Havana
Havana is almost frozen at 1959, the year revolution was made and it still has a big fleet of vintage American cars. So, the best way of exploring Havana is to jump on a classical automobile from 1950s for a two-hour ride around the side streets of the city and along Malecon, the city’s 8-mile coastal promenade. Havana’s UNESCO protected Old City is really a special place. Founded in 1519 by the Spanish, it quickly became the largest trade port of the Caribbean, while in 18th century it developed the most fascinating dockyard and shipbuilding facilities of all the New World. So, you can see the remainings of this glorious history in the Old City, which has maintained its urban pattern. Old Havana has been organized around five large plazas: Plaza de Armas, Plaza Vieja, Plaza de San Francisco, Plaza del Cristo and Plaza de la Catedral. Plaza de Cathedral is perhaps the most romantic of all. El Capitolio is the grandest building at the heart of Havana. Built as the seat of Cuban Parliament in 1920s, it then served as the Cuban Academy of Sciences and National Library of Science and Technology. It will soon reopen its gates as Cuban Parliament once again, after a complete renovation. Gran Teatro de La Habana is just another architectural and cultural landmark of the city, where you can watch amazing performances by Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Founded by the legendary ballerina Alicia Alonso, this state ballet institution has produced some of the best ballet dancers of the world. The reason is perhaps because the Cuban government has funded ballet training and subsidized tickets to ballet performances, so that everybody could easily watch them. One more thing not to miss in Havana is the cocktails made of Cuban rum. Try Hemingway's favourites: mojito and daiquiri. Nao Bar Paladar, Ernest Hemingway’s favourite bar Floridita, and La Bodeguita del Medio are the best places to try Cuban cocktails.
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Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana
Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski is probably the first true luxury hotel operating in Cuba after so many years. Enjoy El Surtidor Pool Terrace and Bar, offering great views and daiquiri cocktails.
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Paseo 206
10 bright and comfortable suites in the city’s best boutique hotel.
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El Cocinero
A trendy restaurant in Vedado region. It was transformed from an old peanut factory and the chimney of the factory now serves as a bar with superb sunset views.
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Al Carbon
Real Cuban fine-dining in the new restaurant of the local culinary talent Ivan Chef Justo.
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La Guarida
Havana’s most famous restaurant. Obama also dined here, during his visit in 2016, making him the first American president to visit Cuba. The restaurant is at the top floor of a turn-of-the-century old building. This is where the Oscar nominated famous Cuban production “Strawbery and Chocolate” was filmed.
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Casa de La Musica
One of Cuba’s most popular live music venues, with two branches in Havana.
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Fábrica de Arte Cubano
A new generation space for music, dance, theater and visual arts, converted from an old factory.
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Museo de La Revolucion
The relics of the revolution are displayed in the former Presidential Palace, which was decorated by the world-famous Tiffany's of New York. Inside, a replica of Granma (the boat that brought Fidel Castro and other revolutionaries from Mexico to Cuba) is also displayed.
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Partagas Cigar Factory
Partagas Cigar Factory is where famous the brands of Cohiba and Romeo & Juliette are produced. Founded in the 1853, Partagas has more than 50 factories around Cuba. Workers start after a 9-month course and there is an ongoing music broadcast inside.
Cienfuegos
The colonial city of Cienfuegos (250 kms from Havana) is a UNESCO protected marvel founded in 1514 by Velasquez, but its still has a distinct French character due to a wave of immigrants it received from Bordeaux. Its port is the most picturesque one and cruise ships arrive here to visit the sugar cane plantations, as well as Trinidad city. Punta Gorda is a peninsula hosting nice houses like Palacio del Valle, which is the former mansion of a sugar cane baron, offering beautiful bay views from its rooftop bar with live music.
Trinidad
Trinidad was the center of slavery in the 18th century, with 56 sugarcane plantations and 12,000 African slaves. Today, it is still possible visit the watchtowers that were used to control the slaves. This UNESCO protected colonial city has a vibrant music and dance scene thanks to its famous salsa clubs like Casa de La Musica and Rincon de La Salsa. The Plaza Mayor, the colonial heart of the city, is to be enjoyed with its one-storey colorful houses, museums, restaurants and the biggest cathedral of the country at its best. Some of the houses that belonged to sugarcane merchants are now turned into museums like Museo Romantico and Museo de Historia de Municipal, dedicated to colonial history of the city. To have a swimming break, you can visit white-sanded Playa Ancon that is 15 kms away.