Havana Vieja

The first time you enter the narrow cobblestoned streets of Havana Vieja, you’ll bask in five centuries worth of majestic Spanish architecture.  Here you will find the magnificent El Morro Castle looming across the Bay of Havana like an image from a fairytale. You might be walking along a quiet residential street where laundry hangs from windows and buildings crumble next to those that have been restored to perfection, when suddenly Salsa music reverberates through the air and a family of Cubans welcomes you into their home.

Vedado

Vedado is all about the spirit of Havana’s people and provides a firsthand look at the promise of the future.  Children play kickball on an elevated pedestrian oasis in the middle of wide avenues while classic American cars cruise by. Parents return home from work as students close their books and unwind with friends along the Malecón. No trip to Vedado is complete without a stop at Coppelia for some of its famous ice cream.  Here, you’ll sway to the melodies of life and groove to the music at clubs frequented by the likes of Ernest Hemingway.

Miramar

The neighborhood of Miramar is simply stunning. It’s comprised of grandiose mansions and palatial estates. Prior to the Revolution, Havana’s most affluent citizens lived here. Today, it’s an ideal place to enjoy a peaceful walk along the avenues in the shade of broad leafy trees. If there is a foreign presence in Cuba, it's here at the embassies, office buildings, international banks and European-owned hotels. Right along the waterfront you’ll find saltwater pools where Cubans come to beat the heat, and for a truly authentic Cuban music experience, it’s hard to top Casa de la Música’s performances.

Guanabacoa

Located just 5km east of historic Old Havana, the “bewitched” town of Guanabacoa beats at the heart of Afro-Cuban religion. Explore a city bustling with the activity of Santería practitioners immersed in ritual, and become mesmerized by manifestations of traditional African faiths involving magic. A short ferry ride across the harbor from Old Havana rests the former fishing village and current port town of Regla, whose history has been shaped by the sea …or the spirit who controls it. Here you can join the faithful and behold “La Virgen de Regla” – the patron saint of Havana, protector of fishermen, and African goddess of the sea.