6 Best Places to Visit in Northern Cuba

Are you going to the Caribbean to visit Cuba and wondering what are the best places to visit in Cuba? If you are planning to arrive in the capital of Havana, then we recommend that you only check out the Northern part of Cuba. Due to the size of the island, you would have to rush to see all the interesting places. Our journey around the Northern part of Cuba took us two weeks, but it was a quiet holiday with everything we wanted. Are you wondering what to do in Cuba?

1. Visit Havana – a city full of history and contrasts

During your visit to Cuba, you cannot miss Havana – the capital of the whole island, for which you should save more than a day. Havana used to have a very important strategic location in the past. The city was founded in the 16th century by the Spanish conquerors, and most of the conquest went throughout the Caribbean from this place. Havana has become a city of typical Spanish colonial architecture, so it is no wonder that its city centre is listed on UNESCO.

The capital city of Havana is full of historic buildings

Among the best things to do in Havana is a pink vintage cabriolet ride. At each corner in Havana Vieja, you will get a driver/guide who will take you to Havana to show you the most interesting places. They will take you around Havana and show you the most interesting places. The omnipresent odour of gasoline accompanies you around the famous sights such as Plaza de la Vieja, Plaza de la Revolucion, El Capitolio, Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña and El Cristo de La Habana, with a magnificent view of the city. Don´t forget to visit San Francisco de Asís Square. Check out other activities you can do in Havana.

View of the Cuban capital – Havana

In the evening, you should check out the “Hemingway’s Bar” – La Bodeguita del Medio. The American writer spent 20 years in Cuba and a very luxurious business has become from a common bar where he liked to go to. When you travel around Havana, don´t miss the interesting museums, such as the rum museum – Havana Club, where you will be introduced to the entire production process of the most famous Cuban rum. Also, worth mentioning is the Museum of Revolution, which is in the building of the former presidential palace. Here you can see how the Revolution in Cuba has been going on from the point of view of the revolutionaries themselves, and visitors are also allowed to investigate the imperialist office of former President Batista, whom the revolutionists literally drove out of there. Check out all the practical information you need to know about travelling around Cuba.

In Havana, we stayed in Airbnb (use travel credit for Airbnb) or you can find Havana hotels and B&B on Booking.

The city of Havana is full of veteran cars

2. The enchanting valley of Viñales

When you visit Viñales on your own, you will understand why this beautiful valley is listed on the UNESCO. The landscape is dominated by so-called mogots, which are limestone rock formations covered with dense vegetation. In some of them, there are caves that form an extensive cave system. Viñales is a very lush area, where tobacco, coffee and other tropical crops are grown. If you are going to visit the tobacco plantation, you won´t find a better place. The area is also unique in how farmers manage the landscape. The original way of working has not changed for centuries, so the Parque National Viñales remains a truly authentic trip to the past where you can see how farmers are cultivating fields with cattle.

The area of Viñales is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

What to do and see in Viñales Valley? The area offers a huge number of activities. A popular sightseeing tour is the Cueva del Indio stalactite cave, where you can ride a boat through the underground river that runs through the caves. A great way to get there is by bike that you can rent almost anywhere. If you want to admire Viñales, there is no better way than to book a horse ride that you can combine with seeing a farm. There is no more beautiful view of the country than from the saddle of the horse’s back. If you travel around Cuba, you shouldn’t miss the Viñales valley.

The bike is one of Cuba’s favorite means of transport

A very controversial painting was created in the 1960s on the rocky wall of Mount Mogote Dos Hermanas. The colour scene is to illustrate the evolution of life on earth from the Prussian to the present. The painting, stretching across the rocks, was created at the request of Fidel Castro himself and is now a frequent subject of speculation.

In Viñales we stayed in  La CabaNa El Rubio or you can find some hotels and B&B on Booking.

3. Bay of Pigs – the Beautiful underwater world

Another popular destination for visitors on Cuba is the famous Bay of Pigs. History reminds us of the unsuccessful operation of Cuban exiles who attacked Cuba in 1961. The United States considered another try to assassinate Fidel, but eventually, the idea of landing Cuban emigrants in Bay of Pigs won and eventually it would become the whole-Cuban uprising against the Castro regime. The clash lasted for about three days when Castro himself was at the head of the Cuban units. The planned activities under the auspices of the American CIA eventually ended in a catastrophe, and Castro’s power was even stronger.

Cuban beaches are among the most beautiful in the Caribbean

At the local Playa Girón Museum, you can recall the entire event at Bay of Pigs, including a short documentary film. You should know that the entire exhibition in the museum is somewhat controversial, like all the museums in Cuba, and that is why it deserves attention.

Do not forget to visit the Playa Girón Museum

Although Bay of Pigs is known for its history, it is now widely frequented by diving lovers. This area of Cuba is famous for its rich underwater caves, and there are dozens of them but also for breath-taking underwater life. One can admire that a few meters from the shore already. If you love scuba diving or just snorkelling, you won´t be disappointed. A huge flock of colourful fish, a beautiful underwater seafloor full of coral that inhabits a variety of animals, can be found in Playa Larga and Playa Giron.

In Bay of Pigs, we stayed in Hostal Aida y Miquel.

4. Trinidad – a sugar town with plantations

Other best places what to do and visit in Cuba include Trinidad. It is one of the most beautiful towns with a well-preserved colonial architecture in Cuba. It is no wonder, therefore, that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city was founded in 1514 by the Spanish colonizers and quickly became rich. Thanks to the extensive sugar cane plantations located around the city, Trinidad became the most important sugar city in Cuba. The historic centre has been preserved in a very good condition, the most visited is the famous Plaza Mayor, which offers a perfect example of colonial architecture. The centre is filled with plenty of intricate mediaeval streets that still retain its original form.

The small town of Trinidad has an amazing medieval atmosphere

When you are planning what to do in Cuba, don´t miss places around Trinidad. Take a tour of the sugar factories and the former sugar plantations located close to the city. It is worth mentioning the visit of the Valle de Los Ingenios, which also belongs under UNESCO and is located east of Trinidad. This Sugar Valley offers a tour of the former sugar factories, plantations, and the wealthy Iznaga family. There was a great hacienda, where the family used to spend a lot of time and now it is used as a restaurant. Near the hacienda, the Torre de Iznaga Tower, which is 44 meters high, has a magnificent view of the countryside. This tower served as a watchtower to control the work of slaves on the plantations.

From this tower it was controlled the work of slaves in the plantations

Plaza Mayor also houses the most important museums and galleries, such as the Museum of Architecture or the Romantico Museum. It is in a building called Palacio Brunet, which was a very palatial palace of the eighteenth century in which the Cuban elite lived. In the eighteenth century, sugar barons literally exaggerated in their wealth, so the palace is full of expensive pieces of furniture, porcelain, artwork and other rare objects.

The town of Trinidad is popular with every visitor

Trinidad has retained its medieval beauty to this day. At the end of the 19th century, the boom of the whole city began to decline, and its significance began to be slowly extinguished. The reason was the beginning of beetroot growing in Europe, which has reduced the demand for cane sugar. Thanks to this, the city survived without any significant changes until today.

In Trinidad, we stayed in Hostal Gregorio or you can find Trinidad hotels and B&B on Booking.

5. Cienfuegos – city in neoclassical style

At the beginning of the 19th century, when the importance of the city of Trinidad began to fade, the main attention was transferred to Cienfuegos. The dominant feature was the port, which was of great importance for its strategic position in its time. The city was founded by French settlers, so most of the streets have French names. The streets are wide, the city is full of promenades, parks and beautiful monuments in neoclassical style. That is why the whole historical centre is listed on UNESCO.

The city of Cienfuegos is much more modern

The beautiful Parque José Martí square, which is surrounded by beautiful historic buildings in a quite good condition, is worth visiting. Don’t forget to visit the house of wealthy Baron Pallacio Ferrer, whose dominant feature is a small turret at the top of the building. There is a beautiful view of the entire city centre of Cienfuegos. Another interesting stop should point you towards Castillo de Jagua fortress, built to protect the city against pirates.

In Cienfuegos, we stayed in Hostal Amanecer or you can find Cienfuegos hotels and B&B on Booking.

The oldest buildings of Cienfuegos are built in neo-classical style

6. Varadero – beautiful Caribbean beaches

If you are curious about what to do and visit in Cuba, besides visiting historic towns, then head to the Varadero peninsula. Here you can find exactly what most tourists travel to Cuba for – typical Caribbean beaches with white sand and azure sea. Varadero is located not far from Havana and is one of Cuba’s largest beach resorts. If you look at Varadero from the height, you will find out that the peninsula has the shape of a very narrow noodle and at the widest point is less than 1.2 km. As Varadero is one of the most visited places in Cuba, there are many activities you can do.

If you don’t know which Carribien island has the nicest beaches you can compare Varadare with our photos from the Dominican Republic.

The beaches on the Varadero peninsula are the most beautiful in the Caribbean

The town was founded in 1887 when a few holiday homes were built here. Gradually, holidaymakers started to go for recreation and the place became an elite resort. For example, Al Capone spent a lot of time here. After the Cuban Revolution, all properties were confiscated, and the luxurious Cuban villas soon became museums. The 90s brought liberation, and with the collapse of the Soviet Union, large hotels for visitors were built here. Currently, the Varadero area boasts luxury resorts, which mainly belong to foreign companies. The area is so significant that an international airport was built here.

Varadero Peninsula is full of luxurious resorts offering the best service

In addition to beach recreation, the area also offers natural beauty and attractions such as caves, virgin bays and cultural towns. It would be a great pity to spend the whole Cuba holiday in one resort and to miss the opportunity to discover the beautiful cultural and natural monuments Cuba offers. Check out what you should know before going to Cuba.

Do you know other places to visit in Cuba? Let us know in comments.

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