In which quarter house in Havana?

An imminent stay in Cuba and you ask about housing? Discover our guide to the best areas to sleep in Havana!

The largest city in the Caribbean and the economic centre of the island of Cuba, Havana is also the political and cultural capital. With more than 2.5 million inhabitants and nearly 4 million inhabitants throughout the urban area, the city covers an area of 720 km2. Because of the Castrist regime and diplomatic and economic conflicts that divide Westerners over Cuba – and Havana – for half a century, the island and its symbols seduce, fascinate or revulse. Since the Cuban Revolution of 1959 – led by E. Che Guevara and F. Castro – and the burden of economic sanctions decided by Washington, which has been suffocating the island since the 1960s, Cuba is indeed one of the few countries where the visitor would almost feel to return 50 years in the past. But Cuba is also a warm and humid tropical climate, an island lined with paradise beaches and an incredibly rich historical and cultural heritage.

The people of Havana are known to be warm and welcoming, multi-coloured homes, and friendly neighborhoods. Here's where to sleep in Havana during your stay.

Centro Habana

The historic centre, on the edge of the Capitolio , is the old town of Havana, classified as a UNESCO heritage since 1982. It is located west of the port. Founded in 1519 by the Spanish conquistadors who created the New World, it is indeed 500 years of History that reveal themselves under the curious eye of the visitor. While dictator Batista was planning to shave historic buildings to widen the streets, the regime of F. Castro avoided the demolition of the tourist heart of the capital. As a result, the old town of Havana remains the best preserved colonial city in the Americas.

In the vicinity, enjoy visiting the Museum of the Revolution, the Place de la Cathédrale, the Place des Armes, and do not miss the promenade of the Prado – el Paseo de Marti – : a very frequent pedestrian boulevard of Cubans, where many artists come to store their creations. Dude Central Parque at Malecón , from the Park Luz Caballero , Plaza de San Francisco , you will be in a central position to stay in Havana and discover all the charms of Cuba, the evocative name of the streets – S. Allende Street, S. Bolivar Street, Revolution Square, etc. – to the picturesque architecture of the buildings. Accommodation in the old town allows to sleep in an open-air museum.

Vedado

A commercial and residential area of Havana, the Vedado district is the one with the majority of the restaurants and exit locations in the city. It is also the most pro-American neighbourhood in the city: there is a more North American architecture – despite the deep political differences between the United States and Cuba – such as the López Serrano building. The neighborhood is a place of nightlife where people come party in bars and restaurants. The Place de la Révolution with the Memorial in José Martí, the Napoleonic Museum, the University of Havana and the Necropolis of Christopher Columbus, are among the unmissable in the neighborhood. Vedado offers a central and ideal location to stay in Havana and appreciate the many contrasts of this city.

Main photo credit: Flickr – Andrzej Wrotek