Havana, a major destination visited by thousands of foreign tourists who spend their vacations in Cuba every year, offers a wide range of attractions for recreation and leisure.

Cuba's largest city treasures the most relevant facilities linked to tourism, culture, history and even beaches.

Havana's attractions are complemented by the coastal area known as Playas del Este (Eastern Beaches), where tourists can be in direct contact with nature.

Among the most famous establishments in Havana is the Inglaterra Hotel is the oldest in Cuba. It was inaugurated on December 23, 1875, and its name honored the world's major power at the time, England. After being rebuilt in 1886, it became the world's best hotel.

Another establishments in Havana is the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, which is across from the Malecón seafront drive and was declared a National Monument.

The hotel, which ranked among the top ten Palace Hotels in the world, was the only five-star hotel in the Caribbean region from the 1930s to the 1950s.

Lodging facilities are complemented by restaurants and cafeterias of different categories and styles, where costumers can eat fast food, or enjoy the establishment's history and traditions.

Among the world-famous restaurants is La Bodeguita del Medio, which is regarded as the Mecca of roast pork and Cuban typical cuisine.

La B del M, as it is also known, is a few steps from Cathedral Square (207 Empedrado St.), a busy area in Old Havana. The restaurant is also famous for its Mojito, a mix of Cuban light rum, mint, lemon, ice and sugar.

Another famous establishment in the Cuban capital is the Restaurant 1830, which is on the western tip of Havana's Malecón (seafront) and which was inaugurated in the 19th century as Arana Restaurant.

The 200-seat Restaurant 1830 offers several rooms that can be turned into private spaces for special occasions.

Seafood lovers prefer to eat at La Terraza de Cojímar, where they can also enjoy a fascinating marine environment in a fishing town.

The establishment was inaugurated in 1925 in the coastal town of Cojímar, where it functioned as a mixed storehouse named Las Arecas and was a property of Don Manuel García Rodríguez. It was located on the town's oldest street: Calzada Real de la Reina Isabel II.

As time went by, Las Arecas became a modest restaurant for local fishermen and nonresidents, until it was acquired by Salvador Blanco, who called it La Terraza and made it famous with involuntary support from US novelist Ernest Hemingway.

In addition, Havana has a broad network of museums, cultural institutions and sports facilities which are an indispensable complement to recreational programs.