Discover Santiago de Cuba

Carnival, traditional music, and museums offering very different perspectives on history shape Santiago de Cuba. Yet the city cannot be reduced to a single theme: alongside festive culture and music, there is urban development, art, and sites of historical remembrance. As you plan your trip, consider which of these perspectives interests you most—this can also help you choose the right holiday apartment for your stay.

Carnival and music in different forms

Opened in June 1983, the Museo del Carnaval presents the different phases of Santiago de Cuba’s carnival. In July, the festival fills the city with music and dancing. The museum also explores the history of the celebrations and their Spanish, African, and Franco-Haitian influences. Scale models of floats, trophies, costumes, capes, street decorations, and instruments illustrate the groups involved, including Cabildo Carabalí, Tumba Francesa, and Conga Santiaguera. You can thus encounter both the festive spectacle and the carnival’s different cultural influences.

The Casa de la Trova José “Pepe” Sánchez offers a different musical connection, with groups and small ensembles performing traditional Cuban music. Tumba Francesa “La Caridad de Oriente,” meanwhile, is a cultural and recreational venue in Santiago de Cuba. The art form of Tumba Francesa originated in the 19th century and combines African rhythms with dances from the French Caribbean. Together, these examples show different facets of music and dance culture, which can be experienced in different ways.

Urban development, rum, and personal collections

Those interested in the city’s development can visit the Maqueta de la Ciudad, which features a city model and a specialized tour on the urban development of Santiago de Cuba. This offers a different way of exploring the city from focusing on individual historical events or art collections.

The Museo del Ron is dedicated to the history of rum production. Five exhibition rooms present this history through photographs and examples of earlier rum production. The Museo Provincial Emilio Bacardí houses collections on pre-Columbian culture as well as Cuban art and history. These include objects that belonged to José Martí and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes. The Museo Casa Natal José María Heredia exhibits documents, paintings, and objects from the period that belonged to the Heredia family. Each of these institutions focuses on something different: the history of production, broader cultural and national history, or the legacy associated with a family.

Historic sites and buildings

The Museo de la Lucha Clandestina is located in Loma del Intendente in the Barrio El Tivolí. It preserves the history of the struggle against the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, particularly Santiago’s role and the actions in support of the Ejército Rebelde and the Movimiento 26 de Julio. Parque Abel Santamaría offers another historical connection: it comprises a museum, a library, and a monument on the grounds of the ruins of the former Saturnino Lora Civil Hospital. The armed action of July 26, 1953, took place there.

Architecture and public squares also tell the story of different eras. The Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago de Cuba is one of the city’s early buildings. Its present-day appearance dates back to renovations carried out by Carlos Segrera in 1922: the towers were raised, and a large archangel was placed atop the former pediment of the main entrance. Plaza de Marte was established in the late 18th century and is dedicated to the Cuban struggle for independence.

Another historic building now serves a cultural purpose: the former Church of Dolores is a concert hall and the home of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Oriente. This means you can combine a range of interests during your trip to Santiago, from carnival and music to urban development, collections, and places of remembrance. Choose your accommodation according to what you would like to focus on during your stay.

For the general travel overview: Santiago de Cuba.