Things to Do at Andafiavaratra Palace (Prime Minister's Palace)

Andafiavaratra Palace, also known as the Prime Minister's Palace, sits prominently on one of Antananarivo's twelve hills and offers one of the most compelling glimpses into Madagascar's complex colonial and pre-colonial history. Built in the 1870s for Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony, who actually married three successive Merina queens and wielded considerable power behind the scenes, the palace represents a fascinating blend of Malagasy royal tradition and European architectural influence that was emerging during this pivotal period. What makes Andafiavaratra particularly interesting is how it survived when the nearby Rova (Queen's Palace) was largely destroyed by fire in 1995. The palace now houses the Museum of the History of Madagascar, and you'll find yourself walking through rooms that genuinely feel frozen in time, with original furnishings, royal artifacts, and historical documents that give you a sense of what court life might have been like during the final decades of the Merina Kingdom.

The palace sits in Andafiavaratra district, a steep 10-15 minute climb from downtown. Take a taxi-be to get close. You'll still walk the final stretch uphill. Staying in central Antananarivo makes this totally walkable-if you don't mind serious cobblestone climbing. Taxis help with most of the distance, but those narrow palace streets mean walking is unavoidable. Plan accordingly.