Some cities have this flair that immediately and irrevocably captivates you - #havana is definitely one of them. The capital of #cuba is music. Colourful. Different. Like from another time. 

You will find a huge repertoire of restaurants, bars, cafes, museums, #architecture, #history, #culture and people. The best thing is to find accommodation in or near the centre of Habana Vieja, so that you can stroll through the historic alleys from morning to night, sipping mojitos and soaking up the unique flair of the city.

Worth knowing

• With more than two million inhabitants, Havana is one of the largest cities in the #caribbean. By the way, in Spanish the city is called La Habana.
• Official currency for tourists is the CUC (Cuban Peso convertible), while the locals pay with the CUP (Peso Cubano). 
• The city is considered as quite safe. The people are very friendly and helpful. As long as you do not handle large sums of money and have a copy of your travel documents with you, you are on the safe side. 
• Orientation by the street signs in Havana has its pitfalls. Sometimes there are no signs at all or the narrow streets sometimes have two different names. But don't worry, in case of doubt you can simply ask the inhabitants for help.
• If you arrive at Havana airport by plane, it is best to take a taxi to the city centre. Buses for tourists (who are not picked up by their tour operators) are almost nowhere to be found.

Places of interest

Havana's most famous sight is not a monument or a building, but the large number of oldtimers in bright colors. A few decades ago trade between Cuba and the USA flourished, American citizens came to the Caribbean island to work and live here. They brought more than 140,000 cars with them, sold them to Cubans or even left them behind involuntarily when the political relations between the two countries began to cool down. Since then the cars have been maintained and are still in top condition.

If you stroll around the city, you will see one of these treasures every few minutes. If you feel like going for a spin, pick out a nice convertible and just talk to the driver, just like normal taxis. Arrange a round trip and if you feel like it, you can ask the driver to show you his favourite places. 

La Habana was already founded in the Middle Ages, was a Spanish colony for many years and finally even occupied by the British. Cuba's capital offers some great opportunities for a historical journey through time. For example in the Revolution Museum, which is located in the former presidential palace of Batista. Here, bullet holes on the building remind us of its expulsion by the revolutionaries.

The eventful history of Havana can be found everywhere else in the city, so don't miss a guided sightseeing tour.

If you want to discover Havana for yourself and/or are visiting for the first time, you should start your exploration of the city in the historic district of La Habana Vieja. The old town of Havana is colourful, lively and full of life. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and can be easily explored on foot. Here you can enjoy a coffee or mojito in one of the beautiful backyards and let your gaze wander over pompous colonial buildings.

Among many other sights the cathedral and the Plaza de Armas are also part of La Habana Vieja. On Havana's oldest square you will find daily (attention: not on Sunday) a small market with second hand books, which invites you to stroll and browse. 

Two further highlights that mainly inspire by their arquitecture are the Gran Teatro and the Capitol. In the Gran Teatro, many famous stars of the scene have already been guests. The opera house is a neo-baroque gorgeous building that accommodates either the ballet as also the opera ensemble. The "Capitolo" was inspired by the American architecture and shows a high similarity to the Capitol in Washington.

Also worth a visit is the largest cemetery in the city and the second largest in the world, the Cementerio Cristóbal Colón. The area was named after the world-famous navigator Christopher Columbus. The complex with more than 53.000 graves is so big that you can even take the tourist bus through the rows of graves with impressive tombs and mausoleums.

If you would like to have a bird's eye view of the city, you can enjoy a grandiose panoramic view in the restaurant El Torre, among other places.

The Malecón is probably the most famous promenade in the world and measures almost 8 km. It is also the most beautiful place to watch the sunset in Havana. So you should definitely plan a walk and enjoy the atmosphere. On one side you can see the endless expanse of the deep blue Atlantic Ocean. On the other side there are some run-down colonial buildings, which give you an idea of the former glory of this city.

A little further away from the centre there is the Plaza de la Revolución. The huge square reminds of Cuba's national heroes and shows the portraits of Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos. Moreover, a gigantic tower preserves the memory of José-Martí.