First Time in Havana ? This are the Best Places to Visit
1.Hotel Nacional.
A Cuban national monument and in the fifties host to revolucionaries and the Mob,lead by Meyer Lansky.
Enter via the palm tree driveway and go to the glamorous terrace bar, and enjoy the magnificent view over the Malecon sea boulevard.
2.Cementerio Colon. (Columbus Cementery)
The Columbus Cementery is one of the most impressive places to visit in Havana. It is said to be the second largest cementry in the world after the PAre Lachaise Cementery in Paris.
3.The Capitolio.
The Capitolio was built in the same style as the US Capitol in Washington DC by the dictator Machada. Nowdays the Capitolio houses the Cuban Academy of Sciences. At the lefthand entrance is an internet cafA.
4.Bodegita del Medio
This restaurant and bar is famous for its Mojito cocktails and was one of Hemingway's favourites. The tiny bar is a real tourist magnet and the cocktails are expensive compared to the other bars.
5.Casa de la Musica - Havana Centro. The house of the music, situated on Galiano street, Central Havana, is a big club where the hottest names in Cuban salsa play. Great ambiance and hot salsa dancing all night long. Be on time , there is always a crowd. The cover charge is up to 25 CUC (30 US$) when famous bands such as the VAN VAN or CHARANGA HABANERA make their appearance.
6.Farmacia Taquechel. (the Taquechel pharmacy)
A beautiful old style pharmacy with dark wooden shelves and white porcelain jars with motifs. The pharmacy serves mainly as a a tourist attraction, their stock of medicines is very limited.
7.Real Fabrica de Tabacos Partagas.( Cigar factory Partagas)
The biggest cigar factory in Cuba, situated on Calle Industria (Industry street) near the Capitolio. An interesting guided tour of the cigar factory gives a good impression how the cigars are fabricated. At the entrance is a big cigar shop where you can buy the famous brand names : Romeo y Julia,Bolivar, Cohiba, Cohiba, Partagas.
8. El Barrio Chino ( Chinatown)
China town is situated west of the Capitolio, the entrance is marked by a big pagode style gateway. Near 1900 Havana had a Chinese community of more than 10.000 people. Nowdays the estimate is that there are less than thousand Chinese in Havana. Be sure to visit the colorful food market.
9. Museo de la Revolucion
A spectacular attracion is the Museum of the Revolution installed in the former Presidential Palace An overview of the Cuban history as well as the battles against the former dictator Batista are shown. The yacht "GRANMA" from which Fidel Castro disembarked and launched the revolution,is shown at the side entrance together with a tank used in the Bay of Pigs invasion and air missiles that shot down the US spy plane.
10. Playas del Este.( East Havana beaches)
Lovely tropical beaches starting at 15km from Central Havana, with clear blue water and palm trees. Santa Maria del Mar is the most tourist oriented place. The beaches can be reached by Viazul bus or by taxi.
