{"id":27055,"date":"2018-06-01T01:00:10","date_gmt":"2018-05-31T15:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?p=27055"},"modified":"2025-03-18T03:32:53","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T16:32:53","slug":"places-to-visit-in-cuba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-visit-in-cuba\/","title":{"rendered":"6 essential spots you don’t want to miss in Cuba"},"content":{"rendered":"

From vintage cars to hand-rolled cigars, Cuba is a country with as many icons as it has gems to explore. Unfortunately, it\u2019s also a country that\u2019s often misunderstood. Many travelers don\u2019t get the chance to delve into the real Cuba. <\/strong><\/p>\n

But upon visiting Cuba<\/a> with Intrepid, I feel like I was able to really discover its magic for myself. To meet the people, to experience the culture, to see why it’s so unlike anywhere else. And so I\u2019ve put together this handy guide to the top places to visit there so you can get a snapshot of Cuban life and a feel for what the country is really like.<\/p>\n

1. Havana<\/h2>\n

\"placesNaturally, Havana is on any list of must-sees in Cuba. With a number of flights from hub cities (including some from the US now) flying directly there, it\u2019s easier than ever to visit Cuba\u2019s capital. Perhaps best known for its charming \u201cstuck in time\u201d feel, Havana is at once surprising and familiar. The streets of Old Havana are filled with 16th-century-style buildings and vintage American cars.<\/p>\n

While you\u2019re here, you can\u2019t miss a walk along the malecon (sea wall), a visit to the Museum of the Revolution, and a stroll past \u2013 or a mojito in \u2013 the bars that Ernest Hemingway used to frequent, La Floridita and la Bodeguita del Medio.<\/p>\n

2. Las Terrazas<\/h2>\n
\"

The community of Las Terrazas<\/p><\/div>\n

Get out of the city and into nature in Las Terrazas. This small community and nature reserve is located about an hour south of Havana. It covers over 5000 ha of reforested land planted on terraced hills (hence the name) and has been a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1984. The community itself is made up of about 1,000 inhabitants who are farmers, artists, musicians, guesthouse owners and more.<\/p>\n

Even amidst dogs yapping and roosters crowing, there is a sense of peace as people go about their days here. The area is open to tourism and has hiking trails that lead to peaceful swimming holes, restaurants, a restored coffee plantation and a zip-line that stretches over the community itself.<\/p>\n

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR TRAVEL INSPO, GIVEAWAYS, COMPETITIONS & MORE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

3. Vinales<\/h2>\n
\"places

An Intrepid traveler enjoying the view in Vinales<\/p><\/div>\n

The town of Vinales is a can\u2019t-miss spot for culture in Cuba. Although it has become more touristy in recent years, its old-world charm remains. The landscapes of Vinales are picturesque to say the least: from the rounded limestone karsts, to the fields of tobacco plants, to the streets lined with brightly-colored houses, point and shoot in pretty much any direction, and you\u2019ll get a fabulous photo.<\/p>\n

While you\u2019re here, you must try a freshly-rolled cigar \u2013 even for non-smokers like me, it was a cool and uniquely Cuban experience (read more about it here<\/a><\/strong>). Other things do in Vinales include cycling through the beautiful hills, taking a salsa class or simply sitting and watching life (and horse-drawn carts) go by.<\/p>\n

RELATED READ: WHY YOU CANNOT HELP BUT FALL FOR VINALES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

4. Playa Giron (Bay of Pigs)<\/h2>\n
\"places

The plane outside Museo Giron<\/p><\/div>\n

Playa Giron is a beach and town on the east side of the Bay of Pigs, notorious for being the site where the landing of U.S. sponsored counter-revolutionary exile militia occurred in 1961. Its main attraction is the Museo Giron where you can see tanks, planes and other artifacts from the conflict and learn more about the Bay of Pigs invasion.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re into marine life, check out the diving and snorkeling while you\u2019re here as well. There are good dive spots off the coast and sunken cenotes full of tropical fish.<\/p>\n

CHECK OUT INTREPID’S RANGE OF SMALL GROUP ADVENTURES IN CUBA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

5. Cienfuegos<\/h2>\n
\"places

My Intrepid group exploring Cienfuegos<\/p><\/div>\n

Cienfuegos was my Intrepid group\u2019s favorite spot on our tour<\/strong>. It helped that we had amazing, sunny weather the day we visited, but rain or shine, you\u2019re sure to be taken in by this southern city\u2019s charm. Settled by the French in 1819, Cienfuegos\u2019s architecture still reflects this today.<\/p>\n

Be sure to go for a stroll down its wide streets, visit the Plaza de Armas to see the monument to Cuba\u2019s national hero, Jose Marti, admire the art galleries all around it, and people watch on Paseo del Prado, the longest boulevard in Cuba. For sweeping views of the sea and the city, I recommend hiking up to the top of a tall building or enjoying a drink on a rooftop patio.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: WHAT IT’S LIKE ON A CUBA TOUR (FROM SOMEONE WHO’D ONLY BEEN TO ALL-INCLUSIVES THERE)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

6. Trinidad<\/h2>\n
\"places<\/a>

Trinidad from above<\/p><\/div>\n

If I had to narrow this list down to one place you absolutely must visit in Cuba, it\u2019s Trinidad. It\u2019s got a little bit of everything: culture, nightlife, beaches and more. It\u2019s one of Cuba\u2019s best-preserved towns and everywhere you look, you\u2019ll see charming cobblestone streets lined with pastel-hued houses. Pay a visit to one of the many museums or take a day trip to the white-sand beach of Playa Ancon or Topes de Collantes, a national park with great hiking. There are some truly beautiful beaches in Cuba<\/a>, not to be missed.<\/p>\n

After a day of sightseeing, the best way to cap off your visit is with a night on the town. Head to the Casa de la Musica \u2013 an open-air bar in the middle of town. They have a live salsa band every night, so you can watch the locals jive while sipping a chilled Bucanero beer or a freshly muddled mojito.<\/p>\n

RELATED READ: HAVANA WHO? WHY TRINIDAD IS CUBA’S REAL STAR<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Feeling inspired to visit these incredible places for yourself?<\/strong> Check out all our Cuba trips.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

(Image credits from top to bottom: Intrepid Travel x2, Rebecca Shapiro, Intrepid Travel, Shayna Zand, Christina Campo, Intrepid Travel)\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From vintage cars to hand-rolled cigars, Cuba is a country with many facets to explore. Unfortunately, it also means it\u2019s often a country that\u2019s often misunderstood. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16004,"featured_media":27352,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1313],"tags":[275,79,641,978,253,1173],"class_list":["post-27055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","tag-central-america","tag-cuba","tag-guide","tag-havana","tag-travel","tag-trinidad","ipf_region-cuba"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPlaces to Visit in Cuba: The Top 6 Must-See Spots | Intrepid Travel Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From vintage cars to hand-rolled cigars, Cuba is a country with many facets to explore. 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