Discover Havana
Havana (La Habana) with its 2.1 million inhabitants is one of the most fascinating cities in the world — not despite, but because of its decay. Founded in 1519, the city was for centuries the gateway to the New World: Here, the silver fleets from Mexico and Peru arrived, here people smoked, drank, and celebrated, here Spaniards, Americans, and revolutionaries left their marks.
The old town Habana Vieja (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982) is the heart: a labyrinthine tangle of colonial palaces, baroque churches, weathered plazas, and crumbling balconies, from which laundry hangs and salsa music emanates. Since the 1990s, careful restoration has been underway — one block perfectly renovated, the next on the verge of collapse. This mix of decay and rebirth gives Havana its unique charm.
Plan at least 3–4 full days for Havana. The city has far more to offer than the obligatory classic car ride: a vibrant art and music scene, excellent Paladares (private restaurants), Cuba's best nightlife, and stories at every corner. Havana is not a city to "check off" — you let yourself drift.
Orientation
Havana stretches over 30 km along the coast, but the tourist-relevant areas are compact:
- Habana Vieja (Old Town): The UNESCO World Heritage Site east of the Capitolio. Four central plazas (Armas, Catedral, Vieja, San Francisco), fortresses, museums, bars. You spend most of your time here.
- Centro Habana: Between Old Town and Vedado. Authentic, rough, little restored. The Malecón begins here. Barrio Chino (Chinatown), Capitolio, Gran Teatro. Not a tourist district, but full of character.
- Vedado: The district of the 1930s–50s west of Centro. Here are the big hotels (Nacional, Habana Libre), the university, the Plaza de la Revolución, and the best Paladares and nightclubs. Art Deco villas and wide boulevards.
- Miramar: West of the Río Almendares. Embassy district with villas of the former upper class. 5ta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) as a grand boulevard. Some of the best restaurants are located here.
- Regla & Casablanca: East of the bay, accessible by ferry. Regla is the center of Santería cults, Casablanca offers the Cristo de La Habana with a panoramic view.
💡 Tipp
Havana is a pedestrian city — in Habana Vieja and Centro, you don't need a taxi. For the route Old Town → Vedado, take a Bicitaxi (3–5 €) or a classic car shared taxi (20–50 CUP per person).
