Santiago de Cuba Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Santiago de Cuba, Cuba)

Santiago de Cuba is the island's famed repository for much of its culture, heritage and quality tourist attractions, with the old quarter of the city named a UNESCO World Heritage site for its contrasting post-revolutionary and colonial architecture.

Elegant mansions and imposing churches sit side-by side with winding cobbled streets, prettily painted homes and the protective fortifications erected to defend the city from the real 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. The Casco Historico (Old Town) area of Santiago de Cuba is where tourists will discover many of the city's oldest attractions, and walking tours around this quarter are extremely popular with holiday makers. Sunseekers will likely choose to head to the many beaches nearby Santiago de Cuba, which are in good supply around the neighbouring seaside town of Siboney.

Walking Tour

Address: Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, CU
Tourists arriving in Santiago de Cuba are recommended to take a walking tour of the Casco Historico area, where many of the city's top attractions reside. The tour starts at the Balcon de Velazquez and ends at the Museo Municipal Emilio Bacardi Moreau, covering a distance of around 800 metres / 2,625 feet. However, although the route may be relatively short, there is so much to see along the way that it will easily last you a comfortable two hours. As you stroll, expect to pass by the Parque Cespedes, the Casa de Diego Velazquez, the Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion, the Museo Arquidiocesano, the Hotel Casa Granda, the Casa del Estudiante, the Casa de la Trova, the Casa Natal de Jose Maria de Heredia, the Libreria La Escalera, the Museo del Ron, the Museo del Carnaval and the Cafe La Isabelica de Dolores.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Tivoli Neighbourhood (Barrio El Tivoli)

Address: Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, CU
Set in a hillside just south of the tourist area around Parque Cespedes is the El Tivoli district, once Santiago's most fashionable real-estate location and now a charmingly run-down and weathered place to wander. This characterful old French quarter features steep and narrow cobbled or stepped streets, colourful houses and a handful of visitor attractions, all of which combine to make this a great place for a stroll. Tivoli highlights include the Padre Pico steps, the Casa de las Tradiciones, the Parque Alameda and the popular cigar factory named the Fabrica de Tabacos Cesar Escalante.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Morro Castle / Fortress (Castillo el Morro)

Address: Bahia de Santiago, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, CU
Tel: +53 022 68 1569
This impressive fortification lies some 16 km / 10 miles from the centre of the city and resides on a hill, where it is easy to spot. Morro Castle is a massive, seemingly impregnable 17th-century fortress and was built in the Renaissance style, covering five levels. Expect magnificent views across the region and a sunset ceremony involving flag-lowering, cannon-firing and shouts of 'Viva Cuba Libre'. Inside is an interesting exhibition dedicated to the lighthouses of Cuba.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Bacardi Rum Factory (Fabrica de Ron)

Address: Avenida Jesus Menendez, Near Narciso Lopez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, CU
The original Bacardi Rum distillery was opened in 1838 by the Bacardi family, and continued to produce this iconic Cuban white rum until the revolution, when the family transferred production and the patent to Puerto Rica. At this stage, local distillers took over, calling their product Ron Caney. Tours are available and explain the origin of Bacardi's iconic bat symbol, which was chosen after a bat colony was discovered living in the roof of the factory.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Diego Velazquez House (Casa de Diego Velazquez)

Address: Calle Felix Pena, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, CU
This elegant two-storey house, with its long frontage, was formerly the home of famous 17th-century Spanish painter Diego Velazquez and also the Spanish Crown's Forge and Contracts Office, where gold ore was melted down. At almost 500 years old, the structure is Cuba's most historic colonial dwelling and has magnificent carved wooden ceilings.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Historic City Centre / Old Town (Casco Historico)

Address: Casco Historico, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, CU
Santiago's historic city centre has been declared a Cuban national monument for its important examples of charming colonial buildings and also for its post-revolution architecture. Parque Cespedes is one of the principal attractions in this part of the city and is a lively plaza, with seating and endless people-watching opportunities. On the eastern side of the park is the Casa de la Cultura Miguel Matamoros, which was once home to the San Carlos Club, where the affluent society socialised until the Cuban revolution.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Plaza de Dolores

Address: Plaza de Dolores, Near Parque Cespedes, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, CU
This pretty, shady square is home to the 18th-century Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de los Dolores, which was renovated in the 1970s and now functions as a concert hall, named the Sala de Conciertos Dolores. The Plaza de Dolores is surrounded by coffee shops and little restaurants, and is known to be a regular haunt of Santiago's gay community.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Cementario Santa Ifigenia

Address: Near Narciso Lopez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, CU
A visit to this quiet 19th-century cemetery is a walk through the history of the city, as many of its famous independence fighters and renowned Cuban figures are buried here. Imposing carved marble mausoleums hold the biggest names, while the many thousands of freedom fighters lie in simple graves.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Calle Heredia

Address: Calle Heredia, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, CU
The Calle Heredia is a lively and extremely energetic part of Santiago de Cuba, as well as being a particularly historic part of the city. There is always something going on along the Calle Heredia, with the old buildings adding much character to this part of the city. Particularly noteworthy is the Casa del Estudiante and the Casa de la Trova, while a few minutes to the east, the Casa Natal de Jose Maria de Heredia celebrates the life and works of Cuba's most respected Romantic poet.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Vista Alegre

Address: Vista Alegre, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, CU
The Vista Alegre is a particularly pleasant and leafy part of the city, with more than its fair share of attractive buildings and sightseeing opportunities, along with restaurants and museums. This is where you will find attractions such as the Casa del Caribe, the Casa de las Religiones Populares, the Centro Cultural Africano Fernando Ortiz, the Museo de la Imagen and the Palacio de Pioneros.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Fern Garden (Jardin de los Helechos)

Address: Carretera de El Caney 129, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, CU
Tel: +53 022 64 8335
Just 2 km / 1.5 miles from the centre of Santiago de Cuba and managed by the Cuban Academy of Science is the Jardin de los Helechos, a small and very beautiful garden reached by taking the road towards El Caney. Not only will you find an enormous collection of ferns in all shapes and sizes, the garden is also home to some 100 different orchids and many other exotic plants. For the most colour and impact, anytime between November and January is the perfect time to visit, when the flowers are in full bloom.
Open hours: Monday - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge