Going to Cuba
Customs Regulations
Cuban Money
Touring Accommodations
Getting Around
Cuban Food
Cuban Drinks
Cuban Cigars
Recreation
Worth Seeing
Shopping
Cash and Carry
Tourist Traps
The City Walking Havana
The Malecon
Architecture
1950s Cars
Street Scenes
The People  Artists & Writers
Habaneros
Cuban Language
Cuban Life
Religion
The History Cuban History
The Havana Mob
US Interests Section
Cuba Embargo
Before You Go News about Cuba
Read about Cuba
Book Store
Havana Blog
Video Index

[?] Subscribe To This Site

XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines

Want to uncover the hidden Havana?

When you land at Jose Marti Airport in Havana, a new world awaits you.

First there’s a crowd of excited Cubans

They're waiting for family to arrive from Miami, fully loaded. Cubans are, above all, a sociable people, as you'll see when you walk the streets of this city.

Next you step outside the airport doors and get knocked over by the tropical air which contains a quality you may not have felt for a long time, so get ready for an attack of genuine nostalgia.

You will feel relaxed, because your taxi driver is not chewing gum or chewing your ear off. In fact, he has a worn shirt and a calm air. Since his English is probably limited, it’s a good idea to practise your Spanish or mix a bit of both languages.

The 20 mile ride into the heart of the city takes you past factories and homes in various stages of decay amidst tropical vegetation. It feels like being in an old-time movie.

You'll encounter a different world

There is a lively street culture that is the hallmark of Havana. Few people own cars or motorcycles so walking is a way of life.






















You are so lucky to have landed here now

Cuba is almost the last place on earth to be kept under wraps, in a virtual time warp. No matter what your age, if you want to relive the Fifties you have come to the right spot.

The vintage cars, street banter and slow pace of life; these disappeared from much of the modern world long ago. So drop by the Partagas Cigar Factory, light up the best cigar in the world and then savor it in the place where it was born.

Welcome to Havana... a city like no other in the world today

Going to Cuba
If you're going to Cuba, leave some space in your suitcase.

Cuban customs regulations
Inbound travelers and Cuban customs... be prepared.

Cuban money
You must exchange your money for Cuban money

Havana accommodations
Havana accommodations cover hotels at the high end to low end rooms for rent.

Havana transport
Havana transport… getting around… is not a problem.

Cuban food
The Cuban food in your hotel may seem plain, but it is also special.

Cuban drinks
It’s important to remain hydrated with Cuban drinks while walking in the heat of Havana.

The Cuban cigar
The Cuban cigar is the undisputed king of cigars.

Varadero Golf Club
The Varadero Golf Club is the only 18-hole golf course in Cuba.

The Napoleon Museum
The Napoleon Museum is now open again.

Havana shopping
The Havana shopping experience is not an important part of a vacation here.

Cash and carry
Use cash and carry your own bag.

Tourist traps
Old Havana is the one area of Havana that is always crawling with tourists and tourist traps.

Walking the Havana streets
Havana streets offer a great street life everywhere you turn.

Along the Malecon
The Malecon sea wall runs about 4 miles, from the Bay of Havana at Old Havana, to the area known as Vedado.

Havana buildings
Havana buildings comprise a living museum of both colonial and modern architecture.

1950s cars
There is no sight more Havana than the rolling stock of 1950s cars that cruise the streets of the city.

Dogs of Havana
You can’t walk anywhere in Havana without stumbling on the dogs of Havana.

Havana Art
There’s an excellent installation of Havana art at 511 Neptuno.

Habaneros
Habaneros (persons born in Havana) who grew up before the Revolution will tell you that they were known for their work ethic.

Cuban Words
These Cuban words are sprinkled throughout this site.

Rocking Chairs
Rocking chairs are ubiquitous across Cuba.

Cuban religion
Cuban religion is officially atheism, though many have a belief.

Cuba-US History
Cuba-US history from On Becoming Cuban by Louis A. Perez Jr.

Meyer Lansky
Meyer Lansky was the kingpin who brought the other mobsters to Cuba to form the Havana Mob.

US Interests Section
There is a building along the Malecon, in Vedado, that is known as the US Interests Section.

Cuba embargo
The US Cuba embargo no longer matters and has not for many years.

Cuba news
Cuba news is of interest around the world.

Books on Cuba
I've read these books on Cuba and I can recommend that you read before you leave.

Books about Cuba and Havana
These are books about Cuba and especially Havana.

Havana Blog
A site that unveils the streets of Havana and the hidden lives of its people as though you had a front row seat to this extraordinary city.

Video Index
Video index for an inside look at Havana