Museo Marítimo y del Presidio de Ushuaia

We went in with few expectations and left genuinely impressed. The building with painful memories has been carefully preserved, with different facets of the city’s history thoughtfully woven into the space. Each wing is dedicated to a distinct theme, while one has been left largely untouched - or so it seemed to me - allowing visitors to experience what it was like when the building still functioned as a prison. Strongly recommend!

A Journey Through Time at the End of the World I would give this museum six stars if I could. Unlike traditional museums, this one is truly unique, a place where history is not simply displayed but lived through its walls. The Museo Marítimo y del Presidio takes you on a journey into the past of Ushuaia, and into the adventures of those brave souls who defied the harsh environment in their search for land, knowledge, and meaning. Walking through its halls, you feel the weight of time. Each corridor whispers stories of explorers, convicts, and dreamers. The former prison, now transformed into a cultural treasure, holds echoes of resilience and survival. Every exhibit becomes a window into the struggles and triumphs of those who lived at the edge of the world. Among its many wonders, the maritime wing displays intricate ship models, navigational instruments, and relics from daring expeditions that braved the Beagle Channel and Antarctica. The prison cells, stark and haunting, remind visitors of the harsh realities faced by those confined at the southernmost tip of the world. Art galleries within the museum breathe life into Ushuaia’s cultural identity, featuring works that blend history with creativity. Each section, whether maritime, penal, or artistic, offers a unique lens into the resilience and imagination that shaped this land. The museum also hosts a boutique where visitors can purchase souvenirs and clothing. Plan to dedicate at least two full days to this museum, as its vast collection and layered history cannot be absorbed in a single visit. Fortunately, your ticket is valid for the following day, allowing you to return and explore at a more relaxed pace. Guided tours enrich the experience with fascinating anecdotes, but even wandering on your own reveals countless details worth pausing over. Wear comfortable shoes, the corridors of the former prison are long, cold and echoing. The museum is centrally located in Ushuaia, making it easy to combine with a stroll along the waterfront or a visit to nearby cafés. Exhibits are bilingual (Spanish and English), ensuring accessibility for international visitors. The Museo Marítimo y del Presidio is more than a museum. It is a chronicle of endurance at the end of the world. It is an experience to treasure, one that lingers long after you step back into the windy streets of Ushuaia. You should not miss it.

The museum is an old prison it contains multiple segments including the life at the prison, naval and military history, polar exploration, art gallery that sells local artists paintings. The entry is 40,000 peso(27usd) for adult, there is student discount(with ID) 30,000 peso(20usd) depending on the level. Of immersing yourself in the reading anywhere from 2hrs - 2days.

Great museum - I wish that we had more time to explore. The prison displays and maritime museum was excellent - an overload of well organized and interesting information with lots of photographs. Definitely worth a visit.

The museum is full of history and so much more! All the corners visited they were worth it! Make sure to go through all the "wings" One of them was never changed and it was kept as it was long time ago!

Great museum in the old prison building. Super interesting to see the cells as they were left and learn about the early history of Ushuaia. Some wings of the building have been converted into other exhibits such as Antarctic exploration and art galleries. While some of the sections felt a little disjointed, it was overall well-presented. The maritime art gallery had a really nice collection of work. Highly recommend if you have time while in Ushuaia - this was one of the best museums I came across compared to those in other cities in Patagonia.

It’s understandable the presentation and collection are not so good for a remote museum, but the ticket is really expensive $28…

I enjoyed the museum. There was far more to see than I imagined. There is a naval history section, one on the prison, arctic and Antarctic exploration and Argentine history. It’s in a unique setting since it was a prison so you walk cell to cell to see the exhibits. Everything is in English and Spanish.

Not only is this a "must-do" when visiting Ushuaia, but it should be at the top of your hit list! Whether you are into history or not, this museum has a little bit for everyone. First, please know everything is in English. Audio guides are available, as well as guided tours. It is very easy to do on your own and you do not need a guide or to book a tour unless you feel more comfortable doing so. The main reason folks go to the museum is to see the prison. It is incredible. You learn the history, read stories, the conditions, and even learn of other prisons similar to this one around the world...including a few in the United States. They have most of the prison set up to accommodate tourists/visitors (temperature and cleanliness wise), however, there is a section that was left alone so you could get the true feel of how the prisoners felt and their living conditions...holy smokes. The prisoners actually looked forward to going to work on the train to get out of the cold, damp prison. Not working and staying behind was much worse and a type of punishment. I feel as though it was colder in that untouched portion of the prison than outside. Words can't describe the prison and therefore it is a must-see in-person thing. Pictures can't capture "it" either. Aside from being in a prison and the actual prison portion of the museum, they have made great use of the space in the prison and there are other museums within it. There is the Maritime Museum, Antarctica Museum, Marine Art Museum, and an art gallery. Upon entry, there is a history portion as well. It is very interesting and there is a lot to see. The good part is...all of this is for one price per person and/or family tickets are available. Plus, the tickets last for 2 days consecutive days. Just hang on to your ticket/receipt. So, if you missed something, didn't have time to finish, want to see something again or whatever the case may be...just go back the next day. There are restrooms in the prison in a few different places. There is a café in the former dining hall area of the prison and you can even sit at a table with the prisoner...fake of course, but fun. There is a gift shop with all types of souvenirs and local items. The museum is very easy to get to from any hotel in Ushuaia just by walking. It is an easy walk from the port as well. If you rent a car, you can drive to the prison, however, there is no parking lot and you must park on the street.

This is my favorite museum in Ushuaia. So wait, Steve, it still doesn't get 5 stars? Yeah, couple of good reasons for that. First and foremost, if you're reading this in English, it means you're probably not Argentinian, so you're paying 3400 pesos for the privilege of visiting. That is $34 at the official government rate. That is close to $20 at the unofficial "blue" rate even. That is STEEP, as the other reviews have noted. The other issue is that a large amount of the museum is written stories. Granted, the presidio is laid out as a multi-corridor jail and you get to walk several of the corridors, so there's a ton of writing to take in, but it's still just writing. Artifacts are expensive, writing is cheap. Now, on to the positives. Most of the writing is also in English so you can follow along like I did. You get to roam at least half of the expansive Presidio structure. You get a good amount of information on Fuegan life, the building's history, prisoners, wildlife, and the promised maritime element. The day I visited I think the rates were reduced because an entire wing was being redone for a new exhibit. I don't have the receipt but that definitely helps - I /believe/ the rate was 2000 pesos but they also took USD and it was just $8! So at that rate, ya know what, it's actually a pretty good deal overall. It's tourist-friendly and a lot more expansive and informative than the other Ushuaia museums I'm aware of, so I would still say make this #1 on your list.

This Museum was included in a tour I took of Ushuaia. I did notice the entry price was 1300 Argentinian Pesos per person ($20) and I thought that was pretty steep, but as I said, for me, it was included in another tour.I also had a tour guide who spoke English and she was asked questions many times by people not on our tour who chose not to purchase the audio guide. They call it the Alcatraz of the south and there were some very interesting characters imprisoned here that I enjoyed reading about. All of the signs are in English which was helpful and they had wi-fi which was nice because I was able to sit for a moment and do my own search on a particularly interesting criminal. They also had clean bathrooms to use which was a plus. I found it interesting that Argentinians teach their children in school that part of Antarctica belongs to their country as shown in the map I added a photo of. There are some good photo ops and I like that half of the prison was left in it's original condition so that after touring the first section of the prison with it's mannequins and stories, you can get a feel for what it was really like for the people imprisoned here. There is a large Maritime section in the beginning of the museum, with model ships, but I did not find that at all interesting. There is a gift shop of course and I grabbed a snack there but this stop should only take 30-45 minutes at most. If I was traveling alone and did not speak the language, or if I had to pay individually for the admission, this may have been closer to 2 stars but if you are interested in prisons and criminals you may rate it even higher. The staff on site was not particularly friendly or welcoming, but let's be honest, there's not much to do in Ushuaia so this was an enjoyable stop for me.

I found this museum to be overpriced and overrated. It was $400 per person to enter. You did get to go in an old jail, but the exhibits seem a little haphazard and don't really tell a story. Maybe I should have done the guided tour. The maritime museum was so-so. Unless you have a lot of time to kill, I would recommend avoiding this and doing something else.