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    Lonely Planet Pocket Havana
    Lonely Planet Pocket Havana
    Lonely Planet Pocket Havana
    Ebook279 pages1 hour

    Lonely Planet Pocket Havana

    By Brendan Sainsbury

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    About this ebook

    Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher

    Lonely Planet Pocket Havana is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Take in the drama

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLonely Planet
    Release dateOct 1, 2017
    ISBN9781787012196
    Lonely Planet Pocket Havana

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      Book preview

      Lonely Planet Pocket Havana - Brendan Sainsbury

      Contents

      QuickStart Guide

      Welcome to Havana

      Hurricane Irma and its aftermath in Cuba

      Top Sights

      Local Life

      Day Planner

      Need to Know

      Havana Neighbourhoods

      Explore

      Habana Vieja

      Centro Habana

      Vedado

      Playa & Marianao

      Habana del Este

      Regla & Guanabacoa

      Museo Hemingway

      Best

      The Best of Havana

      Architecture on the Prado

      The Malecon

      Live Music

      Nightlife & Entertainment

      Drinking

      Food

      Historic Sites

      For Free

      Art & Architecture

      For Kids

      Tours & Activities

      Gay & Lesbian

      Festivals & Events

      Shopping

      Survival Guide

      Survival Guide

      Before You Go

      Arriving in Havana

      Getting Around

      Essential Information

      Language

      Behind the Scenes

      Our Writers

      Welcome to Havana

      No one could have invented Havana. It’s too audacious, too contradictory, and, despite 60 years of withering neglect, too damn beautiful. How it does it is anyone’s guess. Maybe it’s the swashbuckling history, the survivalist spirit, or the indefatigable salsa energy that emanates most emphatically from the people. Arrive with an open mind and prepare for a long, slow seduction.

      Salsa in Havana | LESINKA372/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

      Hurricane Irma and its aftermath in Cuba

      In early September 2017, one of the largest hurricanes ever recorded charged through the northern Caribbean region, leaving flooding and wreckage in its wake. Hurricane Irma made landfall as a category 5 storm the width of Texas, with wind speeds of 185 mph - its force sucked bays dry before creating storm surges that raced inland.

      The research for this book was completed and sent to print before the storm passed over Cuba. The island sustained significant damage to its north coast and keys, and downtown areas of Havana experienced waist-deep flooding. Tourism is Cuba's primary industry, and authorities announced their intention to reopen as soon as possible; before you travel, check the official government website and advice from state travel entities for information on any travel restrictions or significant closures.

      1

      Havana

      Top Sights

      Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

      Cuba's two best art galleries. Click here

      DIEGO GRANDI/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

      Havana Top Sights

      Parque Histórico Militar Morro-Cabaña

      Two pillars of military might. Click here

      DENIS DORONIN/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

      Havana Top Sights

      Plaza Vieja

      Havana's most eclectic colonial square. Click here

      FEDERICO JULIEN/STOCKIMO/ALAMY ©

      Havana Top Sights

      Museo de la Revolución

      Cuban history with revolutionary bias. Click here

      EQROY/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

      Havana Top Sights

      Catedral de la Habana

      The pinnacle of Cuban baroque. Click here

      RAFAL CICHAWA/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

      Havana Top Sights

      Fusterlandia

      Street art on steroids. Click here

      FELIX LIPOV/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

      Havana Top Sights

      Museo Hemingway

      Museum honoring America's greatest Cuba-phile. Click here

      GIANNIS PAPANIKOS/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

      Havana Top Sights

      Necrópolis Cristóbal Colón

      Finest cemetery in the Americas. Click here

      PPART/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

      Havana Top Sights

      Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Regla

      Religious shrine doused in legend. Click here

      REDA &CO SRL/ALAMY ©

      l

      Havana

      Local Life

      Insider tips to help you find the real Havana

      Havana is a visceral place. The best sights can't be located on any map. To find them you'll need patience, spontaneity and a sturdy pair of legs. Walk the streets and investigate.

      Other great places to experience the city like a local:

      Plaza del Cristo

      City Bike Tours

      Los Nardos

      Plaza de Armas Secondhand Book Market

      Cojímar

      Cuba Libro

      Convento & Iglesia del Carmen

      Don Cangrejo

      LGBT Vedado

      Regla Streetlife

      Centro Habana Streetlife

      y Shopping streets

      y People-watching

      MIAMI2YOU/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

      Rehabilitated Habana Vieja

      y Colonial architecture

      y Social projects

      LESINKA372/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

      Vedado by Night

      y Live music

      y Dancing

      JAMES QUINE/ALAMY ©

      Guanabacoa

      y Historic buildings

      y Old churches

      JAMES HACKLAND/ALAMY ©

      Unsignposted Playa

      y Arty cafes

      y Leafy paths and avenues

      FELIX LIPOV/ALAMY ©

      Havana's Eastern Beaches

      y Sandy beaches

      y Water sports

      AHOWDEN INTERNATIONAL/ALAMY ©

      R

      Havana

      Day Planner

      Day One

      MExplore Habana Vieja by strolling the streets between the four main colonial squares, stopping for morning coffee in Plaza Vieja and browsing through the revolutionary tomes at the secondhand book market in Plaza de Armas. Soak up the atmosphere on shop- and museum-lined Calle Mercaderes before making a beeline for baroque Catedral de la Habana.

      RGet your introduction to Havana's layered art culture by visiting the 'Arte Cubano' collection of the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. Afterwards, walk down the wide avenue El Prado and turn left into the Malecón sea drive – aka Havana's outdoor living room – in time for sunset.

      NFor Havana's trendiest after-dark quarter, gravitate to Plaza del Cristo, where live music pulsates in cool bars and events are sometimes organized outside in the square.

      Day Two

      MStart the morning with coffee and/or breakfast in the pleasant square in front of Café del Ángel Fumero Jacqueline. It's a short hop from here to Museo de la Revolución encased in the impossible-to-miss Presidential Palace. When you've had your fill of revolutionary propaganda, proceed to Parque Central where you can catch the Habana Bus Tour to Vedado.

      RRecline beneath the pillars of wisdom in the Universidad de la Habana. before visiting its two on-site museums. You'll probably want to reserve more time for the excellent Museo Napoleónico across the street. Afterwards, wander over to the Coppelia for a low-cost Cuban-style ice cream.

      NHave a mojito on the outdoor terrace at the Hotel Nacional and find out if there are tickets for Cabaret Parisien. Book, or pay at the door, and get ready to enjoy one of Havana's best nights out.

      Day Three

      MHang out around Parque Central admiring the old American cars in front of the Capitolio Nacional and the lobbies of some of the historic hotels nearby. Brush up on the Santería religion in the Asociación Cultural Yoruba de Cuba and take a guided tour around the recently restored Gran Teatro de la Habana Alicia Alonso.

      RGet a bus or taxi to take you to San Francisco de Paula to visit the Museo Hemingway. Factor in an hour to see the museum and an hour for the return journey (longer for the bus). On the way back, continue the Hemingway theme by squeezing into La Bodeguita del Medio for an obligatory mojito.

      NHead over to the Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña for the famous cañonazo ceremony at 9pm. Be sure to arrive before 8pm to allow time to look around the fort and its museums and admire the nighttime views of Havana. Afterwards, return to Habana Vieja and wander the atmospheric streets until you find a musical bar to draw you in.

      Day Four

      MHead out to the western end of Playa and visit the amazing community art project known as Fusterlandia. On the way back, get a taxi to drop you off on Quinta Avenida. Walk down the broad avenue admiring the eclectic mansions, many of them now embassies.

      RCross over the Río Almendares into Vedado, perhaps stopping briefly in the Parque Almendares. Head up Calle 23 to Havana's magnificent cemetery, the Necrópolis Cristóbal Colón, which is particularly beautiful around 5pm. If there's time, walk over to Plaza de la Revolución to see the Martí Memorial as it's lit up.

      NSpend the evening at the Fábrica de Arte Cubano – be sure to arrive early (around 8pm) to avoid the crowds. Peruse the art, soak up the atmosphere and check out the night's musical program, all of which should keep you occupied until at least midnight.

      Need to Know

      Currency

      Cuban convertibles (CUC$) & pesos (moneda nacional; MN$)

      Language

      Spanish

      Visas

      Regular tourists require a tarjeta de turista (tourist card) valid for 30 days usually provided by your flight package. Always check when booking.

      Money

      Cuba is primarily a cash economy. Non-US credit cards are accepted in resort hotels and some city hotels. There are a growing number of ATMs.

      Mobile Phones

      Check with your service provider to see if your phone will work. You can use your own GSM or TDMA phones in Cuba, though you’ll have to get a local chip and pay an activation fee (approximately CUC$30).

      Time

      Eastern Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus five hours)

      Tipping

      Tipping in Cuba is important since most Cubans earn money in moneda nacional (MN$). Leaving a tip of 10% or more in convertibles (CUC$) makes a huge difference.

      1Before You Go

      Your Daily Budget

      Budget: Less than CUC$80

      A Casas particulares: CUC$25–45

      A Government-run restaurants: CUC$10–15

      A Cheap museum entry: CUC$1–5

      Midrange: CUC$80–170

      A Midrange hotels: CUC$50–120

      A Meals in private restaurants: CUC$15–25

      A Drink in bars: mojito CUC$3

      Top End: More than CUC$170

      A Historic hotel: CUC$200–325

      A City taxis: CUC$5–10

      A Evening cabaret: CUC$35–75

      Useful Websites

      Lahabana.com (www.lahabana.com) Indexed information on Havana's sights in English, plus a monthly what's-on guide.

      Cuba Casas (www.cubacasas.net) Hugely comprehensive listings and reviews of Havana's casas particulares, along with lots of other useful Cuba information.

      Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/havana) Destination information, hotel bookings, traveller forum and more.

      Advance Planning

      Three months before Check visa requirements (especially if you're American), plan a general itinerary, book flights.

      One month before Book hotels and casas particulares. Check with your bank to see if your ATM cards will work. Check the

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