At the centre of Neuquén which seems a never-ending sprawl divided by the Ruta Nacional 22 is the Parque Central which in turn is intersected by an old railway line. Within the park itself are four museums, three of which were abandoned railway buildings from the early 19th century, now a cultural complex. It houses the Museo Municipal Doctor Gregorio Alvarez (open Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun 4pm-8pm, tel: +54 [0] 299 4491200) which recounts the history of Patagonia, the Sala de Arte Emilio Saraco, which stages temporary art exhibitions and the Museo Paraje Confluencia (open Mon-Fri 7pm-10.30pm, Sat-Sun 4pm-8pm,tel: +54 [0]299 4491200) which tells the history of Neuquen. At the southern end of the park in a modern building is the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (open Tues-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat and Sun 10am-2pm & 6pm-10pm. Tel: +54 (0) 299 4436268.) It not only features several permanent exhibitions from the Humanistic movement in Italy to French Realism and Impressionism but several works by Argentine masters from the late 19th century to the present day.

At the entrance to Parque Centenario to the north of the city is the Museo Paleontologico de Ciencias Naturales which boasts a remarkable display of dinosaur fossils from the region. Here too is a small plaza, originally called the Plaza de las Banderas in memory of the regiments which fought in the Desert Campaign, but which has since been renamed the Monumento Centenario and has just two flagpoles.To the right of the monument is the Balcón del Valle from where there are panoramic views of the city while to the left is the Observatorio Astronómico (open from 8pm, tel: +54 [0] 299 4488679).