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Havana architecture

Havana is one of the most architecturally preserved cities in the Caribbean — its Old Havana (La Habana Vieja), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains one of the largest concentrations of Spanish colonial architecture in the Americas. The city is famous for its fleet of colorfully restored 1950s American cars, called 'almendrones,' which serve as shared taxis and have become an iconic symbol of Cuba. Havana was the birthplace of the son and mambo musical traditions that evolved into salsa, and live music spills from every doorway in the evenings.

  • 5Landmarks
  • 1519Oldest · Old Havana
  • 92 mTallest · El Capitolio
  • 6Architects

Before you go

  • Fly intoJosé Martí International Airport (HAV)

    José Martí International Airport is named after Cuba's national hero and independence poet. It has four terminals serving different types of traffic, with Terminal 3 handling most international arrivals. The airport is located about 18km southwest of the city center. Given Cuba's unique relationship with the United States — and restricted American travel to the island — the airport sees a distinctive mix of passengers from Latin America, Canada, Europe, and increasingly from the United States.

  • CurrencyCuban Peso (₱)
  • LanguageSpanish

    Cuban Spanish has a distinctive and musical character — fast-paced, with a tendency to drop the final 's' from words and merge syllables. It is heavily influenced by African languages brought by enslaved people, which have shaped Cuban music, religion (Santería), and everyday vocabulary in ways unique in the Spanish-speaking world. Habaneros (Havana residents) are warm, expressive, and intensely proud of their city's culture, and conversation is an art form here.

  • Getting aroundAlmendrones & Coco Taxis

    Havana's most distinctive transport is the almendrón — vintage 1950s American cars in pastel colors that serve as shared taxis along fixed routes, carrying up to five passengers. Coco taxis, shaped like yellow coconuts on three wheels, are a popular tourist option for short trips. Bicitaxis (bicycle rickshaws) navigate the narrow streets of Old Havana. The Habana Bus Tour, a hop-on hop-off double-decker, connects the main tourist sites. Standard yellow metered taxis are available for point-to-point travel.

5 landmarks in Havana

  1. Old Havana
    Photo: Brian Snelson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Old Havana

    La Habana Vieja, Havana, Cuba

    A UNESCO World Heritage Site of colonial plazas, Baroque churches, and pastel-coloured arcaded streets, founded by the Spanish in 1519 and one of the best-preserved historic centres in the Americas.

    Built
    1519
    Architect
    Spanish colonial architects
    Style
    Spanish colonial / Baroque
    Stories
    3
    Today
    Historic district / tourist area
  2. El Capitolio
    Photo: Nigel Pacquette, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    El Capitolio

    Paseo del Prado, La Habana Vieja, Havana, Cuba

    Cuba's most iconic building, a Neoclassical capitol modelled after the US Capitol with a dome slightly taller than Washington's, now restored to its 1929 grandeur and serving as the Cuban Academy of Sciences.

    Built
    1929
    Architect
    Raúl Otero
    Style
    Neoclassical / Beaux-Arts
    Height
    92 m (301 ft)
    Stories
    3
    Today
    Academy of Sciences / National Assembly
  3. Malecón (Havana)
    Photo: Lukas Mathis, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Malecón (Havana)

    Malecón, Havana, Cuba

    Havana's iconic 8 km seafront esplanade along the Straits of Florida, where locals gather at sunset — the city's living room, a stage for romance, music, and fishing.

    Built
    1901
    Architect
    N/A (urban promenade)
    Style
    Eclectic / Art Deco facades
    Stories
    1
    Today
    Public promenade
  4. Morro Castle
    Photo: National Photo Company Collection, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Morro Castle

    Carretera de la Cabaña, Havana, Cuba

    A 16th-century Spanish fortress guarding the entrance to Havana harbour, famous for its lighthouse and the nightly Cañonazo cannon ceremony fired at 9pm.

    Built
    1589
    Architect
    Juan de Tejeda, Cristóbal de Roda
    Style
    Spanish colonial military
    Height
    34 m (112 ft)
    Stories
    3
    Today
    Museum / monument
  5. Museum of the Revolution (Cuba)
    Photo: Paul Mannix, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Museum of the Revolution (Cuba)

    Calle Refugio 1, Havana, Cuba

    Cuba's most important historical museum, housed in the former Presidential Palace of Cuban presidents before the revolution, featuring the Granma yacht used by Fidel Castro to land in Cuba in 1956.

    Built
    1920
    Architect
    Paul Belau, Carlos Maruri
    Style
    Baroque Revival
    Height
    18 m (59 ft)
    Stories
    3
    Today
    Museum

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