Attractions
Playas del Este
The eastern beaches of Havana – or Playas del Este – lure tourists and locals alike year-round to nearly 10km of white sand between Bacuranao and Guanabo. Situated 17km east of the capital city, the beaches offer close to a dozen resorts (popular among tourists) and beach houses (popular among Cuban families). Stick to Guanabo if you want to experience Cuba’s vibrant culture. For a heavily patrolled, but slightly more secure holiday, try the hotel-packed area of Santa Maria.
Admission: A taxi from the capital costs tourists around CUC$20.
Museo de la Ciudad (Museum of the City)
The Museum of the City is dedicated to preserving the history of Cuba, from its infancy as a colony to the Communist Revolution of the 1950s. Built in 1791, the impressive building once housed colonial governors, and now stands on the Plaza de Armas as a space for historic collections, from the original Cuban flag to weaponry, paintings, period furniture and other Cuban treasures.
Address: Calle Tacón, Plaza de Armas, Habana Vieja
Hours of operation: 9am-6pm
Admission: Unguided, CUC$3; guided, CUC$4
Cigar factories
Cigars are synonymous with Cuba, so it’s no wonder that tourists flock to see how the smoking gems are made at Havana’s main cigar factories: Partagás and La Corona. Knowledgeable guides offer factory tours of the Partagás Cigar Factory every 20 minutes. Acquaint yourself with the hand-rolling technique, and then pick up a few for friends and family back home.
Address: Partagás: Calle Industria 520
Telephone: (0)7 862 0081
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri, 9am - 2pm
Admission: Tours cost CUC$10 and depart every 20-30 minutes.
Plaza de la Revolucion
The site of major political rallies and speeches given by Fidel Castro, the Plaza de la Revolucion is the axis of Cuban political life. The Jose Marti Memorial, dedicated to the expected first president of Cuba who died in the Second War of Independence in 1895, is the focal point of the massive square. A museum honouring Marti abuts the memorial. At the opposite end of the square is the often-photographed image of Ernesto “Che” Guevara, which reads “Hasta la Victoria Siempre,” or “forever onwards towards victory.”
Address: Memorial: (0)7 592 347
Hours of operation: Memorial: Mon-Sat, 9:30am to 5pm
Admission: Memorial: CUC$3
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Once known as the National Museum, the National Museum of Fine Arts was created in 1913 and now is the go-to destination for the Cuban fine art. Visitors to the museum stroll among 25 exhibits in two buildings, which house Cuban and international art. More than 1,200 paintings, prints and sculptures are on display, all which have been approved by the Presidency of the Council of State.
Address: Avenida de las Misiones, between Trocadero and Animas
Telephone: (0) 7 861 0241
Website:www.museonacional.cult.cu
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm; Sun, 10am-2pm
Admission: $5
Museo de la Revolucion
Spend hours exploring the presidential palace-turned-museum, the ultimate destination for visitors to learn about Cuban history. An architectural wonder, the museum houses documents, photographs and artifacts which give newcomers a clear understanding of the sequence of major events in Cuba’s history. A tank used during the Bay of Pigs by Fidel Castro, as well as an historic watchtower, greet visitors at the museum’s entrance.
Address: 1 Refugio, Old Havana
Website:www.cnpc.cult.cu
Telephone: (0)7 862 4093
Hours of operation: Daily, 10am-5pm
Admission: Unguided, CUC$6; guided, CUC$4
El Capitolio
A wonderfully appointed building in the heart of central Havana. Similar looking to the United States Capitol in Washington DC, El Capitolio housed Cuba’s Senate and House of Representatives until the country’s revolution in 1959. Nowadays, tourists stroll with guided tours through the neoclassic hallways and admire wonders such as the Salón de los Pasos Perdidos (The Hall of Lost Steps) and La Estatua de la República (The Statue of the Republic), the third-largest covered statue in the world.
Address: Centro Habana
Telephone: (0)7 863 7861
Hours of operation: Daily, 9am-8pm
Admission: Unguided, CUC$3; guided, CUC$4
Habana Vieja
“Old Havana” to English speakers and “Habana Vieja” to locals, the heart of Cuba’s capital was rightfully deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. Much of Havana, from Baroque and neoclassical monuments to residential homes and gated courtyards, has been preserved. Founded in 1519 and initially a Spanish colonial naval port, the historic city has survived wars and revolutions, and now is home to more than two million residents.
