Regla is a small municipality across the harbour from Habana Vieja, reached by a short ferry from the dock near the Plaza de San Francisco. It is the centre of Regla de Ocha (Santería) — the Afro-Cuban religious tradition that blends Yoruba beliefs with Catholic iconography — and the atmosphere is noticeably different from the more tourist-focused areas of Havana. The main church contains the Black Virgin of Regla, an important figure in both Catholic and Santería traditions.
The ferry crossing takes about 10 minutes and costs almost nothing. From the Regla side you get one of the best views of Old Havana's skyline across the water. The neighbourhood is quiet and largely untouched by tourism, giving it an authenticity that Old Havana has partly lost.