Exploring Vedado, Cuba
Vedado is the largest neighborhood in Havana and is generally considered the richest. It is peaceful and safe, while still offering a lot of attractions. One of the best things about Vedado is that it is relatively ignored by tourists. Although its popularity has increased markedly over the last years, it is still uncommon to find large gatherings of tourists like you might encounter in Central or Old Havana.
The University of Havana is located in the eastern part of Vedado. This means that there are always lots of young people in the neighborhood and there is a high concentration of cheap restaurants, street food vendors and fun bars and clubs. The main hospitals in the city are also located beside the university.
In the western part of Vedado, there are many government buildings and foreign embassies. This area is generally calmer and quieter, especially at night.
The poorest area of Vedado is located beside the Malecon, where there are many large housing projects. This area is also one of the most interesting because it has many cheap markets, state discount stores and low priced restaurants.
Places of Interest
La Rampa – Also called Calle 23, La Rampa is a busy road which cuts across the Vedado neighborhood from east to west. It is the most popular street in Vedado, both for traffic and shopping. It is a main reference line for orienting yourself in the Vedado neighborhood.
El Malecon – The Malecon is the sea wall that runs along the northern edge of the city but it is busiest in the Vedado neighborhood. During the day, it is a popular meeting spot and a common place for locals to come to relax. Many Cubans also fish and swim in the coastal waters. In the late evening and at night, particularly on weekends, thousands of locals flock to the Malecon, sitting down on the wall and chatting with friends, playing music and drinking. Even in a city with so many entertainment options, spending a night sitting on the Malecon is still probably the best way to have fun and interact with locals.
Habana Libre Hotel – The Habana Libre Hotel is located at the corner of Calle 23 and L. This is one of the busiest intersections in the whole city. The area near this corner is a major traffic hub both for buses and communal taxis. At any time throughout the day, thousands of people are gathered around this area. You will surely find yourself here often if you are going to use public transportation or taxis to explore the city. The large Cinema Yara is directly across the street from the hotel and it has a pavilion in front which is a very popular place for young people to congregate and wait for friends. Just on the opposite street corner, there is the massive Coppelia ice cream parlor, which occupies almost a whole city block.
El Edificio Focsa (The Focsa Building) – This is the tallest building in Cuba, and one of the most famous in Havana. El Focsa, as the locals call it, is located just a few blocks north of the Habana Libre Hotel, at the intersection of 17 and M. It’s important as a landmark, as you can see the giant, green building from most locations in the city. Furthermore, there are some very popular and well stocked shops on the ground floor, including a modern supermarket, a hardware store and a money exchange office (CADECA).
Avenida de Los Presidentes (Calle G) – This is a major north-south route for traffic between the Malecon and the medical campuses located at the southern tip of Vedado. Past this point, the street branches out and changes name, stretching deep into Central Havana. Between Avenida De Los Presidentes’ four lanes, there is a very wide median with hundreds of benches and ornately trimmed trees. On most days, people come to this area to relax, read or eat lunch. At night, this area really comes alive. It is a popular meeting spot for young people who come to lounge on the benches and relax on the grass, under the trees. At the corner of Calle 23 there is a convenient open air bar which serves up cheap drinks, ensuring that the party goes on late into the night.
Avenida Paseo – This is another major north-south traffic artery located seven blocks west of Ave. de Los Presidentes. Paseo bisects the large Vedado neighborhood into two districts. The eastern half is simply named Vedado, and the western district is referred to as Nuevo Vedado (New Vedado). At the northern tip of Paseo, near the Malecon, you will find the Melia Cohiba and Riviera hotels as well as a large shopping mall named Galerías de Paseo. At the southern tip of Paseo there is the huge Jose Marti Memorial tower and the sprawling Plaza de la Revolución square. This area is used to host massive crowds during political rallies and celebrations. It’s also a popular tourist destination and the location of the often photographed, 5-story tall, steel outline of the war hero Che Guevara’s face, which is mounted on the wall of the Ministry of the Interior building.
How Far is Vedado from Old Havana?
Havana in general is a small city. You can walk from the port of Old Havana, all the way to Vedado in about 45 minutes. In this distance you would pass through Old Havana, Central Havana, and arrive firmly in the middle of Vedado. The distance from one end of the city to the other is only about 3 to 4 kilometers, (2 to 2.5 miles). So, with this in mind, it really does not make a huge difference where you stay in the city, since you will always be close to whatever you want to see. In a taxi, you can easily get from one end of the city to the other in about 10 minutes, and the cost would be about 3cuc ($3 USD).
Fun Attractions and Popular Things to do in Vedado
This is a good list of things which you can experience and see while in the Vedado neighborhood of Havana. All of these locations are listed in the Real Havana Guidebook. If you like the things mentioned in this list, then consider buying the guide, it’s on special on Amazon.com, and you will have a handy way of exploring the city and checking out some of the best things to do in Vedado. And best of all, the guide is packed with fun things to do in other parts of Havana, like Old Havana, Central Havana and even the suburbs, so you can be sire to always have something to do.
Top Things to do in Vedado (in no particular order)
- Walk along 23rd street (La Rampa)
- Sit and relax on the Malecon, during the day
- Have a beer and chat with locals on the Malecon at night
- Ride in a communal taxi particular (10 pesos MN, per trip ~ 40 cents USD)
- Go to a market and pick up some fresh juice or fruits (There is a beautiful market near the Focsa building)
- Go to Coppelia ice cream shop (1 peso per scoop ~ about 4 cents USD per ice cream scoop)
- Sit in a park and watch kids play soccer or baseball (futbol or beisball)
- Visit Lennon park and sit with John Lennon?
- Visit a nightclub or disco
- Sit on G Street on Friday night and mingle with the college kids.
- Enjoy a delicious and cheap meal at a state run restaurant
- Explore the street food options at some great paladares.
- Visit the Havana Zoo
- Check out the Parque Almendares nature preserve.
- Sip a mojito and enjoy the view at the Hotel Nacional
- Explore and old building and enjoy the amazing rooftop views
- Visit the Plaza de la Revolucion and take some selfies with Cuban heros.
- Get WIFI or just enjoy the air conditioning at the Habana Libre hotel atrium.
- Have a beer at the open air bar on G Street
Are there more things to do in Vedado? Of course there are. Vedado is the hippest, most happening neighborhood in Havana. For hundreds of more fun things to do while in Havana, be sure to check out the Real Havana Guidebook.
And for a list of the Top 10 Best Things to do In Havana, just click here!
Want to learn about Havana and how to explore Cuba like a local?
Download the Best Cuba and Havana Travel guide: Real Havana.
