Top Things to See
 Havana is a city of sensory overload; a 500 year-old urban mosaic comprising several eras of humanity seemingly trapped in time. Antique cars motor along past Spanish-colonial, Baroque and Gothic buildings with fading facades. UNESCO felt that the Old Havana district was important enough to add to its list of world heritage sites, and rightly so. There’s no other city quite like Havana. Wandering the fabled seaside El Malecon promenade, drinking Mojitos in the same bar where Hemingway did and catching a cabaret show at The Tropicana are the stuff of Hollywood movies. The engaging public plazas, old churches and Central Park are treasures waiting to be unravelled, and hopefully you’ll have enough time to soak it all in.
 Cemetario de Colon
Cemeteries are often fascinating places to get a sense of the local history of a city and Havana’s main resting place is no exception. Encompassing more than 135 acres, this cemetery is packed with intricate crypts, gravestones and mausoleums. Filling in the gaps are dozens of wonderful sculptures and memorials to historical events. There’s nothing gloomy about this cemetery. It’s a quiet, shady and peaceful place to spend a leisurely afternoon.
 Central Park
Havana’s main green space is this wonderfully entertaining park on the western edge of Old Havana. This is one of the most popular gathering spots for locals, who come down to pass the time in conversation, thus making for excellent people-watching. Walk in any direction from the park and you’ll find hoards of must-see Havana attractions, museums, walking streets and restaurants. Some of the city’s finest hotels also ring the park, so perhaps this is the best area to base yourself.
 Ernest Hemingway Museum
One of America’s greatest writers called Havana home, helping to bring its special character to life in some of his novels. Visitors can see the home where Hemingway lived and wrote some of his most famous stories. Although rather hands-off, you can view the house from the perimeter which looks more or less the way it did when he lived there. Stuffed animal trophies, artwork by Picasso, Klee and others, and a massive library give an insight into how this intriguing author lived his life. Even his old fishing boat, the Pilar, is dry-docked on the grounds.
 Museum of the City
Something of a tribute to Cuba’s Spanish-colonial past, this interesting museum contains an impressive collection of relics, treasures and furnishings which were used when Spanish dignitaries visited the island. The building itself, a perfectly preserved 18th century Baroque-style palace in the heart of Old Havana, is worth the visit alone.
 Parque Historico Morro y Cabana
One of Cuba’s most important historical sites is a complex made up of forts and battlements across the Harbour Channel. The highlights are the Morro Castle, built between 1589 and 1630, and the San Carlos de la Cabana Fort, built in the mid-1700s. The interior of El Morro has some nice exhibition rooms that act as small museums. The fort’s ancient streets and 19th century lighthouse are fascinating to wander, and the views from atop the lighthouse are spectacular. La Cabana Fort is a small city in itself, also with a number of historical exhibition rooms, lookout points, gift shops and cafés. These two forts helped defend Havana for hundreds of years and are a vital part of its heritage.
 Plaza de Armas
At the centre of Old Havana is this essential plaza, where the city was supposedly founded. The City Museum is here, as well as the stunning 16th century fortress Castillo de la Real Fuerza. This is the best place to begin your explorations of Old Havana, because in reality, this is where it all started some 500 years ago.
 Plaza de la Catedral
One of the best-preserved and most authentic plazas in the city, Cathedral Square deserves a thorough exploration. The 18th century Catedral de San Cristobal de la Habana is the centrepiece, followed closely by the interesting Museo de Arte Colonial. In fact, all of the buildings which surround the plaza have been incredibly restored to their original state, creating an ambiance of Havana’s earliest days as a Spanish-colonial outpost. At night, the cathedral’s bell towers light up, making this an ideal night time destination. Within one block of the plaza you can find the Centro Wifredo Lam and the wonderful Calle Tacon street market.
Top Things to Do
 Take a trip to Calle Obispo. No visit to Havana is complete without an afternoon spent strolling this wonderful pedestrian street in the heart of Old Havana. Naturally, the absence of vehicles is what makes the walk so pleasant, but the street is lined with charming old buildings, shops and cafés, including the perfectly preserved Farmacia Taquechel, a charismatic pharmacy that has been in business forever. As this street connects Central Park with the Plaza de Armas, it’s likely you’ll spend a fair bit of time walking its pavement.
 Embark on a city tour. One of best ways to see the different faces of Havana is to take one of the many city tours. Every tour agency in the city offers them, because they are affordable and a very popular excursion for visitors with little time to spend. You can pick your area or a special theme, and spend from 4 to 8 hours with a professional guide filling you in on all the details. Many attractions charge a fee to take photos or shoot video, so be prepared.
 Enjoy a Cuban cabaret show. Next to Las Vegas, Havana probably has more nightly floor shows than any other city in the world. Cubans love to dance, drink and party and catching a classy cabaret show is one of the quintessential Cuban experiences. The shows come in all styles and levels of raunchiness, allowing visitors to choose what best suits their tastes. Among the more respectable and famous venues are the Copa Room, the Patio de la Casa and the Cabaret Nacional. Don’t leave Havana without experiencing one of these fantastic displays of flair and passion.
 Wander along El Malecon. This seemingly endless seaside promenade connects several parts of Havana and is one of the city’s iconic landmarks. No mere tourist attraction, El Malecon is full of Cubans day and night who come to enjoy a stroll, fish off the sides or go for a swim in the sea. It’s one of the best places to take a nice long walk in Havana, and even makes a good way to get between the different neighbourhoods without the hassle of noisy cars. For something special, you can hire a horse-drawn carriage to take you along the walkway.
 Experience the heart of Cuba. Old Havana is truly the heart and soul of Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the source of all that is quintessentially Cuban. Literally packed with colonial buildings ranging from the 16th century to the present, this is the place to soak in the most authentic Havana atmosphere. Museums are everywhere, along with the city’s best plazas and many of its finest restaurants and bars. Best of all, it’s ideally suited for walking, so bring a comfortable pair of shoes and start wandering.
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