By Chris Leadbeater
The largest island in the Caribbean may have been left outside in the cold, politically speaking, for the last 50 years – but holidays in Cuba are very much a hot property. Classic cars, colonial architecture, rum cocktails, colossal cigars and blissful beaches – the postcard images keep piling up. And it all comes together in the island's capital, wonderful Havana.
High class history
Cuba holidays simply have to include time in Havana. Spending a day in this glorious city is like stepping back into a different century. Founded by the Spanish in 1519 and built with the wealth of their vast empire, the Cuban capital is an astonishing treasure trove of history – and a joy to explore. Key sights include the Morro Castle (which guards the entrance to Havana Bay), El Capitolio (the former parliament which, oddly, looks like the Capitol Building in Washington DC) and the Catedral de San Cristobal. The old town, La Habana Vieja, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and an inviting warren of narrow lanes. Make sure to visit the main streets, Obispo and O’Reilly, with their quaint cafes, and the picturesque tree-filled main square, the Plaza des Armas.
Viva La Revolucion
The Cuban Revolution of 1959, when Fidel Castro’s forces took over the country, continues define and shape life in Havana, and learning a little about it is a great way to get under the country’s skin. Gen up on the basics at the Museo de la Revolucion, a museum housed in the former presidential palace – you can still see bullet holes in the main marble staircase from the day it was stormed. Then take a trip to the enormous Plaza de la Revolucion, where Che Guevara’s famous image stares across the square.
Soak up the atmosphere
If all that history sounds like too much hard work, Havana is also a fine place to relax. You can enjoy the sea air while strolling along the Malecon, the wide boulevard that skirts the edge of the bay. You can unwind with a mojito at the rooftop bar of the Ambos Mundos, the Old Town hotel where legendary US writer Ernest Hemingway used to stay (Room 511 is preserved in his honour) – or at La Bodeguita del Medio, the cosy watering hole where he used to drink. Alternatively, catch another glimpse of pre-revolutionary Cuba courtesy of the flamboyant cabaret show at the Tropicana Club – or sample the local produce by taking a tour of a cigar or rum factory. Both the Partagas cigar factory and the Havana Club museum sit within sight of the Old Town.
Stay in style
Havana has a reputation for being a little tumble-down – but this is not reflected in its accommodation. There are several fine hotels, from the three-star Ambos Mundos, to the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, an elegant four-star, housed in a 1930s Art Deco building (where Frank Sinatra used to stay), and the swish Parque Central, with its rooftop pool.
Break for the beach
A Cuba holiday should also include lazy afternoons on the beach – after all, Cuba is a Caribbean island. Happily, Varadero, the main resort, lies 50 miles from Havana, and has many fine hotels – from the all-inclusive Blau Varadero to the five-star Paradisus Princesa Del Mar, a swish, adults-only enclave with spa. Race you to the sun-loungers.
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Chris Leadbeater is a freelance travel journalist. He writes regularly for the Daily Mail. His favourite destinations are Cuba, the USA and Paris.