The famously charming capital of Cuba, Havana boasts brightly-painted buildings, old American cars, myriad museums and buzzing bars where you can expect live music and dancing every night. This fascinating city is fast becoming a favourite holiday destination, with accommodation options ranging from elegant townhouse apartments to swish city hotels. Many of the best places to stay in Havana are clustered around the old part of town, but there are some real gems in neighbouring Vedado, which is a cultural hub in its own right.
Whether you’re visiting as a couple, or with friends and family, Havana is a brilliant city to explore. Take a guided walking tour for an insight into the city’s heritage, food and music scene. The trade and travel bans which isolated Cuba from global development for much of the 20th Century have preserved a rich culture and striking architecture, best seen on foot or by bicycle. Arts and heritage buffs will love the Museo de la Revolucion, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, the eerie Necrópolis Cristóbal Colón, and smaller museums dedicated to Hemingway, Napoleon and others. Havana Cathedral is superb, and strolls around the Plaza de Armas — laid out in the 1520s — and Plaza Vieja are highly recommended.
Pick up local handicrafts at the Centro Cultural Antiguos Almacenes de Deposito San Jose, or make your way to the 8-km Malecón, to join Cuban families for an amble along the seafront esplanade. Across the water, the huge Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña protects Havana from the ocean and served as Che Guevara’s post-revolution headquarters — it is well worth visiting.
Spend your evenings sipping Cuba Libres at street-side bars, savouring delectable fare in friendly eateries, and dancing til dawn at Havana’s hottest spots. The paint may be peeling, but this is a city with stacks of soul. The best places to stay in Havana are likely to fill up fast, so book your trip well in advance.