One of Santiago’s most delightful people-watching spots is Plaza Dolores, a shady plaza lined with colonial-era homes (several now house restaurants). Avenida José A. Saco (more commonly known as Enramada) is Santiago’s main shopping thoroughfare. Its faded 1950s neon signs and ostentatious buildings recall more prosperous times. Cobbled Calle Bartolomé Masó (also known as San Basilio), just behind Heredia and the cathedral, is a delightful street that leads down to the picturesque Tivolí district.

Visit San Juan Historic Park, a place where it was developed an important battle of the North American-Cuban-Hispanic War, bringing the end to an era. At the helm of a brigade at this battle was a future president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The Peace Tree (Árbol de la Paz) is the tree in which it was signed the surrender of Santiago de Cuba. In the San Juan Hill you can admire various monuments in memory of the numbered casualties in both sides in the battle developed in the surroundings of Santiago on the first of July 1898. You can witness sculptures to the Victorious Mambí, to the Unknown North American Soldier and to the Spaniard Soldier surrounded by a series of cannons and artillery objects decorating the place. This is the only place in Cuba with a monument to the American soldier. Furthermore, quite close to the hill, a ceiba tree named the Peace Tree (Árbol de la Paz) witnessed the surrender of the city, although nowadays just remains the trunk of this historic tree which fell few months after the centenary of the battle.    

Located in front of the Céspedes Park, the Museum of Historical Cuban Atmosphere is one of the most important museums in Santiago de Cuba. The museum is constituted by two antique houses that were built in different times. One is from the 16th century while the other is from the 19th century, and both show the way of life of the centuries in which they were built. The oldest house was built in 1515 and is a gem of the colonial architecture. It was the Governor Diego Velázquez’s home and the Casa de Contratación y Fundición de Oro (Hiring House and Golden Foundry). After several changes, the house was restored in 1965 and the space was dedicated to show the way of life of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The most modern house dates from the first third of the 19th century and belonged to a local family named Quesada. This house is set in the way of life of the 19th century through a series of rooms like the hallway, the 19th century patio and the garage.

The museum of the Clandestine Struggle is located Padre Pico steps up. This excellent museum, in one of the city’s finest colonial houses, focuses on the activities of the resistance movement under local martyr Frank País. Residents of Santiago were instrumental in supporting the Revolution, as were peasants in the Sierra Maestra. From the museum’s balcony, there are tremendous views of Santiago and the bay.