The city offers a colorful panorama, filled with buildings, vintage cars, and people in the streets at all hours, music blasting from speakers and hips swaying to the rhythm of salsa.
Salsa and music are part of the Cuban DNA. You can enjoy it at night at La Casa de la Música or on Sunday mornings in the alleyway of Hamel. This self-funded space, whose walls depict the different deities of the Yoruba, will leave you speechless. Don’t forget to try their Negroni cocktail.
A stroll along the Malecón is a must. Take in the scenery offered by the Caribbean Sea. People fishing, playing sports, or simply enjoying the cool breeze.
Old Havana is the central area where you can lose yourself in its streets. Bookstores, artisan shops, and rooftop bars await, where you can savor a caipirinha and enjoy live music—in our case, just for us.
This city also boasts a rich cultural scene, including theaters at La Nave, located within the San José warehouse, where you can admire hundreds of paintings by Cuban artists.
In the beach area, you’ll find Fusterlandia, a house museum dedicated to the artist Fuster. Inspired by Gaudí and Picasso, Fuster covered his house and the surrounding neighborhood with small, colorful pieces of tile.
Another neighborhood brimming with art is Vedado. The Charles Chaplin cinemas, where we enjoyed the film “Estrés” (Stress), offer a truly immersive cultural and social experience. The artist’s factory is a must-see. This space hosts rock concerts, art exhibitions, parades, performances, and even rumba or salsa classes. It’s also surrounded by small stalls offering food and drinks to suit every taste.
In this same neighborhood, overlooking the Malecón, you’ll find the Gran Hotel Nacional, founded in 1930. Its walls showcase the history and famous figures who have visited it. Its gardens, complete with fountains and peacocks fluttering about, will leave you in awe.
Author: Alba Martínez – Volunteer at Firas House
