Havana, Cuba’s most vibrant metropolis
A city of rhythmic corners, colorful crumbling mansions, vintage cars and a rich republican, colonial and revolutionary history, Havana captures the imagination and refuses to let it go.
Havana boasts a vibrant nightlife, fantastic restaurants and bars and amazing places to visit but, most of all, the Cubans themselves who are friendly and open and always have a ready smile.
Havana: a simply sensational city where the rhythm of music and the lure of its history hangs at every corner. A city known for its passion, love of music and exotic repertoire of dance - no place better captures the essence of Cuba than its vibrant, buzzing capital. The cityscape is defined by the country’s rich colonial past, with remnants evident in every corner of the city and a UNESCO World Heritage site neighbourhood known as Habana Vieja (Old Havana).
Spend your days roaming the charming streets of Havana Vieja, gazing at neo-classical architecture, exquisite statues and stunning centuries-old edifices. When it’s time for a break, you can toast the hospitality of Habaneros with a mojito at one of Ernest Hemingway’s favorite haunts.
Havana’s diverse collection of architecture is a product of its varied history and includes fearsome 16th-century fortifications, lavish Art Deco theatres and Soviet-style structures; simply wandering the city’s streets can provide an education in Cuban history. Over half a century of communist rule granted the city some dramatic transformations and grand public buildings, with presidential palaces turned into museums and capitol buildings serving as public libraries. Make sure to pop into some for a glimpse of the glamour that characterised pre-revolution Cuba.
An undeniably romantic city, there are plenty of atmospheric spots that you won’t want to pass by. Watching the sunset from the Malecón is a quintessential Havana experience, sound tracked by talented buskers and the laughter of friendly Cubans. The city’s historic squares – Plaza Vieja, Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza de Armas and Plaza de San Francisco de Asis – are superb spots for people watching.
Havana’s vibrant cultural scene is a highlight for many visitors to the capital. You can watch a world-class ballet show, famous 1940s cabaret, Afro-Cuban street performance or simply salsa the night away - daiquiri in hand. You’ll soon realise that music and dancing is a constant in Havana, as ubiquitous as Che Guevara memorabilia and classic American cars.
Like most capital cities, Havana offers visitors a wide and varied choice of and guesthouses. How-ever, Cuba is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination and Havana is struggling to cope with demand. We always advise that you book well in advance to avoid disappointment.
For more authentic experience and personalised service, we recommend staying at a guesthouse, known locally as a casa particular. Ever since these privately-run guesthouses were legalised in Cu-ba, Cuba Direct has been a pioneer in offering them as an accommodation option. Today, we boast one of the largest portfolios of casas particulares of any travel agent, including a number in Habana Vieja where you can enjoy access to most of the city’s major attractions. We have direct contracts with the casas particulares and offer the extra piece of mind of booking through an ATOL-protected agency.
To really get a feel of Havana’s music, history, and sheer vibrancy, we recommend a minimum stay of three nights, preferably at a casa particular close to the historic centre.
Havana has better transport links than any other city in Cuba, making it an excellent base for ex-ploring other parts of the country, including the beautiful landscapes of Viñales and Soroa and Las Terrazas to the west, history rich Bay of Pigs, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad, or the white-sand beaches of Varadero just over 2 hours east of Havana.
The neighbourhoods of Old and Central Havana are home to over 100 restaurants. Many of these are part of Cuba’s burgeoning private restaurant (paladares) scene where fantastic gastronomical innovation is taking place.
Havana has long been famed for its vibrant nightlife, charged by world-class music and rum. While the famous casinos that distinguished the 1950s are no longer on the scene, Havana remains a city that can be enjoyed till late.
For a more laidback evening, enjoy a leisurely stroll down Port Avenue Promenade. It is best suited to romantic evenings but anyone who enjoys Cuban music and a relaxed atmosphere should spend a night exploring this leafy promenade.
Our Cuba Direct’s Guide to Cuba, written by our reps, editors, and trusted friends in Cuba, provides useful tips on enjoying nightlife in Havana. Don’t forget to download your free copy.
Havana boasts a busy calendar of cultural events, including art exhibitions, concerts, museum programmes, dance shows and theatre spectacles. Well-known international events include The International Ballet Festival, The Latin-American International Film Festival, The Biennial of Havana, The International Books Fair, The Jazz Plaza and JoJazz Festivals and Cubadisco Fair amongst many others.
We recommend checking out Havana’s rich offering of museums for an introduction to the history and culture of Cuba. The streets of the city’s historic centre play host to over 50 museums and cultural institutions.
If you’re overwhelmed by all the choice, just give us a call to speak to one of our Cuba specialists. Simply tell us what your interests are and we’ll give you quality recommendations and expert advice – the kind that very few guides can offer – based on personal experiences, not a search engine.
Suggested Itineraries
Our Hola Havana people-to-people tour provides an indepth look at Havana. For a more complete Cuba experience, combine Havana with other fascinating destinations on our Contrasts of Cuba, Spirit of Cuba or Uncover Cuba tour.
For more information on Havana or anywhere else in Cuba give us a ring on 1-888-849-CUBA All our travel consultants are experts on Cuba and are happy to help you plan the perfect trip.
