Miramar

Miramar is some 16 km west of the old city on the west side of the Río Almendares, and easily reached by bus. Access is via two road tunnels or bridges. Although there are many beautiful art nouveau and other houses from the early 20th century, the area is now being developed into a modern city with glossy new hotels for business people with state-of-the-art fitness and business centres. Most of the embassies are here, which always implies a certain status and level of comfort. It has the appearance of a wealthy suburb with broad avenues and neatly aligned rectangular blocks.

Avenida Primera (first) runs closest to the sea, which is rocky and not recommended for bathing (use the hotel pool instead), Avenidas Tercera (third), Quinta (fifth) and Séptima (seventh) run parallel, with the tunnels to Vedado at the end of Avenidas 5 and 7. Some of the best restaurants are in Miramar and there are good places to go at night, including the internationally famous Tropicana cabaret show to the south and some great places to go to listen to music and dance the night away.