9 things you have to do in Havana

Havana is one of those cities that we all dream of at some time because of its colors, its rhythm, that eclectic charm that is the best time machine for those who want to peek into the history and charm of the Caribbean. The Cuban capital has become the place of recreation for hundreds of tourists in recent years, these being 9 things you have to do in Havana your particular guide to make the most of the city of the Malecón and vintage cars.

Stroll along the Malecón

Erected by Americans in the early XNUMXth century, this 8 kilometer strip of cement it separates the capital of Havana from a Caribbean Sea contained by its famous breakwater. Known by many as the sofa of Havana, the Malecón is one of the most famous sights of the city and the perfect place to walk, where you can sit and reflect but, especially, interact with Cubans. A must, of course.

Have a daiquiri at La Floridita

Ernest Hemingway had two favorite places in Havana: the famous Bodeguita de En Medio and La Floridita, a place not far from the Capitol where delicious daiquiris are prepared. The place is very touristy, I am not going to fool you, but it exudes a most singular charm when the invited bands sing Cuban classics and you feel that Hemingway statue he watches you from the bar.

Get lost in the streets of Old Havana

Although there are many museums, emblematic buildings and monuments, Old Havana It is a labyrinth of alleys in which the best way to soak up its charm is by kicking it, admiring its colorful buildings, the women who smoke cigars on the street corners, the bustle of places like its Old Square, its secret gardens or the Caribbean spying on you. at the end of one of its streets. Get lost in time and space for once.

Eat at La Guarida

Cuban food abandons its long slumber of rationing and scarce variety to emerge in the hands of a new generation of chefs who have reinvented many of its classic dishes, and La Guarida, a half-demolished building a few streets from the Malecón, is the ideal place. in which to savor that new Cuban gastronomy. Many celebrities, politicians and personalities have eaten at this restaurant whose specialties range from its delicious honey chicken to dessert. Strawberry and Chocolate, name taken from the famous Oscar-nominated LGBT-themed Cuban film that was shot in this building.

Get to know Fusterlandia

West of Havana, more specifically in the unknown Jaimanitas neighborhood Fusterlandia lies, the project that José Fuster has been promoting for years, a Cuban artist who traveled through Europe and returned with hundreds of influences gaudian which he applied to his studio, his house and the entire neighborhood. Mosaics, mythological animals, mermaids and revolutionary motifs adorn the facades of a not so touristy area that you can access by taxi or bus number P4.

Havana also has beaches

If you still do not go to Varadero or the famous Cuban keys, you can always take a dip in the ones known as Playas del Este, the summer area of ​​Havana located 15 kilometers from the capital and formed by beaches as famous as Santa María or Mi Cayito, the latter an emblem of the LGBT community. Ideal to rest during a day of Havana's bustle.

Visit the Morro Fortress

The Morro Fortress, located in front of the Malecón, was designed to protect the old town on this side of the bay from pirates and enemy attacks. Centuries later the famous Castillo de los Tres Reyes Magos del Morro is still just as imposing and the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña continues to represent its famous 9 o'clock cannon shot every day among Cubans disguised as admirals, military rhythms and one of the best views of Havana at dusk.

Explore the Alley of Hamel

Not far from the intersection of Calle 23 with the Malecón lies a secret alley famous for its urban art, its sixties style venues, its concerts and the show-goers who come to chat with tourists. Cradle of Afro-Cuban culture and promoted as an artistic project in 1989 by the artist Salvador Gonzalez Escalone, the Callejón de Hamel is a delightful display of the new Havana, where all its aspects coexist.

Get to know the Vedado neighborhood

Vedado is a residential neighborhood in Havana ideal to have a good bite at low prices, admire the Cuban routine and get closer to two of the greats highlights from Havana: the Revolution Square, where the murals of Che and Camilo Cienfuegos coexist with the Monument to José Martí, or enter the Cristóbal Colón Necropolis, the most important cemetery in all of Havana and one of the most beautiful in the entire American continent given its sculptural motifs and the red and yellow colors that stain its 57 hectares of land.

These 9 things you have to do in Havana They cover several aspects to be promoted in the Cuban capital: good gastronomy, culture, color, beaches or a Malecón where, rather than visiting, the attraction is to sit and wait for something to happen.

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