Havana was founded on 1515 by Diego Velásquez, although not in its present location. The Havana of today was re-founded in 1519 in the present location of Old Havana. The importance of Havana increased as the number of ships that called at its port while in transit from South or Central America to Spain. In 1553 the capital of Cuba was shifted from Santiago de Cuba to Havana due to the increase of its economic importance as the comercial center of the caribean.

Today Havana has a population of more than two million inhabitants, and is the political, cultural and economic heart of Cuba. It contains more than one fifth of the cuban population and is one of the great historical cities of the New World.

古巴首都和全国经济、文化中心。也是西印度群岛中最大的城市和著名良港。位于古巴岛西北哈瓦那湾阿尔门达雷斯河畔，扼守着墨西哥湾通往大西洋的大门，具有重要的战略地位。大哈瓦那由瓜纳瓦科阿、马里亚瑙、雷格拉、圣玛丽亚—德尔罗萨里奥等卫星城组成，面积740平方公里，人口203.6万（1987）。曾为西班牙在美洲的主要堡垒和西半球最大港口。现是西印度群岛最大城市。始建于1515年。1607年起为首都。港湾狭长，近岸水深12米，可容纳远洋巨轮，湾底建有地道，沟通两岸交通，全国一半以上的进出口货物经此。输出以糖、雪茄烟、热带水果等为大宗。全国工业中心，有制糖、酿酒、烟草、化学、纺织、造船、造纸、制革、冶金、石油提炼等工业。交通中心。铁路和公路通全国各地，城郊有何塞·马蒂国际机场。有古老教堂（建于1704年）、哈瓦那大学（建于 1728年）、城堡（建于1538—1544年）、广场、博物馆、纪念碑等建筑物，公园、图书馆众多，为著名的旅游胜地。

Havana beach is located 18 km east of Havana, true pristine clean beaches exist near Havana, and they're only 20 min taxi ride fromOld Havana. Experience the white sand and turquoise waters of Cuba, without the shadow of skyscraping hotels. Playas del Estecomposed: Playa Bacuranao, Playa Tarara, Playa El Megano, Playa Santa Maria del Mar, Playa Boca Ciega, and PlayaGuanabo.Getting there is easy, ask your driver to take you to Playas del Este a gorgeous beaches, ideal for day trip.

Enjoy blue sea and silky sand, to rent beach chairs or umbrellas ask one of the bartenders under the thatched huts. Renting sports equipment is also easy: catamarans, paddleboats and kayaks are lined up on the beach. The beach area contains numerous of restaurants, cafes and bars, is an oasis for tourists and Cubans alike, beaches are full of gorgeous habaneras on the weekends.