Enjoy a Spanish language course in Cuba

at our language school in the city of Havana

Havana is the capital and largest city in Cuba with 2.1 million people which also makes it the second largest city in the Caribbean. It is undeniably the island’s most important city with the largest port, most extensive commercial centre and attracting most tourists to Cuba. With foundations as a Spanish colony, Havana became extremely popular among tourists in the 1950s before undergoing a communist revolution. Unlike many Soviet backed communist states Cuba remained a communist country after the fall of the U.S.S.R. but allowed tourist once more in the 1990s to provide another source of income. While many know it simply for its resorts, Havana is a city of incredible culture and history and offers impressive works of architecture, a thriving art scene and incredible live music alongside the famous beaches.


Havana was founded in 1515 by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar on the island’s southern coast. Over the next 5 years the city moved about until it established itself near what was called Puerto de Carenas, a natural bay that has become Havana’s harbour. Quickly the city developed as an important port for the exploration and colonization of the Caribbean and ships carrying the wealth from the New World gathered in Havana to sail back to Spain as a fleet. This increased the infrastructure and importance of Havana and it became known as “Key to the New World and Rampart of the West Indies”. The city was taken by the British in 1762 but was returned to the Spanish and became one of the most developed cities in the region. The 19th century saw major growth and development but by the 20th century Cuba had been occupied by the USA. Havana thrived becoming a major tourist destination offering nightclubs, casinos and saw huge immigration to the city. Castro’s revolution in 1959 but the U.S. trade embargo ruined the economy and even today much of the city is poor. With the fall of the Soviet Union and the loss of its subsidies, Havana had to reintroduce tourism which has helped the economy but hasn’t restored its earlier wealth.


Exploring Havana can let you see the many influences in its development. La Haban Vieja dates back to colonial times with increasingly restored buildings and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you can see the Catedral de San Cristobal which is the only asymmetrical baroque church. The Plaza de Armas, built in 1600 and redone by 1838, is likely the most impressive in the city and is filled with vendors and bustling activity. Nearby you can visit the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, the oldest bastioned fortress in the New World and now a maritime museum which details the influences of ships and maritime trade upon Cuba. The Capitol Building and the Museum of the Revolution provide an insight into Cuba’s communist movement and legacy while the Plaza de la Revolución is very popular with tourists for the monument to Jose Marti and the famous image of Che Guevara. Other places to visit are Havana’s cigar factories with the Partagas factory being the most popular and the Havana Club Rum Factory also providing tours. For most, however, the pleasures of Havana will be wandering charming, cafe lined streets like the Prado or strolling along the El Malecón, the coastline’s sea wall, enjoying the sights of the harbour and views of the city. Days can be spent on the beaches and nights listening to innumerable bands playing their distinctive Cuban jazz. Havana is a perfect place to relax and enjoy yourself while learning the beautiful language of Spanish!


What we like about Spanish in Havana:

  • With a long history as a tourist destination Havana offers plenty to do.
  • Enjoy beautiful beaches, incredible architecture and the fascinating history of this city.
  • The people of Havana welcome visitors and will help you speak and even sing Spanish.