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Calles y Plazas de La Habana

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La Habana, Cuba

Many people think of Havana is Cuba’s utmost tourism attraction and a place worth a long walk around. The city features enough infrastructure to welcome tens of thousands visitors on a daily basis, let alone a well-assorted portfolio of recreational options and a lot of must-see attractions.

CUBA’S CAPITAL CITY
Havana is Cuba’s capital city, its main doorway and the most populated city in the country, with over two million inhabitants. There are 15 municipalities: Playa, Plaza, Centro Habana, Old Havana, Regla and Havana del Este are directly based near the sea, and the rest, but Guanabacoa, are located away from downtown and the tourism interest is lower. These are: Boyeros, La Lisa, 10 de Octubre, Marianao, Arroyo de Naranjo, Cerro, Cotorro and San Miguel del Padron.

ACCESS
Jose Marti International Airport is the prime access point for tourists arriving in Cuba, to stay in Havana or travel to other destinations within the country. The city has a huge bay with berths and a cruise terminal; heading west, Hemingway Marina is its tourism port per excellence.

HOW TO GET DIRECTIONS
The people of Havana are aware of the main tourism offers and services. Just ask anybody and you’ll be told how to go everywhere you want to. However, there are places off the beaten path and you have to know how to find your way. In the oldest areas, streets were baptized with names, just like in Spanish cities; and in the youngest ones, the case of Vedado (Plaza Municipality) or Miramar (Playa Municipality) streets are identified with numbers and letters, in the American way. The urban structure in municipalities near the coast –higher tourism interest–, is made up of parallel and perpendicular streets like grids, taking the coastline as point of reference, so it’s very easy to find your way from one place to the next one, by using a map or asking neighbors and pedestrians.

TRANSPORTATION
There is a wide network of car rentals in Havana, from Jose Marti International Airport to the hotels, as well as in strategic spots around town. That’s a very recommendable choice for visitors interested in frequently traveling throughout the city or driving to the beaches on the east side. Right at the hotels, tourists can order cabs and, in terms of organized excursions, a/c buses guarantee in-out transfers. Roofless tourism buses are an inexpensive choice, as their itinerary includes attractive places for only 5.00 CUC per person and, for the same price, for instance, you can go from Vedado to the Historic Core, walk for a couple hours and then go to the beach and return to the hotel, since they cover the same route every hour.

WHERE TO STAY
Havana offers hotels that meet all categories, from a modest three-star hotel to magnificent five-star lodgings – the best hotels are nestled in the Historic Core, Vedado and Miramar. In Santa Maria del Mar there are some worthy-of-note hotels for those who want to be near the city, but still in the beach. Depending on preferences and availability, visitors can choose between smaller or bigger hotels, remote or central.
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EATING IN HAVANA
There are numerous hotel and extra-hotel choices. The classic places of all times are La Bodeguita del Medio –Cuban cuisine– and El Floridita – seafood and international cuisine–, but the overall list is kilometers long. There are singular places like La Torre, the main benchmark of Havana’s skyline, at the 33rd floor of the emblematic Focsa building, where mouth-watering dishes are served, the bar is great and there is a picture-perfect panoramic view; there are other restaurants, such as El Polinesio, in the basement of Tryp Habana Libre hotel, with a cozy half-light atmosphere, rustic decoration and first-class service; as well as Sierra Maestra, perched on the last floor of the same hotel. German food can be tasted at Panorama hotel, which dishes out roasted beef, sirloin steak, wieners and desserts like apple strudel. There are several restaurant options around the Historic Core, but El Templete stands out, right on the edge of the bay, as a must-visit place for seafood enthusiasts; or Café del Oriente, at San Francisco Square and La Mina or El Patio, located at the Arms Square and Cathedral Square, respectively. Attractive and cheap options are offered at restaurants in Chinatown, and many others in Vedado and Miramar, which represent tourism areas per excellence in the city. Over the past year, many bistros have opened doors in the house of their owners and they are a choice to be kept in mind.

SHOPPING AROUND
The finest craftworks can be acquired at the port avenue, in an old warehouse that has been prepared for this activity. Visitors can buy from precious-wooden carvings to necklaces, dresses and miniatures. Bargaining to get good prices is the best choice. High-quality Cuban music can be found in 23 and L, at the best store for people looking for the Island’s songs, rhythms and melodies; and Habanos are waiting for enthusiasts at Partagás Factory or Casas del Habano around the city. These are specific references, but all these classic Cuban products, plus rum, can be bought at many establishments dedicated to sell them, even at the hotels.
For those who like antiques or literary rarities, we recommend the street market of old books set by collectors and booksellers at the Arms Square; and for exclusive gifts, La Habanera, in Miramar, is an excellent choice with excellently-made fine jewelry.

HIKING TIPS

• Walk through the Historic Core, visit museums and squares, take a break at La Bodeguita del Medio to enjoy a Mojito; or at El Floridita, the Cradle of Daiquiri.
• Walk down Obispo Street, the most commercial and popular; and Mercaderes, a gem from the colonial age.
• Visit Morro-Cabaña Historic Military Park and enjoy the most spectacular sunset over Havana from La Tasca bar-restaurant.
• Walk along the Seawall at dawn, La Rampa, in Vedado, and have a cup of coffee at the National Hotel, looking at the sea.
• Watch Havana from the tower at the Revolution Square.
• Go to the eastern beaches, such as gorgeous Santa Maria del Mar, pride of the people of Havana.

HEALTHCARE & MEDICAL ATTENTION
Cuba’s tourism system establishes that every hotel must have a first aid medical center and specialized lifeguards in swimming pools and beach areas. Havana additionally counts on Cira Garcia International Clinic, providing indispensable services and the support of the best healthcare centers of the city.

EXCURSIONS & TOURS
Due to its geographic position and excellent connection with the rest of the country, Havana is a privileged place to know many other places of Cuba. The Cuban inbound agencies that operate in the city offer a comprehensive portfolio of excursions, such as: Viñales Valley and Yumuri Valley –west and east respectively, in the provinces of Pinar del Rio and Matanzas–, which are true exponents of Cuban nature. One-day trips are also organized to Varadero –Cuba’s most famous and gorgeous beach–, overland; and Cayo Largo, by plane. With night included, the excursion list includes guided visits to the colonial city of Trinidad and Cienfuegos, with historic cores declared World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.