Wander Old Havana's Restored Plazas and Fortress Views
Start on the cobblestones of Plaza de Armas, where colonial baroque buildings frame an elegant square that has drawn Havana's elite since the 1770s. At the center stands a monument to Cuba's founding father, and beneath a capok tree on the plaza's edge lies the spot where the city's first mass was held in 1519. Vendors sell antiques and rare books here, giving the square a living, layered quality. The Royal Force Castle (Castillo de la Real Fuerza) sits on the plaza's eastern edge—the oldest bastioned fortress in the New World, completed in 1577. Inside, Cuba's maritime museum displays ship models and exhibits tracing naval history from pre-Columbian times through the 18th century, including a vast model of the Santísima Trinidad, once one of the world's largest ships. The fort itself offers views across the harbour and back toward the city's roofline.
A short walk away, the Havana Cathedral (Catedral de La Habana) rises in the Old Town as a prime example of baroque architecture. Built in the 18th century and redesigned in the 1940s, it houses the seat of Cuba's Roman Catholic Archdiocese. For an unusual perspective on the entire Old Town, visit the Cámara Oscura and look through a large optical device that projects a 360-degree view of the city onto a viewing table below.
Step Into Museums of Revolution, Rum, and Art
The Museum of the Revolution (Museo de la Revolución) occupies the former presidential palace and traces Cuba's history from pre-Columbian times through 1959 and into the present socialist state. The tour moves through centuries but dwells heavily on the revolution itself, with a clear narrative frame. A camera permit costs extra if you want to photograph inside.
For a taste of Cuba's most famous export, the Partagás Cigar factory (Fábrica de Tabaco Partagas) sits behind the National Capitol Building. A guided tour shows tobacco cultivation and cigar production methods; the factory shop sells authentic Cuban cigars at higher prices than street vendors but with assured quality.
The Havana Club Rum Museum (Museo del Ron Havana Club) on Avenida del Puerto offers a guided experience through rum production. Most exhibits carry English subtitles and explain themselves clearly, making it accessible even without deep Spanish.
The Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes has two sections: one devoted to international art and another to Cuban work spanning centuries, displayed across three floors in the Arte Cubano wing. Art lovers can spend hours here. The museum also hosts live music events, many costing only 250 CUP.
Stroll the Prado and Malecón for Street Life and Harbour Views
The Paseo del Prado is a lively pedestrian zone where locals spend their free time. An evening walk here lets you sip in street life and the hum of cafes and restaurants, though the street lacks night lighting. El Malecón, Havana's waterfront, offers stunning views of the city and the sea. On weekends, locals come to party along the wall; bring a bottle and join them. The walk stretches along the coastline and gives you the rhythm of the city at water's edge.
Discover Revolutionary Icons and Contemporary Art Spaces
Plaza de la Revolución is a vast square dominated by a statue and monument to José Martí and the iconic image of Che Guevara on the Ministry of the Interior building. Arrive early or late to avoid both crowds and intense midday heat.
Lennon Park (Parque Lennon) in Vedado features the only statue of a western musician in Havana—John Lennon—notable for eyeglasses that are regularly stolen and replaced. The Hotel Habana Libre, also in Vedado, housed Castro's soldiers for days after they took the city and displays excellent historical photographs in its lobby.
Fabrica de Arte Cubano (La Fábrica de Arte or FAC) converted a former cooking oil factory into a gallery, performance space, and nightclub that has become one of Havana's premier venues for art and live music events.
Experience Music, Markets, and Day Trips Beyond the City
Live music runs through Havana's veins. Nearly every restaurant and hotel hosts a house band playing traditional favorites. La Zorra y el Cuervo, a tiny club below street level near the Hotel Habana Libre, hosts funky and skilled jazz musicians. Casa de la Música de Centro Habana is the place for salsa dancing, with top-rated bands rotating nightly. La Tropical opens for large live-music events and holds several thousand people. The Hotel National regularly hosts major talent.
Bike tours through Cityklela let you discover the city at a human pace, departing daily from San Francisco street. Old American cars can be hired near the Hotel Inglaterra or outside the Museum of the Revolution for a stylish tour of the city.
Just outside the city, the eastern beaches (Playas del Este) are a 30-minute bus ride from the Hotel Inglaterra, with buses departing every 30 minutes. The roundtrip costs about US$5.
Start planning a visit to Havana by mapping a day around Old Town's plazas and fortresses, then venture into the city's museums and music venues. The Prado and Malecón are made for wandering, and there is always a live band waiting.