History · Havana · Cuba
8 historic sites to see in Havana
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: JOAQUIND, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Plaza de la Catedral and Havana Cathedral, El Capitolio and Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 9–10 hours across 3 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 9–10 hours
- Areas
- Habana Vieja (Old Havana), La Habana del Este and Vedado
Historic sites in Havana
Religious site · Habana Vieja (Old Havana)
1.Plaza de la Catedral and Havana Cathedral
One of them houses the Museo de Arte Colonial, with period furniture and stained-glass windows.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Architecture · Habana Vieja (Old Havana)
2.El Capitolio
Guided visits take in the Salón de los Pasos Perdidos and the replica diamond set in the floor marking kilometre zero for Cuba's roads.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Castle · La Habana del Este
3.Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro
It is part of the Morro-Cabaña historical park on the east side of the channel.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Iconic
- Kids
Landmark · Vedado
4.Plaza de la Revolución
It has been the setting for major rallies for decades.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Free
- Photo spot
Historic site · Habana Vieja (Old Havana)
5.Plaza de Armas
On one side stands the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, the former governors' palace now home to the City Museum; nearby, the small neoclassical El Templete marks the city's founding site under a ceiba tree.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Shopping
Historic site · Habana Vieja (Old Havana)
6.Plaza de San Francisco de Asís
A bronze statue of El Caballero de París, a well-known street figure, stands outside the basilica.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Castle · La Habana del Este
7.Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña
Every evening at 9pm, soldiers in 18th-century uniforms fire a cannon in the Cañonazo ceremony, a tradition that once signalled the closing of the city gates.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- After dark
- Kids
- Views
Museum · Habana Vieja (Old Havana)
8.Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
The national art museum is split between two buildings near Parque Central: the Arte Cubano building with Cuban art from the colonial era to the present, including Wifredo Lam and René Portocarrero, and the Arte Universal building with European and ancient collections.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Habana Vieja (Old Havana) | Plaza de la Catedral and Havana Cathedral, El Capitolio, Plaza de Armas, Plaza de San Francisco de Asís and Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes | 45 minutes + 1 hour + 1 hour + 45 minutes + 2 hours |
| La Habana del Este | Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro and Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña | 1–1.5 hours + 1.5–2 hours |
| Vedado | Plaza de la Revolución | 45 minutes |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 4 free, 4 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Habana Vieja (Old Havana)): Plaza de la Catedral and Havana Cathedral → El Capitolio → Plaza de Armas → Plaza de San Francisco de Asís, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Habana Vieja (Old Havana) and La Habana del Este): Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes → Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (La Habana del Este and Vedado): Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña → Plaza de la Revolución, at least 2 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- September: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 13 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Peak of the hurricane season and the wettest month; quiet and low-priced.
- May: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 8 rainy days, quiet crowds. The rainy season begins with afternoon thunderstorms; humidity rises and crowds thin.
- June: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds. Hot, humid and one of the wettest months; showers are usually short and heavy.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Habana Vieja (Old Havana) — Restored colonial plazas, cobbled lanes and Calle Obispo's bars and shops
- Vedado — Leafy 20th-century district of mansions, hotels, Coppelia and music clubs
More of Havana
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Havana?
Plaza de la Catedral and Havana Cathedral. The baroque Catedral de San Cristóbal, with its asymmetrical towers and curving coral-stone façade, faces a cobbled square framed by 18th-century palaces.
+Which of these are free in Havana?
Plaza de la Catedral and Havana Cathedral, Plaza de la Revolución, Plaza de Armas and Plaza de San Francisco de Asís.