Where to Stay In Havana: Districts

Choosing where to stay depends on a number of factors, including personal taste, desire for adventure, your travel budget, proximity to nightlife and attractions, etc.

Habana Vieja

The most beautiful, but also the most touristy section of Havana. Designated a UNESCO heritage site with many restored colonial buildings, but many others crumbling and in a state of virtual collapse. For most tourists, this is where it all happens.

The beauty of its paved streets, colonial balconies, baroque and gothic buildings makes this accolade well deserved. Smiling faces greet you at every turn. Then there is the fabled Malecón, where tourists and locals alike come to watch the sunset and enjoy the soft sea breeze.
At night, this lovely Caribbean city becomes a magical carnival of shows, night-clubs and discotheques inviting you in to join the fun.
There are four main areas of interest. First there is Old Havana, a treasure trove of Cuban history and culture. The Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral and the Parque Central are fine examples of Colonial architecture. A walk through these old lanes is a real delight. Everywhere, cafés, restaurants and bars offer the perfect excuse to escape the tropical sun for a Cuban cocktail or traditional meal. Try the Bodeguita del Medio or the Floridita, where Hemingway used to drink his Mojitos and Daiquirís.
The historic quarter is also home to several important museums, such as the Museo de Autos Antiguos (if you like antique cars), La Casa del Arabe, La Casa de Africa, La Casa de Asia, Museo de la Ciudad, and the fortresses El Morro and La Real Fuerza, where you will see an emblem of Havana, the weather vane on La Giraldilla tower. This is the chief tourist area of the city.

Habana Centro

A very old and poor section of Havana, and some streets may be unsafe at night. On the plus side, it is very easy to mingle with Habanero’s here, and get a sense of the “real” Havana and Cuban lifestyle. Close to Vieja, and will appeal to experienced and adventurous travelers.

The Capitolio marks the beginning of central Havana, a working class neighborhood, where alot of buildings are almost in a total state of collapse. On the other side of the street you will find Real Farica de Tabacos Partagas, one Cuba's oldest cigar factories.

Vedado

This section, located along the Caribbean waterfront, was built primarily by Russians and Americans during the 1930’s and 1960’s when Havana was being developed as a major destination for American tourists. High-rise hotels, casinos, restaurants, and upscale commercial establishments, many reflecting the then-popular art deco style, mushroomed in the Vedado district. In the late 1990’s Vedado represented the principal commercial area of the city, and it became home to a number of important landmarks including the Hotel National, Jose Marti Stadium, The University of Havana, the National Theatre of Cuba, and the Colon Cemetary.

It is still very popular with tourists for the mid-range prices for accommodations that are better than Miramar and Vieja. There are many good restaurants, clubs, and hotels, and many vilas with apartments available for rent. A great choice for first timers wanting some adventure, but not too much!

Walking up La Rampa from the Malecón, you will reach the Vedado, one of the most charming areas of the city, with its 19th century houses and mansions, many of them now housing embassies, ministries and cultural organisations. On the corner of La Rampa and L Street is the ice-cream parlour Coppelia, famous for its excellent tropical fruit ice-creams. Up a short slope from here, you will come to the Plaza Ignacio Agromonte and Havana University, a set of impressive neo-classical buildings. There are also two museums: the Montané Anthropology Museum and the Felipe Poey Natural History Museum. Continuing in this direction, you will eventually come out onto the Plaza de la Revolución, where President Fidel Castro makes his Mayday speech to the masses every year. At the center of this vast, star-shaped space stands a huge monument to national hero José Martí. The view from the top is sensational. Opposite the statue, on the other side of a broad avenue is a fresco of revolutionary hero Ché Guevara.

Miramar

The wealthiest section of Havana, with embassy buildings and the reputed home of Fidel. Many colonial homes with rooms for rent, very safe, but far from Vieja and other must see sites. Perhaps best suited to first timers, the less adventurous, families with children, or those looking for an upscale area.

Miramar, one of the most exclusive areas of Havana, is full of beautiful colonial houses, and home to embassies, cultural centers and foreign companies. The ponds of the Emiliano Zapata Park (Avenida 5- Malecón) are worth a visit. The little boats on the River Almendares are also a pretty sight. Palm trees line the avenues and there is a good number of cafés, bars and restaurants around the Marina Hemingway.