Sights Along The Malecón in Havana
The Malecón runs along the bulging, wave-battered shorefront of northern Vedado, curling from La Rampa in the east to the Río Almendares in the west, a distance of three miles. The sidewalk is pitted underfoot, but a stroll its full length makes for good exercise while taking in such sights as the
Havana’s City Walls
Construction of Havana’s fortified city walls began on February 3, 1674. They ran along the western edge of the bay and, on the landward side, stood between today’s Calle Egido, Monserrate, and Zulueta. Under the direction of engineer Juan de Siscaras, African slaves labored for 23 years to build
Centro Habana and The Malecón
Laid out in a near-perfect grid, mostly residential Centro Habana (Central Havana, pop. 175,000) lies west of the Paseo de Martí and south of the Malecón. The 19th-century region evolved following demolition of the city walls in 1863. Prior, it had served as a glacis. The buildings are deep and ta
Sights in Barrio Cayo Hueso, Havana
Immediately west of the Plaza Antonio Maceo, a triangular area bordered roughly by the Malecón, San Lázaro, and Calzada de Infanta forms the northwest corner of Centro Habana. Known as Barrio Cayo Hueso, the region dates from the early 20th century, when tenement homes were erected atop what had b
Finding Nightlife and Entertainment in Havana
Yes, the city has lost the Barbary Coast spirit of prerevolutionary days, but habaneros love to paint the town red as much as their budgets allow. Many venues are seedier than they were in the 1950s; in many the decor hasn’t changed! Pricey entrance fees dissuade Cubans from attending the hottest
Visit Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña
The massive Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña (Saint Charles of the Flock Fortress, Carretera de la Cabaña, tel. 07/862-4095, daily 10am-10pm, entrance CUC6 adults, children under 12 free, CUC8 for the cañonazo ceremony, guide CUC1), half a kilometer east of the Morro, enjoys a fantastic strate
Sights in Zulueta (Calle Agramonte)
Calle Agramonte, more commonly referred to by its colonial name of Zulueta, parallels the Prado and slopes gently upward from Avenida de los Estudiantes to the northeast side of Parque Central. Traffic runs one-way uphill.
The Rincón de los Cretinos (Corner of Cretins) pokes fun at Batista, Ronald
Jewish History and Heritage Sites in Cuba
Today, Havana’s Jewish community (La Comunidad Hebrea) numbers only about 1,500, about 5 percent of its prerevolutionary size, when it supported five synagogues and a college.
The first Jew in Cuba, Luis de Torres, arrived with Columbus in 1492 as the explorer’s translator.The first Jew in Cuba, L
Havana's Jazz Scene
If jazz is your scene, Havana has some great locations to check out. Most jams happen during the usual nightlife and supper club hours, but you’ll find a few venues offer afternoons and matinees, too.
Jazz cafe in Havana. Photo © Christopher P. Baker.
Habana Vieja
A jazz trio performs upstai
Cuban Colonial Architecture
Cuba boasts the New World’s finest assemblage of colonial buildings. Spanning four centuries, these palaces, mansions, churches, castles, and more simple structures catalog a progression of styles. The academic classicism of aristocratic 18th-century Spanish homes blends with 19th-century French r
Havana's Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco de Asís
Dominating the Plaza de San Francisco on the south side, the Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco de Asís (Oficios, e/ Amargura y Brasil, tel. 07/862-9683, daily 9am-5:30pm, entrance CUC2, guide CUC1, cameras CUC2, videos CUC10) was launched in 1719 and completed in 1730 in baroque style with a 40-
Where to Catch Havana's Cabarets Espectáculos
Spectacular, gaudy, decadent, or a combination of all three, Havana’s cabarets espectáculos definitely deliver. From the incredible and infamous two-hour show at the Las Vegas style Tropicana nightclub to small campy shows followed by steamy disco, here’s where to go to experience it a
The Best Casas Particulares in Havana
Havana is blessed with accommodations of every stripe. The most enjoyable are arguably private room rentals (casas particulares) of a single room in restored buildings full of ambiance or an entire suite of rooms offering an intimate, unique experience. All listed here have air-conditioning and pr
Nightlife in Municipio Playa, Havana
Playa is ground zero for the hip private lounge club craze now sweeping Havana.
To mingle with Cuba’s artsy bohemians, head to Café Madrigal (Calle 17 #809, e/ 2 y 4, tel. 07/831-2433, Tues.-Sun. 6pm-2am), upstairs in the home of film-maker Rafael Rosales. This is a spot for tapas and a brain-free
Where To Travel in 2016: A Month-by-Month List
Most of us at Moon have an ever-growing list of places we want to visit, a common side effect of working on a book–or even just seeing the cover options. The following list reflects a few of the destinations that inspired our wanderlust in the last year. There are trip-of-a-lifetime-type destinati
Where to Find Cuban Arts and Crafts
The Cuban government bans the sale and export of antiques. Hence, there are no stores selling antiques to tourists. Fortunately, there are an abundance of galleries and markets that feature handmade items and artworks, from souvenir-style trinkets and kitsch to collectible pieces.
Off-street art g
Doing business & staying in touch while in Cuba
Cuba: Doing business & staying in touch
Cuba Weather, Climate and Geography
Cuba Weather, climate and geography
Cuba History, Language and Culture
Cuba History, Language and Culture
Cuba Travel Guide and Travel Information
Cuba Travel Guide
