Cienfuegos Shopping and Districts

(Cienfuegos, Cuba)

Cienfuegos has some pretty cool shopping along the El Bulevar, one of its main thoroughfares. It goes through the flashiest part of town, from the Paseo del Prado to the park and beyond, and is good for souvenir shopping, since it is well pedestrianised.

Apart from this area, there is nothing to write home about shopping wise in Cienfuegos. On walking about the city centre, you will bump into the odd local department store that will take Cuban pesos, although many of the shops aimed at tourists only accept US dollars.

When to Shop and Where

The main shopping area in Cienfuegos is along Avenue 54, especially the part that goes to the west of the main thoroughfare of Paseo del Prado (Calle 37). This area is pedestrianised and runs as far as Parque Marti to the west, where many of Cienfuegos' noted landmarks await.

The El Bulevar boasts some trendy shops to check out, including US dollar stores as well as authentic Cuban-Peso department stores. You will particularly find more of the touristy former that will only accept US dollars, and, although marked up, this is your best option for souvenir shopping in Cienfuegos.

Popular shopping options along here include the Galeria Maroya, between Calle 25 and Calle 27, good for Cuban arts and crafts; the cigar shop, Casa del Habano El Embajador, between Calle 33 and Calle 35; and the ARTex shop, for souvenirs.

Elsewhere, the city of Cienfuegos is mainly strewn with your typical department store that will accept Cuban pesos. These are easily identified, as they are down-at-heel places with poor lighting and are often not well kept. You will find cheap items, however - clothing, music, and tatty ceramic statues, as well as books on the theme of the Revolution.