Santiago de Cuba

city in Cuba

Varadero

Varadero is a relatively exclusive part of Cuba, abundant with private hotels, gorgeous white beaches and the country's only full golf course. The fantastic beaches with clear turquoise warm water makes this an island lovers paradise. If you are looking for "real life Cuba", this part resembles it the least.

Havana

capital city and commercial centre of Cuba

Viñales

– a national park in Pinar del Rio province, with mountains and caves; it has the best-developed tourist facilities of Cuba's national parks

Maria la Gorda

– a tiny village with some snorkeling and diving options

Isla de la Juventud

– a large island south of Havana

Trinidad (Cuba)

town in the province of Sancti Spíritus, central Cuba

Baracoa

city in Cuba

Santa Clara (Cuba)

city in Villa Clara province, Cuba

Cienfuegos

city in Cuba, capital of Cienfuegos Province

Camagüey

city in Cuba

Camagüey Province

Las Tunas Province

Nuevitas

Florida, Cuba

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana

This museum has two parts: international and Cuban art. In the part of Arte Cubano art-lovers can spend hours admiring the works of the last centuries exhibited on three floors.

Hotel Nacional de Cuba

broad esplanade, roadway and seawall in Havana, Cuba

Santa Cruz del Sur

Zapata Swamp

Parque Nacional Ciénaga de Zapata is in Matanzas province of Cuba. The national park is one of best birdwatching areas in the world, plus it has scuba diving and beautiful beaches. It's on Cuba's south coast, in the middle of the country, about a two-hour drive from Havana.

Colon Cemetery, Havana

One of the great historical cemeteries of the world, important in both historical and architectural terms. It's not possible to see much from behind the fence.

Hotel Tryp Habana Libre

The hotel housed Castro's soldiers for several days after they took Havana. It has an excellent selection of photos in the lobby along with one of the only 24-hour fast food restaurants in the city.

Manuel Tames

municipality in Cuba

Plaza de la Revolución

Huge square dominated by a statue and monument of Jose Marti and the iconic image of Che Guevara adorning the Ministry of the Interior. Arrive either early or late, as it is often swamped by tourists and gets very hot during the day.

Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra del Rosario

– a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Sierra del Rosario mountains of Pinar del Rio province; the principal sites are Soroa and Las Terrazas

La Cabaña

A well-restored fort of the 18th century that holds two one-room exhibitions about arms and Che Guevara. Every evening there is a cannon ceremony where they fire over the Havana harbour. To get there take any bus (ex. from the Parque the la Fraternidad) that crosses the tunnel and get off right after it. Walk about 600 m to the entrance. On your way you can also stop at the smaller Castillo de los Tres Santos Reyes Magnis del Morro located right next to the tunnel.

Embassy of the United States, Havana

This heavily fortified and guarded building is where Cuban citizens go to apply for U.S. visas. It was notable for displaying news which was unfiltered and not censored by the Cuban government on electronic billboards behind the windows of one of the floors, but these were switched off in 2009. It is also the focus for regularly staged protests.

El Capitolio

Completed in 1929, this neoclassical building which resembles the U.S. Capitol housed the Cuban Congress prior to the revolution. The building is being restored and will within a few years again house the National Assembly.

Museum of the Revolution (Cuba)

Housed in the former presidential palace this iconic museum offers a history tour from pre-Columbian to the revolution in 1959 an on to present day socialist Cuba. Even if there's more than a hint of propaganda among the exhibitions it's still a must on any visit to Havana.

Castillo de Jagua

An 18th-century fortress built to protect Cienfuegos against (English) pirates. There's an abandoned nuclear power plant behind the castle, built by the Soviets but never finished.

Cayo Levisa

island

Topes de Collantes

Gran Parque Natural Topes de Collantes is in Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, and Sancti Spiritus provinces of Cuba.

Havana Cathedral

Built in the 18th century and redesigned in the 1940s, this church is a prime example of Baroque architecture in Cuba. Houses the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Cuba.

Casilda (Trinidad)

Cuban village in Sancti Spíritus Province

John Lennon Park

Features the only statue of a western musician in Havana. Notable for the regularly stolen (and replaced) eyeglasses.

San Juan Hill

series of hills to the east of Santiago, Cuba, running north to south and scene of a battle