El Malécon, Havana

A five-mile (8km) esplanade, roadway and seawall, running between the harbour in Old Havana and the historically Russian area of Vedado, El Malécon is the perfect place to start your Havana adventure. The two-hour walk, described by many as a cross-section of Cuba's history, begins in Habana Vieja - where the buildings have had their famous pastel colours faded by the sun and the salty sea-wind - and goes past various monuments to significant figures in Cuba's struggle history (including Máximo Gomez and Calixto García), before ending up in the area of Verdado, a funky downtown district with great sights and vibrant nightlife. Celebrated by locals and tourists alike as the best way to gain an insight into the soul of Havana, travellers are strongly advised to begin their Cuban holiday with a walk along El Malécon.

Bay of Pigs Musuem, Havana

In April 1961, the United States (under the auspices of the CIA) launched an attack on Fidel Castro's government, attempting to overthrow it by securing the beach-head at Playa Gíron. The 'Bay of Pigs' invasion, as it has come to be known, was a humiliating failure for the US, only serving to strengthen the Cuban people's support of Castro. Today, the fascinating Bay of Pigs Museum (Muséo Playa Gíron) stands as a proud, and exhaustive record of the Cuban force's victory. Visitors can view maps and displays detailing the course of events as they transpired, as well as actual planes flown by the Cuban army during the siege, fragments of shot-down enemy planes, tanks, mortars and machine guns used in the battle, and much more. There is also a touching exhibition of photographs and biographies of the 156 Cuban soldiers that were killed during the invasion. Anyone with even a passing interest in modern history - or how US foreign policy has shaped the world in which we live - will find the Bay of Pigs Museum utterly enthralling. Budget at least two hours to take it all in.

Getting There:
Two daily buses connect Playa Gíron to Havana (4 hours) and Cienfuegos (2 hours)

Opening Times:
Open daily, from 9am to 5pm

Admission:
CUC$2

Cámara Oscura, Havana

Offering spectacular 360-degree views over the city of Havana from a telescopic lens located atop a 115-foot (35m) tall tower, the Cámara Oscura is a great place to take the kids. There is even a 10-minute virtual tour in both English and Spanish, taking visitors through the city's attractions and architectural highlights.

Getting There:
Nearest train station: Estación Central de Ferrocarriles

Opening Times:
Open Tuesday to Saturday, from 9am to 5pm, and on Sundays from 9am to 1pm

Admission:
CUC$2

Ernest Hemingway Museum, Havana

Ernest Hemingway may be an American by birth, but Cubans have adopted him as their own - especially in Havana, where you'll find memorials to his apartments, regular haunts, and even favourite drink. Finca Vigia, his home just outside Havana, has been restored and now functions as a museum to the famous author. The residence is kept as it was when he lived there, writing works like For Whom the Bell Tollsand The Old Man and the Sea, and visitors can see his typewriter and library of over 8,000 books.

Getting There:
Bus P7 from Parque Fraternidad, and P2 from Línea y G, Vedado

Opening Times:
Open on Monday from 9am to 4pm, and on Wednesday to Sunday from 9am to 12:30pm. Closed on Tuesdays

Admission:
CUC$3

Plaza de la Revolución, Havana

Dominated by the imposing José Martí Memorial, the gigantic square has seen numerous political rallies, and the podium in front of the memorial is where important political figures like Fidel Castro have addressed more than a million Cubans on important occasions, such as 1 May and 26 July each year. At the foot of the memorial is a museum dedicated to José Martí, a national hero who would most likely have become Cuba's first president had he survived the Second War of Independence in 1895. It is possible to take the elevator to the top of the 138ft (42m) memorial, the highest structure in the city. Located behind the memorial are the closely guarded offices of Castro. Opposite the memorial, on the far side of the square, is the much-photographed Che Guevara image with the slogan Hasta la Victoria Siempre(Forever Onwards Towards Victory), that identifies the Ministry of the Interior building.

Opening Times:
Memorial: Monday to Saturday, from 9.30am to 5pm

Admission:
Memorial: CUC$5

Cigar Factories, Havana

Even non-smokers have to agree that a visit to Cuba would not be complete without investigating the island's most famous export, cigars. The art of cigar-making in Cuba is old and traditional, and three main factories in Havana offer tours for visitors to see cigars still rolled by hand. In the oldest factory, Partagas, founded in 1827, traditionally a reader is employed to keep workers entertained while they fashion the famous cigars. Havana's other cigar factories are La Corona and the lesser-visited Romeo y Julieta. There are shops attached to the factories where cigars can be purchased. Visitors are advised not to buy cigars from people off the street, as these are usually rolled banana leaves fashioned into cigar look-alikes and the sellers are persistent hustlers.

Opening Times:
Partagas Factory tours operate Monday to Friday, from 9am to 2pm

Admission:
CUC$10

Acuario Nacional, Havana

This aquarium, located in Habana Vieja, features eight tanks displaying some truly beautiful freshwater fish, along with coral and other tropical species. Children will love the aquarium and will enjoy watching the dolphins, sea lions and seals, while parents can enjoy lunch in the aquarium's underwater restaurant. The subject of a recent renovation, the Acuario Nacional now also boasts a spellbinding display of brightly coloured saltwater fish. Consistently voted one of Havana's top tourist attractions for kids.

Opening Times:
Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 6pm

Admission:
CUC$7 (adults), CUC$3 (students and children under 12)

Museo de la Ciudad (Museum of the City), Havana

Built in 1791, the stately Baroque residence of Cuba's colonial governors and former Presidential Palace, the Palace of the Captains General stands as an impressive sight on the Plaza de Armas and is now the repository for the city's museum collections. The museum's displays and exhibits tell the tale of Havana, from its founding to the present day, including rooms devoted to the Cuban wars for national independence. The colourful Hall of Flags contains the original Cuban flag, as well as a number of others used by the Spanish colonial government. There are also exhibits relating to archaeology, folklore and weaponry, and an art collection that includes porcelain, paintings and furniture of historic value and great beauty.

Getting There:
TurBus to Playas del Este

Opening Times:
Open daily, from 9am to 6pm

Admission:
CUC$3 (excluding historical room sets); CUC$4 (including a guide and all exhibition areas). Cameras: CUC$2

Playas del Este, Havana

Twenty-five minutes east of Havana are the Playas del Este, a chain of sandy beaches stretching for six miles (10km) between Bacuranao and Guanabo. On the weekends, they are generally packed with Cubans escaping the city. There are a few tourist hotels lining the coast, but other than that, there are limited facilities. If needing an escape from the city the beaches make a good day trip; however, those expecting pristine tropical island beaches might be disappointed.

Capitolio Nacional, Havana

One of Havana's grandest pieces of architecture, the Capitolio is an important landmark and one of Centro Habana's major touristic sights. Resembling the US Capitol in Washington, DC, the monumental stone stairway leads to the vast domed hall, from where tours will take visitors beyond the doors to elaborately decorated chambers that once housed the seat of Cuban Congress. Today, it is home to the National Library and Academy of Sciences, and many of its rooms are still used for state events. Directly beneath the dome lies an imitation 24-carat diamond set into the marble floor, from where all highway distances between Havana and all sites in Cuba are measured.

Opening Times:
Open daily, from 9am to 6pm

Admission:
Admission is CUC$3; A guided tour costs CUC$4

Montemar Natural Park, Havana

Cuba is developing its eco-tourism potential, and one of the prime spots for getting back to nature is at the Montemar Natural Park on the Zapata Peninsula in the province of Matanzas (about 75 miles or 120km from Havana). The peninsula is one of the largest swamps in the Caribbean, and its vast area includes forests, marshes, crystal-clear lagoons and canals. Its exuberant flora, including more than 900 species of plants (115 of them endemic to Cuba) is complemented by its rich fauna, consisting of 160 bird species and 12 types of animal, including crocodiles. One of the park's many features is the Laguna del Tesoro (Treasure Lagoon), a fresh water reservoir inhabited by golden trout. In the midst of the lagoon is a reproduction Taino village with its houses built on pillars. There are nature trails, a bird watching centre, and the largest flooded cave in Cuba. There is also a scuba centre, crocodile farm and several restaurants.

Museo de la Revolución, Havana

Formerly the Presidential Palace and headquarters of the Cuban government, the impressive building now houses documents, photographs and artefacts pertaining to the Cuban Revolution, and provides an excellent introduction to, and understanding of, Cuba's history and its struggle for independence. Prepare to spend a few hours wandering from room to room as the story unfolds, from Spanish colonial times to the present day. In front of the museum entrance stands a watchtower that was part of the old city walls, as well as a tank used by Fidel Castro during the battle of the Bay of Pigs in 1961. Behind the museum is the glass-encased yacht, the 'Granma', which brought 82 revolutionaries, including Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, from Mexico to set the 1956 Revolution in motion.

Opening Times:
Open daily, from 10am to 5pm

Admission:
US$4 (adult), US$2 (student), Free for children under 12

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana

The modern Bellas Artes Museum is split into two buildings housing International and Cuban art. The Colección de Arte Universal covers everything from ancient Greek artefacts and Latin American pieces to art by French, Dutch and Italian painters. The Colección de Arte Cubano is also outstanding and covers works from the 16th to the 20th centuries by prominent Cuban artists.

Opening Times:
Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 6pm; Sunday 10am to 2pm.

Admission:
CUC$5 (adults), Free for children under 14

Varadero Beach, Havana

With 22 miles (36km) of sandy, white, palm-fringed beach, Varadero Beach has often been referred to as one of the world's most beautiful beaches. With some of the most amazing diving, fishing and snorkelling opportunities, children splashing around in the crystalline turquoise waters will even be able to spot some fantastic fish with the naked eye. Glass-bottom boat companies abound here, too. Varadero Beach is a wonderful place to spend the day, and an absolute must-visit while in Cuba.

Habana Vieja (Old Havana), Havana

This historic section of Cuba's capital was founded in 1519, and for centuries, was an important naval port of colonial Spain. Being in such a strategic position, the city was targeted by pirates and fought over on numerous occasions, and the ruins of the defensive walls that surrounded the city can still be seen. The Old City now also contains museums, hotels, restaurants and shops lining the original cobble-stoned streets. Surrounding the picturesque squares (plazas) are beautiful restored colonial buildings with grand facades, and striking churches that form a magnificent setting for the late afternoon chess and domino games and salsa music. Plaza de Armas was the seat of power in Cuba for 400 years, from where the Spanish Captain's General, US military governors and Cuban president were based, and today is home to an interesting book market. During the years of Prohibition in the United States, Habana Vieja turned into a playground for Americans who flocked here for the cheap liquor, gambling, prostitution and flamboyant lifestyle. One of the district's most famous bars is La Bodeguita Del Medio, which was the favoured haunt of legendary US writer, Ernest Hemingway.