Havana - La Habana

A trip to Havana is synonymous with a trip to Cuba. This seaside capital city of Cuba boasts of a rich history, splendid architecture filled with 18th and 19th century buildings and a distinctive culture. It has wide avenues, public squares, museums, ancient forts, and beautiful churches. Havana displays almost everything that a Cuban city has to offer. It provides a glimpse of the republic, its people, and the culture. A stopover at this place ensures that tourists get a feel of what the Cuban cities have to offer and plan their trip ahead in a better way.

Havana is a city rich in history, architecture, and culture. There are more than 50 museums here to enthrall visitors. In fact, one is devoted to cars of the 1950s. The public squares give tourists a taste of life in this country. The streets are an experience in itself. Tourists will never know about what to expect at every nook and corner. Be prepared for impromptu rumba dances, which can change the look of the streets to a dance party location. In fact, every lane of Havana, has something related to the history of Cuba for tourists to enjoy.

The city of Havana is filled with Cuban history. From the La Plaza de Armas (Armas Square), one can see the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, where one can view artistic pottery collection. Other than this, the General Capitan’s' Palace (Museum of the City) and El Segundo Cabo are great places of attractions for tourists. The 1828 neoclassical building of El Templete is another wonderful attraction. Here, every year, the celebration of the November 16 anniversary of the first mass and the first town council of San Cristobal de la Habana is held.

The Cathedral Square, recently restored Plaza Vieja (Old Square), house of the Counds of San Juan de Jaruco and the Square of Saint Francis D' Assisi are added attractions of the city. The cobbled streets of Old Havana take many back to the days gone by. The numerous museums and studio-galleries beckon art lovers. From Havana, tourists can cross through the bay over to the towns of Casablanca and Regla to reach the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de la Virgen de Regla, who is considered the protector of seamen and fishermen.

But no trip to Havana can ever be complete without a visit to the Great Theater of Havana, the splendid Capitol building, the 12 km long Malecon of Havana, the bicentennial University of Havana, the Revolution Square and the José Martí Monument which is the highest lookout point in the city at 138,5 meters above the sea level. Havana, with more that 15 kilometers of coastline, fine white sandy beaches and blue water, presents tourists with great water sports and recreational activities. The best way of getting around this city and observing the rich Cuban history is to take a walk on foot. This will help tourists to soak in the ambience and take full advantage of the surprises, which are always plenty in this amazing Cuban city.

Tourists can plan day trips from Havana to other nearby cities and places of attractions. A visit to the Viñales Valley in the western province of Pinar del Rio will give tourists a view of the mountains. Tourists can also plan a trip to Cayo Largo del Sur for a great scuba diving experience or visit Puente Bacunayagua. Tourists can also take a tour of the City of Matanzas. Havana has many hotels that one can choose from while trying to find accommodation in the city. Besides star rated hotels, there are many budget accommodations to suit everyone’s needs. Hostels and private houses or ‘casa particular’ are also popular. Hotels are comparatively expensive but provide a whole lot of amenities.

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If tourists want to imbibe the local culture and know more about the place then accommodation in Casa particular is recommended. Hostels provide accommodation to tourists looking for the most economical place to stay in the city. Many restaurants in Havana cater to tourists, serving a whole lot of Cuban delicacies.