Havana's Instagram Guide — A Tour Through Havana's Most Photogenic Places

A woman in a patterned dress on the road, a classic car passing behind pastel facades — The settled portrait — stand on the sidewalk, a classic car rolling past behind you.

A couple holding hands, a black classic car crossing behind the pastel arcades — A couple against the pastel arcades, a chrome bumper crossing the frame.

A couple walking across the crosswalk in front of Havana's colourful houses — Step into the crosswalk for a moving shot — more energy, the city in motion.

A couple laughing in the street, a white classic car beside them — Movement reads candid — give them something to do and let the colour carry it.

A couple posed beside a pink classic convertible, pastel houses behind — Pose around a parked classic car, not inside it — it becomes part of the picture.

A woman in yellow trousers crossing the road in front of a turquoise building — Solid colours against the pastel walls — let the architecture do the rest.

Centro HabanaN° 01 / 19

N° 01 — Colorful Houses

Colorful Houses

The pastel colors of Cuba.

One of Havana's most iconic photographs, and for a simple reason: pastel midcentury walls capture the essential color story of the city. Add a classic car passing every other minute and you have the perfect amalgam for a flawless Cuban-style picture.

You have two basic options. Stand on the sidewalk and let the cars roll past behind you — the classic, settled portrait. Or step into the crosswalk to catch a moving frame with the cars approaching, which gives the image more energy. The second option requires a watchful photographer; traffic does not stop politely.

Photographer's note

The shot looks best when the wall behind you is one solid color and the car contrasts with it. Wait for the right combination — there is no shortage of cars, and your patience will be rewarded within five minutes.

Low-angle view up the neoclassical façade and dome of El Capitolio in morning light — Morning light — low and direct, straight up the neoclassical façade.

El Capitolio's dome seen down the avenue from the back of a pink classic convertible — The dome straight down the avenue — framed from the back of a classic convertible.

A woman walking the Capitolio's side garden, red flowers lining the path — The right-side garden — red and yellow flowers, the Alicia Alonso theatre behind. The calmest corner.

A woman in a flowing pink gown twirling in front of El Capitolio at sunset — Sunset light — warm and soft, with the breeze that makes a Flying Dress shoot work.

Paseo de MartíN° 02 / 19

N° 02 — El Capitolio

El Capitolio

Cuba's kilometer zero.

Cuba's most architecturally ambitious building. It went up during the prosperous "Dance of the Millions" era following World War I, when an unprecedented influx of sugar wealth poured onto the island. Drawing on the Panthéon, St. Paul's, and the U.S. Capitol, El Capitolio shows off a stunning neoclassical façade with a soaring 91.73-meter dome. Construction began in 1926, employed 5,000 workers, took three years, and cost USD 17 million.

After a decade-long restoration, the building reopened in 2019 for Havana's 500th anniversary, and it once again stands at the symbolic center of Cuban civic life. The right-hand garden, with its bright red and yellow flowers and the Alicia Alonso theater rising behind it, is the most photogenic corner. The grand 55-step staircase makes a wonderful frame for group photos.

Photographer's note

The garden on the right side stays calm and uncrowded even at peak times. It is the easiest place to get a clean, quiet portrait in the middle of the busiest part of Havana.

A couple crossing the street, a line-up of classic cars staged behind them — The crossing — a couple mid-stride, classic cars staged behind by the traffic light.

Four women in red dresses crossing the street in a line — The full Abbey Road homage — cross one after another so the camera reads the procession.

A group in red shirts crossing the street in a line — It works for groups too — line everyone up, evenly spaced across the white stripes.

A couple crossing the street under a dramatic sky — Late afternoon — long light down the crossing, the sky doing half the work.

A woman crossing the street with a stroller — Four crossings, four backgrounds — pick whichever frames you best.

Paseo del PradoN° 03 / 19

N° 03 — Abbey Road, Cuban Version

Abbey Road, Cuban Version

Make real life part of the set.

This is a quietly clever spot that most people walk straight past. The traffic lights along this stretch give you just the right window to cross the street, and behind you the lights stage a perfect line-up of classic cars. The result is a Cuban echo of the famous Abbey Road photograph — but with chrome bumpers instead of a London cab.

Take your time and wait for the combination of cars you want; another set will be along inside a minute. The street has four crossings, each offering a slightly different background, so you can stage variations without moving more than a block.

Photographer's note

Cross one at a time rather than side by side — the camera reads it as a proper procession that way. And the obvious but essential reminder: only cross when the lights are red for the cars and green for pedestrians. The cars in Havana are pretty, but they are not braking for your photoshoot.

Three women walking the tree-lined Prado promenade after rain — The tree-lined promenade — best after rain, when the marble turns to mirror.

A large group seated on the Prado's marble benches and steps — The marble benches take a whole group — colourful facades stacked behind.

A couple seated either side of a bronze urn on a marble bench — Frame a couple on the benches, an ornate facade filling the background.

A couple together under the Prado's tree canopy — Under the canopy the Prado turns intimate — a quiet frame in a busy city.

Paseo de MartíN° 04 / 19

N° 04 — Paseo del Prado

Paseo del Prado

The fashion runway of Havana.

This grand boulevard, dating to the early 18th century, runs along the axis between colonial Habana Vieja to the east and the republican era to the west. In the late 1920s, the Prado received its famous bronze lions, lamp-posts, and marble benches. Its official name is Paseo de Martí; everyone calls it El Prado.

In May 2016, El Prado witnessed one of the most glamorous moments in recent Cuban history. Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel staged the "Cruise" fashion show along this stretch — and, by remarkable coincidence, while the show unfolded the Carnival Adonia was sailing out of Havana harbor: the first U.S. cruise ship to leave Cuba in nearly forty years. For one strange, golden afternoon, a Paris haute-couture house and an American ocean liner shared the same stretch of Havana.

For photographs, the marble benches are the easiest win. Frame your subject seated, with the wide variety of architectural styles across the boulevard behind.

A man in white striding across the empty boulevard, the Capitolio dome behind — Stride across the empty boulevard — the Capitolio dome closing the far end.

A man in a black suit walking down the boulevard, a purple classic car beside him — A classic car at the kerb, the dome held in the distance.

A woman standing in the empty boulevard, the Capitolio dome in the distance — Early, before traffic — the depth of the empty boulevard does the work.

A couple walking hand in hand down the centre of the boulevard — Keep it moving — a walking frame straight down the centre line.

Centro HabanaN° 05 / 19

N° 05 — Down the Prado Street

Down the Prado Street

Looking for the motion effect.

I admit it: I am a fan of being in the middle of the street. Motion scenes are simply more fun than static portraits, and there is no better place to chase one than the busy Paseo del Prado. In the morning, the sun reflects off the windows of the Packard Hotel at the end of the street, leaving a small, precise pool of light on the road as though we were working with a reflector. The depth of field down the boulevard is gorgeous, and the majestic Capitol in the distance is the icing on the cake.

Photographer's note

This shot only works if you are absolutely sure the cars are at a safe distance. Have your photographer keep an eye up the boulevard and only step into the road when the lane is empty.

A man in a yellow shirt leaning against a tall weathered wooden door — One weathered door, one strong colour against it — Havana's simplest portrait.

A couple at a tall ornate wooden door, number 151 — A weathered door becomes the frame — a century of paint and hand-carved panels.

A woman in a blue dress leaning against a weathered doorframe and column — Lean into the doorway — worn wood and faded plaster do half the portrait.

A woman in a yellow dress seated in front of a tall wooden door — Aged, yet funky — every door an invitation into a longer story.

Old HavanaN° 06 / 19

N° 06 — Doors of Havana

Doors of Havana

Aged, yet funky — like Cuba itself.

These pieces of art-in-wood have always fascinated me. Cuba has some of the most eclectic doors and window frames in the world: ornate metalwork, mixed-material entryways, hand-carved panels worn smooth by a century of weather. Each facade tells its own story, and every door reads as an invitation into a longer tale of resilience.

You will pass dozens of beautiful ones on your route, but this one has always been my favorite. Aged, yet funky — like Cuba itself, isn't it?

A couple seated on a stone bench against the yellow wall of the square — The yellow wall — benches, pastel doors, cobbled stone: a 1950s film set.

A large group in colourful dresses standing along the cobbled lane — The lane holds a whole group — the most photogenic square metre in town.

A woman in a pink dress in a blue doorway on the yellow wall — A doorway on the yellow wall — late afternoon turns the light gold.

A woman walking a narrow cobbled street behind the square — Step into the cobbled lane behind the square for a quieter, layered frame.

Two women under colourful paper fans strung across a lane — The decorated lane — colourful paper fans strung overhead.

Four women in red dresses walking the cobbled rise — The hill toward Compostela Street — a layered background, like a stage set.

A couple on the steps of the church of Santo Ángel Custodio — The church of Santo Ángel Custodio — the great arched door framing the steps.

Old HavanaN° 07 / 19

N° 07 — Square of the Angel

Square of the Angel

A plaza taken out of a movie scene.

Tucked among the crowds, classic cars, and ever-present music of Old Havana is a small corner that looks like it walked off the pages of a romance novel. This lovely, intimate place sits behind the Iglesia del Santo Ángel Custodio — the church where some of the most notable Cubans, including José Martí, were baptized.

Friends, this plaza is easily the most Instagrammable square meter in town. It has two very different small hills, each with its own astonishing background; a church that looks like a fairy tale; and a yellow-painted wall that could pass for a 1950s Hollywood set. Help yourselves to all of it.

Where the light hits

Late in the afternoon, the sunlight turns into a soft orange that paints this whole square beautifully. That is the moment to be here.

Two angles I love

The yellow wall, with the wooden benches, pastel-colored doors and windows, and cobbled street, makes a perfect frame. From the church side, the small hill toward Compostela Street reveals a layered background that lets you shoot like the subject is standing inside a stage set. Try both.

An artist painting a canvas of a woman wrapped in the Cuban flag — Inside the studios — painters far more talented than the small footprint suggests.

A woman in a pink dress in the heart-shaped doorway of the Arte con Corazón gallery — "Arte con Corazón" — the heart-shaped doorway, straight across from Almost Famous.

A couple in a red classic convertible on the colourful gallery street — A classic convertible in the colourful block — it seems to happen every twenty minutes.

A couple sitting in a painted gallery doorway chatting with a local artist, 'CUBAN ART' lettered on the wall — Sit a while in a gallery doorway — the artists are as much the picture as the art.

A young artist painting a portrait, surrounded by canvases — Many artists will paint a canvas from a photo on your phone — an original souvenir.

A visitor watching an artist paint inside a studio full of portraits — A laid-back crowd of artists, happy to have you watch the work happen.

Calle CuartelesN° 08 / 19

N° 08 — Calle Cuarteles Art Galleries

Calle Cuarteles Galleries

"Almost Famous."

The Cuban art scene stands out for its creative vitality. In recent years we have seen a remarkable cultural expansion, and a handful of small studios on Cuarteles Street have become an unofficial home for the movement. These little galleries — including the one literally named "Almost Famous," which sets the tone — house painters who are far more talented than their footprint would suggest.

A perfect spot to interact with a very laid-back group of artists. Many will create canvas paintings from photos on your phone — an original souvenir to take home, and a way to support a working artist directly. Right across from Almost Famous is "Arte con Corazón," another small studio worth a stop. Together the two spaces form a colorful, artsy block that photographs beautifully — especially with a classic convertible parked in the middle of it, which seems to happen naturally about every twenty minutes.

A bride in a white gown twirling in front of the cathedral's bell towers — The cathedral early, before the tour groups — the square still empty and gold.

A woman leaping in front of the cathedral's baroque façade — Havana's finest 18th-century baroque — curves and flourishes above every door.

A couple walking across the square, the cathedral's two towers behind — Frame a couple with the mismatched bell towers rising on either side.

A man standing in the square under a moody, stormy sky — Late light and a moody sky turn the whole plaza cinematic.

Old HavanaN° 09 / 19

N° 09 — Plaza de la Catedral

Plaza de la Catedral

The heart of colonial Havana.

One of Old Havana's most famous spots and the last of the city's main squares to be created, dating from the 1700s. After it was drained and paved in the first quarter of the 18th century, wealthy families moved in and began building their mansions around it. The northwest corner is occupied by the 18th-century Casa de los Condes de Peñalver, today the Wifredo Lam Center for Contemporary Art.

The Cathedral itself — with its curves and flourishes above doors and windows — is Havana's finest example of 18th-century Cuban baroque. I love photographing here, especially early in the morning, when the square is still empty. By mid-morning, tour groups arrive and the calm is gone for the day.

The cathedral's most photogenic characters.

Fortune-tellers reading futures from cards, archetypal Cuban gentlemen with cigars, musicians, 19th-century ladies in lace — they all gather around this plaza. Posing with them is the most touristy thing you can do in Havana, and the photographs are quintessentially Cuban. That is exactly why they exist — don't overthink it.

A guest beside a costumed fortune-teller with cards and a cigar — The fortune-teller

A street musician playing guitar in a doorway for a group — The musician

A costumed flower-seller in traditional dress with a basket of flowers — The flower-seller

An archetypal Cuban gentleman in a white suit and hat with a cigar — The cigar gentleman

A group of friends sitting on the Malecón seawall at sunset — Sunset on "the world's longest sofa" — thousands come to sit here every evening.

A couple sitting back to back on the seawall, a vast sky above them — Set the bottom of the frame right where you're sitting — that's the trick for all that sky. Bend down low to take it.

A woman in a flowing magenta gown on the seawall, a Flying Dress shoot — The constant sea breeze makes the Malecón unbeatable for a Flying Dress shoot.

A couple on the seawall at sunset, the Morro lighthouse across the water — The stretch nearest the Prado frames the Morro lighthouse across the water.

A large group seated along the lower seawall, the Morro castle behind — By the entrance of Havana Bay the wall is lower — easy to sit on, the ocean a clean backdrop. Perfect for groups.

A couple walking the wet seawall road, a huge wave crashing behind them — On stormy afternoons the waves climb the seawall — a spectacle worth waiting out, from a safe distance.

El MalecónN° 10 / 19

N° 10 — El Malecón

El Malecón

The world's longest sofa.

The most soulful and authentically Cuban promenade in the city. I cannot think of Havana without all the moments I have spent on this seawall: drinking rum out of cardboard tetra bricks, falling in love, singing songs with a guitar. The seven kilometers of sea drive remain the most honest open-air theater in town. Locals call it "the world's longest sofa" because every night — and especially on weekends — thousands of people come simply to sit on it.

A sunset on the Malecón is an experience you do not forget. My favorite stretch is the one closest to the Prado, where you have a full view of Havana's skyline and the sky breaks into a mind-blowing display of golds, blues, and violets as the sun drops.

Two compositions to try

Set the very bottom of the frame right where you are sitting. The result is a cool effect of subject-and-sky that feels intimate, almost like a self-portrait. For groups, head to the section by the entrance of Havana Bay, where the seawall is lower and easier to sit on, and the ocean stretches out as a wide backdrop.

Photographer's note

If you are working on a Flying Dress photoshoot, the Malecón is unbeatable. The constant breeze does most of the work for you. On stormy afternoons the waves climb the seawall and crash over the road — a spectacle worth waiting out, from a safe distance.

A man kneeling to propose, the woman with hands to her face, sunset over the sea — Sunset, a quiet corner past the grass — my favorite place for a surprise proposal.

A woman in silhouette on the ramparts, the Havana skyline backlit at sunset — Expose for the bright sky and the city across the bay turns to silhouette.

A woman in a yellow dress against deep blue ocean and sky — The open Caribbean makes a clean, saturated backdrop any time of day.

A couple standing back to the camera, facing the sea under a vast cloudy sky — Face the couple out to sea — the cloud-streaked sky does the rest.

A woman reclining on the rampart wall, the Havana skyline across the water — Walk past the souvenir vendors to the far side: same view, far fewer people in frame.

A large group walking together along the fortress wall, sun flaring behind — Room enough on the ramparts for the whole group, the fortress and ocean behind.

East of Havana BayN° 11 / 19

N° 11 — Morro Castle

Morro Castle

My secret spot.

Perched on the rugged cliffs above the Caribbean Sea, the historic Morro Castle and its emblematic lighthouse date back to the late 16th century. The fortress was built to guard Havana Harbor from pirates and corsairs — an exemplary specimen of Renaissance military design. Every evening at 9 PM, a ceremonial cannon is still fired from its ramparts.

Most visitors enjoy the view from the popular spot, right by the souvenir vendors. I like to walk a little farther, past the grass on the far side, where you will find a quieter corner with the same amazing view and far fewer people in your frame.

My favorite place for a surprise proposal

The golden light of sunset, the privacy of this little corner, the music of the ocean, Cuba itself — the perfect combination for a moment you will cherish forever. This is where I bring the nervous guys with that suspicious hand in their pockets, and so far it has never disappointed. I usually ask the fiancée to look out toward the ocean for a picture, then quietly hand the camera to a friend while he kneels behind her, and… surprise. Gentlemen, if you didn't know — now you know.

A woman seated on the overlook wall with the Havana skyline and Capitolio dome across the bay — The whole skyline across the bay — Capitolio dome included, golden hour doing the rest.

A couple embracing at the base of the white marble Christ statue against a blue sky — At the feet of the twenty-metre Christ — carved from white Carrara marble.

A couple sitting on the overlook wall gazing at Havana bay and the city beyond — The esplanade wall — sit, look, and let the city pose for you.

A large group posing together in front of the Christ of Havana statue — Room for the whole crew — the plaza swallows big groups easily.

A man in a red classic convertible with the Havana skyline blurred behind him — Arrive by classic car through the harbour tunnel — the skyline rides along.

A couple walking hand in hand up the hillside path to the statue — The hillside path up from Casablanca — a little walk, a big reveal.

A woman in a white hat above the silvery bay in late light — Late light turns the bay to silver — stay for the last minutes of the day.

Casablanca, across the bayN° 12 / 19

N° 12 — El Cristo de La Habana

El Cristo de La Habana

The whole city, in one frame.

On the hill above Casablanca, across the harbour, stands a twenty-metre Christ carved from white Carrara marble by the Cuban sculptor Jilma Madera — unveiled on Christmas Eve of 1958, days before the revolution rolled into the city it watches over. The statue is remarkable up close, but the real prize is the esplanade at its feet: the widest, calmest, most complete view of Havana there is. The bay below, the Malecón curling away, the Capitolio dome rising out of the rooftops — everything you have photographed all week, in a single frame.

This is where we bring couples for proposals, families for the picture that goes over the fireplace, and anyone on their last evening who wants to say goodbye to the city properly. It is minutes away through the harbour tunnel — or, for the romantics, aboard the little ferry from Old Havana.

Where the light hits

Morning sun lights the city face-on for a crisp, postcard-sharp skyline. Late afternoon is the mood shot — the bay goes gold, then silver, and the city softens into haze. If you can only come once, come for the last two hours of the day.

Two backdrops in one stop

Shoot toward the statue first — from low at the base, it towers against the sky. Then turn around: the esplanade wall makes a natural seat with the whole city behind you. Two completely different frames, twenty steps apart.

Photographer's note

Pair it with Morro Castle and La Cabaña next door for a full across-the-bay outing — and if you stay past dark, the nine o’clock cañonazo ceremony at the fortress makes a memorable finale.

A woman in a blue patterned dress leaning on a weathered wooden fence with the turquoise sea behind — The wooden gate onto the sand — and a turquoise that needs no filter.

A woman in a beige linen dress kneeling on the white sand with palms and the old pier soft behind her — Soft linen, white sand, the old pier drifting out of focus behind.

A woman seated cross-legged at the shoreline facing the waves in early light — Sunrise belongs to you — the beach stays close to empty until mid-morning.

A woman in a pink swimsuit sitting in the white foam of a breaking wave — Sit where the waves break and let the foam do the styling.

A woman in a black swimsuit sitting in the shallow wash, looking down along the shore — The water is bath-warm most of the year — wading in is half the shoot.

A man laughing as water splashes from a fresh green coconut, palm trees behind him — A fresh coconut from the beach vendor — the only prop you'll ever need here.

Playas del EsteN° 13 / 19

N° 13 — Santa María del Mar

Santa María del Mar

Yes, Havana has a beach.

Ask any habanero where they swim and they will point east: through the harbour tunnel, past Cojímar, to the string of beaches locals call Playas del Este. Santa María del Mar is the heart of it — kilometres of white sand and genuinely turquoise water, twenty-five minutes from Parque Central. No resorts, no wristbands: this is where Havana itself goes to the sea, with coconut vendors working the sand and someone's speaker playing salsa under the palms.

For photographs it is a completely different Cuba from the streets you have been shooting all week — and the two are close enough to do in a single day. We treat it as a half-morning escape: out through the tunnel with the windows down, a good hour and a half on the sand, back before lunch.

Where the light hits

Come early. The first two hours after sunrise give you calm water, unmarked sand and soft light — by eleven the sun is straight overhead and the beach fills up. Late afternoon works too, when the light turns gold and rakes down the shore.

What to look for

The weathered wooden walkways and fences where the dunes meet the sand make the best frames — sea grape and palms behind you, turquoise ahead. And say yes to the coconut: a vendor will open one with a machete right there, and the picture makes itself.

Photographer's note

On our tours this is a two-and-a-half-hour add-on from the city — the drive out and back, about an hour of photos, and half an hour left just to swim. Bring a change of clothes and lean into anything that moves: linen, silk, hair down. The breeze does the rest.

Two women in a red convertible in front of the painted Cuban-flag wall — The Cuban-flag graffiti — the city's most photographed street art, and almost nobody finds it.

A couple framed in a tall carved Art Nouveau wooden doorway — Carved Art Nouveau doors with delicate floral motifs — a fashion photographer's favourite set.

A couple in a classic convertible sharing a cigar against the flag wall — Park a convertible against the flag wall and let the details do the work.

A woman in orange standing in a colonnaded arcade with green columns — Art Nouveau facades and columned arcades pack a stunning Cuban vibe into a few blocks.

A large group with two classic cars in front of the flag-and-Che mural — Hollywood shot Fast & Furious here — there's room for a whole group and two cars.

Calle CárdenasN° 14 / 19

N° 14 — Calle Cárdenas

Calle Cárdenas

What tourists want, but can't find.

This block happens to be the top choice for Hollywood films (Fast & Furious 7) and music videos (Enrique Iglesias) looking for an instantly readable, stunning Cuban vibe. Every fashion photographer I have worked with has also picked this short stretch as one of their main sets. The reason: a unique mix of Art Nouveau facades, carved wooden doors with delicate floral motifs, and street art, all packed into a few blocks.

The Cuban-flag graffiti on Cárdenas has become the most recognized piece of street art in the city — and almost nobody finds it. It sits five blocks from the Capitolio, completely outside the main tourist routes. Now you know.

A woman in a yellow flying dress on a pink convertible below the giant CUBA cinema sign — The giant 'CUBA' sign over a 1950s film palace — a flying dress adds the only motion to a still scene.

A woman in white beside a hot pink convertible under the lit CUBA neon sign at night — Come back after dark — the neon kicks on and the whole facade transforms.

Centro HabanaN° 15 / 19

N° 15 — Cine Cuba

Cine Cuba

A forgotten film palace.

One of many abandoned neighborhood cinemas in Havana — a city that, during the 1950s, had nearly 150 of them, putting it among the most cinema-dense cities in the world. This building, originally called Cine Colonial, was a typical neighborhood cinema in the heart of Centro Habana, built on two levels with a total capacity of 900 spectators.

Today the cinematic temple is far from any cultural activity. Locals say it spent a stretch as a martial arts and dance academy for the people of the area. Its architecture and the giant "Cuba" sign make it without a doubt one of the city's most photogenic abandoned facades — and the air feels authentic, far from the polished tourist routes of Old Havana.

Photographer's note

The neon sign turns on at night. If you can swing both visits, photograph the facade in late afternoon for the architecture, then come back after dark for the neon glow.

A couple at the painted frame on La Guarida's rooftop, Centro Habana skyline framed inside — The painted frame on the main rooftop turns Centro Habana's skyline into a hung artwork.

A group posing in La Guarida's yellow dining room hung with framed photographs — Every salon is dressed with theatrical care — the yellow dining room most of all.

A couple under chandeliers in the faded grand ballroom with yellow columns — Chandeliers and faded columns in the ballroom — pure Orson Welles set.

A couple on La Guarida's rooftop, the Capitolio dome closing the Havana skyline — Up on the rooftop, the Capitolio dome closes the skyline behind you.

A woman in a flowing dress twirling between sheets of white lace hung to dry — Sheets of lace hung to dry make an unexpected, luminous backdrop.

A woman in black holding red roses by the spiral staircase and painted Cuban flag — The spiral staircase and the painted Cuban flag — a quintessential frame.

A man in white in front of the Cuban flag and martyrs mural on the stairwell — The flag-and-martyrs mural on the way up — a portrait worth pausing for.

Centro Habana · RooftopN° 16 / 19

N° 16 — La Guarida

La Guarida

Cuba's favorite place for celebrities — from Queen Sofía to Beyoncé and Jay-Z.

You might mistake this for an Orson Welles set, but you are actually looking at the entrance to the most legendary private restaurant in Cuba. The grand staircase leads upward to an unmatched combination of culinary surprises, exquisite cocktails, and — my favorite part — an incredible view over Centro Habana.

Set in a palace from the start of the 20th century, every square meter has been exquisitely decorated to combine authentic Cuban atmosphere with something close to theater. Each floor offers endless photo opportunities, but the two rooftops are the highlight.

The main rooftop

An enormous painted frame turns the city skyline into a piece of art — a concept I adore. You can have a drink or a full meal up here; in fact, this rooftop is where people come to eat when they cannot get a reservation downstairs.

The upper terrace

Up one more staircase, above the main rooftop, sits a smaller second terrace with a panoramic view. Bring your drinks up here for a more intimate space, especially good for golden hour.

Photographer's note

Reservations are essential. La Guarida books out weeks in advance, especially in high season. If you cannot get a table downstairs, head straight to the rooftop and you will still get an unforgettable experience.

A couple toasting at a table framed in an open doorway that opens onto the sea — Old shutters open straight onto the seawall — frame the couple in the doorway.

A group on the colorful rooftop terrace, the open sea stretching out behind — The colorful rooftop terrace looks clean out over the Malecón and the open sea.

A woman relaxing in the rooftop jacuzzi, bamboo screen behind her — The little jacuzzi terrace doubles as a playful photo set.

A man in a printed shirt at a balcony table looking out over the seawall — Every floor is its own world — artist-decorated, music on each landing.

An overhead shot of a woman posing in a red classic convertible from above — My trick: close a classic-car tour here and shoot straight down from the second floor.

El Malecón · BoutiqueN° 17 / 19

N° 17 — Malecón 663

Malecón 663

Where history meets horizon.

Right on Havana's iconic seafront, Malecón 663 is a delightful blend of vintage charm and modern flair. A 20th-century house renovated in 2016, it stands out for its boutique style and a musical sensibility that runs through every floor.

The true highlight is the rooftop terrace. The colorful, modern outdoor space offers panoramic views over the ocean and the city, paired with delicious snacks, refreshing cocktails, and a vibrant lineup of live music ranging from Latin jazz to traditional Cuban rhythms. There is also a small jacuzzi terrace that doubles as a wonderful photo spot.

Across all of its floors, from the artful lobby to the stylish second-floor bar, each space is its own little world — the result of a thoughtful collaboration with top street artists and designers that makes this private hostal feel less like a hotel and more like an ongoing art project.

My favorite single trick

Schedule the second-floor bar as the finale of a vintage-car tour. While your driver waits for five minutes outside, have your photographer head up to the second floor and shoot down at the classic car below. One of the cleanest, most cinematic compositions in the city.

A woman in a colorful patchwork robe under the carved Hamel arch with a red lantern — The carved entrance arch — two blocks of pure Afro-Cuban art beyond.

An Afro-Cuban rumba dancer in a bright yellow dress laughing, drummers playing behind her against the painted Hamel murals — The Sunday rumba — dancers and drummers, the reason to time your visit for noon.

Centro HabanaN° 18 / 19

N° 18 — Callejón de Hamel

Callejón de Hamel

Afro-Cuban Havana, two blocks long and unforgettable.

In the late 1980s, the painter and sculptor Salvador González Escalona started painting the walls of a single side street in Centro Habana with bold murals celebrating Afro-Cuban religion, music, and history. Forty years later, Callejón de Hamel is the most concentrated piece of Afro-Cuban public art in the country — a two-block alley dense with painted walls, repurposed bathtubs turned into sculptures, hand-built shrines to the orishas of Santería, and quotes by Cuban writers and African philosophers carved into the surfaces.

Time it for Sunday

Every Sunday around noon, the alley hosts a live rumba performance. Drummers, dancers, and singers fill the small space, the crowd presses in close, and the whole place comes alive in a way that the still photographs do not fully capture. Arrive a little before noon to claim a spot, and bring small bills for the musicians.

Photo angles

The alley is narrow — a gift and a challenge. A wide lens (24mm equiv.) lets you fit the saturated walls behind a subject. Get low and shoot up at the more elaborate murals; they were painted to be experienced that way. The bathtub sculptures along the walls make wonderful frames for environmental portraits. During Sunday rumba, prioritize wide shots that include the crowd.

Photographer's note

Always ask before photographing performers up close, and tip the band whether or not you photograph them. The performance keeps the alley alive — it deserves to be supported, not just consumed.

A woman in an orange dress standing above the rapids of the Almendares river — The Almendares rapids — running water and deep green, minutes from Vedado.

A woman in white walking beneath a huge curtain of hanging vines — The curtain of hanging roots — the frame that makes everyone ask “this is Havana?”

A couple leaning on an old stone bridge surrounded by lianas — The old stone bridge — mossy, half-swallowed by the forest, made for portraits.

A bride and groom crossing the stones of the Almendares river — Crossing the river stones — the train of a dress against the water.

A bride in a veil turning on a sunlit forest path — Late light on the forest path — gold falling through the canopy.

A couple seated under a giant vine-covered tree by the river — Under the giant jagüey — its vine-covered trunk dwarfs whoever poses beneath it.

Almendares RiverN° 19 / 19

N° 19 — El Bosque de La Habana

El Bosque de La Habana

A rainforest, ten minutes from the Malecón.

Havana keeps a secret that even many habaneros take for granted: a genuine stretch of tropical forest inside the city, draped along the banks of the Almendares river. Giant jagüey trees drop curtains of aerial roots to the ground, vines swallow whole trunks, and the light turns green and soft the moment you step under the canopy. Photographs taken here look like another country — and it sits ten minutes from Vedado.

This is where we come when a couple wants something nobody expects from a Havana album: jungle frames, river crossings, a bride’s train trailing over mossy stones. It is also blissfully quiet. While the crowds queue for classic cars downtown, the forest gives you space, shade, and the sound of running water.

Where the light hits

Under the canopy the light is kind almost all day, but the magic hours are mid-morning, when sunbeams slant through the trees, and late afternoon, when the path lights up gold. After heavy rain the river runs full and the rapids photograph beautifully.

Two angles I love

The curtain of hanging roots works like a living backdrop wall — stand your subject a few steps in front of it and let it fill the frame. And from the bank, shoot along the river with the rapids in the foreground; it reads like a rainforest even though the city is a stone’s throw behind you.

Photographer's note

Wear shoes you don’t mind getting muddy and let us guide the river crossings — the stones are slippery. The forest is a living, sacred place for many locals; if you come across offerings by the water, we photograph around them, never over them.

A woman in a green dress beside a mosaic mushroom-roof gazebo in Fusterlandia — Find a mosaic tower, frame your subject against it, let the tile fill the background.

Two women in front of Fuster's red mosaic heart and white hands sculpture — The red mosaic heart and the white hands sculpture — Fuster's most recognized icons.

The mosaic-tiled pool patio at Fuster's house, columns and walls covered in tile — The pool patio at Fuster's house — every tile and column hand-laid.

A group of three by the heart and hands sculpture under blue sky — Room enough for the whole group at the heart and hands.

An elevated view over the whole of Fusterlandia — mosaic rooftops, sculptures, and the tiled pool — The view from above — the whole mosaic world Fuster built, in a single frame.

Jaimanitas, 20km westFINALE

FINALE — Fusterlandia

Fusterlandia

Worth the drive — every time.

Twenty kilometers west of Old Havana, in the fishing neighborhood of Jaimanitas, the artist José Fuster spent four decades covering his house, his neighbors' houses, the local school, the bus stop, and entire blocks of public space with hand-laid ceramic mosaics. The result is something between Gaudí's Park Güell and a fever dream: bright tile, towering whimsical sculptures, mosaic roosters, mosaic palm trees, mosaic everything.

Fuster's foundation now keeps the project alive, and his house at the center of it all is open to visitors. There is no entry fee, but a donation is expected and well deserved. The interesting details are in the corners and the small backyards, not the obvious main facades.

How to get there

By classic car: about USD 40 round-trip from Old Havana, including waiting time. Negotiate beforehand. By taxi: about USD 20 each way via La Nave or yellow cab; arrange a return pickup — the neighborhood is residential and quiet.

When to go

Mornings are the best photographic window. The mosaics reflect light beautifully when the sun is still climbing, the tiles look luminous, and the crowds have not arrived yet. Aim for 9 to 10:30 AM.

Photo angles

Treat Fusterlandia like a series of small, dense compositions rather than one big landscape. Find a single tower, frame your subject against it, fill the background with mosaic. Then walk five steps and find the next one. The portraits that come out are unlike anything else in Havana — saturated, layered, unmistakably one place.

Havana'sInstagram Guide

Welcome to Havana — and thank you for joining the tour.

Cuba in 30 seconds.

What to sort out before you board.

Visa & entry

Money

Data & Wi-Fi

When to come

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Three hours, one solid loop.

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A week in Cuba.

The romantic trip.

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For music lovers.

Settings, light & the tricks I learned the hard way.

The most important variable in this city.

Composition habits.

If you're shooting on a phone.

Directing the people in front of you.

Classic cars, both ways.

After sunset, a different city.

Camera settings, by scene.

Common mistakes I gently correct on most of my tours.

Or skip the learning curve — bring a photographer.

One route through Havana, twenty photographs.

Photo spots, one by one — in the order I would walk them.

Colorful Houses

El Capitolio

Abbey Road, Cuban Version

Paseo del Prado

Down the Prado Street

Doors of Havana

Square of the Angel

Calle Cuarteles Galleries

Plaza de la Catedral

The cathedral's most photogenic characters.

El Malecón

Morro Castle

El Cristo de La Habana

Santa María del Mar

Calle Cárdenas

Cine Cuba

La Guarida

Malecón 663

Callejón de Hamel

El Bosque de La Habana

Fusterlandia

This is the exact route our sessions follow.

Small habits and a handful of phrases that will change your trip.

Twenty words of Spanish.

Tipping, plainly.

Photographing people, briefly.

What not to photograph.

Where I send friends.

Eat

Drink & Dance

Move & Know

The photographs will come. The stories will come.

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