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Destinations / Cuba

Havana

La Habana

Classic cars, crumbling grandeur and live son music

historymusicarchitectureart
Plan your trip to HavanaSee the top 10
2,100,000Population
2.1 millionMetro area
SpanishLanguage
CUPCurrency
4 daysIdeal stay
$120-200Typical day

Havana is a city of faded colonial and Art Deco buildings, old American cars and music in the streets. Its old town is a UNESCO site. Shortages of power, fuel and goods affect daily life, so expect some hassle.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. Old Havana, or Habana Vieja, is the colonial core of the city and a UNESCO site, with plazas, churches and mansions from the Spanish era. Many buildings have been restored while others remain crumbling and lived in.

    Half a dayTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Walk the four main squares in a loop: Plaza de Armas, Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza Vieja and Plaza de San Francisco.
    See on the map

  2. The Malecon is an 8 km seawall and boulevard running along the coast from Old Havana to Vedado. At dusk it fills with locals fishing, chatting and playing music.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Walk a section at sunset, and watch for spray on windy days, when waves crash over the wall.
    See on the map

  3. Vintage American cars from the 1950s are used as taxis and for tours around the city. A ride in an open top car is a classic Havana experience.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $30-60Cost
    noBook ahead

    Per car per hour.

    Tip. Agree the price and route before getting in, and choose a car parked near the Capitolio or Parque Central.
    See on the map

  4. Plaza de la Catedral is a cobbled square dominated by the baroque cathedral with its two uneven towers. It is surrounded by colonial mansions.

    30 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Come in the evening when the square is lit and quieter.
    See on the map

  5. El Capitolio was built in the 1920s and resembles the US Capitol. It houses the National Assembly and can be visited on tours.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $5-15Cost
    noBook ahead

    Tour price varies.

    Tip. Check whether tours are running when you visit.
    See on the map

  6. The Museo de la Revolucion is in the former presidential palace and covers the Cuban revolution from the government's viewpoint. The yacht Granma is displayed nearby.

    1.5 hoursTime needed
    about $8-10Cost
    noBook ahead

    Standard museum admission ticket.

    Tip. Read the exhibits knowing they present the official narrative.
    See on the map

  7. Fusterlandia is a neighborhood in Jaimanitas covered in colorful mosaics by artist Jose Fuster. Houses, benches and walls are decorated.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Combine with a trip to the western beaches.
    See on the map

  8. The Morro Castle guards the harbor entrance across the bay from Old Havana. The nearby La Cabana fortress hosts a nightly cannon ceremony.

    1.5 hoursTime needed
    about $5-10Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry fee.

    Tip. Go late afternoon and stay for the cannon ceremony at La Cabana.
    See on the map

  9. Fabrica de Arte Cubano is a cultural center in a former oil factory, mixing art, music and bars. It is a hub of Havana's creative scene.

    EveningTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Small cover.

    Tip. Go late at night; it is busiest on weekends.
    See on the map

  10. Vinales is a valley of limestone hills called mogotes and tobacco farms, a UNESCO landscape. Farmers show how cigars are made.

    Full dayTime needed
    recommendedBook ahead

    Tours vary.

    Tip. It is about 3 hours away; stay overnight to enjoy it properly.
    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Short on time?

Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Havana in three days

Add museums, Fusterlandia and Vinales.

  1. Old HavanaHalf a day · Free
  2. Malecon1 hour · Free
  3. Classic car tour1 hour · about $30-60
  4. Plaza de la Catedral30 minutes · Free
  5. Capitolio1 hour · about $5-15
  6. Museo de la Revolucion1.5 hours · about $8-10
  7. Fusterlandia1 hour · Free
  8. Morro Castle1.5 hours · about $5-10
  9. Fabrica de Arte CubanoEvening
Beyond the city

Day trips

Playas del Este

Beaches close to the city.

16 mi · Taxi about 30 minutes

Matanzas

A port city of bridges.

62 mi · Car about 1.5 hours

Varadero

Cuba's famous resort beach.

87 mi · Drive about 2 hours each way

Las Terrazas

An eco community with trails and waterfalls.

43 mi · Drive about 1h15 each way

Soroa

An orchid garden and waterfall in the hills.

56 mi · Drive about 1h30 each way

Cojímar (Hemingway's Village)

Fishing village that served as the setting for Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, featuring his favorite tavern, La Terraza.

7 mi · Taxi east of Havana in 15 minutes.

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: November to April. Dry and less hot.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.7JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

80°F
Typical daily high
Average72°F
Rain1.2 in
About4 rainy days
Sun strength3.7 kWh/m²

Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Jan

Jazz Plaza International Festival

Late January, listed as January 24 to 31, 2027

Cuban and visiting jazz musicians across city venues.

Jan

Havana Jazz Festival

January

International jazz festival, though dates and format can change.

Dec

Havana Film Festival

December

Latin American film festival with screenings across the city.

Feb

Havana International Book Fair

February

A large book fair often held at the fortress complex.

Jul

Carnival

July or August

Parades and music, though schedules vary.

Dec

Havana International Film Festival

December

Renowned festival celebrating Latin American and world cinema across historic movie theaters along Calle 23.

Year

Havana Biennial

Periodic (shifts every two to three years)

Contemporary arts festival transforming public streets, courtyards, and the Malecón into open-air sculpture installations.

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Know before you go

At a glance

3/5
Safety

The US State Department rates Cuba at Level 2 (increased caution); petty crime, scams and power outages are the main issues.

4/5
Walkability

Old Havana and the Malecon are great on foot, though pavements are uneven.

2/5
Public transport

Buses are crowded and rare; visitors use taxis and classic car rides.

Sources disagree on: scores.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
12345

1. Old Havana

$$

Best for: first-timers

Plazas and history at your door.

2. Vedado

$$

Best for: couples, music lovers

Leafy streets and nightlife.

3. Centro Habana

$

Best for: budget

Gritty but central.

4. Habana Vieja

$$

Best for: first-timers, history lovers

Walk to plazas, bars and museums.

5. Miramar

$$$

Best for: business travelers, quieter stays

Embassies and newer hotels.

Getting there and around

Main airportJose Marti International Airport (HAV), 9 mi from the center
To the centerA taxi takes 25 to 40 minutes; agree the fare first.
Around townWalk the old center and use taxis for longer hops.
Ride appsNo international ride apps operational; negotiate taxi fares with drivers before boarding.
Taste it

What to eat

Ropa vieja

Shredded beef in tomato sauce.

Moros y cristianos

Black beans and rice.

Mojito

The classic Cuban cocktail.

Cuban sandwich

Pork, ham, cheese and pickles pressed.

Tostones

Green plantains twice-fried and flattened into savory, crispy rounds, served warm with garlic mojo dipping sauce.

Good to know

PlugsType A, B and C, 110 V and 220 V
Tap waterUse bottled water
TippingTips are important to local incomes; 10 percent in restaurants is common.
PaymentsBring cash; foreign cards, especially US issued, often do not work.
EtiquetteCubans are friendly and open; greet with a handshake or a kiss on the cheek. Tipping is important since state wages are low, and politics is best discussed carefully.
  • Power cuts are frequent; carry a flashlight and a power bank.
  • Cash is essential, and cards issued by US banks do not work in Cuba.
  • Internet access is limited, slow and mostly through mobile data or hotel wifi, so download maps offline.
  • Shortages of goods are common, so bring medicine and basic toiletries.
  • Bring enough cash for your whole trip, preferably euros, since card use is limited.
  • Power cuts and fuel shortages are common.
  • Casa particular stays are a good way to meet locals and often cheaper than hotels.
  • US travelers must follow the rules for authorized travel categories.

A short history

Spain founded Havana in 1519, and it became the main port for treasure fleets. Sugar wealth built grand buildings. After the 1959 revolution Cuba became socialist, and the US embargo froze much of the city in time.

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Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Havana