Must-visit U.S locations that celebrate Hispanic and Latino history and culture

If there’s one city that embodies Hispanic culture in the U.S., it’s San Antonio. The historic San Antonio Missions, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, taps into Spanish colonial history. Beyond the missions, the El Mercado (Market Square) is the largest Mexican market outside of Mexico. 

Here, mariachi bands, colorful artisan goods, and authentic Tex-Mex dishes create a cultural experience that feels both historic and alive.

Cuban culture pulses through Miami, especially in Little Havana, where Calle Ocho (8th Street) is lined with cigar shops, domino parks, and salsa clubs. The Tower Theater, one of the city’s oldest cultural landmarks, has hosted Spanish-language films since the 1920s. 

The neighborhood bursts with life during events like the Calle Ocho Festival, one of the largest Hispanic festivals in the country, celebrating everything from food to music to dance.

New York isn’t tied to one Hispanic identity—it’s a mosaic. From El Barrio (Spanish Harlem), where Puerto Rican culture thrives in music and art, to Washington Heights, with its Dominican influence, the city is alive with Latin rhythms. The Hispanic Society Museum & Library houses one of the most significant collections of Spanish and Latin American art in the world, offering visitors a journey through centuries of creativity.

While Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, it’s essential in the story of Hispanic heritage. Walking the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan feels like stepping back in time. The colorful colonial buildings, the Castillo San Felipe del Morro fortress, and the vibrant arts scene highlight centuries of Spanish influence. For U.S. travelers, it’s also an accessible way to immerse themselves in Hispanic history without leaving American soil.

Santa Fe offers a unique intersection of Spanish and Native American cultures. The Palace of the Governors, the oldest continuously occupied public building in the U.S., tells centuries of Hispanic history. The city’s adobe architecture and annual festivals, like Fiesta de Santa Fe, keep traditions alive. Food lovers can indulge in New Mexican cuisine, where green and red chile peppers steal the show, reflecting both Spanish and Indigenous culinary influence.

Los Angeles boasts one of the richest Hispanic cultural legacies in the U.S. The Olvera Street Marketplace, often called the birthplace of Los Angeles, is a vibrant hub where traditional Mexican crafts, foods, and performances thrive. 

The city is also home to world-renowned murals, many of them by Mexican-American artists like David Alfaro Siqueiros, whose work "América Tropical" still inspires today. Visiting LA’s many cultural landmarks offers a layered view of the Mexican-American story.