beach
Varadero Beach
A 20-kilometre ribbon of fine white sand stretching along a narrow peninsula into Cuba's warm turquoise waters.
37 km · about 40 min drive
North AmericaCubaMatanzas Province
Matanzas
Matanzas Province, Cuba · North America
About Matanzas
Matanzas sits on the route: 25 minutes from Limonar, 37km from Varadero Beach.
Matanzas is in Matanzas Province, Cuba, with about 150,000 people. The nearest town is Limonar, about 20 km away.
Matanzas (Latin American Spanish: [maˈtansas]; Lucumi: Ayá Áta) is the capital of the Cuban province of Matanzas. Known for its poets, culture, and Afro-Cuban folklore, it is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Matanzas (Spanish Bahia de Matanzas), 102 kilometres (63 mi) east of theRead more
capital Havana and 32 kilometres (20 mi) west of the resort town of Varadero.
Matanzas is called the City of Bridges, for the seventeen bridges that cross the three rivers that traverse the city (Rio Yumuri, San Juan, and Canimar). For this reason it was referred to as the "Venice of Cuba." It was also called "La Atenas de Cuba" ("The Athens of Cuba") for its poets.
Matanzas is known as the birthplace of the music and dance traditions danzón and rumba.
Where to Stay in Matanzas
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Matanzas.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Matanzas.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Matanzas?
Within an hour or so of Matanzas: Varadero Beach (37 km).
Where is Matanzas?
Matanzas is in Matanzas Province, Cuba, about 20 km from Limonar.
Road trip
Drive to Matanzas
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Matanzas. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 146,733
- Continent
- North America
- Country
- Cuba
- Region
- Matanzas Province
- Timezone
- America/Havana
- Coordinates
- 23.0439, -81.5828
Tags
Worth the detour from Matanzas
1 notable place within an hour's drive.
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Matanzas.
Plan a trip around Matanzas
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Matanzas.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.