Plaza de Armas

Plaza de Armas, the oldest square of Havana

Plaza de Armas is the oldest square of Havana, the heart of the foundation of the city. The Havana audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this shaded square, surrounded by colonial palaces and animated by its market of old books.

The cradle of the colonial city

Plaza de Armas is the oldest square of Havana, around which the colonial city was organised. Shaded by palm trees and vegetation, it is surrounded by palaces and major buildings, including the Palace of the Captains General and the Templete. Today, a market of old books animates its surroundings. It is a central place of Old Havana, full of history.

What to see

Here you enjoy the shade of the palm trees, the market of old books and the colonial palaces that surround the square, including the Palace of the Captains General and the Templete. Plaza de Armas is the historic heart of Old Havana. It is a must-see stop, to be explored on foot in the heart of the capital.

Practical information

Plaza de Armas lies in the heart of Old Havana, reachable on foot. It is a public space open at all times, freely accessible and on the level; the book market and the museums of the surrounding palaces have their own hours. The square is particularly pleasant in the shade of the palm trees.

Why is Plaza de Armas important in Havana?

Because it is the oldest square of the city, the cradle of colonial Havana, surrounded by major palaces such as the Palace of the Captains General.

Where is Plaza de Armas?

In the heart of Old Havana, in Cuba.