Museum of the City (Museo de la Ciudad)
Museum of the City (Museo de la Ciudad)
Museum of the City (Museo de la Ciudad)
4
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
117 reviews
Excellent
42
Very good
55
Average
16
Poor
3
Terrible
1
Brad H
Sydney, Australia3,752 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
The City Museum houses quite an eclectic collection of items. With no English translations we were unsure of the relevance of some of the items to either the city or Cuba more generally. The building however was very beautiful and it was lovely to stroll around and relax in the picturesque and cool central courtyard.
Written January 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YogiJCC
New York City, NY563 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
The Museum of the City of Havana is worth visiting simply for the beautiful building its located in. It was the Governor's Palace before the Revolution. Its elegantly furnished with antiques and works of art. Honestly speaking I found it to be lacking historical city information. The staff for the most part seemed bored and unwilling/unable to provide any information. Guided tours are offered but I found them to be a waste of time/money. Guides offered little to no information and simply read lines from their brochure. Tour was rushed and staff quite pushy for tips.
If you're looking to learn more about the city history, read up before visiting. Nevertheless since the museum is housed in a architectural Gem and is home to plenty of antique furniture/art I would say its worth visiting.
If you're looking to learn more about the city history, read up before visiting. Nevertheless since the museum is housed in a architectural Gem and is home to plenty of antique furniture/art I would say its worth visiting.
Written September 7, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TerriTraveler
Albuquerque, NM681 contributions
Dec 2015 • Solo
This Museum, also known as The Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, is located on the Plaza de Armas, near the Bookseller's Market. The building housed the former governors of Havana. The street in front of the building has wooden cobblestones to make the carriages passing the residence not so loud.
I found the building easily. It is a huge imposing structure on the east side of the square. There was a sign that listed 3 options: 3 cuc to wander yourself, 5 cuc for an audio guide, and 8 for a guided tour. I just wanted to wander and take photos so I opted for the self guided option. Some of the historical rooms are not open to see if you select this option but I didn't mind. Mostly I wanted to see the building itself.
This building is an excellent example of the Cuban Baroque style. It has a Spanish flavor with its open central courtyard and square halls around. You can peek unto some rooms that have period furnishings, carriages, cannons, etc.
The workers are angling for tips or small prizes. One worker saw me chewing gum and asked for a piece. When I gave it to her, she asked for one for her friend. So I guess the museum cost me 3 cuc (about $3.45) and 2 pieces of gum! Another worker wanted to 'show' me the special carriage. I'd learned my lesson and was polite but declined to follow her.
I found a lovely peacock in the courtyard but he was camera shy. I got some nice photos here. I thought this short stop was worth the price of admission if you have a little time in the area. I only spent maybe half and hour to 45 minutes here. There is not much by way of explanation (unless you opt for the audio guide I suppose.) It's a nice slice of Cuban history.
I found the building easily. It is a huge imposing structure on the east side of the square. There was a sign that listed 3 options: 3 cuc to wander yourself, 5 cuc for an audio guide, and 8 for a guided tour. I just wanted to wander and take photos so I opted for the self guided option. Some of the historical rooms are not open to see if you select this option but I didn't mind. Mostly I wanted to see the building itself.
This building is an excellent example of the Cuban Baroque style. It has a Spanish flavor with its open central courtyard and square halls around. You can peek unto some rooms that have period furnishings, carriages, cannons, etc.
The workers are angling for tips or small prizes. One worker saw me chewing gum and asked for a piece. When I gave it to her, she asked for one for her friend. So I guess the museum cost me 3 cuc (about $3.45) and 2 pieces of gum! Another worker wanted to 'show' me the special carriage. I'd learned my lesson and was polite but declined to follow her.
I found a lovely peacock in the courtyard but he was camera shy. I got some nice photos here. I thought this short stop was worth the price of admission if you have a little time in the area. I only spent maybe half and hour to 45 minutes here. There is not much by way of explanation (unless you opt for the audio guide I suppose.) It's a nice slice of Cuban history.
Written January 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stanton B
Philadelphia, PA143 contributions
Jun 2018
Visited as a family with children 16 and 13. This museum has a beautiful courtyard and historic photos of Havana. The entrance fee of 3 CUC was reasonable. The uniforms from Spanish soldiers were interesting. Our guide gave us a very good tour which lasted about 45 minutes. I thought the visit provided us with information pertaining to early Spanish settlement in Cuba.
Written June 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JElliot32
New South Wales, Australia3,971 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
We made a fundamental error when visiting this museum by paying just the minimum amount (2 CUCs each) for museum entry. If we had been a little less thrifty with our CUCs, for the outlay of just a few more we could have had the services of a guide or at least use of an audio-guide in English. I think that would have made for a much less frustrating experience.
The building, which dates from the 1770s, is both imposing and palatial and occupies a prime spot on the Plaza de Armas. It boasts a very elegant central courtyard (with peacock and hen wandering freely around the place, as well as a marble statue of Christopher Columbus). But unfortunately we found virtually all of the rooms on the upper level were closed or off-limits to the likes of us, even though there were quite a few attendants around the place. There was not much in the way of information on why that so: were the rooms permanently closed or undergoing renovation? There was no way we could tell.
In the lower-level rooms we could enter the signage was in Spanish only. That was a shame, as there was so much stunning colonial-era artworks and furniture on display here. Over-the-top is an understatement. Again, there were a quite a few attendants hanging around on this level too but their English skills tended to be limited. That didn't always inhibit their spirit of enterprise, with photography appearing to be an area of speciality. We did agree to a photo opportunity (in the coach-house) but unfortunately the pictures that resulted were laughingly inept.
If there is to a next time for me at this museum, I will hire one of their English-speaking guides - and in the meantime would recommend others do the same. As things are now and unless your Spanish is very good, I don't think it is a sensible place to go it alone.
The building, which dates from the 1770s, is both imposing and palatial and occupies a prime spot on the Plaza de Armas. It boasts a very elegant central courtyard (with peacock and hen wandering freely around the place, as well as a marble statue of Christopher Columbus). But unfortunately we found virtually all of the rooms on the upper level were closed or off-limits to the likes of us, even though there were quite a few attendants around the place. There was not much in the way of information on why that so: were the rooms permanently closed or undergoing renovation? There was no way we could tell.
In the lower-level rooms we could enter the signage was in Spanish only. That was a shame, as there was so much stunning colonial-era artworks and furniture on display here. Over-the-top is an understatement. Again, there were a quite a few attendants hanging around on this level too but their English skills tended to be limited. That didn't always inhibit their spirit of enterprise, with photography appearing to be an area of speciality. We did agree to a photo opportunity (in the coach-house) but unfortunately the pictures that resulted were laughingly inept.
If there is to a next time for me at this museum, I will hire one of their English-speaking guides - and in the meantime would recommend others do the same. As things are now and unless your Spanish is very good, I don't think it is a sensible place to go it alone.
Written January 31, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Francis D
Montreal, Canada1,806 contributions
Nov 2015 • Couples
We visited in November 2015 and about half of the exhibit rooms were closed due to renovations.
We paid the 7 or 8 CUC for the entrance and the audio guide, which can be tuned to English. Good thing, as the descriptions in the museum are only in Spanish.
What was disappointing though is the fact that we weren't told at the ticket booth that the experience would be much more interesting with a guide (for a couple CUC more). Seeing a few couples having hired one, we saw them going in rooms that were otherwise closed to "regular visitors". Being many rooms were already closed down, this would have enhanced our visit. So I recommend you do hire a guide on site.
The other main setback is that, despite the audioguide, we didn't feel we learned much. This place is dubbed as the "city museum"... but you don't learn squat about the city itself.
Luckily, the inside courtyard is beautiful. But that's pretty much it.
The Good:
- Beautiful inside courtyard
- English audioguide
To improve:
- Include English descriptions next to the artifacts
- Mention almost half the museum is shutdown to repairs ahead of time...
We paid the 7 or 8 CUC for the entrance and the audio guide, which can be tuned to English. Good thing, as the descriptions in the museum are only in Spanish.
What was disappointing though is the fact that we weren't told at the ticket booth that the experience would be much more interesting with a guide (for a couple CUC more). Seeing a few couples having hired one, we saw them going in rooms that were otherwise closed to "regular visitors". Being many rooms were already closed down, this would have enhanced our visit. So I recommend you do hire a guide on site.
The other main setback is that, despite the audioguide, we didn't feel we learned much. This place is dubbed as the "city museum"... but you don't learn squat about the city itself.
Luckily, the inside courtyard is beautiful. But that's pretty much it.
The Good:
- Beautiful inside courtyard
- English audioguide
To improve:
- Include English descriptions next to the artifacts
- Mention almost half the museum is shutdown to repairs ahead of time...
Written November 25, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fartoomanyusers
London, UK437 contributions
Apr 2016 • Solo
Some reviewers suggest that they would have learned more with one of the guides - well, they obviously didn't see the guide that tried to attach herself to me. She barely spoke english, wasn't very helpful, and they seem to earn their extra fee by being able to let you past the rope barrier to access a few extra rooms.
This is the building "Palacio De Los Capitanes Generales" and to be honest the most interesting part is the building, rather than the lacklustre exhibitions. It really is a stunning old building.
To enter, there is a tiny ticket desk to the far right of the entrance lobby - at the side of the rope barrier. They will then draw back the rope, and let you in !
This is the building "Palacio De Los Capitanes Generales" and to be honest the most interesting part is the building, rather than the lacklustre exhibitions. It really is a stunning old building.
To enter, there is a tiny ticket desk to the far right of the entrance lobby - at the side of the rope barrier. They will then draw back the rope, and let you in !
Written May 7, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1974AAUU
Santiago, Chile342 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
beautiful building hosting an interesting (if poorly guided) collection....some really interesting pieces
Written April 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul T
Toronto, Canada5 contributions
Jan 2016
Had a brief opportunity to visit the museum during a Havana tour. The building is stunning and the exhibits look interesting but I don't speak or read Spanish so the descriptions were incomprehensible to me. I would suggest engaging a tour guide to get more out of your visit.
Written January 31, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christopher H
East Grinstead, UK76 contributions
Nov 2015 • Friends
This museum is situated in the Plaza de Armas in old Havana. The square that sells the books. If you do the city tour your guide will point it out. It's worth taking a look for the building alone. Each room has a steward and they will go out of their way to explain the artifacts and paintings ect. It was very cheap to go in. Well worth spending a hour if you like your history.
Written November 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is the audio guide mentioned in English?
Written January 6, 2016
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