Things to Visit in Havana

The most beautifully restored colonial square in Old Havana, with 17th and 18th-century buildings, colorful facades, and open-air cafes. The Camera Obscura (CUP 200) on the square's corner gives a live panoramic view of the city. The brewery restaurant on the plaza serves fresh beer. The square hosts art fairs and live music on weekends.

A stunning Baroque square dominated by the 18th-century Havana Cathedral with its asymmetrical towers. The surrounding colonial mansions now house museums and restaurants. The square is smallest of Old Havana's main plazas but arguably the most atmospheric. Visit in the late afternoon when the stone glows golden. Street musicians often play here in the evenings.

Old Havana's main pedestrian street, running from the Capitol to the harbor. Lined with shops, bookstores, galleries, and bars. Hotel Ambos Mundos, where Hemingway stayed and wrote, is on this street (his room 511 is a small museum). The street is busiest in the evening when musicians set up at almost every corner.

Modeled after the US Capitol building, this magnificent structure was Cuba's seat of government until 1959. Recently restored to its original grandeur, the interior features a 17-meter-tall statue and a 25-carat diamond set into the floor marking kilometer zero. Entry about CUP 500 for foreigners. The exterior and surrounding parks are free to enjoy.

Housed in the former Presidential Palace, this museum covers Cuba's history from colonization through the revolution. The Granma Memorial in the rear garden displays the yacht that carried Fidel Castro and 81 revolutionaries from Mexico to Cuba in 1956. Entry about CUP 500. Allow 2 hours. The rooftop terrace has views of the harbor.

Havana's 8-km seafront esplanade is the city's living room, where locals gather every evening to socialize, play music, fish, and watch the sunset. The stretch from Hotel Nacional to Old Havana passes crumbling Vedado mansions and the faded pastel buildings that define Havana's aesthetic. The golden hour light here is extraordinary.

Havana's vintage 1950s American cars are still daily transport. Convertible taxi tours (USD 30-50 per hour) cruise the Malecon, Vedado, and Old Havana. For a cheaper experience, flag a colectivo (shared taxi) for CUP 40 per person. The chrome-heavy Chevys, Buicks, and Fords against the colonial architecture create the most iconic Havana images.

Havana's mid-century residential district has wide tree-lined avenues, faded Art Deco mansions, and a more local atmosphere than Old Havana. The University of Havana campus, John Lennon Park (with a bronze statue), and the Focsa building's La Torre restaurant (panoramic views) are highlights. Most nightlife venues and paladares (private restaurants) are in Vedado.

The vast government square dominated by the Jose Marti memorial tower (109 meters, elevator to the top for panoramic views) and the iconic steel portrait of Che Guevara on the Ministry of the Interior building. Best photographed in the morning light. The square is where massive political rallies were held. The Che image and companion Camilo Cienfuegos mural are the most photographed sites in Cuba.

Live music is everywhere in Havana. The Buena Vista Social Club performs at various venues. Fabrica de Arte Cubano (FAC) is a converted cooking oil factory turned into Havana's hottest cultural space with live music, art, and bars (CUP 200 entry). Casa de la Musica in Centro has nightly salsa. Most restaurants in Old Havana have live musicians playing during dinner.

Hemingway's supposed favorite bar for mojitos (his other haunt, El Floridita, claims the daiquiri). The tiny bar is covered floor to ceiling with signatures and graffiti from decades of visitors. Mojitos cost about USD 5-6. It is very touristy but the atmosphere and history make one drink worthwhile. Go early to avoid the worst crowds.

The birthplace of the frozen daiquiri, open since 1817 and famously frequented by Hemingway. A bronze statue of him sits at his usual spot at the end of the bar. Daiquiris cost about USD 7. The elegant red interior and live band create a classic atmosphere. Popular with tourists but historically significant. Best visited in the late afternoon.

Split between two buildings: the Cuban Art collection (in a 1954 building on Trocadero) and the International Art collection (in the former Asturian Club). The Cuban collection is the highlight, covering 500 years from colonial to contemporary. The Wifredo Lam galleries are world-class. Entry about CUP 500 per building.

Hemingway lived in this hilltop estate 15 km from central Havana from 1939 to 1960. The house is preserved exactly as he left it, with books, hunting trophies, and his typewriter visible through the windows (no entry inside the house). His fishing boat Pilar is in the garden. Entry about CUP 500. Take a taxi (USD 20-25 round trip with wait time).

Paladares are privately owned restaurants in people's homes or converted spaces, offering much better food than state-run restaurants. La Guarida (in a crumbling mansion, reservations essential), San Cristobal, and Dona Eutimia (near the cathedral, famous for ropa vieja) are among the best. Main courses USD 8-15. Paladares have transformed Havana's dining scene over the past decade.

A vibrant outdoor gallery of Afro-Cuban art by Salvador Gonzalez, with murals, sculptures, and installations filling an entire alley in Centro Habana. Sunday afternoons bring free rumba performances (drums, dancing, and Santeria-influenced music) starting around noon. Free to visit at any time. One of the most colorful spots in Havana.

The Partagas cigar factory near the Capitol offers tours showing hand-rolling techniques (when open). Official government cigar shops (La Casa del Habano) sell certified cigars. Avoid street sellers who often offer counterfeit products. A decent cigar costs USD 5-15 in official shops. The cigar culture is central to Cuban identity and worth experiencing regardless of whether you smoke.

A UNESCO-listed valley 3 hours west of Havana, famous for its dramatic mogote (limestone) hills and tobacco farms. Horse rides through the valley, visits to tobacco drying houses, and boat trips through the Indian Cave are popular activities. Organized tours from Havana cost USD 50-70 including lunch. The landscape is unlike anything else in Cuba.

White sand beaches just 20-30 minutes east of Havana. Santa Maria del Mar and Guanabo are the main beaches. Much less crowded and more affordable than Varadero. Colectivos (shared taxis) run from Old Havana for CUP 40-100. Beach chairs and umbrellas rent for CUP 200-500. The water is warm and clear, with gentle waves suitable for swimming.

The small fishing village that inspired Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, about 15 minutes east of Havana. La Terraza restaurant was Hemingway's favorite, and a small bust of him overlooks the harbor. The village itself is quiet and authentic, offering a glimpse of life outside the tourist zones. Take a taxi for about USD 10 each way.