What to see in Cuba: from ancient cities to natural wonders

Cuba is an island in the Caribbean and a unique place where culture, nature and history intertwine. Here you can relax on white-sand beaches and dive into the underwater world. It’s a pleasure to stroll through the narrow streets of ancient towns and sample traditional dishes. What else to do in Cuba? This question worries many travellers, because the choice is incredibly wide. In this article, we will answer it in detail.

Variety of entertainment on the island

The island attracts tourists with its exotic landscapes, warm ocean waters and rich heritage. Varadero is great for beach holidays. In Old Havana you can visit historical excursions. Active leisure lovers will enjoy diving, yachting and surfing. All this makes the trip bright and unforgettable.

Cuba’s beaches: where to find perfect sand and azure water

Golden sand and azure waters – the beaches here are known for being clean and exotic.

Cuba has over 200 beaches and each has its own unique atmosphere. The most popular ones are:

1. Varadero is Cuba’s main resort and offers a comfortable holiday environment. There are luxurious hotels, cosy restaurants and entertainment centres.
2. Playa Pilar is one of the most picturesque places on the island. The white sand, clear water and rich underwater world make it ideal for a secluded holiday.
3. Cayo Coco is a protected area with stunning nature. Here you can see pink flamingos, walk through mangrove forests and enjoy the silence.

For lovers of active holidays in Cuba, the beaches offer plenty of entertainment:

• Surfing – great waves at Playa Los Cocos and Playa Baracoa;
• Kitesurfing – popular spots in Cayo Guillermo and Punta Canaque;
• Diving – stunning underwater landscapes off the coast of Cayo Largo. Here you can see shipwrecks, caves and exotic marine life;
• Yachting – travelling along the coast of Cuba, exploring wild beaches and uninhabited islands.

The choice of beach depends on preference: a luxury hotel, diving by the reefs or surfing the ocean waves. Cuba offers a variety of holiday options, allowing you to enjoy the atmosphere and beautiful landscapes.

Cuba’s colonial architecture: a living legacy of the Spanish era

Cuba’s architecture is the epitome of Spanish influence. The buildings built in the XVI-XVIII centuries still preserve the atmosphere of those times. The island is rich not only in natural beauty, but also in architectural monuments. Many of them are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Old Havana is a true open-air museum. Narrow streets, old houses, balconies with wrought iron lattices and majestic cathedrals. The central square, surrounded by baroque buildings, looks as if time has stopped here. In Trinidad, it feels like time has stood still. The narrow streets are paved with stone and the houses are painted in soft pastel colours. You can smell the aroma of cane rum in the air.

Camagüey is known for its confusing layout. The city was built to confuse the pirates who frequently raided the area.

Each city in Cuba tells its own story, intertwining culture, revolution and the heritage of past centuries.

What to see in Cuba: top historical and natural sights

Cuba is not only about beaches, but also about its rich history, nature and revolutionary spirit. Among the must-see places to visit, stand out:

1. The Che Guevara Mausoleum is a memorial complex in Santa Clara where the remains of the revolutionary rest. Personal belongings and photographs are displayed here. The exhibition tells about his life and his role in the Cuban Revolution.
2. Bellamar Cave is Cuba’s oldest cave, more than 300,000 years old. Its galleries are decorated with giant stalactites, stalagmites and underground reservoirs with crystal clear water.
3. Humboldt National Park is a protected natural area with a unique natural environment. It is home to rare species of birds, amphibians and plants. Walks along the reserve’s routes allow you to see Cuba in all its natural beauty.
4. The Viñales Valley is a natural park where the best tobacco in Cuba is grown. Here you can visit the farms and learn about the cigar-making process. The surrounding area is impressive with picturesque limestone mountains covered with dense greenery. These landscapes create an unforgettable atmosphere.
5. Santiago de Cuba is a city rich in history and culture. It is worth visiting the Castillo del Morro fortress, checking out the museums and enjoying live Cuban music in the local clubs.

Cuban cuisine: what to try

Cuba’s culinary traditions are a fusion of Spanish, African and Caribbean traditions. The main ingredients are rice, beans, pork, seafood, tropical fruits and aromatic spices.

National dishes that are worth trying:

1. Ropa Vieja – beef stewed with vegetables and spices in a rich tomato sauce. It is Cuba’s most famous dish, served with rice or fried bananas.
2. Moros y Cristianos is a traditional Cuban dish consisting of black beans and white rice. It symbolises the fusion of Spanish and African culinary traditions.
3. Tostones are fried green bananas that are first mashed, then re-roasted to achieve a crunchy texture. They are served with garlic sauce.
4. Vaca Frita – roasted beef with lime and onion, giving the meat a crispy crust and intense flavour.
5. Arroz con Pollo is a Cuban version of chicken and rice cooked with spices, vegetables and saffron.

Cuba’s best restaurants offer traditional dishes with rich flavours. In addition, street markets and small cafés offer authentic local cuisine. Here you can enjoy your meal in a cosy and relaxed atmosphere.

What to do in Cuba?

The island offers endless possibilities for holidays. Here you can enjoy the ocean, explore nature, diving, yachting or surfing. History lovers will discover fascinating excursions, and gourmets – new gastronomic experiences. Cuba is more than just a holiday. It is a complete immersion into the atmosphere of the Caribbean, where culture, history and exoticism are intertwined.

Souvenirs from trips have long turned into emotional artifacts. But Cuba does not offer standard magnets and colorful T-shirts. Here, each item is a concentrate of the era, climate, and character of the people. Therefore, when figuring out what gifts to bring from Cuba, one should not do it based on “what’s cheaper,” but through the prism of authenticity, significance, and meaning.

Rum: a bottle appreciated by every lover of strong alcohol

In Cuba, rum is not just alcohol. It is a national code, distilled from sugarcane juice and time. Cuban rum is known for its depth of flavor and strict production control: the Havana Club brand produces up to 50 million liters per year, aging some collections from 7 to 15 years.

The best places to buy are Duty-Free shops at the airports of Havana and Varadero, as well as boutiques on Obispo Boulevard. Where to buy real Cuban rum is up to the tourist, but only licensed retail outlets guarantee original products. Santiago de Cuba Añejo 11 Años is especially valued – a matured drink with a caramel-tobacco aftertaste.

Cigars: Cuban gold in a tube

Cuban cigars top the world rankings. Production is controlled by the state company Habanos S.A., and tobacco is grown exclusively in the Vuelta Abajo region. Cult brands like Cohiba, Montecristo, and Partagás are on the wish list of collectors.

What gifts to bring from Cuba when it comes to status? The answer is unequivocal – a tube of Cohiba Behike 54, priced from $40 each. The best storage conditions are offered at the tobacco museum in Havana, where you can not only purchase but also observe the hand-rolling process.

Coffee and cocoa: tropical energy in a bean

Cuban coffee is dense, rich, with light chocolate notes. The Turquino Lavado variety is popular. In the Escambray region, farmers harvest manually without the use of chemicals. Packaged beans are easy to transport – in vacuum packaging, the product stays fresh for up to 6 months.

Cocoa from Sierra Maestra is supplied in the form of beans and ground powder. In Varadero markets, you can find small craft packages with added vanilla or spicy pepper.

Farm products: freshness you can take with you

Farm stands and seasonal markets in the country provide access to unique local products that rarely leave the island. What gifts to bring from Cuba to surprise with taste rather than packaging? The answer is simple – select fruits, hand-picked, dried, and packaged without preservatives.

Papaya fruit chips, exotic dried fruits, guava-based jams – typical souvenirs from Cuba that won’t spoil on the road. In Havana markets, boxes of sugared slices of mango, pineapple, soursop are sold. They are packaged in palm leaf boxes suitable for hand luggage.

Processed into concentrated pastes or bars, they hold value: soursop, mamey sapote, cherimoya. Packaging in banana or corn leaves makes these gifts convenient and safe for transportation. Sweets based on coconut milk and brown sugar – rapadura, are highly valued and often bought in bulk by tourists.

Palm honey from Pinar del Rio, natural cocoa from Santiago, hot peppers from villages near Camaguey – all packaged to export standards.

Often, tourists discover products on the shelves that are hard to call souvenirs – rather, they are a way of life: Cuban food without gloss, but with character.

Cultural souvenirs with character: what gifts to bring from Cuba

The Island of Freedom does not hide art in galleries – it gives it to the streets. What to bring from Cuba to preserve a cultural imprint? Handcrafted items made of wood, clay, coconut shells, metal reflect the island’s philosophy: simplicity, expression.

At flea markets in Havana and art shops in Varadero, you can find items with references to Cuban realism, Santeria religious symbolism, revolutionary past. Engravings with portraits of Che Guevara, miniature museum copies of retro cars, painted cigar boxes – sought-after gifts from Cuba that combine utility with aesthetics.

Leather goods are also in demand – belts, covers, handmade bags. Buffalo or crocodile leather comes from farms in the Pinar del Rio region. A bag from master Antonio López costs from $100 but lasts for decades.

Those looking for meaning rather than banality choose art as a souvenir: tactile, expressive, with a history.

Cuban music and revolution: what to take with you

Cuba is the birthplace of the musical genres son and salsa. Tourists take home recordings of Buena Vista Social Club, as well as handmade vinyl cutouts featuring musicians or scenes of the revolution.

The market in the Vedado area offers vinyl records recorded back in the 60s, as well as accessories with images of Che Guevara – from army caps to bronze mini-reliefs.

What gifts to bring from Cuba: 7 solutions for those who don’t want to think long

Shopping is not a souvenir template but a personal choice with a touch of historical truth. Here, it is not the quantity that matters but the history behind each item. A genuine gift reflects the spirit of the island, its taste, voice, and texture. It is such finds that shape an emotional baggage that weighs more than a suitcase.

An extensive list showing what to bring as a gift from the island:

1. Havana Club Selección de Maestros – premium rum for collectors.
2. Cohiba Siglo VI in a wooden box – a symbol of power and taste.
3. Turquino Lavado ground – a Cuban morning aroma.
4. Fruit chips with guava – safe gastronomy for export.
5. Red coral bracelet – a natural accent from the Caribbean.
6. Crocodile leather bag – a unique piece from the market in Trinidad.
7. Vinyl record of Buena Vista recordings – the breath of music through vinyl.

Each item is not just an object but a kind of mark on the map of cultural memory. Such tokens of attention are not souvenirs but stories that you want to tell. At official markets like Mercado Artesanal in Havana or Plaza de Artesania in Varadero, it is easier to buy gifts, bypassing counterfeits. It is here that tourists choose between brand and craftsmanship.