The Most Stunning Places To Photograph In Cuba

Cuba’s beauty shines through despite its shabby look on the outisde. This nation’s cities are steeped in history and undergoing a slow, much-needed facelift. Each city takes visitors back to a time when pirates raided the Caribbean and colonialists built their buildings.

Photographers love Cuba’s gelato-colored buildings in Havana, Trinidad, and Remedios. Their cobblestone streets have vintage cars, 18th-century cathedrals, and grand central squares waiting to be photographed.

Cuba’s vibrant coral reefs, pristine beaches, crystalline turquoise waters, lush valleys, and majestic mountains make visitors want to return.

This list of stunning locations will challenge your camera and soul.

1. Old Havana

Old Havana (also known as Habana Vieja), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, represents the historic heart of Cuba’s capital city. This is where you’ll find the stunning Plaza de Armas, Havana’s oldest square. It features a statue of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and the Palacio de Los Condes de Santoveni.

2. Trinidad

This UNESCO World Heritage Site appears to be frozen in time in the 1850s. That is why it remains so endearingly charming. This immaculately preserved city exemplifies colonial Cuba at its finest, with distinctive Spanish-inspired architectural features, cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and live music. When you’re not dancing in the streets and sipping sugar cane juice, you’ll be taking photos in obscure alleyways.

3. Plaza Vieja, Havana

Havana defies categorization. The 16th-century Plaza Vieja, with its unique mix of old and new, exudes a sense of whimsy that complements its architectural prowess. Graceful colonial homes surround the plaza’s open square, nestled wall to wall with remarkable Art Deco structures. The contrast works brilliantly, begging cameras to capture the stunning juxtaposition in this Old Havana (also known as Habana Vieja) treasure.

4. Viñales

Be still your heart. The beauty of Viñales will take your breath away. The town is charming and small, but the scenery is what will entice you to travel there. The tranquil countryside is dotted with guajiros (farmers) driving oxen-pulled ploughs to farm tobacco. Behind them, impressive limestone mountains rise up to an endless sky.

5. El Malecon, Havana

El Malecon, a renovated walkway originally built in the early 1900s, was the brainchild of US authorities in charge of the area at the time. The broad path and roadway run eight kilometers along Havana’s northern coast. A picturesque location, it has become a popular backdrop for photographs taken by both locals and tourists, particularly at sunset.

6. Varadero

There are few more beautiful places to relax in Cuba. Varadero, once a relaxing hangout for Al Capone, now caters to those who enjoy luxury and beautiful beaches.

Varadero, located on the Hicacos Peninsula, is a popular tourist destination. It has also been named the Caribbean’s largest resort, with over 60 hotels and enough shops, restaurants, and activities to keep even the most active traveler busy.

7. Playa Megano

You had us at the beach (also known as Playa). Playa Megano is one of Cuba’s most beautiful beaches, located on the small offshoot island of Cayo Enseachos. Sugar-white sand, sparkling turquoise water, and tropical palm trees await to provide shade from the hot sun. Both this beach and its neighbor, Playa Ensenachos, offer shallow waters that extend for hundreds of feet, making them the ideal spot to visit when traveling with children.

8. Camaguey

Talk about a cultural masterpiece. Camaguey, Cuba’s third-largest city, combines elements of Spanish, African, French, and Haitian cultures into a cohesive community. After Havana, this bustling city is the island’s most fun and vibrant metropolis. It’s easy to get lost in Camaguey’s winding streets and hidden plazas, which each feature a pleasing palette of pastel-colored buildings, medieval churches, and funky restaurants to photograph.

9. Guardalavaca

Guardalavaca makes taking bad photos difficult. This seaside paradise is backed by lush hills and has everything you could want from a beach vacation: tall, waving palm trees, crystal-clear azure water, vibrant coral reefs, and super soft white sand. Located on Cuba’s northern coast, the beauty of this idyllic location has been so well appreciated that it now houses several large beach resorts.

10. Cayo Coco Island

Looking for a beautiful beach with soft, fine sand and a sea bursting with vibrant shades of azure? You can find it on Cayo Coco Island. Located just north of Cuba’s main island, this smaller island is home to some of the country’s most beautiful beaches. This is a vacationer’s paradise, with numerous beachfront resorts.

11. Alejandro de Humboldt National Park

Alejandro de Humboldt National Park is home to one of the West Indies’ best-preserved and largest mountain ecosystems. This breathtaking wonderland, a Natural World Heritage Site, boasts a diverse range of geological features as well as impressive flora and fauna. It’s easy to spend the entire day exploring its diverse offerings. Make sure your camera is charged.

12. El Capitolio Nacional, Havana

The National Capitol Building, El Capitolio Nacional is one of the most visited sites in Havana. It took over three years for 5,000 workers to complete the majestic structure, which was modeled on the Panthéon in Paris.

13. Santiago de Cuba

Santiago de Cuba is ideal for those looking for diverse architecture, a rich history, an exciting nightlife, and plenty of opportunities to people-watch. This is Cuba’s second largest city, and it is home to thrilling impromptu musical performances (for example, at the Casa de Las Tradiciones), delicious restaurants, and eclectic shops.

14. Galician Palace, Havana

The stunning Galician Palace, standing in all its historic glory on Prado Street, is not to be missed. This remarkable theater, which opened in 1915, serves as an iconic reminder of the role of Galician immigrants in the country’s history. In fact, they paid for this remarkable structure, which stands across from the city’s Central Park and houses the Cuban National Ballet.

15. Castillo de Los Tres Santos Reyes Magnos del Morro, Havana

Built in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, this Italian-designed fort is best seen (and photographed) from the El Malecon promenade. The fort, which features a prominent lighthouse, was built to protect Havana’s harbor from pirates and other invaders intent on carrying out a massive heist. From here, you can enjoy breathtaking views of both the sea and Havana.

16. Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca

This massive fortress was built on a rocky headland known as El Morro. This well-designed stronghold, which included bastions, forts, and batteries, was built to protect Santiago’s port. Today, it is an incredibly well-preserved example of Spanish-American military architecture.

17. Museo de la Revolución

Another Old Havana icon, this opulent structure was once the Presidential Palace. Several presidents, including Mario Garcíia Menocal and Fulgencio Batista, lived in this lavish structure. Batista was the last to live behind the ornate facade.

18. Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón

Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón, also known as Colon Cemetery in English, is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting Havana. This expansive Necropolis contains architectural and design marvels, as well as historic marble statues. Those buried near the main walkways had a higher social standing than those buried further inland.

19. Bacardi Building

It’s easy to understand why the Bacardi building is one of Havana’s most recognizable structures. This 1930 gem, located on Avenida de las Misiones, was the city’s first Art Deco building. The intricacies of the design become more apparent when viewed up close. This was once the largest skyscraper in the city. It is now dwarfed in size, but not grandeur, by larger and more modern developments.

20. Plaza de la Catedral

Plaza de la Catedral is one of Havana’s busiest squares. With the impressive Catedral de La Habana and the 18th-century Casa de Lombillo nearby, art lovers can spend hours browsing the works available in the numerous galleries that call this area home. The 18th-century Casa de los Condes de Peñalver showcases must-see creations.

21. Remedios

Who needs a car when you can explore beautiful Remedios on a bicycle rickshaw? This centrally located town is less popular than its larger counterparts (Havana and Trinidad). What it lacks in size, it compensates for with a rich history that dates back to the early 1500s. Much of it has been restored to its former glory, including the central plaza and a variety of shops and restaurants.

22. Plaza Mayor

When visiting Trinidad’s Plaza Mayor, a vibrant square in the city center, you may want to wear sunglasses. You’ll be surrounded by a kaleidoscope of bright greens, yellows, and blues that make you want to smile. The eclectic buildings here are from the 18th and 19th centuries, but the square dates back to the early 16th century.