A true myth, Havana is a must for anyone visiting Cuba. In November 2019, the city celebrates its 500th anniversary, this is a great opportunity to discover the sublime Cuban capital! Both rooted in the past, but always ready to renew itself, Havana is truly a fascinating city of which here is a short guided tour.
A historic centre listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Endowed with a very rich history, the old town, La Habana Vieja as a whole, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. It contains countless monuments and buildings from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. A considerable effort has been made to restore the entire district and it continues unabated. It will therefore be particularly pleasant for you to walk the streets of La Habana Vieja, discover its superb monuments and visit its museums. You will never stop admiring the beauty of its buildings and your smartphone may become saturated from the very first hours of your visit, because you will want to take pictures of everything! One of the most important monuments of La Habana Vieja is the cathedral. It occupies the entire side of Empedrado Street, which overlooks the square, between San Ignacio and Mercaderes. It is really one of the most emblematic cathedrals in Cuba and it is also one of Havana's most important monuments, which is featured on many postcards. It is hard not to fall under the spell of this pretty paved square and this beautiful cathedral, all of which has been magnificently restored.
Old Havana is also home to several historic places. Among the most symbolic squares, Plaza de Armas is surrounded by splendid colonial buildings, such as the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, the Templete, the Palacio del Segundo Cabo and the Castillo de la Real Fuerza... But it is also necessary to go for a walk along the side of the Plaza vieja built in 1559 after Plaza de Armas, which presents a set of buildings that are at the same time heteroclite and harmonious with various architectural styles: neoclassical, baroque and Art Nouveau.
Centro Havana, the most popular district
But Havana is not only La Habana Vieja, it is also other districts all very different and that is what makes the charm of the Cuban capital so charming. Centro Habana is undoubtedly the most typical district with its superb colonial buildings, most often decayed, which accommodate the less well-off families. It is really the most popular district in Havana, and undoubtedly the most authentic too. The major event that took place in this district recently is none other than the reopening of the Capitol in March 2018! It is a monument that is one of the most important in Havana and even in Cuba as a whole. Almost no one believed in its reopening, because the Capitolio Nacional had been under construction for 10 years... But what a beautiful restoration and what an enriching visit you could make there, it was really worth waiting for! The upper part of the Capitol, and therefore the dome, is still under restoration, but the work should be completed in autumn 2019, just in time for the celebration of the 500th anniversary of Havana's foundation in November. Within a 10-minute walk, the Museum of the Revolution is also one of the must-see, it really helps to better understand the fascinating and complex history of Cuba. To regain your strength, we advise you to go to a mythical restaurant: the Paladar San Cristobal. This establishment, with its magnificent colonial setting, is the one where Barack Obama came to lunch during his historic visit to Cuba in 2016. Finally, we recommend that you end your day with a walk on the mythical Malecón, the waterfront that runs 8 km along the north side of the city. It is the ideal way to breathe the good sea air and get some fresh air when it is cooler. You can take some very nice pictures at sunset from the Malecón, so recharge your smartphone!
The Vedado, the most lively district
A district for wealthy families in Havana at the beginning of the revolution, the Vedado is now a modern part of the city. The Vedado's urban plan, designed in a checkered pattern and articulated around vast orthogonal arteries, is directly inspired by the North American model. Thanks to its opening on the ocean and the Malecón, which borders its northern edge for several kilometres, the Vedado gains in perspective and aeration. There are a large number of special casas (guest houses) and hotels, which explains the presence of many tourists in this part of the city without distorting it, because Cubans remain largely in the majority.
But the Vedado is also one of the most lively districts of Havana, because it has many bars, restaurants... Most of these establishments are privately owned and the services are generally of high quality; many addresses have even become essential in a short period of time. You should not miss eating at Casa Fragnol, a restaurant that offers Cuban and French specialities since it belongs to Chantal, a Frenchwoman who has lived in Cuba for years. Another interesting address for lovers of good food is Café Laurent, which offers contemporary Cuban cuisine with a beautiful selection of tapas and good cocktails. To celebrate, we advise you to go to the Fabrica de Arte Cubano. This unique space, housed in a former factory, brings together bars, contemporary art galleries and concert halls on several floors in a festive and trendy atmosphere where both Havanese and tourists meet. For more choice, head for Calle 23, also known as the Rampa, one of the most lively avenues of the Vedado: restaurants, bars, cabarets and nightclubs abound there. Las Rampas Avenue splits the Vedado in two, from the sea to the Miramar district, which is above all a district of embassies and wealthy houses. In recent years, however, the Miramar has become more and more home owned restaurants and bars, and is more and more like the Vedado.
Old American cars in every neighborhood
It's hard not to notice them! They are everywhere... And it is finally the link between all the districts of Havana in a way. Old American cars, from the 1950s to the 1960s, are omnipresent in the Cuban capital and in all neighbourhoods. They contribute to the feeling that time has stopped in Cuba. Car collectors or car enthusiasts will be delighted. They will be able to take a guided tour of Havana in an old convertible from the 1950s and take some wonderful pictures. In the streets of Havana, for example, you can see mythical car models such as the 1955 Chevrolet BelAir, Buick Eight, 1958 Ford Fairlane Skyliner, Pontiac Chieftain, Oldsmobile Super 88, or Packard 200..
The most surprising fact about these old American cars is that they are incredibly resistant to weather, but also to breakdowns! It is difficult to know how Cubans manage to keep such old vehicles in good condition in a country where the American embargo persists and where it is impossible to import mechanical parts from the United States, for example... We can blame this on the legendary resourcefulness of Cubans and the know-how passed down from father to son, acquired through experience. In conclusion, Cuban garage owners are undoubtedly among the most talented in the world...
Smart info
When? When? The Cuban climate is subtropical. It offers ideal weather conditions from March to June. The dry season runs from November to May and the wet season from June to October with alternating short periods of heavy rainfall and a good level of sunshine. Attention: from the end of August to October, it is also the hurricane season.
Getting there. Average price of a flight from Paris to Havana: from 700 to 900 €. Duration: 10 hours.
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