Hotel Nacional de Cuba
The Hotel Nacional is Havana's most famous hotel — and one of the most legendary in the world. Opened in 1930 in the style of Spanish neoclassicism, it sits atop a hill above the Malecón with spectacular sea views. The guest list reads like a Who's Who of the 20th century: Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, Marlene Dietrich, Winston Churchill, Marlon Brando, Walt Disney, and of course, the Mafia bosses Meyer Lansky and Lucky Luciano.
What to do?
- Cocktail on the terrace: The bar with a view of the Malecón and the sea is accessible to everyone — even without a hotel room. Mojito: 5–6 USD. The view: priceless.
- Cannon Battery: In the garden are the remnants of a coastal battery from the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 — with information boards about the history.
- Hall of Fame: Inside the hotel hang photos of all the famous guests — a Cuban hall of fame.
