Havana

Introduction
Character of the city
Landscape
- City site
- Climate
- City layout
People
Economy
- Manufacturing
- Finance and other services
- Transportation
Administration and society
- Government
- Municipal services
- Health
- Education
Cultural life
History
- Foundation and early growth
- Development as a major new world port
- Alliance with the United States
- The city under Castro

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Exploring Havana: The culturally rich capital of Cuba

Walk around and witness the restoration work in Old Havana

At a Glance

Havana summary

Quizzes

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Related Questions

During which months does Havana receive its heaviest rainfall?
How did Cuba become independent from Spain in 1898?
How did Cuba’s government respond to Havana’s economic shortages after the Soviet Union dissolved?
How did Havana become an important meeting point for Spanish treasure fleets?
How did Havana’s deepwater harbour help the city grow?
How did restoration projects change Old Havana during the late 20th century?
How did the British occupation of Havana affect trade between Europe and the Americas?
How did the Cuban Revolution change the use of affluent suburban homes and private country clubs in Havana?
How did the Malecón shape Havana’s coastal cityscape?
How did the National Schools of Art try to express Cuban cultural identity?
How did the collapse of the Soviet Union affect Havana’s economy in 1991?
How did the sugar trade contribute to Havana’s early wealth?
How did the transatlantic slave trade shape Havana’s history and population?
How do Old Havana, Vedado, and the newer suburbs differ from one another?
How does Havana’s climate stay mild throughout the year?
How does the National Folklore Group preserve Afro-Cuban dance traditions?
How is Carnival celebrated along Havana’s Malecón?
What role did Plaza de la Revolución play in Fidel Castro’s public speeches?
When did Havana become Cuba’s de facto capital under Spanish rule?
Where is Havana located in Cuba?
Where is José Martí International Airport located in relation to downtown Havana?
Which architectural styles can be seen in Old Havana?
Which foreign sea powers attacked Havana during the 16th and 17th centuries?
Which form of public transportation is most important within Havana?
Which government leaders lived in the Palace of the Captains General?
Which major government buildings surround the José Martí monument in Plaza de la Revolución?
Why are the streets of Old Havana narrow and lined with balconies?
Why did Cuba’s revolutionary government support study of African influences on Cuban culture?
Why did Havana become an important trading centre for the United States during the 1800s?
Why did Havana promote tourism and foreign investment after 1991?
Why did Havana’s population become more internationally diverse during the late 18th century?
Why did Soviet ships and goods become common in Havana after 1959?
Why did Spanish authorities build forts around Havana Harbour?
Why did Spanish colonizers move Havana from its original site near Batabanó to the north coast in 1519?
Why did a royal decree call Havana the “Key to the New World”?
Why is Havana the hub of Cuba’s transportation system?
Why is the Bacardi Building a major example of Art Deco architecture in Havana?
Why is the Cathedral of Havana considered an important example of Italian Baroque design?
Why was Old Havana designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982?
Why was a tunnel built beneath the entrance to Havana Bay?
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Who established the American colonies?
What pushed the American colonies toward independence?
When did the American colonies declare independence?
Why did Daniel Ortega cancel elections in Nicaragua?
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What is Mexico City’s significance?

Geography & Travel Cities & Towns Cities & Towns H-L

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External Websites

Jewish Virtual Library - Havana
UNESCO World Heritage Convention - Old Havana and its Fortification System

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Havana - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Havana - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Havana

national capital, Cuba

Also known as: La Habana

Written by

James Nelson Goodsell

Knight Professor of Journalism, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida. Editor of Fidel Castro's Personal Revolution in Cuba: 1959–1973 and others.

James Nelson Goodsell

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 13, 2026 •History

Havana, city, capital, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. It also constitutes one of Cuba’s 15 provinces: Ciudad de la Habana (City of Havana). The city is located on La Habana (Havana) Bay on the island’s north coast. It is the largest city in the Caribbean region and has one of the great treasuries of historic colonial preserves in the Western Hemisphere. Prior to 1959, when Fidel Castro came to power, it was...

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