Guantánamo Province
It's hard not to love this scene: a traditional music house with old men in Panama hats dancing athletically.
Must-see entertainment in Cuba
Havana
Havana's permanent 'Big Top,' with a weekend matinee featuring strongmen, contortionists and acrobats.
Camagüey
For serious live theater, head to this venue, which has quality Spanish-language performances.
Ciego de Ávila Province
Vibrant alfresco music house with popular Wednesday comedy night.
Camagüey Province
Has a pleasant patio bar and a cabaret with live music nightly.
Estadio de Béisbol Guillermón Moncada
Santiago de Cuba
During the baseball season, from October to April, this stadium hosts games at 7:30pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, and 1:30pm Sunday (MN$1)…
Regla, Guanabacoa & the Forts
The building of the former Liceo (writers' and artists' club) dates from 1861; José Martí gave his first public speech here in 1879. Today it's Guanabacoa…
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago's huge, modern theater and convention center went up during the city refurbishment in the early 1990s. Rock and folk concerts often take place in…
Matanzas Province
Housed in a beautiful but faded colonial building with stained glass and an interior patio, this place is a restaurant during the day, but a musical venue…
Vedado
This venue was designed to strengthen cultural solidarity between the ALBA nations (Latin American and Caribbean countries that make up the Bolivarian…
Trinidad
The local ARTex patio cranks up at 10pm with a salsa orchestra (on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) or a folklore show (Friday). If you…
Santiago de Cuba
The old-timers label (abuelos means grandparents) carries a certain amount of truth. This relaxed live-music house is a bastion for traditional son sung…
Pinar del Río Province
Reports vary on the nocturnal action at this state-run restaurant and entertainment center on the edge of the city. There's so-so food during the day and…
Gimnasio de Boxeo Rafael Trejo
Habana Vieja
Boxing is hugely popular in Cuba and the country has a long list of Olympic gold medals to demonstrate its skills. Enthusiasts should check out this gym,…
Estadio General Calixto García
Holguín
Mosey on down to this stadium to see Holguín's baseball team, former giant-killers the Perros (dogs), who snatched the national championship from under…
Sociedad Cultural Rosalia de Castro
Havana
A slightly cheaper alternative to the nearby Guajirito, this venue puts on nightly shows that don’t stray too far from the classic Buena Vista Social Club…
Sancti Spíritus
This landmark 1876 architectural icon next to the Puente Yayabo still shines after a comprehensive clean-up. It has weekend matinees (at 10am) with kids'…
Santa Clara
From October to April, you can catch baseball games in this stadium east of the center via Calle 9 de Abril. Villa Clara, nicknamed Las Naranjas (the…
Bayamo
You can catch heartfelt boleros (danceable Cuban ballads)on the flowery patio here in the former home of disgraced first president Tomás Estrada Palma,…
Cominado Deportivo Henry García Suárez
Holguín
You can catch boxing matches at this spit-and-sawdust gym on the western side of Parque Peralta, where three Olympic medalists have trained. If you can…
Compañia Danzaría Folklórica Kokoyé
Santiago de Cuba
One of the more modern folkloric groups formed in 1989 to promote Afro-Cuban dance to tourists. They can be seen performing on Saturday evenings and…
Bayamo
Just as the rest of the world fell for the exoticism of the Buena Vista Social Club, Cubans fell for the downright brilliance of the Fab Four. This quirky…
Vedado
Cuba's much-loved puppet theater, founded in 1963, is housed in this small 210-seat venue under the Focsa building. It puts on regular shows with a strong…
Bayamo
This cinema is on the western side of Parque Céspedes by the post office. It offers everything from Gutiérrez Alea to the latest Hollywood blockbuster …
Centro Cultural Batería Fernando VII
Holguín Province
The diminutive Spanish fort hovering above the choppy ocean is today an atmospheric cultural center run by ARTex. It puts on weekend shows and serves food…
Matanzas
A good starlit night out for a fraction of the price of your standard Cuban cabaret, Las Palmas, overseen by the state-run cultural arm, Artex, has…
Pinar del Río Province
The musical half of an eponymous restaurant, and rated highly by locals, this nightly cabaret takes place in an enormous open-air patio decorated with…
Ciego de Ávila Province
There are occasional concerts on the courtyard stage of this graceful colonial building, and a bar decked out in tribal art out back. Check the…
Cayo Coco
This natural cave is the only non-all-inclusive entertainment venue in Cayo Coco, although 95% of the audience will be 'all-inclusivers.' It features a…
Havana
The slightly down-at-heel Estadio Pedro Marrero holds 28,000 spectators and is used mainly for soccer games – internationals and playoffs in the Liga…
Holguín
The best of a quintet of city-center cinemas, this is the spot for big-screen movies, with occasional English-language films with Spanish subtitles. It's…
Varadero
An ARTex cultural center on the edge of Varadero town, offering concerts, shows, dancing, karaoke and plenty of local flavor. Check the current schedule…
Santiago de Cuba
You can catch the Sinfónica del Oriente at this former church on Plaza de Dolores, plus the impressive children's choir (at 5pm). The event calendar is…
Villa Clara Province
If you get sick of Kyle from Kitchener, Ontario, hogging the karaoke machine, head over to this jazz bar in the Plaza La Estrella shopping center for…
Sancti Spíritus
From October to April, baseball games are held at this stadium, 1km north of the bus station. The provincial team Los Gallos (the Roosters) last tasted…
Cienfuegos
From October to April the provincial baseball team – nicknamed Los Elefantes – plays matches here. Its best-ever national series finish was fourth in 1979.
Vedado
Basketball and volleyball games – and, more recently, judo and indoor football – are held at this tatty-looking sports hall opposite the main bus station.
Casa de las Promociones Musicales 'La Guantanamera'
Guantánamo Province
A well-maintained concert-oriented venue, with Thursday rap peñas (performances) and Sunday trova (traditional poetic singing) matinees.
Camagüey
Former cinema reincarnated in 2014 as a fount of video-art, with a 3D room. The on-site Galería Pixel shows revolving documentary films.
Biblioteca Provincial Rubén Martínez Villena
Sancti Spíritus
On Parque Serafín Sánchez, a grand entrance leads into a marble hall, curving staircases and pink walls. Concerts and events are sometimes held here.
