slip socks, you know this isn’t a traditional museum—it’s an experience that blends tactile education with Instagram‑ready moments. After touring the exhibits, you can indulge in tacos right on site.

Casa de la Cultura Tijuana & Local Galleries

Housed in a historical neoclassical building, Casa de la Cultura Tijuana provides free or low-cost access to local art exhibits, workshops, performances, and classes managed by the city’s IMMUNAM cultural institute (IMAC). Additionally, spaces like Caja Galería and other independent local galleries support Tijuana’s grassroots arts scene with exhibitions, live music, and communal gatherings.

Quick Picks by Interest