Location: Santiago de Cuba
Top Things to do in Santiago de Cuba
What to do and see in Santiago de Cuba, Santiago de Cuba Province: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do
Entertainment can be experienced in a variety of ways in Santiago de Cuba. Your ears may find comfort in the Casa de Las Tradiciones, a venue of the Trivoli neighborhood where Cuba's finest musicians gather for improvisation; your mouth, in Paladar Salon Tropical, where mainstays of the national cuisine arrive in generous portions; your eyes, in the Jardin de Los Helechos, home to a floral explosion of 90 types of orchids and 350 types of ferns.The gentile Tivolí district, some of Santiago de Cuba's most exciting ensembles, singers and soloists take turns improvising. Friday nights are reserved for straight-up, classic trova, à la Ñico Saquito and the like.
Restaurants in Santiago de Cuba
1. Casa de las Tradiciones
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 51 reviews
Reviewed By Wytham - Oxford, United Kingdom
Do not miss this place! Total heaven for music lovers. Small and intimate with different live bands starting at about 21:00. The place is a little out of the centre, but it makes for a very atmospheric walk there and back (even though the back- streets are dark and have lots of people hanging around they are completely safe: we walked to the venue and back on 3 consecutive nights and felt no threat whatsoever - quite the opposite- we loved It!). You have to pay 2 CUC to get in but it's really worth it, with good drinks service from friendly staff. The atmosphere was so wonderful with a good mixture of a few tourists and plenty of locals. If you want to dance, just do it! There are local male and female dancers to accompany you if you are by yourself or your partner is shy! This place was a highlight of our tour.
2. Diego Velazquez Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 297 reviews
Reviewed By 227ianc - London, United Kingdom
The museum is in fact two houses joined together. At the front is the oldest house in Santiago de Cuba - some say in Cuba itself, constructed from 1516 to 1530 for the governor Diego Velazquez, with historic Mudejar-style interiors; it is then connected to a later house at the rear to create a substantial museum which displays Cuban furniture and decorative arts from the 16th century onwards, in rooms which have been sensitively restored. Definitely worth visiting both for the architecture and for the collections on display. There is also a furnace previously used to make gold ingots. from a time when the building was used as a 'House of Transactions'. The assistants are helpful in explaining things, though generally in Spanish.
3. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 284 reviews
Reviewed By Betula103 - Australia, null
Originally constructed in 1526 the cathedral has been destroyed by earthquake on four occasions, the last occasion being in 1932. It is architecturally imposing with two marble statues in the front and is also quite beautiful inside.
4. Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,038 reviews
Reviewed By Vallero - Deep River, Canada
An impressive fortress built to protect the entrance to the Santiago harbour that has been restored to its original splendour. Beyond a doubt it is a must see location when visiting the city.
5. Casa de La Trova
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 242 reviews
Reviewed By 453aleksandars - Toronto, Canada
They say that there is no musician in Cuba that did not play here. There is matinee at 6 PM and evening show at 9 PM. I've been both. Crazy place. Fantastic music and everybody dancing. I Could go there every evening. Right in the center of Santiago.
6. Santa Ifigenia Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 735 reviews
This cementery houses tombs for such historic notables as José Marti and Emilio Bacardi including graves from those who fought for revolution.
Reviewed By 515acej - Chicago, United States
Both Cuban heroes are buried here. Fidel’s ashes are buried inside a large rock. Every 30 minutes there is a changing of the guard ceremony well worth watching. This is a quiet landscaped cemetery with much Cuban history.
7. La Gran Piedra (The Big Rock)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 372 reviews
Reviewed By Vallero - Deep River, Canada
The view from the top of La Gran Piedra is amazing, but more interesting is how the climate changes from tropical to pine forests as you ascend the mountain. All in all it is a beautiful location. In addition to the mountain itself there is a restored 18th century coffee plantation to visit and a spectacular botanical garden nearby. There are more than than 400 stairs from the parking area to the top of the rock. It is not a mountain climb but be prepared for a bit of exercise.
8. casa Velasquez
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 99 reviews
Reviewed By Betula103 - Australia, null
This house in central Santiago de Cuba is possibly the oldest house in Cuba and dates from the very early 1500's. It now houses an outstanding museum with furnishings from the 16th to 19th centuries. I have already reviewed the museum itself in detail.
9. Jardin Ave del Paraiso
10. Jardin de los Helechos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By dianedinky
I wasn't expecting much from this visit as I wondered how much could grow at such a height up - but how wrong I was! It is a truly magnificent place with an abundance of ferns and orchids to see, all beautifully laid out and cared for. The views of the surrounding mountains were also breathtaking and the whole experience was further enhanced by a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable English speaking guy. One of my favourite days in my 2wks in Cuba. I wondered when I got back why so few people seem to have been here as it should be a top attraction...but then I remembered it is quite a bit out and involves a very bumpy ride in a 4x4 to get there. Well worth it though if you can do it.
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