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 most atmospheric part of the city is Old Santiago. Céspedes Park constitutes the political, religious, administrative and social center more important of the city. The attractive square is a genteel place with tall trees, gas lanterns and iron benches. In their perimeter were located by disposition of the Laws of Indias, the representative buildings of the power: Town Hall, Cathedral, the house of the governors and the mansions of the main families of the village. Parque Céspedes is dominated by its twin-towered cathedral. A basilica was built on this spot in 1528, but what you see was rebuilt in the early 19th century after a series of earthquakes and fires.

This is undoubtedly one of the city's most well-known streets. It offers an excellent natural viewing point and is the only stepped street in Cuba. It's part of the Tivoli neighborhood, where 18th-century French-colonial mansions sit side by side with 16th-century structures

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.