Havana Travel Guide
Havana is the largest city in the Caribbean, though it has less traffic and commercialisation than your average Latin American city. It is ideal for travellers who are tired of mass homogenised culture; there is not a fast-food chain in sight.
Getting there
Almost all visitors to Havana arrive by air at the José Martu International Airport in Rancho Boyeros, 25kms southwest of town. Scheduled flights arrive regularly from Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Europe. The main gateways for US travellers visiting illegally continue to be Cancun, Mexico City, Nassau and Toronto.
Key Attractions
Havana is probably Latin America's best-preserved colonial city. Oozing with culture, the city features dozens of churches, palaces, castles and monuments. Old Havana was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982 and contains five centuries of rich architectural heritage and a high concentration of museums and galleries.
Don't miss Museo de la Ciudad, housed in a 18th century baroque palace on the culturally and architecturally rich Plaza de Armas. Near the main artery of Paseo del Prado is the beautifully restored Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, which features Cuban and international art. El Castillo del Morro is also worth seeing; this castle was built in 1589 to guard Havana's harbour from Caribbean pirates and invading armies.
Out and about
Just across the harbour from Old Havana is the old town of Regala, a centre of Afro-Cuban religions. Here, at Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Regla, you can see the Black Madonna who is the patroness of sailors and is associated with Yemay, the spirit of the ocean. Fifteen kilometres southeast of Havana is Finca la Vigia, the villa where Ernest Hemingway lived for 20 years; it has been preserved as Museo Hemingway.
Leisure options
There isn't much shopping to be had in Havana unless you want rum or cigars. Look out for Havana Club rum and visit one of the Casas del Habano scattered around the city for habano cigars. In Mirimar, a prestigious residential neighbourhood of wide avenues west of Vedado, you can find some expensive shops among the embassies and villas. Additionally, Havana is full of bars and clubs for dancing and there is a regular rotation of bands among the premier clubs such as Casa de la Musica de Centro Habana.
Read about Cuba's travel insurance requirements for entry into the country.
