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Guarding the entrance to Havana Bay, Morro Castle was built in 1589. Over the course of its history, the Spanish, British and Cubans have all used it to protect and control Havana. With its dry moat, canons and well-preserved walls, it is an interesting place to wander around. In the barracks, you can see how the soldiers would have lived. From its ramparts, there are beautiful views out over the sea and Havana itself. Morro Castle is a popular tourist attraction in Havana with a wealth of history to explore.

With over 800,000 graves, the cemetery – named after Christopher Columbus – is fascinating to wander around. The elaborate tombs are beautifully sculpted and are artworks in themselves. Crafted out of dazzlingly white stone, there are around 500 major mausoleums. Various parts of the cemetery are dedicated to poets and artists, while others feature politicians, baseball players, and musicians. One of the most important cemeteries in Latin America due to the architecture on display and the renowned people buried here, such as Beatriz Allende and Alejo Carpentier, Cementario de Cristobal Colon is much more than just a cemetery.

With a beautiful viewpoint overlooking Havana, the historic Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabana (to give the fort its full title) is one of the best spots to head to if you’re after a glorious sunset. Completed in 1774, the fort complex is huge. The fortifications were once used to house Fidel and Raul Castro, who were imprisoned here, and Che Guevara later used it as his headquarters. While watching the sun go down over the sea, don’t be alarmed if you hear the canons go off; they are fired every day at 9 PM to bring a close to another fantastic day in Havana.

When gazing upon El Capitolio for the first time, you may have the sneaking suspicion that you’ve seen it before – you would be correct, as it is modeled on the famous US Capitol Building. Hilariously, the Cubans made it just a little bit bigger than the one in the United States, just to show off what the Cuban Revolution was capable of. While it was once the seat of government, it now hosts the Cuban Academy of Sciences. One of the most recognizable and famous landmarks in the city, you’ll certainly pass by El Capitolio at some point when visiting Havana.

Surrounded by gray, government buildings from the 1950s, this huge square was conceived by the French Urbanist Jean Claude Frostier and built on the Loma de los Catalanes hill during the Batista era. It has been the venue of many of the principal celebrations and events related to the Cuban Revolution. It was here that Fidel Castro – il Comandante – held so many of his political rallies, bringing the revolution to the people. The name ‘Plaza De La Revolucion’ is therefore very fitting. It would be hard not to notice the giant Fidel Castro memorial that is emblazoned on the side of one building or the equally large one of Camilo Cienfuegos. To the north is the gigantic Jose Marti monument, which predates the revolution.

Located in a beautiful building that was once the Presidential Palace, the Museo de la Revolucion will teach you all there is to know about the Cuban Revolution that has so shaped the island’s history. Taking you through the build-up to the revolution and its aftermath, it is a fascinating museum to wander around, although English explanations are sadly lacking. The elegant palatial rooms house memorabilia from the revolution, such as Che Guevara’s gun and cap. Outside is the Granma yacht, which brought the revolutionaries from Mexico to Cuba.

Located just under 20 kilometers from Old Havana, Playas del Este is a great spot if you want to get out of the city and lounge on the beach in the sun. It is a popular spot with local Cubans. While the beaches themselves are lovely, there is a slightly decaying air about Playas del Este and the Soviet-esque hotels found here. An authentic place with no airs and graces, Playas del Este is where you head to in Havana if you want to go to the beach.

Renowned around the world for its rum, the Museo del Ron located in the Havana Club will teach you how it is distilled – you’ll even get to do some taste testing. The aging cellars of the colonial townhouse are beautiful. Your guide will show you how sugar cane turns into the potent drink that is so beloved by many. With exhibitions on the history of rum in Cuba, the museum is interesting to visit even if you’re not a rum aficionado.

Punta Cana is one of the most popular beach destinations in the Dominican Republic. It stands apart from other beach resorts in the country, however, because it has beaches that face both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Punta Cana has 100 km (60 miles) of coastline with mainly shallow waters, but the beaches can be windy sometimes. Punta Cana is a party town where you can swim with dolphins or sharks, race a speed boat, or go deep sea fishing, catamaran sailing, whale watching or zip lining. Plan to be very busy during your visit.

In 1938, long before the Dominican Republic became a top tourist destination, its president offered safe haven to 100,000 Jewish refugees. About 800 settled in Sosua and were given land where they started a dairy and cheese factory. You can eat products from Productos Sosua today. Sosua is a popular destination for diving enthusiasts who like the calm waters, reef structures and the many varieties of fish they’ll see. Sosua is a place where nature is still making beaches, some naturally and others by storms. By day, Sosua is a typical beach resort; by night, it’s a haven for party animals.

In a country that is known for its beach destinations, the resort town of Bayahibe is no exception. The former fishing village is now one of the top places to visit in the Dominican Republic. Bayahibe Beach is located less than a mile from town, but you’re more likely to visit here to catch a boat to Saona and its fabulous beaches located within a national park. Bayahibe also is the best scuba diving locations in the country, with more than 20 dive sites. Don’t scuba dive? How about stand-up paddle boarding or snorkeling?

Samana, capital of the province with the same name, is a pretty, historic town located on northern Samana Bay. Its main claim to fame is that it’s the last stop Christopher Columbus made the New World in 1493 before heading back to Spain. In more modern times, it’s a great place to go whale-watching, since thousands of humpback whales head to the bay to give birth between January and March. During these months, Samana is the tourism capital of the Dominican Republic. It may interest baseball fans to know that several notable pitchers, including Wily Peralta, grew up here.

If you’re into adventure sports, Cabarete is a good place to indulge yourself. Founded in 1835 by former slave owner, this once quiet fishing village is now a kite-surfer’s dream, hosting many international competitions. It’s one of the most popular surfing spots in the Caribbean. Cabarete has a good infrastructure for tourism, with top hotels and eateries, all of which are easy to find, since the village has only one main street. Cabarete has pretty beaches, but if you get tired of them you can explore nearby caves or go kayaking, snorkeling or scuba diving.

Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic and its largest city – indeed, it has the largest metropolitan area in the Caribbean. Founded in 1496 on the Ozama River, it is the oldest European settlement in the Americas. It also holds a number of other New World firsts: capital of the Spanish empire, castle (Alcazar de Colon), monastery, cathedral (Cathedral Santa Maria la Menor) and university. The best place to take in this rich history is, of course, the historic district where you’ll find majestic buildings reflecting Middle Ages architecture. You can also see the Fortaleza Ozama, the oldest fortress in the Americas.

El Limon waterfall definitely doesn’t live up to its name, The Lemon. Instead, El Limon is a spectacular waterfall that drops 50 meters (170 fee)t near the Atlantic Coast side of the Dominican Republic. Getting there can be a sweaty and wet ordeal since you’ll cross several rivers on horseback (the main way to get there), but once there, you can cool off in the spectacular swimming hole at the bottom of the falls. You may need the dip even more if you’ve opted to walk the 40-minute trail over sometimes steep terrain.

You may be walking on history as you beach comb on Playa Rincon: It’s one of two places in the Dominican Republic rumored to be THE spot where Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus first touched land in 1492. But even if it’s not, you’ll enjoy strolling on the soft sandy beach, which, at nearly two miles long means there’s room for everyone, though you may have to share the beach with stuff the ocean washed in. Still, Playa Rincon is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. You can get there via a 20-minute boat ride from Las Galeras.

Because of its tropical climate, Jarabacoa is frequently called “the city of everlasting spring.” The area is known for its mountains and scenic beauty, including the Jimenoa and Baiguate waterfalls, and the Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve. If you’re an adventuresome visitor, you might try crossing the Jimenoa River on a wood and rope footbridge. More timid travelers may opt for a round of golf on a nine-hole course or a visit to the Cistercian monastery of Santa Maria del Evangelio. Come February, Jarabacoa hosts one of the most famous Carnivals in the country.

Las Terrenas, on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, was once a small fishing village. But that all changed in 1946 when the country’s president ordered rural residents from Santo Domingo to settle here as farmers and fishermen. Today, Las Terrenas is a growing tourist destination known for its pretty landscapes, white sand beaches and clear ocean water. It’s popular with foreigners and Santo Dominicans since it’s only a two-hour drive from the capital. Top beaches include Playas el Portillo and Las Ballenas. Las Terrenas also is a good place to go dolphin and whale watching.

If you’re in the mood for a Caribbean holiday, the Dominican Republic is the place to go. It shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti in the Greater Antilles. The island is where Christopher Columbus made his first stop in the New World in 1492 and which later became the first capital of the Spanish empire in the Americas. You’ll find plenty of evidence of the country’s Spanish heritage. Today, however, people visit the Dominican Republic for its beautiful sandy beaches, clear waters and water sports activities. Off-shore activities include deep sea fishing and whale watching. There’s really not any good reason for you to stay home after you’ve seen these best places to visit in the Dominican Republic.