 Cuba is home to some incredibly historical towns and cities. Each town is home to an abundance of sights and is surrounded by stunning scenery. Havana is the country’s capital and boasts a number of impressive buildings, museums, galleries and restaurants. If you want somewhere a bit less frenetic, head to one of the country’s quieter towns such as Pinar del Río or Baracoa. Whatever your taste, you will not be stuck for something to do or for sights to see in Cuba.
 Baracoa
This town is famous for being the first place Christopher Columbus visited when he came ashore. There is a wooden cross which Christopher himself planted in 1492. It was later transferred to the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, where it can still be seen. The town of Baracoa can be found between two bays on Cuba's eastern tip and is one of the island's most beautiful towns. The town was once a Spanish outpost and this is evident by its three forts, the Fuerte Matachín (now housing the municipal museum), the Castillo de Seboruco (now a hotel), and the Fuerte de la Punta (which now houses a restaurant).
 Bayamo
Is a charming town with a pedestrianised centre, one of the few on the island. Bayamo was the birthplace of the 19th century revolutionary, Manuel de Céspedes, who launched the country’s fight for independence in 1868. From the centre, it is possible to explore the stunning nature trails of the Parque Nacional del Granma.
 Camagüey
This is one of the top tourist spots in the east of the island. Its attractions include a number of stunning churches and fascinating museums as well as a bustling peso market.
 Cienfuegos
This is a modern city which was built around a harbour at the foot of the Escambray Mountains. It dates back to the 19th century and was built with the help of French settlers from Louisiana. The main sights include the cathedral and the late 19th century Teatro Tomás Terry. The castle, Castillo de Jagua, can be found close to the harbour while the old palace, Palacio de Valle is now a restaurant with a roof-top terrace that offers impressive views of the bay and surrounding countryside.
 Havana
Havana is one of the largest cities in the Caribbean. The city boasts an old town which features on UNESCO's World Heritage List and is home to a number of crumbling houses lining narrow streets. In contrast, the modern centre offers countless choices of entertainment and high rise buildings. The most famous of the hotels in the centre is the Nacional, which is still frequented by Hollywood film stars. Havana is closely associated with the famous American writer, Ernest Hemingway. One of his favourite hangouts was the bar called La Bodeguita del Medio, which is located very close to the city’s impressive 18th century cathedral. There are many sights to see and views to be had. Popular tours include a tour of the city’s museums and galleries; the recently opened Palacio del Segundo Cabo (former residence of the Captains General) and a tour of the city’s forts. The Castillo de la Real Fuerza is the oldest of Havana's three forts and should not be missed. The enormous Museo de la Revolución is housed in what once the presidential palace and documents the history of the revolutionaries and Castro himself. Outside this impressive building you will find the Granma, which is the yacht that brought Castro and his rebel army back to Cuba in 1956.
 Pinar del Río
This is without doubt one of Cuba's most beautiful provinces. The countryside surrounding it is incredibly with the most outstanding features being the mogotes (rounded limestone mountains which are covered in lush greenery). The caves, which should be explored, notably house many stalactites and stalagmites as well as underground rivers. Once in the town, you will find several cigar factories, tobacco plantations and a stunning coastline.
 Santiago de Cuba
This city was the island's first capital and is located near the Sierra Maestra Mountain range. Despite losing its power in the early days of the country’s formation, it was always well maintained. This was in part due to the French plantation owners and their slaves who arrived in the 18th century. Santiago subsequently acquired a cosmopolitan feel which has influence its culture ever since. The old quarter of the city is home to a number of sights such as the cathedral, one of Cuba’s oldest mansions and a number of museums, while the Moncada Barracks, where Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries launched an uprising in 1953, is the most visited sight outside of the town centre.
 Trinidad
This old colonial town offers an excellent atmosphere and a wealth of cultural heritage. It was founded in 1514 and was one the country’s seven original towns. The preservation of many buildings which date back to the 17th century has ensured its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The main attractions include the cobbled streets and colourful houses as well as the stunning Parque Martí and several museums. The Taller Alfarero, a ceramics workshop where traditional techniques are still used, is also worth visiting. A visit to the Torre de Manaca Iznaga, a lookout tower, should not be missed as it offers spectacular views across the Valley of the Sugar Mills and the Escambray Mountains.
Top Things to Do
 Sample the nightlife
Nightlife hubs can be found in Havana, Varadero Beach and in the major tourist resorts. Cuba is renowned for its salsa dancing and visitors can attend dance classes or dance with the locals at many of the country’s nightclubs.
If you prefer to sit back and listen to live music, there are many bars across the country, but especially in Havana, that host live bands and singers every night. Even medium sized bars often have live singers.
To enjoy the cultural side of Cuba, attend one of the many theatre or ballet performances that are regularly shown throughout the country. The main concentration of theatres can be found in Havana where you will be able to listen to orchestral and choral concerts, watch a play or got to the ballet.
For something quieter, enjoy a romantic meal on the beach and sample the country’s finest seafood. Restaurants can be found lining most beaches and offer excellent value for money.
 Roll your own cigar
Visit one of Cuba's tobacco factories and learn the tricks of the trade. Tobacco plantations and factories can be found throughout the country and are where the world-famous Cuban cigars are made. Havana’s most popular factory is Fábrica de Tabacos Partagás although the town of Pinar del Río is also home to several public factories.
Relax on Cuba's beaches.
Havana's best beach, Playa del Este, is approximately 20kms from the centre of the city. Isla de la Juventud, a large island off the south coast of Cuba, is the largest of the 350 islands making up the Canarreos archipelago. Once known as 'Parrot Island', this island was a hideout for pirates and criminals and is believed to have inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's ‘Treasure Island’.
A whole host of wildlife can be observed on the coral keys to the east. In the same archipelago, Cayo Largo is home to one of Cuba’s leading tourist resorts and is considered to have one of the best beaches in the whole of the Caribbean. Varadero is the island's best-known beach resort and offers excellent diving opportunities. The untouched Camagüey archipelago is home to landscaped white-sand beaches, as well as good diving and stunning coral.
 Experience life as an Amero-Indian
Guama is a reconstruction of an Amero-Indian village which is found in southern Cuba in the Matanzas Province. It is a government showpiece which has been built on a series of islands which are all linked by wooden bridges. As well as the model village, visitors also get the chance to join a boat trip to the Treasure Lake as well as a trip to the crocodile nursery. This part of Mantanzas is also famous for the stunning beaches of Playa Girón and Playa Larga, which were the location for the doomed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961.
 Climb a mountain
Pico Turquino is Cuba's highest mountain and can be found in the Sierra Maestra range. The entire range offers excellent hikes, but this mountain is in a different league. The Sierra de Cubitas range near Camagüey is marked by river gorges and cliffs, while the Escambray Mountains near Trinidad are home to dense rainforest. Guama, on the Zapata peninsula is an extensive marshy area which plays home to a number of birds. The Cordillera de Guaniguanico in the north of the island boasts spectacular scenery as well as rivers and caves.
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