The Cuban capital, rich in centuries-old traditions, architecture, culture and a good Caribbean climate, also offers tourist facilities closely linked to the environment, some of which are located by the sea.

The fast development of Cuba's tourism industry over the past few years has resulted in the construction of hotels, villas and inns everywhere to meet the growing demand from foreign vacationers.

In addition, thousands of hotel rooms are complemented by a broad extrahotel infrastructure where tourists can enjoy shows and sports activities, as well as visiting commercial establishments and restaurants where Cuban and international cuisine plays a special role.

The city of Havana, Cuba's major tourist destination, is one of the places where urban facilities and the sea are closely linked.

One of those areas is the Malecón (seaside drive), one of the main avenues in the city, where waves break along a wall that runs parallel to the coast.

The Malecón is a five-kilometer avenue that runs from the Bay of Havana – in the east – to the Almendares River – in the west.

For many people, the Malecón is the true pulse of the city, where people's lives, loves, sadness and meetings take place.

Many buildings that are Havana's landmarks, like the hotels Riviera and Nacional, are on the Malecón.

The Riviera, which is close to the Meliá Cohíba Hotel, provides entertainment options such as the legendary Copa Room Cabaret, where tourists can enjoy good Cuban music.

The hotel also offers the services of the Bar Elegante, the Restaurant L'Aiglon and the terrace Mirador Habana, in addition to being an excellent place to hold meetings, events and parties.

Those who prefer to enjoy a good meal by the sea can visit the 1830 Restaurant, which is on the westernmost tip of the Malecón and which might become a flag restaurant in Havana in a short term.

Beautiful railings, stained-glass windows and wooden balconies characterize the neoclassic style of the 1830 Restaurant, where customers can taste exquisite dishes from Cuban and international cuisine.

A sort of sentinel of the city is the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, owned by the group Gran Caribe and the flag hotel in Cuba's tourism industry. The hotel was declared a National Monument and was designated Humankind's Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1982.

The Hotel Nacional de Cuba is also among the world's top ten Palace Hotels and was the only five-star establishment in the Caribbean region from the 1930s to the 1950s.