10 Essentials: what to see and do in Havana in 2 or 3 days

I think the best way to define Havana is to think of an old family jewel of great value forgotten in a drawer.

When you find it, you immediately perceive its enormous value.

Havana is the capital of Cuba and, probably, the most charming city in the entire world. Caribbean.

Before seeing everything that Havana offers, we leave you several articles that can help you on your trip through Cuba.

• Guide to traveling to Cuba
• How does money work in Cuba?
• How to have internet in Cuba?
• 14 Cities to see in Cuba
• What to see in Trinidad

Curiosities of the history of Havana

For 400 years Cuba It was the cornerstone of commerce Spanish Empire in the new world and the Havana port It served as an axis for the exchange of goods between the Spanish colonies in America and Europe.

An exchange in which all the riches that the colonists obtained in the “new world” such as gold, silver or tobacco came out and in which all the wealth of Spain also arrived.

The Spanish were gathering all the wealth of the lands conquered in America and centralizing its export to Spain by port of Havana.

In our 15-day trip through the island of Cuba, Havana It has been our starting point and our end, so we have been able to get to know it quite in depth.

Havana It is a city that must be seen despite the apparent decay of its buildings. old town, it is a place with a special magnetism.

Al visit Havana You have to understand that it is a city in which two aspects stand out above all.

On one hand, the monumental historical legacy and, on the other, the cultural life of the city.

But they are not the typical words that are said in all the capitals of the world.

Cuba It is music and that is felt in people's daily lives, and unintentionally, that festive atmosphere is transferred to tourists.

And you only understand that when you travel to see cities like Havana.

Best places to see when visiting Havana

Here we bring you what for us are the essential places waths up what to see in Havana

Old Havana, the old town of Cuba

Havana It has a part that can be considered the old town and, unlike other cities in the world, it is the most decadent part.

And I say decadent because many of the buildings are falling down, but when you look closely you realize that they are not normal buildings, they are real gems.

Old Havana It is full of historic colonial buildings, which the circumstances of Cuba have left them anchored in time.

A very recurring phrase when we visited Old Havana was: “The day they fix up the city and give it a coat of paint, this could be one of the most beautiful cities in the world.”

You can already see how little by little they are fixing buildings and bringing out the best in the city.

Today the true charm of the city is walking through it, reading between the lines, seeing the city like someone looking at archaeological remains and imagining what they will be like the day they are renovated.

La Casas Particulares Old Havana It has several essential places to see such as the Plaza de Armas, the Old Square, Museum of the Revolution, Central Park or the CCathedral of San Cristobal.

Havana Malecon

There are few places more representative of Cuba than the Malecón Pier.

Malecón Pier is the name given to it in Cuba to the promenades and the Havana it's huge.

But it is not only its size, but also the usefulness that people give it, since it is a meeting point, a reference place where you can get together and where you can meet people.

Cubans love to talk regardless of whether they know you or not, and the boardwalk is one of the places where that is best understood.

As a Havana native would say, there is nothing better than a sunset in the Malecón Pier, surrounded by good people, fishing and accompanied by a good ron.

The Capitol of Havana

One of the places that is essential to see in the Cuban capital is the Capitol.

To be honest, it is almost impossible not to see it due to its enormous size.

Inspired United States Capitol and built at the end of the 20s of the XNUMXth century, it is an institutional building.

At first it was a building built to house the Cuban Congress, but after the Revolution, it became the headquarters of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

After the various reforms that have been carried out, it has been used again by the Cuban Parliament.

Fortresses of Havana

Given its commercial importance for the Spanish Empire, Havana It was to serve as a refuge for all the goods he obtained in the new world.

And there were not a few of them, so it is not surprising that it is a city with impressive maritime defenses.

Castle of the Royal Force of Havana

El Castle of the Royal Force It is the smallest of all the fortresses, but no less important for that reason.

And it was the largest Spanish military fortress in America, it took 11 years to build, and as a curiosity, only 11 months to become obsolete.

Castle of the Three Kings of Morro in Havana

El Castle of the Three Kings of Morro It is an imposing fortress that is located at the entrance to the bay and right in front of the Malecón.

Due to its historical importance and its location, it is one of the icons of Cuba.

San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress in Havana

The other great defense is the strength of San Carlos de la Cabaña and it is located right next to the Morro.

Today it is tremendously emblematic for its famous 9 o'clock cannon shot.

Best viewpoints in Havana

Probably the best terraces and viewpoints inside the old town of the city are in the two Iberostar hotels.

El Iberostar Parque Central It has privileged views of the Capitol, and the Iberostar Grand Packard to the Malecón and the El Morro fortress.

Privileged views of the city that, yes, can only be accessed if you are staying at the hotel.

5 best activities to do in Havana

But as we have mentioned, in the visit of Havana You don't have to focus only on seeing its buildings and monuments, but you have to experience the city.

And for this we are going to recommend the essentials that you cannot miss, 5 things to do in Havana to feel the spirit of Cuba.

Classic car ride through Havana

The classic cars have become over the years one of the great attractions of Cuba.

And don't think that it is just a tourist attraction, they are cars for everyday use throughout the island.

The variety of previous american classic car to 1960 is enormous, that's why one of the most popular visits is to take a ride in one of these classics.

They are also used in the city as pirate taxis because tourists love to ride them.

La Bodeguita del Medio in Havana

The Bodeguita del Medio It is probably the most emblematic place if we talk about music in Cuba, next to the Floridita Bar.

A restaurant you already talked about and visited heminway and where the least thing is the food.

Well, the truth is that you don't go there for its food, but to enjoy its musical show.

Live music from authentic Cuba, with rhythm, grace and joy.

A place to have some mojitos while eating or dining, listening to music and integrating into the life of the city.

has a touch of tourist, but the reality is that you have a great time visiting it.

Legendarios del Guajirito Buena Vista Social Club in Havana

And if you want Cuban traditional music in an environment as authentic as possible, the ideal place is The Legendaries of Guajirito.

A show in which the open bar runs mojitos which is a pleasure, with legendary artists from Cuba, who do a very classy review of the history of music in this Caribbean country.

Based on the Buena Vista Social Club that gave so much joy to Cubans and where such great artists came from, it is a 100% recommendable show in which they also involve the public.

In our opinion, it was the best and most authentic show we saw in all of Cuba.

Le Parisien at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba in Havana

El Cuban National Hotel It is an emblem in the city.

A symbol of the years pre-Revolution, in which american mafia controlled Cuba.

It was the mafia hotel and that has allowed a kind of luxury museum hotel of that time.

Inside it represents a cabaret called Le Parisien, if you like that type of shows, You're going to love it.

Music, dancing and a great dinner in a beautiful theater.

Cigar Roller in Havana

Cigars in Cuba They are a symbol of the country, almost like a religion.

This country was one of the first to cultivate tobacco plants, and in fact Christopher Columbus Upon arriving on the island he was the first European to try tobacco.

It is one of the most important crops in the country and the profession of fan It gives you a high social status in Cuba.

That is why it is essential when you come to Cuba to visit some fan and thus know What is the art of rolling Havana cigars?.

We visit the fan most famous in Cuba, the one who has the prize Guinness the longest cigar in the world with 90 meters.

You can see him in the cigar shop next to the San Carlos de la Cabaña fortress.

Where to sleep in Havana

After going through everything Cuba in 15 days by car, we have been able to sleep in all types of accommodation, all-inclusive hotels, luxury hotels, basic hotels, apartments and local people's houses.

And without a doubt the The best accommodations in Cuba are the Iberostar hotels.

Iberostar Parque Central and Iberostar Grand Packard Hotels

Simply the best in the city, the only hotels that have a standard of quality equivalent to European luxury hotels.

Conclusion the most modern of the city and that is already a value, because it is a city with quite old buildings.

But they also have the best terraces and viewpoints, With a spectacular pools which can only be entered if you are staying there.

Modern rooms, restaurants and buffets perfect breakfast.

And in Cuba this is not easy to find.

Un standard high quality in a city whose buildings are in decay.