Havana city guide & audio tour
Top attractions in Havana
Hotel Nacional de Cuba
Rising like a sun‑kissed coral reef on Taganana Hill, the Hotel Nacional’s muted amber façade (cea470) and striking red roof dominate the Vedado coastline, its eight‑storey silhouette framing the turquoise Gulf of Mexico. From this very terrace you can already spot the Palladian port‑cogia, its stylized coral‑stone…
Estadio Latinoamericano
The colossal blue shell of the Estadio Latinoamericano looms over the Cerro neighborhood, its vast, sweeping stands painted in a striking shade of blue that stretches toward the sky like a promise of endless summer evenings. At a glance you’re looking at a true giant: with a capacity of roughly 55,000 seats, it is…
Real Fabrica de Tabacos Partagás
The red‑cream façade of the Real Fábrica de Tabacos Partagás gleams beside Havana’s monumental Capitol, a splash of 19th‑century pride that still smells faintly of cured leaves. When you look at its ornate cornices, imagine 1845, when Cantalonian trader Don Jaime Partagás opened the doors of this very building on…
Parque de la Fraternidad
Imagine downtown Havana breathing through one of its most symbolic green lungs—the Parque de la Fraternidad, a mosaic of plazas that stretches along the southern edge of the historic Paseo del Prado. From your spot, you can see the sleek lines of the Capitolio’s dome looming ahead, the graceful curves of the Fuente…
Monument to the Victims of the USS Maine
Rising 12 meters from Plaza de la Revolución, the stone column of the Monument to the Victims of the USS Maine commands attention—not just for its solid weight but for the drama it silently tells. When the mighty battleship Maine was blown up in Havana’s harbor on February 15 1898, the explosion claimed 260 lives and…
Monumento a las víctimas del Maine
Standing before the sleek bronze tableau of the Monumento a las víctimas del Maine, you’re looking at a piece of history that was born out of tragedy and turned into a solemn gathering point for remembrance. Erected in 1925, this sculpture was designed by the Cuban architects Cabarrocas & Huerta, whose artistic…
Monumento al General Antonio Maceo
The bronze figure looming before you is not just any statue—it is the larger‑than‑life embodiment of General Antonio Maceo, the “Bronze Titan” of Cuba’s fight for independence. Carved in a single, shining block of bronze and perched on a tall, rectangular pedestal, the monument captures the general in mid‑march: his…
Cuba
Picture the island’s silhouette, a sleek cayman‑shaped landmass stretching over 1,210 km from the Bahamas‑ward northeast to the gap of the Florida Strait in the northwest. From where you stand you can almost see the three mountain chains that break the otherwise flat 80 % of plains and plateaus: the modest…
Hotel Capri
Stretching 66.5 meters into the Havana sky, the Hotel Capri dominates the Vedado avenue like a sleek, stone‑capped compass pointing straight to the city’s most whispered legends. From the moment you set eyes on its glass‑wrapped façade and the bold “Capri” neon sign buzzing above the main entrance, you’re looking at…
Hotel Nacional
Perched on the seafront of Vedado, Hotel Nacional (Calle 21, Havana) isn’t just a hotel – it’s a living museum of Cuban glamour. Opened in 1930, its towering Art Deco façade and sprawling palm‑lined terraces have hosted legends from Gary Cooper to Ernest Hemingway, and even served as a diplomatic hub during the…
Centro Comercial Plaza Carlos III
Built on the historic Plaza Carlos III—named after the enlightened 18th‑century Spanish king who helped modernize Havana—this modest‑sized shopping‑commerce building now buzzes as the Centro Comercial Plaza Carlos III. Today it’s more than a sleek storefront; it’s a dual‑purpose hub that houses retail stalls, office…
Fábrica de Tabacos Partagás
Rising four stories above Industria Street, the Fábrica de Tabacos Partagás is Havana’s brick‑and‑mortar love letter to the island’s cigar empire. Built in the late‑1800s and expanded into the early‑1900s, this 20‑metre‑tall neoclassical‑eclectic complex was once the bustling heart of Partagás’s legendary tobacco…
Galería Galiano
23 y M
Hotel Vedado
Hotel St. John´s
Alma Mater
Figura tamaño casi doble del natural, sobre pedestal de piedra. Simboliza a la Universidad. Lleva al frente la inscripción Alma Mater. La figura aparece sentada en un sitial también de bronce sobre cuyos lados se ven seis bajorrelieves que representan, en
Karl Marx
Casa Jose
Hanacuba
Self-guided walking tour of Havana
A curated one-day tour of Havana's historic Vedado and Centro Habana neighborhoods, focusing on iconic landmarks, culture, and history. This 6-8 hour itinerary emphasizes must-see sites with minimal travel, blending architecture, tobacco heritage, and revolutionary monuments. Start in the morning for optimal lighting and to avoid crowds.
- Hotel Nacional de Cuba – Iconic 1930s hotel with Art Deco architecture and sea views; explore the gardens and bar for a taste of old Havana glamour. Best visited early morning; entry fee around 5-10 CUC for non-guests.
- Monument to the Victims of the USS Maine – Grand monument commemorating the USS Maine explosion, a key event in Cuban independence history; admire the towering eagle statue. Quick 15-20 minute stop; open access, but watch for uneven steps.
- Real Fabrica de Tabacos Partagás – Historic tobacco factory where Partagás cigars are hand-rolled; take a guided tour to learn about Cuba's cigar industry (tours ~10 CUC, 45 minutes). Visit afternoon; photography restricted inside.
- Parque de la Fraternidad – Lush park with monuments to Latin American solidarity, including a central tree planted by US presidents; relax and people-watch. 20-30 minutes; free entry, but avoid after dark due to crowds.
Explore Havana with the GuideX app
Audio stories for every place, an interactive map and personal walking routes. Free to download on iOS and Android.