Places to visit in Cuba

Don’t forget all the things Cuba is famous for when you are visiting – try to experience as many of them as possible. Top of our list are rum cocktails, Cuban cigars, salsa dances, jazz bars and fresh mint mojitos. Watch the Buena Vista Social Club (and possibly The Motorcycle Diaries) before you fly out, and take a look at some classic Cuban-oriented books as well – Graham Greene’s Our Man In Havana is a great one, as is almost anything by Ernest Hemmingway. The latter’s influence is everywhere (everyone will tell you he used to visit their town) but the El Bodegita del Media in Havana and the Villa Finca Vigia just outside are the most authentic spots.

For a change of scene think about a trip to Santiago de Cuba, the island’s second biggest city. It’s got a different vibe to Havana, with wilder nightlife and a lot more dancing. There’s a big Rio-style carnival in July and the city is proud of its reputation as ‘the cradle of the revolution’ so there are plenty of museums and exhibits where you can learn more about the island’s tortured recent history.