Must-Visit Attractions in Havana, Cuba
The Atlantic-facing capital of Cuba is a beauty – from the palm-lined Plaza de Armas to the art deco towers and grand theaters. Old Havana is the biggest draw for its 500-year-old Spanish empire history and a new wave of cool bars, while Residential Centro is lively and less touristy. Here’s our pick of the best things to see while visiting Havana.
Discover Cuba beyond Havana by chartering a yacht with SamBoat – no sailing experience required.
1. Stroll along El Malecón
Architectural Landmark
Cuba’s oceanside road and promenade is easily one of the most handsome in the world. The sea wall winds 8km (5mi) around Old Havana, past gritty Centro Havana before rounding the iconic Hotel Nacional on its sea-facing bluff and the US Embassy further west. Wander the popular stretch from Paseo del Prado westwards. Search for the caryatids of the Centro Hispanoamericano de Cultura, the coffin-shaped apartments, and the Primavera statue outside the mob-built Deauville Hotel.
2. Peruse the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Museum
4. Snap the street art in San Isidro Distrito de Arte
Architectural Landmark
Photographers will love the colourful streets of San Isidro. Down in the untouristy southern lanes of Old Havana, an army of street painters have transformed these streets into an al fresco canvas. You’ll need to take to Instagram to identify some of the tags, if you’re a real fan. Soak up the atmosphere, snap the artwork, and pop into new art galleries, opened by the entrepreneurial sons of Cuba’s leading actor Jorge Perugorría, as well as the bars.
5. Stroll Chinatown and visit Galería Arte Continua
Art Gallery
Yes, Havana has a Chinatown. Thousands of Chinese indentured labourers worked the booming sugar plantations in the mid 19th century. Havana was once home to the largest Chinatown in Latin America. Today, wander under the paifang behind the Capitol building to find streets and societies bearing Chinese lettering. A small street of restaurants is heralded by a new neon sign. The biggest draws are the avant-garde art shows at Galería Arte Continua, fashioned out of the former Golden Eagle Cinema.
6. Take a guided tour of Havana’s Capitolio
Building
7. Admire the Edificio Bacardí
Distillery
It was all about Bacardí rum prior to the 1959 Revolution in Cuba when thousands of Americans suffering Prohibition escaped to the island for cocktails in the city’s famous bars. There was no better way to showcase profits than in a beautiful showy art deco company headquarters. Towering over Old Havana, it’s crowned by a ziggurat and the rum’s bat symbol. Go for the lobby, striped in pink Bavarian and dark Norwegian granite, as well as the little mezzanine café where you can admire the original decor.
8. Tour a Havana cigar factory
Building
Luxury Cuban smokes have lured the rich and famous to the island for centuries. For a masterclass on the long journey from tobacco seed to expensive cigar, book a tour at the relocated Partagás factory in the Pollack Building on Centro Havana’s San Carlos Street. You’ll get a close-up on Habaneros leaf sorting, tobacco rolling, and boxing up in the holographic-bound cedar boxes. Purchases can be made at a cigar shop around the corner on Belascaoín Street.
9. Peek inside the Museo de Artes Decorativas
Museum
10. Explore the new indie stores of Havana
Store
It’s no longer just about cigars, Che Guevara t-shirts and rum. The creative entrepreneurs of Cuba have launched fashion lines, crafts and designer must-haves in the last 10 years, so make room in your luggage for homegrown collectibles. Buy cool tees, posters and bags in Old Havana at Clandestina; clothes at Dador, Capicúa and Color Café; and handcrafted items at Piscolabis and at Alma in Miramar. For posters, books, and memorabilia, browse the crammed collection at Memorias near Hotel Sevilla in Old Havana.
This is an updated rewrite of an article originally by Barbara Maseda.
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