Old Havana

UNESCO Site · Havana, 🇨🇺 Cuba

Population 95,383

Area 5 km²

Time zone America/Havana

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Tony Hisgett / CC BY 2.0

Old Havana Highlights

Old Havana centers on four main colonial squares: Plaza de Armas, Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza Vieja, and Plaza de San Francisco. This historic core features the Baroque Havana Cathedral and the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, the oldest stone fortress in the Americas. Architectural landmarks range from the Art Deco Bacardi Building to the neoclassical Museum of the Revolution, housed in the former Presidential Palace. Cultural highlights include the National Museum of Fine Arts and legendary bars like El Floridita and La Bodeguita del Medio, famously frequented by Ernest Hemingway.

15 places

LukaszKatlewa / CC BY-SA 3.0

Museums of Old Havana

Old Havana's museums offer a deep dive into Cuba's complex history and culture. The Museum of the Revolution occupies the former Presidential Palace, while the National Museum of Fine Arts showcases colonial to contemporary Cuban art. Maritime history is preserved at the 16th-century Castle of the Royal Force, and the Museum of the City resides in the 18th-century Palacio de los Capitanes Generales. Specialized collections include the Havana Club Rum Museum, the Museum of Chocolate, and the restored 19th-century Farmacia Taquechel, alongside the Granma yacht and Coche Mambí presidential railcar.

10 places

Haydn Blackey / CC BY-SA 2.0

Religious Sites in Old Havana

Old Havana’s religious landscape features a blend of Spanish colonial architecture and diverse liturgical traditions. The area is anchored by the landmark Havana Cathedral, known for its asymmetrical Baroque facade, and the Basilica of San Francisco de Asis, which now serves as a museum and concert hall. Beyond Catholic heritage, the district contains the Russian Orthodox Our Lady of Kazan and the Greek Orthodox St. Nicholas. These sites, ranging from 17th-century convents to modern Orthodox cathedrals, showcase centuries of spiritual and architectural evolution.

8 places

Soniasantana / GFDL

Old Havana Parks and Squares

Old Havana’s historic center is defined by its colonial urban planning, centered around four main squares and grand promenades. Plaza Vieja showcases restored 18th-century mansions, while the Plaza de Armas serves as the city’s oldest square, surrounded by the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales. Nearby, the Plaza de la Catedral is dominated by the Baroque facade of the Havana Cathedral. Connecting the historic district to the sea, the marble-paved Paseo del Prado features iconic bronze lions, leading to Parque Central, a bustling hub for classic cars and a monument to José Martí.

5 places

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Historic Landmarks of Old Havana

Old Havana's historic core preserves centuries of Spanish colonial rule and revolutionary milestones. This collection features the Plaza de Armas, the city's oldest square, and the 16th-century Castle of the Royal Force, one of the oldest stone forts in the Americas. Religious and civic history is captured at El Templete, marking Havana's 1519 founding, while the Granma Memorial and the Estudiantes de Medicina monument honor significant turning points in Cuba's struggle for independence and revolution.

5 places