Location: Havana
Top Things to do in Havana
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What to do and see in Havana, Ciudad de la Habana Province: The Best Points of Interest & Landmarks
A city trapped in time, Havana captures the imagination like no other. Faded glamour meets careful colonial-era reconstruction with a backdrop of irresistible color. Walk El Malecón, the walkway bordering the ocean; visit Old Havana and the Catedral de San Cristóbal; and listen for salsa music, open-air bazaars and parties that last all night.
Restaurants in Havana
1. Comunidad hebrea de La Habana Beth Shalom
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By Pamwiltravel - Arcata, United States
Although we arrived to Cuba knowing that the Jewish population is only 1,200 people, we were astounded by the vitality and warmth at Temple Beth Shalom. We attended a Friday night service there, and the synagogue was FULL. Afterward, there was a dinner downstairs for about 150 people! It was a big week end there: 60 conversions for intermarriage the day before , and 16 weddings the next day. The Rabbi comes from Chile probably 3 times a year. TIP: We went on a Jewish tour with Turismo Judaico. Suzanne, all of 20 years old, is the driving force behind a super active Sunday School. We loved the tour which included other Jewish sites as well.
2. Instituto Superior de Arte
3. Proyecto Cultural Muraleando
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 27 reviews
Created in 2001 by the artist Manuel Diaz Baldrich, Muraleando has transformed the neighborhood into an art gallery. Children form the community and visitors to the project attend classes in pottery, painting, music, dance and engraving aimed at building and developing their artistic skills. This a singular cultural experience and a unique look into Cuban culture, art, food and its way of life.
Reviewed By TravelFoodJunkie23 - Los Angeles, United States
We were not exactly sure what to expect when we arrived at Muraleando, as the description was a little vague as to what we would do during our visit. Elizabeth greeted us at the door and gave us a tour, explaining the origin of the project. It is such an unbelievably creative solution to a series of problems in the community. We met some of the teachers who are all volunteers and had the option to buy some of their art, as well as some student art. We also had a private performance by some of the music teachers and it was some of the best music we heard in Cuba! They were fantastic! The visit was capped off with a delicious lunch and great conversation with our young guide. She is very well informed and very open to talking about herself, Cuba and, of course, Muraleando. The only thing missing was that in the description it says we would have a volunteer opportunity and, apart from supporting by buying art, we didn't have that chance. However, visiting Muraleando is a wonderful way to learn about the community, the history of the arts in Cuba and all while supporting the children and creating art.
4. Palacio del Segundo Cabo
5. Old Havana
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 20,586 reviews
Bohemian, rhythmically Latin, certainly picturesque and, above all, charming.
Reviewed By Gantt-Tammy - Havana, Caribbean
La Habana is a great City to visit, old cars, great walks, good food and warm people, lots of live music, rum and cigars, history, art and plazas...be sure to hit Plaza de Revolution... The city has it all. The old City take a good day get through ...Sloppy Joe's, Floridita Street, and in modern Havana be sure to see Hotel Nacional and Tropicana. The Capitolo building is a great landmark to start from. If you can go inside, there is one of the largest diamonds in the world encased in the floor.
6. Plaza de la Catedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,699 reviews
Reviewed By JanetC2029 - Stockport, United Kingdom
Located in the old part of the city the fabulous architecture of the catedral at one side of a lovely square with restaurants, cafes and museums
7. Plaza de Armas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,898 reviews
Reviewed By jackie_rogers59 - Tewkesbury, United Kingdom
This square is surrounded by some of the city’s most important historic buildings, spanning architecture from the 16th to the 20th centuries. Stand in the centre of the square, by the tree-shaded monument of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, Cuban patriot, initiator of the Ten Years War against Spanish colonial rule in 1868 and ‘Father of the Nation’. To your east is El Templete, a 19th-century, Greek-style Neoclassical temple marking the legendary spot where Havana was founded in 1519; and the magnificent 18th-century Casa del Conde de Santovenia, a palatial mansion renovated in 1998 and now serving as the elegantly decorated Hotel Santa Isabel. From here you can see El Morro Castle on the other side of the harbour
8. San Francisco de Asis Square
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,161 reviews
Reviewed By Des1963 - Johannesburg, South Africa
Plaza de San Francisco dates from 1575. From the start it was a commercial center, and during the colonial period a fair took place here every October with coin and card games, lotteries and cock fights. It is one of the first three built in the 16th century. It takes its name from the Franciscan convent built there. This Colonial square houses some of the most interesting places in Old Havana, such as San Francisco de Asís Convent, and nowadays houses the Religious Art Museum; Rum Museum, or Coche Miambí, a train coach built in the US in 1990 and transported to Cuba in 1992.
9. Paseo del Prado
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,100 reviews
A popular street in Havana known for music and nightlife.
Reviewed By Bolskyontheroad - Brooklyn, United States
Walking the Prado, a marble pedestrian boulevard from the Malecon to Central Park, is a Saturday night activity for Cubans since my mom was a kid and I was very happy to accompany her for a leisurely stroll. It's a must do activity in the evening after dinner, especially if you want to mingle with the locals when they aren't working. You will be together with many Cubans out for the evening, enjoying the pleasant sea breeze and the beat of the music from every open window. There are marble sculptures and benches so you can sit and admire as everyone walks by with a smile. There are young people, families and police everywhere and the boulevard is well lit at night.
10. Old Square (Plaza Vieja)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,604 reviews
What is now called the Old Square was originally Plaza Nueva (New Square), built as a popular alternative to Plaza de Armas, the military and government nerve center. Later called Plaza del Mercado (Market Square) as Havana's commercial hub, Plaza Vieja was the site of executions, processions, bullfights, and fiestas -- all witnessed by Havana's wealthiest citizens, who looked on from their balconies. The original Carrara marble fountain surrounded by four dolphins was demolished in the 1930s when President Gerardo Machado (1871-1939) built an underground parking lot here. Today the square's surrounding structures vary wildly in condition, though all of them are noteworthy.
Reviewed By ChrisR962 - London, United Kingdom
Having visited Plaza Vieja during the Special Period when it looked like London at the height of the blitz (WWII), it is always a pleasure to see the continuing restoration and rejuvenation of this stunning square. Excellent.
