A key destination for visitors to Cuba, Havana provides numerous attractions. Below are 7 sights you shouldn’t miss during your visit.
With its colourful façades, vintage American cars, And bustling streets, Havana is a top destination when visiting Cuba. Being the biggest city in the Caribbean (covering an expanse seven times larger than central Paris), this Cuban hub provides an unexpectedly serene ambiance, giving one the feeling that time has halted. With majestic plazas and neighborhoods teeming with artistic expression and musical vibrancy, each street embodies historical depth and cultural heritage. Once darkness descends and the daytime warmth fades away, a fresh spirit emerges. Specific areas transform into hubs for spontaneous get-togethers and dynamic nights filled with local interaction. It’s this wealth of genuine experiences that sets Havana apart; delve deeper to uncover the 7 essential places you shouldn’t miss. INSPIRATIONS DIGITAL .
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La Habana Vieja
Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, Old Havana ( La Habana Vieja It serves as the historic and cultural core of Havana, Cuba’s main city. With its stone-paved avenues, vivid facades, and intricate ironwork balconies, it radiates an ageless allure reminiscent of times past.
Old Havana grew around four primary plazas. The most ancient of these is Plaza Armas , fuses colonial and Art Deco architectural styles. Next is Plaza de la Catedral , enveloped by 18th-century Baroque architecture. Next follows Plaza Vieja , combining elements of colonial and Art Deco architecture, filled with quaint cafes, art galleries, and crafts stores. Lastly, Plaza de San Francisco de AsÃs remains unchanged as it appears to be a proper noun referring to a specific place. , meticulously renovated in the late 1990s, houses many statues, fountains, and multiple museums.
The Malecón
The Malecón stretches for 7 kilometers along a seawall that links the historical center with the Vedado neighborhood. Beyond being merely a walkway, The Malecón serves as a central location for various gatherings and festivities. Nicknamed "the world’s biggest couch," this place attracts residents who walk, work out, fish, and soak up the sea breeze and vistas. As evening falls, the shoreline bursts into life with the roar of breaking waves blending with street performances and an electric atmosphere.
The journey starts at Castillo San Salvador de la Punta, directly opposite its twin fortress, Castillo del Morro—both were once key protectors of the harbor entrance. As you proceed along the pier, you will see characteristic homes built between the 1930s and 1950s. The path is interspersed with parks, statues, watchtowers, and various landmarks before concluding at Castillo de la Chorrera.
El Capitolio
Constructed from 1920 to 1929, Havana’s El Capitolio It is a reproduction of the United States Capitol in Washington D.C., completely covered in marble. Despite this, it has a distinctive design that merges Neoclassical and Art Deco elements. The building initially served as the seat of the Cuban Congress before 1959, but currently accommodates the Academy of Sciences.
Within, guests can discover the Salon of Lost Steps , a magnificent hall featuring a marble floor and an intricate ceiling. Situated at its center, a 25-carat diamond set into the flooring signifies kilometre zero for every road within the nation. This structure additionally contains the Statue of the Republic, a towering bronze figure exceeding 15 meters in height.
The Museum of the Revolution
Located within the historic premises of the former Presidential Palace, the Museum of the Revolution chronicles Cuba’s journey from ancient indigenous cultures through to today’s communist state. It showcases an array of artifacts such as historical relics, images, papers, and armaments, providing visitors with a deep understanding of the nation’s struggle for autonomy and the events surrounding the Cuban Revolution.
Visitors outside can view an SAU-100 tank, which was utilized by Fidel Castro during the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. Additionally, on exhibit is the Granma The renowned 18-meter boat that transported Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and 80 insurgents from Tuxpan, Mexico, to Cuba in 1956 was known as the yacht.
Callejón de Hamel
Nestled within the Cayo Hueso neighborhood, Callejón de Hamel The heart of Afro-Cuban culture beats within this compact 200-meter lane, teeming with life and drawing in both visitors and residents alike. The street serves as a canvas where artistic expressions flourish; murals, statues, verses, and spiritual symbols decorate the walls in a vivid burst of color.
Guests can delight in rumba shows and impromptu live music sessions. The local artisans, frequently present, gladly discuss their creative processes and sources of inspiration. This bustling avenue buzzes with activity as residents dance, mingle, savour beverages, and join in singing.
The statue of Christ
This monument inevitably evokes thoughts of Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer. Nevertheless, its backstory differs significantly. In 1957, after an assault on the presidential palace, the leader’s wife, worried about her spouse’s safety, pledged to the Sacred Heart of Jesus that she would have a statue of Christ created if he managed to survive the attack orchestrated by political adversaries.
The responsibility lies with the sculptor Jilma Madera. Following two years in Italy, she comes back to Cuba bearing a massive 320-tonne white marble statue measuring 20 meters in height. This towering artwork has been overlooking the Bay of Havana from then onwards.
The Christopher Columbus Cemetery
Unlike its name implies, this site does not house the remains of the renowned explorer; he was laid to rest at the Seville Cathedral. Situated in the El Vedado neighborhood, the Necrópolis of Cristóbal Colón Founded in 1876, this cemetery is the biggest in Latin America, housing almost a million tombs. A significant number of these tombstones are crafted from white marble, and several feature artwork created by local Cuban artists.
This cemetery provides a stroll through its pathways, lined with Neoclassical or Rococo mausoleums. Among them, one of the most renowned graves is that of La Milagrosa ("The Miraculous"), a young woman who passed away, was buried alongside her infant's remains.
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