AN UNOFFICIAL WALKING TOUR OF OLD TOWN HAVANA
Old Town Havana is the best glimpse into the 1950s lifestyle that you’ll get while in Cuba. I remember we arrived on a Sunday morning and the streets were filled with people, and my first instinct was to question what the streets would look like on Monday, which I consider to be a workday. Much to my surprise, the number of people walking the streets didn’t diminish on Monday, in fact, people are constantly flooding the streets of Old Town Havana, which means that every corner you turn will come with a new, unexpected surprise.
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I’m a biiiiig breakfast girl. I can’t seem to effectively start my day without a cup of coffee and some breakfast that isn’t too astonishing to my stomach early in the morning. Therefore, I always look for a great breakfast place wherever I go – I know this might not be the most authentic experience, but it helps me start my day strong. If you’re like me, then start your day at El Café on Amargura. Walking there will give you a taste of Old Town and get you started for your daily adventure.
We’ll now spend some time walking east down Calle Obispo, which is a great walking street in the center of Habana Vieja (Old Havana). Below, you’ll see a stilts parade that we saw on the street, so just enjoy your time and check out the sites along the way.
Along Calle Obispo is Libreria Venecia; a bookstore in Old Town Havana and a great place to stop by to get your hands on some old books, posters, and other antique works that can’t be found anywhere else in Cuba. Also, understanding that freedom of speech has widely been banned in Cuba, it’s interesting to enter a bookshop selling works that had once been banned in that nation.
One mojito, two mojito, three mojito, floor! The best way to go about a walking tour of Havana is with a takeout mojito in hand, and El Floridita is a great place to get one. El Floridita was once frequented by Ernest Hemingway, and now you’ll see busloads of tourists embarking outside to get their own taste of the famous mojitos. Many other places in the city don’t sell a frozen mojito, so I opted for it here to spice things up.
Parque Central is the perfect starting point for any walking tour of Havana. As the name suggests, this is a central point in Havana and where you’ll see large government-owned hotels and 1950s convertibles lining the square. You may also get bombarded by large hoards of tourists or taxi drivers hoping to show you around, but I promise that Havana is tiny enough that a walking tour will do just fine. Be wary of purchasing from any of the government-owned hotels on the square, as spending money at some of them is off-limits to U.S. tourists.
One of the best parts of going to Cuba was getting to learn about, and witness, the history firsthand. As such, you have to be sure to check out Museo de la Revolución to learn more about Cuba’s history and the impact of communism on the nation today. The entry fee is limited and if you’re lucky like we were, you might stumble upon a live concert in the museum while you’re there.
It’s that time again! Now that you’ve seen a lot of Habana Vieja and have even learned a few things, it’s time for another mojito. La Bodeguita del Medio is the best place to get one, as you can see on the left, they make these mojitos in bulk and you can stand on the street and drink them while talking to all of the locals who will try and swindle you for cash.
Once you have your mojitos in hand, head over to Plaza de la Catedral to see and/or enter La Catedral de la Virgen María de la Concepción Inmaculada de La Habana (that was a mouthful). This baroque and asymmetrical façade (check out the two different sized bell towers) is also a wonderful place to see a birds-eye view of the city. You can pay to enter one of the bell towers for a small fee and see a new view of Havana.
Next, head across town to hit Perfumeria Habana 1791, a gorgeous perfume-making shop in the heart of Old Town. You can work with them to combine any scents you want into stunning glass bottles that look to be as old as the Chevy convertibles on the streets.
Plaza Vieja, the center of Habana Vieja, is the focal point of the old city and is akin to many plazas you’ll find across Europe. You can head to Café el Escorial in the southeast of Plaza Vieja for a nice afternoon coffee and people watching to close out your evening.
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ABOUT ME
Welcome! I’m Natasha, a 27-year-old living in Manhattan and constantly itching to get out. I created Exploring Elsewhere to inspire those like me, 20-something women with shallow pockets and too few vacation days, to take adventurous solo trips in far-off lands.