Top Things To Do in Havana Cuba + Travel Guide

Essential Visitor Information for Havana

How To Get To Havana

• You can plan a visit to Havana anytime of the year. Stay for a weekend or a week, it is only a 50-minute flight from Miami or Cancun in Mexico. There are many flights from Europe into Havana as well as cost effective flights into other cities e.g. Holguin. Flying into a city at the opposite end to Havana gives you time to explore the country as you will be traveling one way.
• To get from the airport to Havana city taxis are always available from the taxi ranks in front of all the terminal buildings. A taxi ride from the airport to downtown Havana takes approximately 20-30 minutes and costs 25-40 CUC one-way (equivalent to $25-40 USD). Always agree the fare first, some taxis have meters but they are rarely switched on. There are also 2 types of taxi – the typical ‘tourist’ taxi which is a recognizable yellow and black car and which are owned/operated by the government (as are most businesses in Cuba). The other option is an Almendron or taxi particular which are private/independent taxis using a pre-revolution 50’s style car. These taxis are still ‘official’ it just means the owners are self-employed.

How To Get Around

• Walking (and taking walking tours) around Havana is the best way to see the city, but there are buses and taxis available.
• National Buses are frequent but are usually crowded and cost 1 peso to anywhere in the city. There are also privately run buses which are less crowded and cost 10 peso per journey. There are few clearly marked bus stops on route, but it’s clear where they stop usually as you will have other waiting at the side of the road and you are also able to leave when the bus stops at the traffic lights.
• For taxi’s, the simplest option are the state run yellow and black tourist taxis, and operate on an approximate basis of 1km=1 CUC – just remember to agree a price before you ride. You will also see locals piling into the old style cars which operate on a taxi collective basis – essentially a group taxi which should cost not more than 10 CUC per person for short trips and 20 CUC for longer journeys or those that are at night. However unless your Spanish is up to scratch and you know exactly where you’re going – it might be a good idea to stick with the state run cabs.

Currency in Cuba

• Cuba has two currencies, the Cuban Peso (CUP) and the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC). Most tourists will be using the CUC for all purchases, hotels, taxis and activities, but there is possibility to pay in equivalent in CUP (or vice-versa). The rate is typically 1 CUC = 25 CUP.

When to Visit (Climate)

• Cuba, located in the Caribbean, has a tropical climate, with warm, humid weather (22-27°C) all year round  (though colder temperatures have recorded in the mountains).
• The busiest times of year to visit is December – May where you can expect dry, sunny days and plenty of blue skies. The wet season begins in June, with an increased risk of hurricanes between August and October (however with the increased interest in visiting the country, Havana is busy all year round.

Wifi in Cuba

• Due to Cuba’s limited and expensive Wi Fi we recommend taking a Cuba guide with you or have one downloaded before you arrive. Ensure that the guide has well laid out maps if not download maps that you can use offline.

Where To Stay in Havana Cuba

These are our top picks of Havana hotels as listed by travel style (luxury, mid-range and homestay/casa particular). If you have specific needs or requirements in a hotel room we recommend using the extensive search database at HotelsCombined to narrow down the perfect hotels in Havana for you.

• Luxury Stay ($200+ per night): Melia Habana
  Melia Habana provides a wide range of state-of-the-art amenities, including an outdoor pool and a sauna. It includes family-friendly facilities, the hotel is an ideal base to explore nearby the Great Theatre of Havana and the University of Havana, as well as everything the local area has to offer.
  Compare Prices for Later | Read Trip Advisor Reviews
• Mid-Range Stay ($100-$200 per night): Hotel Nacional de Cuba (pictured above)
  Book your stay in a slice of history! Although the entrance way still bears the bullet hole scars from revolutionary battles, the interior is plush and comfortable. Centrally located it is a great base for exploring Havana
  Compare Prices for Later | Read Trip Advisor Reviews
• HomeStay (Casa Particulares) (<$100 per night): Homestay near Jose Miguel Gomez Monument
  Offering a unique homestay experience, this Havana property provides comfortable accommodation that is shared with the host. It is ideally located for guests wishing to visit local attractions. There are a range of facilities on offer to those staying at the property, such as internet, a terrace and laundry facilities.
  Compare Prices for Later
• HomeStay (Casa Particulares) (<$100 per night): Homestay near La Santa Varela Park
  The property is located in the heart of Havana’s entertainment district with restaurants, cafés and nightlife on the doorstep. El Capitolio and the Palacio De Los Capitanes Generales (Museum of the City of Havana) are a short walk away.
  Compare Prices for Later

.

Bar Hop with Hemingway in EL Floridita and La Bodeguita del Medio

There is a sign in “La Floridita” from Ernest Hemingway (the famous American author who lived in Cuba for 20 years) that states: “My Mojito in La Bodeguita del Medio and my Daiquiri in La Floridita”.

Follow Hemingway’s example you can’t go wrong, only difference is there will be more people doing the same thing than in Hemingway’s time, expect to queue. Also, if you want to dive deeper into Hemingway’s history in Cuba head to Finca Vigia, his former home which is now a museum. (Also known as Museo Hemingway).

Addresses:

La Floridita – Obispo #557 esq. Monserrate Old Havana (Habana vieja)
La Bodeguita del Medio – Calle Empedrado #206 Old Havana
Finca Vigia – Km. 12 ½, La Habana, Cuba

.

Find Your Own Bar – Drink Mojitos and Salsa the evening away

There are bars everywhere you go throughout Havana. Walk down Calle Obispo, as an example, listen for the live music and follow. The mojitos will be flowing, locals and travellers all alike will be swaying to the beat, and even pedestrians will pop in for a bit of a dance on the way to where they want to go. And if you want to know where to find the Best Mojito in Havana – this guide is for you! Drinking Cuba libre cocktails and dancing salsa are two of the best things to do in Cuba!

.

Take Photos of El Capalito and Gran Teatro de la Habana

On Paseo de Marti you’ll find the incredibly stunning National Capitol Building (El Capitolio). It was built between April 1926 and 1929 at a cost 17 million Pesos and is bigger than the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. For the past 30 years, it has housed the Cuban Academy of Sciences and the National Library of Science and Technology but is being gradually restored and it is hoped it will once again house the Cuban parliament in the future.

Next door to El Capalito, the equally impressive Grand Theater (Gran Teatro de la Habana) stands on the corner of Paseo de Marti and Paseo del Prado. Built between 1907 and 1914, it was originally erected as a Galician social club featuring highly ornate and even exuberant neo-baroque architectural details. It’s currently the official stage for the Cuban National Ballet Company and there are guided tours available daily.

Get Lost in Central Havana

Not to be confused with Old Havana (a UNESCO world heritage site), Central Havana (centro habana) is more edgy. If you want great photo opportunities this is the neighborhood to wander around. Don’t forget to look up, the old two storey ramshackle buildings; some close to toppling down are memories of past faded splendor.

Children playing in dusty streets filled with vintage American cars, sidewalk barbers and locals gossiping whilst drinking the local rum show you what the real Cuba is all about. On dusty corners Cubans are earning a living selling fruit and vegetables from rickety old carts, whilst others look on from their local ‘pub’ in between watching their favorite sporting events on the big screen.

.

Enjoy a Mojito at Sunset at the Iconic Hotel Nacional de Cuba

Don’t leave Havana without a visit to Hotel Nacional another of Hemingway’s haunts. Famous for its involvement with the mafia, Hotel Nacional was the location for hosting the infamous Mob summit known as the Havana Conference. The conference story was dramatized in The Godfather II movie.

As you enter the ‘grand old dame’ you will see bullet holes, a reminder of the Battle of the Hotel Nacional; a battle between the Cuban Army and the non-commissioned soldiers who supported Batista back in October 1933.

Wander into the Garden area of the hotel, settle down on a deck chair, and wait to be served your ice-cold mojito whilst the sun sets over Havana Harbour. It’s a great way to see Havana at night and easily one of the top things to do in Havana Cuba.

.

Plaza Vieja (Old Square)

Plaza Vieja is one of the largest squares in Old Havana. Nestled amongst the restaurants on the Square is a Microbrewery – Factoria with its light, medium or dark home made local beer.

What’s the best way to drink this icy cold drop? If there is only one or two of you we would recommend a frosted beer mug or if there are more why not go for the ice cold tall bong. (A bong in this sense is a tall cylindrical shaped glass, in case you were wondering..) 

.

Necropolis Cristobal Colon

The largest cemetery in all of the Americas spanning over 57 hectares (10 acres) with more than 800,000 graves is located in the suburb of Vedado. The cemetery has many famous graves including the most visited La Milagrosa (The Miracle Lady). At the entrance you can either purchase a map or use the services of a local guide.

After visiting the Necroplis wander around Vedado with its crumbling colonial mansions and if you’re in the area over the weekend be sure not to miss Havana’s hottest night spot – Fábrica de Arte Cubano. Located in a converted cooking oil factory, it is a melting pot of live music, art expos, fashion shows, coffee and cocktails. Events kick off at 8pm Thursday to Sunday. Be there or be square.

.

Calle Mercaderes

One of Old Havana’s busiest cobblestoned streets that is car free and such is a pleasure to wander down. The name means Merchant’s Street and it has been restored to its 18^th century glory and full of restaurants, hotels, boutique shops and museums. We recommend enjoying an evening meal in one of the restaurants here.

.

Plaza de La Revolucion

Cuba’s most famous square, Plaza de la Revolucion was completed in 1959 as Fidel came to power. It is where all political rallies are held, where Labour Day on May 1 is celebrated and where Pope John Paul II conducted mass for over 1 million in 1998.

It is one of the most visited squares on tours of Havana and the huge tribute to Che Guevaras is one of the most photographed spots in the city. The Jose Marti memorial (Cuba’s National Hero) sits at the Northern side of the Plaza de la Revolucion and stands at 18m high in a seated pose similar to Rodin’s The Thinker.

.

If you want to get a true taste of local life, head to Playas del Estes. A selection of beaches just 20km outside the city. A favorite with locals due to their proximity, one of the best beaches to visit is Santa Maria del Mar. You can also combine your trip outside the city with a visit to Castillo De Los Tres Reyes Del Morro, the fortress guarding the entrance to Habana bay.

 

.