Waves attack the famous boulevard "El Malecon", and it's a spectacular view. The Malecon is the place where loving couples walk along the colorful boulevard arm in arm. La Habana, a city which makes you want to go back in time to when time seemed slower and the living was easy... La Habana is old American cars, cigars, rum, jineteros and la vida Hanbanera.

Live music is everywhere, and the Habaneros are performing in order to earn their daily dosis of convertible pesos, so that they can buy what they need at the dollar stores to take care of their families.

It's not easy to live and survive for an Habanero

This area has the most colonial buildings and is the most visited area for tourists who visit Havana but it's also its most beautiful spot. Foreigners walking through the streets getting hustled by jineteros, taking pictures or just having a (Cristal) beer.

Habana's Vieja is famous for the Catedral de San Cristoal de la Habana at the Plaza de la Catedral, and for Hemingway's bar, "La Bodeguita del Medio", where you can buy an expensive mojito.

Havana Vedado

Vedado, located along the Caribbean waterfront, was developed extensively during the decades between 1930 and 1960, when Havana developed as a major destination for U.S. tourists.

High-rise hotels, casinos, restaurants, and upscale commercial establishments, many reflecting the then-popular art deco style, mushroomed in the Vedado district.

Havana Miramar

Miramar lies further west along the coast, and retains its exclusive feel. Foreign embassies, diplomatic residences, upscale shops, and tourist facilities for wealthy foreigners are common in the area.

Wild Bill's Pub Crawl is a tour along several bars in Habana Vieja

** Download Wild Bill's Pub Crawl through Habana Vieja for your Ipod Video, and take it with you to guide you through Habana Vieja. Check out the video

For the text version check out the Havana Nightlife >>

Print out the Map >>

The colonial period, lasting nearly 400 years, gave Habana much of the Spanish colonial architecture that distinguishes it and led the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to designate the colonial core of the city, Old Havana, as a World Heritage Site in 1982.

See the beautiful buildings of Havana. It's a shame that a lot of them are in such poor condition. UNESCO is rebuilding them bit by bit, in much the same way as they they are doing in Trinidad.

Morro - Cabaña Historical Military Park
Carretera de la Cabaña
on the far side of the harbor entrance.

"Whoever is master of this hill will be master of Havana" was the assessment made of the location of the Morro - La Cabaña fortress complex more than 400 years ago by Antonelli, the engineer who designed the defense system of Colonial Havana. The English, following Antonelli's appraisal to the letter, took Morro Castle by storm in 1762 and proceeded to occupy Havana, and when the Spanish regained possession of the city they ensured that would never happen again by building the most powerful fortress in the Americas.

This fortress, together with Morro Castle (Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro), make up the Morro - Cabaña Historical Military Park, the most extensive museum in the country. Morro Castle is, in ftself, a museum piece that reveals the solutions of renaissance architecture applied to military strategy.

The fortress of San Carlos and San Severino de La Cabaña holds the most important collection of antique weapons in the country: a full-scale medieval catapult and battering ram; double-curved swords of Southeast Asia; the Indian Katar, a fearsone three-bladed dagger; the venerable katanas of the samurai; ornate Arabian rifles; and an entire battery of cannon cast in Seville in the 18th century.

When Havana was a walled cfty, every night at 9:00 p.m. La Cabaña fortress would fire one of fts cannon to announce the closing of the doors, a tradition preserved by the people of Havana to this very day. The impressive view from Morro Castle or La Cabaña takes in the entire harbor and the skyline of the city.

Open: Monday to Sunday: 09:00 to 20:00.
Daily: 21:00 Cannon Ceremony

Once you are in the Botanical Gardens, simply breathe in the beautiful scenery, with all its Caribbean species, and particularly Cuban ones. Pay special attention to the Japanese Garden, with its fountains and waterfalls: a perfect excuse to stop and have a rest. At the end of the trip there is a visit to Expocuba, followed by an excellent traditional Cuban lunch at the Don Cuba restaurant.
Disabled access is available.

This project, dating back to 1990, highlights the prevalence of African influences on Cuban culture. It was initiated by the sculptor and painter Salvador Gonzáles who, together with a group of friends, decided to paint a mural celebrating Afro-Cuban culture, reclaiming a public space as a forum for what they see as both a cultural example of community-based art. A rumba group gathers at the spot at noon every Sunday at 12:00, and musicians as important as Clave y Guaguancó and Los Muñequitos de Matanzas have been known to attend.

The last Friday of each month is Ballad Night, with poetry and traditional music. One Saturday per month is dedicated to children's entertainment, and puppet shows, comic theatre and clowns abound.
Disabled access is available.

- More about Callejon the Hamel >>

Built in 1929 as the Senate and House of Representatives (and said to be a replica of Washington DC's Capitol), this colossal building is recognizable by its dome which dominates the city's skyline. Inside stands the largest indoor bronze statue in the world representing Pallas Athena. Nowadays, the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural (the National Museum of Natural History) has its venue within the building and contains the largest natural history collection in the country.

Behind bronze doors whose panels depict scenes from Cuba's history, lies an enormous gallery called the Hall of Lost Steps. Under the dome, there is a replica of a 28-carat diamond that marks Havana's centre (for measuring distances from the capital). There is a lot to see if you wander around the rest of the building - the semi-circular chamber where politicians used to sit as well as the endless marble corridors and Italian Renaissance ceilings. You can have your picture taken by one of the photographers outside of the edifice, whose cameras date from the 1920's, or even check your emails back at home at the Capitol's very own internet cafe.

In the surrounding areas of the Capitol, there are a few attractions worth visiting, among them, the Partagás cigar factory, the Parque Central (Central Park), and the Teatro Nacional (National Theathre) with its baroque façade.

Admission: $3.
Disabled access is available.

This Cuban institution for Latin American and Carribean culture was born with the revolution and has been in existance for over forty years. Multidisciplinary in nature, its annual programme includes talks, workshops and prizes for literature, as well as art, photography, musicology and print exhibitions.

The galleries in the main building house one of the finest collections of Latin American art. There are three separate exhibition spaces and a specialised library.

Disabled access is available.
Open: 8am-5pm Mon-Fri

This small fortress, at the western entry point to the harbour, played a crucial role in the defence of Havana during the first centuries of colonisation. Built in the 16th century, the four-sided construction gives visitors coming into Old Havana from the port an idea of the architecture this area of town has in store for them. The fortress still houses some twenty old guns and other military antiques.
Disabled access is available

Calle Empedrado 156 Plaza de la Catedral La Habana Vieja Tel: 7/861-7771

This is Old Havana's classic cathedral. The plaza fronting the cathedral and the church's baroque facade, with its asymmetrical towers, are the most visited attractions in Habana Vieja. Inside, the cathedral is simple, almost to the point of austerity, thanks to a radical 19th-century neoclassical makeover. Still, the vaulted ceilings, massive stone pillars, and modest collection of art and antiquities certainly make it worth a visit. Of these, the 17th-century wooden sculpture of Saint Christopher is quite interesting -- note the shortened legs, which were cut in order to get the piece into place. Despite the official visiting hours listed below, the church is frequently closed tight. If you're lucky, you might be able to attend
Mass here at 8pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday, or at 10:30am on Sunday

This is one of the most famous cemeteries in Latin America, known for its beauty and magnificence. The cemetery was built in 1876 and has nearly a million tombs. Some of the gravestones are decorated with the works of sculptors of the calibre of Ramos Blancos, among others. Afrocuban religious practices have a big influence in Cuban culture, and this cemetery is no exception, on the contrary, it is quite common to find rag dolls with colourful dresses resting by small graves. The dolls are offerings to the various deities.

Another interesting fact is the legend of the Milagrosa (the Miraculous Lady). She was a woman that died giving birth along with her baby. They were buried in separate graves and later on, when her grave was opened, they found the baby in her arms. A lot of devout catholics leave offerings by her grave.
Disabled access is available.

- Cementerio Cristóbal Colón >>

Centro Wifredo Lam Calle San Ignacio, at the corner of Calle Empedrado La Habana Vieja Tel: 7/861-3419

This little museum and gallery is dedicated to the memory of Cuba's most treasured modern artist. The museum houses a sizeable collection of Lam's lithographs and acrylic works, as well as works of art and sculpture from the artist's personal collection. There's usually an interesting traveling exhibit in a separate gallery space. If you want to take a break, there's a simple cafe in a cool central courtyard

The food in the restaurants in Chinatown is excellent in both quality and price.These restaurants are private family owned businesses, unlike most restaurants in Cuba that are government controlled. This results in a much greater concern to serve the customer. Meals are served within minutes of ordering and great attention is given to the preparation of the food.

You can enjoy an entire meal (with the exception of the more exotic dishes), including soup, fried rice, a main dish and a drink for no more than 4 cuc. Disabled access is available.
Average cost per person: 5.00 cuc 10
Address: Calle Cuchillo, Centro Habana, La Habana.

Cuba’s National Aquarium features a unique exhibit in the world, the Island and the Caribbean’s marine flora and fauna are preserved thanks to the work of the staff that has been encouraged with the Colectivo Vanguardia Nacional acknowledgment during five years.

One of the oldest and best of the Spanish colonial monasteries on the island, this building is now home to the Centro Nacional de Restauración, Conservación y Museología or CENCREM (National Centre for Restoration, Conservation and Museum Studies).

Founded in 1644 it has, despite its peaceful history, given rise to many tales and legends of unrequited love and hidden treasure. No evidence has ever been uncovered to back up these stories. In 1919 it was sold to the Cuban government. As well as operating as a museum, there is a gallery showing contemporary Cuban art.
Admission: $3.00
Disabled access is available

Havana's statue of Christ blesses the city from the other side of the bay, much like the famous Cristo del Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro. Carved from marble by Jilma Madera, it was erected in 1958 on a platform which makes a wonderful spot from which to watch the sun go down. You can reach the statue by road, or via the picturesque boat which crosses the bay. A 24 hour snack bar operates at the base.
Disabled access is available.

El Malecón
Even though it begins in Old Havana, the Malecón (the pier) is an area that was the face of Havana in the 50s. Havana was then trying to emulate the great American capitals. The pier wall is the ideal place to enjoy the salty sea air, sit down and admire the sunset. Some of its best spots are the view of El Morro, the dock where you can go by boat to Casablanca and the area adjacent to El Vedado.
Disabled access is available.

- Malecon Page >>

The José Martí Memorial is a museum dedicated to the life of this famous revolutionary writer and poet. The museum displays many of José Martí's personal belongings. Entrance fees cost 3 pesos for the first floor for nationals and 5 pesos for the entire museum. The view of the city from the top is fantastic. The price for tourists is $2.00 for the first level and $5.00 for the entire museum. It is here that Fidel Castro gives his most important speaches.
Disabled access is available.
Open: 9am-4.30pm daily.

Originally intended to afford Havana's citizens protection from marauding pirates and bandits, they were constructed with several gates which were closed at night. With the expansion of the city, however, parts of the walls were demolished, starting as early as 1603, until only those sections standing today remained intact.
Address: La Habana Vieja, La Habana.
Disabled access is available.

There's a small tower separate from the main house that has a gift shop and some rooms with rudimentary exhibits, and you can even climb it for a better view all around. In the surrounding gardens, you can see Papa's pet cemetery and the author's dry-docked fishing boat, Pilar

- Musea in Havana >>

This Vedado public park in central Havana is a traditional meeting place for the city's lovers. Its pretty shaded walkways are also frequented by street musicians, artists and poets who often end up here at the end of a long night on the town, or in search of inspiration. Tourists are not immune to its charms either.
Disabled access is available.
Address: 21 y K, El Vedado, La Habana

Calle Cuarteles
between Calle Tacón and Av. del Puerto
La Habana Vieja

Located right in Habana Vieja, this 2-block stretch of city park is dedicated to the little ones. There are pony rides and a little train ride, as well as jungle gyms and inflatable rooms for romping around in. There are usually some clowns or mimes on hand, and balloons, popcorn, and soft drinks are for sale. This place is decidedly low-key and low-tech by Western standards, but the mix of mostly Cuban and some foreign kids never seem to mind

Parque Lenin
Lenin Parque where you can enjoy a relaxing walk, through all the open green spaces. You can even choose to go horse-riding if you feel like it.

- More >>

Partagas Cigar Factory Calle Industria 524 Behind the Capitolio Centro Habana 7/862-4604

Founded in 1845, this is Cuba's largest and perhaps most renowned cigar factory, producing around 5 million cigars a year. The off-yellow and rust-trimmed neoclassical facade is resplendent in the Havana morning sunlight. (You can take your best photos of it from the west-side windows of El Capitolio.) Official tours are only offered at 10am and 2pm daily, although you can sometimes work your way into one of the many tour groups that come through all day long. Throughout the day, you can stop in and buy cigars from their well-stocked shop, La Casa del Habano.

Alternately, or in conjunction, you can visit the nearby:
Fábrica de Tabaco H. Upmann
Calle Amistad 407
between Calles Barcelona and Dragones
Tel: 7/862-0081

Or the Fábrica de Tabaco La Corona
Calle Zulueta 106
between Calles Colón and Refugio
Tel: 7/862-6173
Which are similarly charged with producing some of the country's finest cigars.

- Photo Gallery H Upmann Cigar Factory >>

- More >>

The Plaza de Armas Park is a large park and centre of local and tourist activities located in the heart of Old Havana. There is a beautiful water fountain in the middle of the square, some benches, trees from different parts of Cuba, including palm trees and a large variety of flowers. In the centre there is a statue of the Cuban patriot hero Cespedes.

The park is well lit by many gas lamps. In the daytime there are people selling Spanish books, many of which pertain to the Cuban revolution of 1959. In the evenings the park fills with life as many locals and tourists go to the restaurants and bars that surround the park and is a nice place to sit and enjoy the evening perhaps with a bottle of rum. The square is very safe as there are many police walking around 24 hours a day to provide assistance.
Disabled access is available.

Calle 28 #113 entre 1ra y 3era
Miramar
La Habana
Tel: +53 7 33 2661/ 22 5506

This small scale replica of Havana is second only to that of New York. This ambitious project, with its cedar wood buildings and paper streets represent an area of 144km2. The city was meticulously measured and photographed block by block by a group of architects, designers and model makers who didn't miss a tree, lamppost or set of traffic lights. Admission is 3.00
Disabled access is available.

The people of 19th century Havana, inspired by the concept of origins and beginnings, erected the Templete, which is a monument that pays homage to the place where the foundation of the town of San Cristóbal de la Habana was celebrated in 1519. The monument consists of bust of Christopher Colombus and three canvases painted by Juan Bautista Vermay. It is Neoclassic building, typical example of colonial architecture.

Close to the Templete, there is a column which replaces a silk-cotton tree, under which the first mass and the first Council of Havana were celebrated.
Disabled access is available.

Carretera de Capdevila, Km 3 y Boyeros
La Habana
Tel: +53 7 44 7613, 44 7637 / 57 8775

The National Zoo is situated on the outskirts of Havana and many of the animals housed here roam freely in areas which resemble their natural habitats. For safety reasons visitors are transported through these particular areas on a small train, which allows close up views of the daily life of the animal kingdom at large. Traditional enclosures in the rest of the zoo mean you can wander at will through the hundreds of species on show here.
Admission: $3.00
Disabled access is available.

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