Discover the Best Museums in Havana, Cuba

Despite a few shortages in recent years, Cuba’s capital certainly isn’t lacking in culture. Havana boasts more than 50 venerable museums, many of which are free to visit.

You’ll find museums dedicated to playing cards, various aspects of pharmaceuticals, a homage to Ernest Hemingway, and establishments honoring famous figures such as José Martí, Simón Bolívar, Napoleon, and Che Guevara. Moreover, if you’re not fond of art, you can explore the intricacies of Havana Club at a rum museum, or delve into the charm of a community-inspired museum of barbers. Here are the eight best museums in Havana.

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

Best museum for Cuban art

Cuba is a powerhouse of art, and Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, situated near Habana Vieja and Centro Habana, is its creative apex. The best section to visit if you’re short on time is the seminal Cuban collection, located in a sleek modernist building next to the Museo de la Revolución.

Displays follow a rough chronology starting from the third floor downwards. Prepare to be enlightened by politically tinged pop-art, vibrant abstract expressions, and stunning floral and fruit works. Specific paintings to seek out include La Gitana Tropical, often called the “Latin Mona Lisa,” by Victor Manuel, and Tercer Mundo by Wifredo Lam, Cuba’s most famous and influential artist. It is worth considering a guided tour for a more personalized experience.

Museo de la Revolución

Best museum for recent Cuban history

The biggest highlight of the emblematic Museo de la Revolución is arguably the building itself. Housed in the former presidential palace, constructed between 1913 and 1920, the museum boasts grandiose, gleaming rooms that underwent recent restoration. The mirrored Salón de los Espejos, modeled on the famous gallery at Versailles, and the glittering Salón Dorado, a former banqueting hall, are particularly impressive.

The museum visually archives Cuba’s history from indigenous times to the present day, emphasizing events from 1953 onward. However, visitors may find some content a bit prosaic as it is primarily aimed at Cubans.

Outside, you’ll find larger exhibits such as the Pavillón Granma, which contains a replica of the yacht that carried Castro and his revolutionaries to Cuba in December 1956, and several historical artifacts from pivotal moments in Cuban history.

Museo de la Ciudad

Best museum for getting to know Havana

In this museum, the building steals the show. Museo de la Ciudad narrates Havana’s history from 1519 to 1902, set within a palatial baroque structure that was home to Cuba’s Spanish rulers. The museum mixes important chapters of Havana’s history with numerous surviving relics housed in more than 40 rooms connected throughout the building. Noteworthy artifacts include captured Spanish cannons and the 17th-century Giraldilla statue, Havana’s longstanding symbol.

Museo de Artes Decorativas

Best museum for interior design

If you’re interested in the lavish lifestyles of Havana’s elite prior to Fidel Castro’s revolution, Museo de Artes Decorativas offers deep insights. Hidden away in Vedado, this museum presents an opulent residence filled with Louis XV furniture, Chantilly porcelain, and an abundance of exquisite glassware, all reflecting the former luxury enjoyed by Cuban aristocracy.

Museo Napoleónico

Best museum for Francophiles

Surprisingly enough, the Museo Napoleónico offers one of the finest collections of Napoleon-related artifacts globally. More than 7,000 objects have been curated in this beautiful mansion, showcasing swords, letters, and various other memorabilia that tell the story of France’s once-revered emperor. This unique collection leads visitors to question why it resides in Cuba, unveiling the story of a sugar baron’s fascination with Napoleon from decades past.

Museo de la Farmacia Habanera

Best living museum

Opened in 1853, Museo de la Farmacia Habanera retains its charm as an operational pharmacy. Initially, it sported a lavish interior reminiscent of Parisian clubs. This living museum showcases intricately carved wooden shelves and vibrant stained glass, transporting visitors back in time while offering homeopathic remedies to locals visiting today.

Museo de Comandancia del Che

Best museum for Guevara stories

Located in the imposing Cabaña fort, the Che Guevara museum features artifacts and images depicting the life and times of one of the most iconic figures in Cuban history. This site served as Guevara’s headquarters shortly after the revolution’s triumph, offering a glimpse into his significant yet controversial role in Cuba’s path to modernity.

Museo Hemingway

Best museum for literary enthusiasts

Arguably the most authentic homage to Hemingway exists in Havana. The Museo Hemingway, located at Finca Vigia, retains the atmosphere of the 1950s, where Hemingway lived and created. Visitors can glimpse the interior from windows and doors, offering a taste of the author’s life through his unique collection of books, art, and personal artifacts.