Phil and Garth > Destinations > Caribbean > Cuba > Historic Havana – All You Need To Know

Historic Havana – All You Need To Know

by Garth

Last updated: 25th January 2022




 

Havana – Step back in time

Havana was founded by the Spanish back in 1515, and has been under communist rule since the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s, but things are changing fast. A city break to Havana in the largest Caribbean island of Cuba makes for a unique and memorable visit. Havana appears romantically frozen in time, conjuring up a bygone era with its colourful vintage American and Russian cars driving around its charming crumbly old buildings. The city is an architectural mix of Colonial, Neo-Classical, Art Deco and more. There are no visible brands, advertising and billboards are banned. Instead beautiful typography from old ghost signs simply left on shop stores and old movie theatres from the 1950s since the Revolution.   The smell of cigar smoke lingers in the air too, which surprisingly we didn’t mind, it just added to Havanas ambience.

 

 

Hotel Inglaterra

After a quick look online we paid for Hotel Inglaterra because it’s the oldest hotel in Old Havana dating back to 1875 and not much has changed. Originally built by the Spanish it reminded us of the Alhambra Palace in Granada with all the Moorish tiles everywhere.

Havana Hotel Inglaterra

Hotel Inglaterra exterior

Havana Hotel Inglaterra

Hotel Inglaterra Dining Room

Our old school bedroom was of reasonable size, great high ceilings but getting cases in was a bit of a challenge due to the layout of the beds. The bathroom was huge with a great big walk in rainfall shower with lashings of hot water. We had a fridge that contained premade cocktails that seemed very reasonably priced although we didn’t try them so can’t vouch for their quality!

 

 

Old Havana – Havana Vieja

There are beautiful large old squares with impressive sights like the Cathedral of Havana San Cristobal and Castillo de la Real Fuerza, the castle’s watchtower has a weathervane which is the emblem for the city, and also features in the logo for Havana Club Rum. But easily our favourite area of Old Havana were the countless narrow streets off these squares which are well worth exploring to immerse yourself in local life.

A lady stands in an impressive doorway in Old Havana

A lady stands in an impressive doorway in Old Havana

Old Havana houses - some in desperate need of repair

Old Havana houses – some in desperate need of repair

People are poor here and living in unbelievable conditions. They live in old mansions houses that were obviously once magnificent in the 1950s but have since fallen into disrepair and decay, they are split up into ten living accommodations or more. Three generations of family still live in the same property but you can tell they are immensely proud as the locals sweep and mopp their front steps and pavement.

havana_old_havana_2_cuba_travel_review_short_video

Old Havana homes

Many of the houses have no roofs or upper floors, some even have trees and vines growing right out of them or very dangerous, on the verge of collapse and simply propped up with wooden planks.  Phil said in the UK you wouldn’t be allowed to go anywhere close to these sorts of buildings for the fear of them falling down.  The faded, Caribbean pastel colours on crumbling plaster make for wonderful textures, a treat for photographers and graphic designers! Lets just hope Havana someday will be able to restore these historic buildings and not demolish as tourism develops.

 

 

Ration Store

On Cuba Street in Old Havana we visited a ration store, absolutely incredible to see Habanaeros arriving with their ration books and the store shelves stacked with minimal items on offer. Rationed items included rice, sugar, eggs and butter.

Old Havana ration store

Old Havana ration store

havana_old_havana_ration_store_2_travel_review_short_video

Ration store items

Habaneros we spoke are keen for the government to keep rations as everything is so heavily subsidised. Most people live on a basic diet of rice and black peas and chicken.

 

 

Central Havana

As the Havana’s class system developed so did building work and Centro Havana was born.  Walking from our hotel to Central you pass through shopping areas and people selling internet cards.  Garth’s favourite was looking up and seeing all the American signage from the 50s intact and untouched, really inspiring for a graphic designer, he took tons of photos!  We passed a few derelict and working cinemas perfectly intact, some great examples of 1950s architecture, art deco and design.

havana_central_havana_travel_review_short_video

Central Havana street

havana_1950s_american_signs_graphic_design

American shop and cinema signage from the 1950s

Hotel_Nacional_de_Cuba_travel_review_short_video

Hotel Nacional de Cuba

Further into Central Havana, we liked walking from the cosmopolitan street of Avenida 23  (which reminded us of 1950s Los Angeles) to the impressive Hotel Nacional de Cuba where all the famous people and diplomats stay. It’s one of those really grand hotels of the world, so enjoy the atmosphere and have a mojito in their Garden Terrace Bar and check out all the photos of the stars who have stayed there.  After you’re done in bar, head outside and take a great selfie under their huge flag with the sea wall and skyline behind.

 

 

Plaza de la Revolución

One the most iconic of Havana places is Revolution Square as we’re so used to seeing on tv news reports. Dominating the square is the huge memorial of Che Guevara on the Ministry of Internal Affairs building. The square is surrounded by other Utilitarian style government buildings, with another memorial of Camilo Cienfuegos adorning the Ministry of Science and Technology.  Opposite these is a huge statue and monument lookout tower dedicated to Jose Marti, a Cuban national hero. For such important square, we thought there would be pomp and ceremony guards, but instead just regular security guards.

havana_plaza_de_la_revolucion_travel_review_short_video

Plaza De La Revolucion

 

 

Government & Paladare Restaurants

Cuban food is simple and no frills but it’s still tasty and not as bland as we had read on Trip Advisor reviews. Chicken is chicken no delusions of grandure, beef limited due to government cattle restrictions, and seafood actually not that popular despite Cuba being an island. There are two types of restaurants – private and government owned. State run restaurants are on the ground floors, and have a good set menu of the day for 10 CUC – an alcoholic drink, main meal of chicken or pork and some weird creme caramel and coffee.

havana_cuba_food_fish_travel_review_short_video

Havana food – Fish with cheese sauce

havana_cuba_food_travel_review_short_video

Paladar Los Mercaderes

Paladares are privately run restaurants and usually upstairs, so you can’t see inside, but have people outside trying to tempt you in.  We went to Paladar Los Mercaderes after a recommendation from a friend. Food was great, and not expensive by UK prices.

havana_private_residence_travel_review_short_video

Private residential restaurant

We’d also recommend taking trips out into the suburbs and go to restaurants run in family homes. We went to Dona Carmello, whose back garden had been converted into a dining area, complete with a bandstand for live music. Another home we went to had their living room converted to a dining room (with fish pond!), and you literally just go to their family bathroom if you need it.  We also did a ground floor government restaurant which was great but anything is great after three moheeetoos(sp!)

 

 

Drink Mojito and Daquris

Talking of which, the national drink is rum. The Havana Club Rum brand is recognised worldwide and made from the islands plentiful supply of sugar cane. Mojitos here are not as sweet as in the UK, but still refreshing.

havana_drink_mojitos_travel_review_short_video

Bartender mixing mojitos at Hotel Ambos Mundos

havana_drink_mojitos_floridita_travel_review_short_video

The famous La Floridita bar

Ernest Hemingway, the American writer who lived on the nearby island of Key West, USA would regularly visit, as he was great friends with Fidel Castro and his favourite Havana bars are still there to be enjoyed. Three of the best places to go enjoy the two drinks are La Floridita for daiquiris, La Bodeguita del Medio on Empedrado Street for mojitos and Hotel Ambos Mundos for either drinks, all three bars are in easy walking distance of each other too, our favourite was Hotel Ambos Mundos where we enjoyed great live music, food and people watching.

 

 

Havana Live Music

You can’t escape live music, all the bars and restaurants we went to had live bands which was great! But have a bit of change ready as at some point they will come round trying sell their CDs and asking for tips for the music. We gave most musicians 1 CUC and they seemed very happy. Those that offer requests, ask for the Cuban classic ‘Guantanamera’ which means a girl from Guantánamo.

havana_cuba_live_music_travel_review_short_video

Havana live street music

 

 

Getting Hassled & Tipping

As soon as we arrived in Havana and opened our taxi door we were hassled by a guy trying to take us to his restaurant he wouldn’t take no for an answer, these guys are known as jinoteros.   Just like any other big city be aware and alert for scams.  It was annoying continuously getting hassled for taxis, restaurants or even cigars, but it won’t spoil your trip once you get used to it,  in the words of Zammo, “Just Say No!”. Cubans earn on average £15 a month, so it’s understandable they want to make money from tourists, our advice would be to tip generously instead. We tipped everywhere including room maids 1 CUC for each night we stayed and 10% for restaurant bills. Also worth noting there are two currencies in Cuba, you need to change your money on arrival to the CUC Pesos for tourists, as Cuba does not trade financially on the international market.

havana_cuba_hasstle_and_tipping_travel_review_short_video

Cuban Pesos Convertibles (CUC)

 

 

Sightseeing

An open top vintage car seemed the best and most authentic way to see Havana rather than the open top bus tour. There’s no shortage of drivers and cars outside the Grand Theatre (Gran Teatro de La Habana) just choose a colour of car and negotiate a price. We hired a private guide with Yosel from I Love Cuba and booked online before we went. There’s also rickshaws which lots of people were taking. But you can easily walk Old Havana by foot.

havana_sightseeing_open_top_vintage_car_travel_review_short_video

Havana vintage sightseeing cars

havana_El_Capitolio Building

El Capitolio building will be on your sightseeing list.

 

 

Good Photo Spots

In Old Havana on Plaza Vieja Square is the Camera Obscura building. Head up 4 floors to the 5 minute camera obscure tour, which is interesting, then you have access to the roof for great aerial views of old Havana. You really get a sense of how desperate in need of repair all the old buildings are.

havana_photo_spot_camera_obscura_travel_review_short_video

Camera Obscura building on Plaza Vieja Square

havana_photo_spot_camera_obscura_2_travel_review_short_video

View from the roof of the Camera Obscura building

havana_central_havana_photospot_travel_review_short_video

View from La Torre on the 33rd floor

Another spot is from the bar and restaurant of La Torre on the 33rd floor of the FOCSA Building in Central Havana it has amazing ocean views.  Head up in the lift and buy a couple of beers, and admire the 360 degree view. Best of all look down on vultures swooping beneath you!  It’s the tallest building in Havana.

 

 

Cuba history in the making

With history in the making and the USA trade embargo lifted, now is the perfect time to go. It’s a completely authentic experience in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You must go before the country changes beyond recognition with tourism.

havana_cuba_history_in_the_making_travel_review_short_video

Havana colourful houses

havana_cuba_seawall_el_malecon_travel_review_short_video

Seawall of El Malecon

 

 

Phil & Garth’s Top 5 Havana Tips

havana_plaza_de_la_revolucion_phil_and_garth

Garth & Phil at Plaza de la Revolucion

  • Tip #1: Be prepared for a long wait when you arrive at immigration. Getting your tourist card processed is not a quick process!
  • Tip #2: Forget the Internet.  It’s only just developing in Cuba and is painfully slow in the few places that have it. You won’t need it.
  • Tip #3: Make sure you have 25 CUC pp for the airport departure before you leave.
  • Tip #4: Don’t like cigars? Get a selfie instead.  There are plenty of locals in colourful dress touting for cigar photos with tourists.
  • Tip #5: Still reading this? Get there now. No, now! Right now! Before it’s all spoilt, and modernised

Click the icons to share or Pin this post...

You may also like

15 comments

Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler) 10th November 2016 - 7:49 pm

Wow, what a fantastic post with your great video in the beginning. The history and the photos took me to a very interesting place that I need to visit soon before it changes. The living conditions and the food rationing was sad to see but expected. Your hotel looked amazing and the Restaurant your friend recommended looked good. Oh yes, lets not forget the Mojitos which sound refreshing. I can see getting hassled and its all about saying no in their language. Thanks for sharing such a great article with amazing photos!

Reply
Anna Schlaht 7th November 2016 - 1:52 am

Havana! We’re really itching to get here someday; it’s high on Mr. Nerd’s list, so it was fun for us to read this post and look at all the gorgeous photos. I can’t believe they don’t allow advertising on the streets. That must have been refreshing (when not getting hassled by people). I love the old world feeling, the pink cars, and the views are just incredible!

Oh man. There are so many places to go in the world, and just not enough time to see them all. Thanks for giving us a glimpse into Havana! If we don’t make it, at least we lived vicariously through this post. 🙂

Reply
Angie Briggs 6th November 2016 - 6:59 pm

Cuba and Havana ,are of our bucket list – I cannot wait to see the beautiful buildings and classic old cars and your photos capture the essence of the place perfectly! I’m a big mojito fan so will definitely be trying a few of those when I go there so thank you for that information, in fact, thank you for all the tips you have given, it’s just what we need! Fab post!

Reply
Garth 6th November 2016 - 7:06 pm

Thanks Angie! Hope you get to see Cuba soon!

Reply
Jenn 6th November 2016 - 4:59 pm

This is insanely wonderful!! Do you need me to come on one of your awesome trips with you? I’m sure you need someone to carry your bags?!?

Reply
Travel4lifeblog 6th November 2016 - 12:43 pm

Hello Garth,
Well done for producing a very interesting article about Havana. We could tell that you put a lot of effort into it. We loved the fact that it is a very detailed artcile, full of interesting facts and tips. We also like the fact that you included the section (good spot for a picture). We used to include a pic with a caption on our article but you inspired us to add a section called ‘spot to take a pic’ (if you don’t mind us doing it?!).
What software did you use to do your beautiful slideshow of Havana? Keep up the great work! We cannot wait to start our big trip! Patrick and Cécile !

Reply
Garth 6th November 2016 - 1:29 pm

Thanks guys! I like blog articles where people tell you what some of the best photo spots are, that’s why we added ours. As for the slideshow, it’s bespoke, Garth is a graphic designer so made it himself! Enjoy your big trip!

Reply
SamH Travels 6th November 2016 - 8:07 am

This is a great post and incredibly interesting. I love the detail and the photos have captured the place perfectly. Thank you for sharing 🙂

Reply
Kelly Turpin 6th November 2016 - 5:26 am

Wow! Fantastic post. Love your photos (as always). Havana is really like stepping back in time. It is beautiful, colourful, derelict, old, slow, moving, yet stuck in the past…. It really is just like a movie. This is going on my new (yes this is the first post) pin board. Places to go before I die!

Reply
Garth 6th November 2016 - 1:30 pm

Yes Kelly it really is just like wandering around a movie set, so romantic stuck in the past, just hope it doesn’t change too much. Going to look up your pin board!

Reply
Wellltravbrit 5th July 2016 - 4:14 pm

Just to say hoe much I enjoyed your post. We loved Cuba too and this is s great summary of what people can expect! I love your photos!

Reply
Lisa 3rd June 2016 - 1:53 pm

Loved this post and your pictures are AMAZING! Safe & Happy travels.

Reply
David 3rd June 2016 - 9:00 am

Fantastic photos, loved reliving my visit to Cuba through them. Cuba, and particularly Havana, was an eye-opening experience. I actually stayed in Casas, so basically with a family in one of the ramshackle mansions you mentioned, which was enlightening and pretty lovely really. Loved just walking the streets of Havana Viejo and the Malecon, so much to see and take in.

I actually went into the Inglaterra to use internet once and you’re right, you really don’t need it. I wanted to try and figure out how to get to Trinidad, but in the end, using the network of Casas was much easier than trying to find any information online. Good tips!

Reply
Garth 3rd June 2016 - 11:02 am

Hi David, Havana is so good isn’t it?! as you say, just so much to take in, thanks for your comments, we appreciate them!

Reply
1 2

Leave a Comment

By using this form you agree with our Privacy Policy and the storage and handling of your data by our website.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Press accept if you're ok with this. Accept Read More