Last Updated on June 27, 2019 by Candy Wafford
“Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.” Kurt Vonnegut
Going on a cruise to Cuba? I can’t recommend Fusterlandia enough. It’s just plain fun. If you are in Havana on a cruise, or just find yourself in Cuba, you owe it to yourself to visit this little gem. It’s cool, free, educational, and inspirational. What more could you ask for?
Fusterlandia is an art installation/fantasy located just outside of downtown Havana. I had read about it while researching things to do during our Cuban cruise but didn’t expect that we would make it there. Imagine my surprise when our tour guide, Laz took us there as part of a city tour in his vintage car.
This is the kind of place that puts a big smile on my face.
Jose Fuster is a Cuban artist that built this whimsical, weird, wonderful little spot called Casa de Fuster. His art installations consist of placing mosaics over pretty much every structure in his neighborhood resulting in an artistic fantasyland.
The story goes that Fuster traveled to Europe and was inspired by Gaudi and Picasso in Spain and Brancusi in Romania. Gaudi’s work is one of the reasons Barcelona is my favorite city. I love mosaic work and the creativity of Gaudi’s work never fails to inspire me. So an entire neighborhood inspired by his work was sure to be a big hit with me.
Fuster returned to Cuba and began covering his home with mosaic tiles. Before long the entire neighborhood was inspired and there are now over 80 homes are covered in tiny bits of tile. You can feel the spirit of Fuster’s passion to beautify his neighborhood. His creation is something out of a dream; simultaneously childlike and sophisticated.
This is an amazing place to take children as almost nothing is off limits. You can touch the artwork and sit on pieces that are meant to sit on. So much fun! Exploring the three floors in Casa de Fuster is an adventure that kids will love.
Before You Go
You can get to Fusterlandia by public transportation, but I would suggest going as part of a tour or taking a taxi. Located just outside of Havana in the neighborhood of Jaimanitas it’s a bit out of the way (in the best possible way). I’m usually a fan of public transport and the adventure that goes along with it (see here). But if you are on a cruise ship you want to maximize your time in port and make sure you don’t miss the ship. So this may not be the place to hop a bus outside the tourist areas. There is a hop-on-hop-off bus that will drop you there as well.
It’s generally open Wednesday to Sunday between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm. But even when closed, you will still see a tremendous amount of artwork just driving through the neighborhood. Fusterlandia is free and you can visit the artist’s workshop for free as well. If you want to buy your own little piece of Fusterlandia you can buy art in the small shop.
Lori Tripoli
April 27, 2019What a fun excursion a visit to Fusterlandia seems to be. I love the mermaid! I hope to visit Cuba in the not-too-distant future, and will definitely put Fusterlandia on my to-go list.
Candy
April 27, 2019It was super fun!
Katie
April 27, 2019Wow what a cool and unique place to find! Thanks for sharing!
Candy
April 27, 2019I love finding unique and unexpected places!
Teja
April 27, 2019So quirky! My friend went to Cuba last year, I wish I could’ve passed this on before!
Candy
April 27, 2019Next time!
Namita Kulkarni
April 28, 2019Ah I loved visiting this place too! So lively and creative. Thank you for sharing!
Candy
April 28, 2019Wasn’t it great! Lively is a perfect description.
Alison
April 28, 2019I love how one person’s passion can make a change in the world. What a fun, quirky place to visit!
Candy
April 28, 2019Me too, Alison!
Sue
April 28, 2019I recently returned from my 3rd visit to Cuba but although I’ve heard of Fusterlandia, I’ve never visited. It looks like such a fun place though it’ll definitely be on my list for the next time! Thanks for sharing.
Candy
April 28, 2019Cuba is such an interesting place. I would like to visit again someday and visit outside of Havana.
Phoebe Thomas
May 2, 2019This place is incredible, it looks quite crazy and so much fun.
Alison
May 3, 2019This place looks amazing!
Candy
May 4, 2019It was pretty cool!
Anita
May 3, 2019Fusterlandia seems a great place to visit. Your colorful pictures are just awesome. I have never been to Cuba, so it seems this place is a good reason to think about going there. Thanks for sharing!
Candy
May 4, 2019Thanks, Anita! I hope you make it there someday!