Finca Vigía in Ciego de Avila

We got refused entry, no reason was given. I believe it could be to tidy up after hurricane Ian, but no information provided. Tried to sneak in but couldn’t find anywhere. We walked around it and the local town.

Beautiful property, very knowledgeable tour guide.

Beautiful house, the only thing is that you can not enter it.

Make sure to check closing time, we reached at 3.15 and they said closed at 3.00. Had to go back next day. Suggest calling the place. It is a good 45 min drive from city. Nice place, lived in a beautiful place. It’s still set up like how he lived. First time I found that the Souvenir shop was lot an arm and a leg price wise. Worth a visit. Wish I could have a place like this one day!

it is great to see a house where a Nobel prize winner once lived. However, I would prefer more information on the place available, or a guide, which we couldnt get for some reason.

Well preserved former Hemingways residence. House interior looks great but the swimming pool area needs a proper clean up.

My cat and I really enjoyed navigating Finca Vigia and would like to recommend this Company.

Hemingways home is beautiful! Very cool to tour the property. Tours are in Spanish only. The local bar next to the estate makes the most amazing sugar cane and rum drinks. Definitely worth a visit!

Hemingway was happiest while in Cuba. The home and grounds he bought is beautiful. To see his Pilar and many artifacts left behind is outstanding. Some of these pictures are rare and not visible to public. Sometimes you can ask one of the staff to take them.

Its Hemingways house, so it is wonderful to think that such creativity lived here. It is hard to match the man who killed so many creatures with the man who wrote The Sun Also Rises and The Old Man and the Sea. The place is festooned with hunting trophies and dead things, but then we can also see the cemetery he created for his pets. He had 50 cats around the place.You can just imagine the lifestyle that he and his wife had here and the famous writers and such who visited, drinking cocktails in that big, bright room and sitting in the gardens.It is a bit rundown and it is a pity that the written material is so sparse. It is not easy to get there as an individual visitor. We hired a taxi and it cost a lot. Most others came by tour bus.It is a pity that the pet cemetery and the swimming pool are neglected. An empty, stained pool never looks good, but just to see the typewriter made it worth it for me.

A must see if youre a literature fan. Admission itself is very cheap, but have lots of dollar bills to use as tips for the staff.

Its disappointing. Ive been there on Tuesday, it was closed. Paid for taxi ride for nothing. Dont trust their opening hours.

It was great to see the heritage opulent location that he lived in. It was like being a ghost looking into his house with all the treasures he surrounded himself with. Loved the docked boat he fished off.

My only regret about our visit to the Finca Vigia was that I didn’t have with me a copy of Islands In The Stream from which to read aloud to my friends the passage in which Hemingway describes leaning the Finca for the city on a cool and overcast day “nursing a rusty nail”. I was a teenager when I first read this and hadn’t a clue what he meant. Years later I discovered a rusty nail is made from equal parts Drambuie and scotch.Of all the sites in and around Havana we visited on our ‘Hemingway tour’, this was the best - and also the most dignified; the downtown bars were quite tawdry.

Do not count your stay in Havana as a successful visit, without a visit to Finca Vigía. I booked a taxi Plymouth Cranbrook 1953, and I drove to see the residence of my favourite author. Finca Vigía AD 1886. Catalan style/architecture. The house is surrounded by greenery. Located in the suburbs of Havana. It was a great honour for my soul and my heart when I was able to see the original belongings that Ernest Hemingway had in his hands. Typewriter, books, war correspondent uniform and lots of other his stuffs. Writers room where he wrote. His handwriting. Library, living room and bedroom. Everything beautiful, exquisite and an original. Visitors are not allowed to enter inside the Finca Vigía, but they can make photos by through open windows and open doors. This should be understood. Visiting time? Its a difficult question. For me, as a fan of his writing, it was approx 3 hours.I visited Finca Vigía on Thursday, February 8th, 2018.

A must see if you are in Cuba. Especially if you are a Hemingway fan. Beautiful property, and yes Pilar is there.

For Hemingays fans.Nice house and surroundings.

Hemingway’s house in Cuba. Tourists are not allowed to go in the house, but the attendants will take your camera (most people had cell phonesand run around the house and snap a lot of photos for you. I thought that was a nice service for people who couldn’t get see the items on display, unless they had a super telephoto lens. There’s an area in the back where his cats are buried - about 5 little tombstones, in front of his boat El Pilar.

When I travel I do like historical places, found it very interesting

Finca Vigía, house of the famous Ernest Hemingway, located in a suburb of Havana, Cuba. It is a Spanish Catalan architectural building which is now a museum belonging to the Cuban government; The tour guide says Ernest donated to house to the state...or they just took it over after he left and never returned.Hemingway lived here when he wrote the famous "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and “The Old Man and the Sea”.Locals in Havana say that he used to go to the old city to El Floridita bar to have breakfast and the Daiquiri cocktail and to the Bodeguita del Medio for dinner and mojitos. Having done that route I can say there are around 8 miles between the house and the venues.The house has been kept in good condition, everything inside is well preserved, as a tourist you cannot enter it, but are allowed to look through the open windows and you can see all the furniture and the massive collection of books he had.You can as well see Hemingways boat, the 32-foot long Pilar.The only place you can go in is the tower by the house where a telescope is still in place, overseeing the city. Cannot use it, ot because of the privacy side of it, but to prevent it from being broken by the tourists.There is a toilet facility on the property and you have to pay to get in (just like 99% of Cubas toilets).

Note: You cannot go in the house.There are attendants who will take photos of off-limits areas for you for a couple coins.Has a nice little bar with live music and pretty solid mojitos.

One of the most beautiful places I have been.

Definitely a tourist site. Yeah, Hemingway lived here. Thats it. They wont let you inside if the buildings, but there are plenty of people who will take pictures for you for tips.

What a true waste of time! Mrs G and I were excited to see the house but it was a letdown. You can’t walk into it at all. All you can do is peer through doors and windows. Combine that with the throngs at the museum, your time would be better spent looking at the pics and walking around Havana.It’s also a shame to see how poorly the museum is preserving the items.

If you are a Hemmingway fan, this is a must see. Nicely preserved and easy for a short visit.

Hemingway was so beloved in cuba. Its cool they commemorate him by preserving and restoring his old home. No one is allowed inside but if youre a fan, then its worth a visit. Theres a cool view of the city from the watchtower too.

Well worth the 20 minutes drive from Havana City center. The house and gardens are very well preserved.

E. Hemingways home in Havana Cuba is very beautiful and on one of the highest points in Havana. You cant actually walk into the home but workers inside will take your phone and take photos for you for a small fee. His boat Pilar is here and is still registered in Key West. The grounds are very nice and you can see why Hemingway would like it here. M and I sure did.

Well worth the visit, really loved how in tacked everything was in the House, just like Hemingway was there yesterday. It’s a miracle really, considering all the different claimants there could be in this situation for the possessions residing in this home. Cubans seem to take pride in the fact that Hemingway is part of their history.

Hemingways Home in Havana. Its a very interesting sight, but they do not allow guests to go inside the home. However, there are a lot of staff members within the home and one lady asked me if I wanted her to take my camera inside to take photos of the interior of the home. I gave her my camera and she returned a few minutes later with about 15 shot of the interior. She then asked for a little tip for her trouble. Considering the fact that a couple of bucks can make a big difference to someone in Cuba, I gladly gave her a couple of CUCs. The place could use a little more sprucing up, but this is pretty well maintained by Cuba standards.

Another side trip from Havana worth the effort. Treat yourself to an "almendras" taxi ride out to Hemingways little farm.

Also check the reviews for Ernest Hemingway Museum. It is one and the same pace.

Hemingways home and boat overlooking Havana. Both are in good shape and being well maintained by some sort of foundation. You are not allowed inside either, which may be a good thing. You can look inside from the doors and windows and see his books, magazines, trophies, and even his partially consumed bottles of whiskey.

Wonderful experience and well-preserved.

Ernest Hemingways Cuban home for many years, and now a dedicated museum to the iconic writer. The home has been kept in pristine shape - like Hemingway left it, a tour guide told me. The grounds are beautiful as well.

What a treat! Absolutely take the tour. And before you go be sure to read “The Old Man and the Sea.” Hemingway lived here for 22 years and this was the source of inspiration for many stories including that one. Worth the trip to see the estate.

This place is great to see for any Hemingway fan. Altho you cant walk around inside, the doors and windows are all open, and staff will even take pictures for you. While i get some people do not like this, i really respect their attempt to kerp the home just as Hemingway left it. It also preserves the beautiful hand oainted tiling. Many people are also not aware the small round ceramic bull art piece is an original Picasso, given to Hemingway by the artist.

Hemingways house...20 cuc from havana ;0...1 cuc for lady inside to take pictures for you ...worth to see it...beautifull made villa...could imagine whi Ernest love it...

What an amazing exhibit of the life of one of the most important writers of the 20th century.

Ernest Hemingway. Home in CubaMy wife is a huge fan of Ernest Hemingway. The recent feature film about his life is called "Papa", and I highly recommend the movie, especially if you are going to visit this site as we did. His home in Cuba was a place for him to get away from it all and be left more alone than would be possible in the USA. His life and work was always controversial, but he was universally loved by most of the public, and Communist Dictator Fidel Castro gave him full permission to remain in Cuba after the Revolution drove out half of the Cubans and all foreigners, except Hemingway. After Hemingway’s death in 1961, the Cuban government informed the family that it had confiscated the property, is 7 3/4 miles out of town, and so you will need a cab to reach it. There is a modest admission fee 5 CUC. The windows of the small home are open so that you can look inside and take photos.

It gave you a good idea of Ernest Hemingways personal life and an insight into how he wrote his books, and nice to see his house intact with beautiful furniture in which has been preserved really well, including an original Picasso. Theres more to it than you think because theres his boat within the grounds, and a swimming pool where Ava Gardner allegedly swam without any clothes! Its in a beautiful place but out of the way from Havana (half an hour drive), and theres no transport links we are aware of, so youll have to get a guide to take you. Even though you cant walk around inside the house itself, you can peer through the open windows, and see all of the rooms quite clearly, including the Picasso which will undoubtedly be pointed out to you. Id give it 9 out of 10.

Really enjoyed being here and seeing Hemingways house. A very interesting piece of information is the fact that he has graves of his pets in the backyard. You can see his boat and walk around the house which makes for a very enjoyable sightseeing trip.

Excellent historical house where Ernest Hemingway lived for many years! See his boat, bedroom, living room, tower equipped with spyglass to watch Eva Gardner while she swam naked in the pool... see it all, and hear the stories of his life in Cuba.

Beautifully maintained piece of history. You cannot go inside, but you are able to see most of the restored areas from the windows. Make sure you go up the tower if youre able.

Cubans have done a good job of keeping this place in good standing. A must see when visiting Cuba.

Really enjoyed seeing the villa Hemingway had just outside La Habana. Bring enough time to soak in the atmosphere! Even though you can only see through the windows (or exactly because of that?), you get a good sense of what it might have been like for Hemingway and his visitors.

Well preserved home where Hemingway lived while in Cuba. They did a nice job curating the home. Well appointed grounds with great views.

Excellent and beautifully kept. Gets a little busy during the main season when tourists show up by the busload, but the grounds and house itself are magnificent. The house offers a literal glimpse into the life of one of the great writers of the 20th century as you peek in through the open windows and doors (weather permitting!). The many artifacts, books and trophies in the house make you feel as if you happened to swing by the house looking if anybody is home and expected him back anytime. The house provides an insight into a fascinating life and many little details, including the pet cemetery in the back and handwritten notations above the toilet bowl, chronicling the authors weight over the years.

Well worth the visit because it has been fully restored. Although you cant physically enter the house and its many rooms, you can view the interior through large doorways and windows and get a feel for what Ernest Hemingway must have experienced while he was living there. There are plenty of bookshelves in several rooms and wall hangings that showed his love of hunting wild animals and his observation tower which gave him a more or less clear view of the city of Havana in the distance. A large Olympic-sized pool and a display of his wooden fishing boat are on the grounds.

We were there in December 2009. We traveled legally to Cuba on a direct charter flight from LAX to Havana. The house is small and it seems well preserved. Pilar, Hemingways boat is also on the grounds protected under a sturdy canopy. His cats are buried nearby.Though you are not allowed inside the house it is not an issue since you can look in all the windows and see everything clearly. In the toilet you can see where Hemingway wrote his weight on the wall along with the date. His books and desk are as he left them. There are a lot of books. If you have a zoom lens on your camera or a pair of binoculars you could read the titles. Entrance for residents of Cuba is very cheap. Non residents pay more and you are also charged extra for having a camera. Our host paid for our entrance and our camera fee. There is a tower on the property built to take advantage of any breeze and a desk with typewriter along with a chaise lounge are set out ready for the author to return. A wonderful place to visit and one of the highlights of our trip to Cuba.