Since the Spanish came to Cuba in the 16th century there have been a series of architectural styles that took root in Cuba. This tour around the city will take you to iconic landmarks in Old Havana as well as the more modern neighborhoods. Along the way you’ll see incredible examples of art deco as well as neoclassical architecture.

These are the buildings that you will cover on the tour:

Capitolio Nacional

Cuba’s capitol building was built in the 1920s. Its Doric columns make it a distinctly neoclassical building. It looks a lot like the capitol building in Washington D.C., but is somewhat larger.

Former Palacio Presidencial

This served as the president’s palace from the 1920s until the 1950s, when Castro overthrew President Battista. Inside this building you can visit the Museum of the Revolution.

Bacardi Building

The Bacardi building is an incredible example of Art Deco architecture, with a colorful exterior that features statues of nymphs and geometric patterns. It started out as the Bacardi headquarters in 1930, and was one of the city’s first skyscrapers.

Universidad de la Habana

The University of Havana shows off some of the grandest neoclassical architecture in all of Havana.

Hotel Nacional (with a visit to the Hall of History)

The National Hotel is known for its incredible roster of former guests. Everyone who was anyone used to book a room at the National Hotel, It opened in 1930, and notorious American mobsters held pivotal meetings here during the 1940s.

On the outside the building has a distinctly Spanish interpretation of neoclassical architecture, with Moorish-styles tiles. Inside the building you can see an elegant, Art Deco-style staircase. In the Hall of History you’ll learn more about this building’s storied past.

Edificio Focsa and Lopez-Serrano

These buildings exemplify the art deco architecture, and both were designed to serve as apartment buildings. In its day the Focsa building was considered an engineering marvel because of how quickly it was built. Inside Lopez-Serrano you can see a decorative relief called El Tiempo, which is one of Cuba’s most treasured works of art.

Sunglasses and a camera.

Guided tour.