Cienfuegos, Cuba: travel guide
The "Pearl of the South" — a UNESCO-listed 19th-century French-influenced bay city with a graceful neoclassical centre and the Palacio de Valle.
- Country
- Cuba
- Currency
- CUP
- Time zone
- America/Havana
- Nearest airport
- CFG
Top places to visit in Cienfuegos
Parque José Martí
Heritage · about 0.7 h
The elegant central square of the UNESCO city, with the Arco de Triunfo, marble Martí statue and bandstand.
Teatro Tomás Terry
Cultural · about 0.8 h · entry USD 3
A jewel-box 1890 theatre with frescoed ceiling and Carrara-marble foyer on Parque Martí.
Palacio de Valle
Heritage · about 0.8 h
An extravagant Moorish-Venetian-Gothic mansion (1917) at Punta Gorda, now a restaurant with a rooftop terrace.
Palacio Ferrer
Viewpoint · about 0.5 h · entry USD 2
Blue-domed 1918 mansion (Casa de la Cultura) whose tower gives a rooftop view of the centre.
Catedral de la Purísima Concepción
Church · about 0.5 h
The city cathedral (1869) with French stained-glass apostles, on Parque Martí.
Museo Provincial de Cienfuegos
Museum · about 0.8 h · entry USD 3
Decorative-arts and history museum in a mansion on the main square.
Malecón de Cienfuegos
Viewpoint · about 0.7 h
The bayfront drive linking the centre to Punta Gorda, a local sunset promenade.
Cementerio de la Reina
Heritage · about 0.7 h · entry USD 2
An 1837 cemetery with the famous "Sleeping Beauty" marble monument.
Castillo de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Jagua
Fort · about 1.3 h · entry USD 3
A 1745 fortress guarding the bay mouth, reached by ferry from the city.
Museo Histórico Naval Nacional
Museum · about 1 h · entry USD 3
Cuba's national naval museum at the former Cayo Loco base.
Things to do
- El Nicho Waterfalls Day Trip Hiking · 8 h · from USD 45 per person
- Bay Boat Trip to Castillo de Jagua Boat · 5 h · from USD 25 per person
- Cienfuegos Architecture Walking Tour Tour · 2 h · from USD 15 per person
- Palacio de Valle Sunset Cocktail Food · 1.5 h · from USD 15 per person
Day trips and tours
- Cienfuegos & El Nicho Day 9 h · from USD 60
Where to stay in Cienfuegos
- Punta Gorda about CUP 70 per night
The scenic bayside spit with the Palacio de Valle, waterfront paladares and sunset views.
- Centro (Parque Martí) about CUP 55 per night
The neoclassical UNESCO centre around Parque José Martí, theatre and cathedral.
Hotels
- Meliá La Unión 5-star
- Hostal Colonial D+D (Casa Particular) 3-star
- Hostal Amigos del Mundo (Casa Particular) 2-star
- Casa La Inglesa (Casa Particular) 2-star
Where to eat
- Restaurante Bahía Seafood, Cuban · about USD 15 per person
- Casa Prado International, Cuban · about USD 15 per person
- Doña Nora Cuban · about USD 14 per person
- El Mirador Cuban, International · about USD 15 per person
- Paladar Aché International, Cuban · about USD 16 per person
- Pizza Piazza Italian, Pizza · about USD 10 per person
Getting around
- Shared Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.