Top 5 Things to do in Havana

Havana is an amazing city. There's so much variety and life within the walls that it can feel overwhelming, and it would take several weeks' solid exploration to get a real feel for everything. Unfortunately, not all of us can take that much time in a Havana hotel, meaning we have to narrow it down to the very best. Here is our list of the top 5 things to do in Havana.

If you want to see one thing that encompasses the whole Havana holiday experience, then the Plaza de la Revolucion is most definitely it. Combining novel architecture with a sense of history and a splendid atmosphere, the area is a must see. The Jose Marti 138 foot memorial tower dominates the square, and visitors can ride a lift to the top for a stunning view of the city, so don't leave your camera in your Havana hotel! Behind the memorial are the political offices - for years, the workplace of Fidel Castro himself, and opposite that is the iconic image of revolutionary Che Guevara which makes the Ministry of the Interior's building. If you're looking for things to do in Havana, this historical site is a great place to start.

Cuban cigars are the product that's virtually synonymous with the island, and it goes without saying that most Havana holiday makers will leave with a case or two, but have you ever wondered how they're produced? The tours of the capital's cigar factories make for interesting things to do in Havana, showcasing every part of the process. The tour will give you an insight into how the luxury items are hand rolled, and even allows you to see the old tradition of the reader - someone hired to entertain the workers by reading the day's news from the newspaper. There are three main factories in Havana, and all of them offer tours and the chance to buy cigars afterwards: Partagas, La Corona and Romeo y Julieta.

With so many of the things to do in Havana centring around Cuba's revolutionary past, it's quite refreshing to find a building that not only acknowledges a ``time before'' but is actually from that time itself! Built in 1791, the Museo de la Ciudad houses treasures from the city's foundation to the present day. As well as housing a sizeable collection from the war for independence, the museum includes a wide selection of the island's folklore, furniture, paintings, porcelain and art. Cultural tourists looking for things to do in Havana should definitely drop by this museum.

You may wonder if you've crossed the water between Cuba and the USA when you spy the Capitolio Nacional for the first time. Although it bears an eerie resemblance the US Capitol building in Washington, the structure is now home to the National Library and Academy of Sciences. Directly underneath the imposing dome, an imitation 24 carat diamond is set into the floor which shows the distances between Havana and the island's other main cities.

You may think the Museo de la Revolucion's building is a little glamorous for a simple museum, and you'd be right - except it was fittingly the Presidential Palace from the administration ousted in the revolution! Inside this amazing building are interesting pieces, photographs and documents of the Cuban revolution, but it's not just limited to within the museum! Out the front, you will find the tank that Castro drove during the Bay of Pigs battle, and behind is the yacht that brought him and Che Guevara to Cuba from Mexico in 1956. A must see for any history buffs on a Havana holiday!