Museum of the Revolution (Cuba)

Museum Museum in Havana housed in the former presidential palace

Housed in Havana’s former Presidential Palace, the Museum of the Revolution displays artefacts, documents and vehicles linked to Cuba’s revolutionary period and 20th‑century history.

The Museum of the Revolution (Museo de la Revolución) in Havana is housed in Cuba’s former Presidential Palace and presents exhibits on the island’s 20th-century revolutionary history. It displays artifacts, documents and objects related to the revolutionary period and state history.

Exhibits include weapons, uniforms, photographs and vehicles associated with revolutionary events; one of the museum’s prominent objects is the original motor yacht Granma, which carried revolutionaries from Mexico to Cuba in 1956. The museum also preserves ceremonial rooms and portions of the former palace to illustrate the governmental context prior to the revolution.

The building served as Havana’s Presidential Palace in the early 20th century and was repurposed after 1959 to house the museum collection and public exhibitions about revolutionary history. The museum’s displays combine documentary material with large artefacts to interpret Cuba’s political history.

The Museum of the Revolution is located in central Havana, within walking distance of major city landmarks and the historic districts of Old Havana and the central city quarter.

Building and founding: Housed in Havana's former Presidential Palace and opened as a museum after the 1959 Cuban Revolution

What to See #

Granma yacht exhibit: The original motor yacht used to carry Fidel Castro and 82 revolutionaries from Mexico to Cuba in 1956, preserved and displayed in the museum.
Former presidential offices: Former presidential offices and state rooms preserved within the museum building, showing period furnishings and governmental displays from the pre-revolutionary era.

How to Get to Museum of the Revolution (Cuba) #

The Museo de la Revolución is in central Havana and is easiest reached from the city by taxi or local bus. From José Martí International Airport (HAV) expect a taxi ride into central Havana of roughly 20-30 minutes; from hubs in Old Havana it is within short walking distance of other central sights.

Tips for Visiting Museum of the Revolution (Cuba) #

Arrive right at opening on a weekday to see exhibits before guided groups and midday crowds arrive; mornings give the clearest opportunity for photos in the main halls.
Spend extra time on the preserved presidential rooms and upper-floor displays-these areas are often quieter and provide key historical context that many visitors breeze past.
Combine a visit with a walking loop of nearby Old Havana sites so you're not rushed; allowing 1.5-2 hours will let you take in the major rooms without hurrying.