Cuba, Havana Tips: Your Unique Guide to the 18 Best Things to See & Do

Few places in the world capture curiosity and interest as much as Havana, Cuba. The charming old towns, colorful facades, rich history, and perhaps th

This guide is designed for travelers spending 3 to 5 days in Havana who want a mix of culture, food, history, and smart hotel choices without overplanning. It’s ideal if you want to experience the city deeply and stay well located.

This guide shares my best Havana tips and 18 things to see and do, from historic squares and local streets to bars, museums, and everyday moments that make the city unforgettable.

Before You Go to Havana

Havana is easy to navigate once you know a few basics. You’ll need a tourist card, travel insurance, and a passport valid for six months. Bring enough cash, as foreign bank cards don’t work reliably, and exchange money gradually.

Internet exists but is slow and inconsistent; hotels offer the most reliable connections. Getting around is simple with taxis and walking, but prices are higher for visitors, so staying in the right area makes a real difference.

Tips on How to Experience Havana, Cuba

Havana isn’t about ticking off landmarks. It’s about timing, atmosphere, and being in the right place at the right moment. Mornings feel different from evenings, and neighborhoods change character after dark.

Where you stay shapes your experience here more than in most cities. A central base lets you explore on foot, wander early before the crowds, and enjoy evenings without planning transport. With that in mind, here are my top tips and the best things to see and do in Havana.

Havana, Cuba Map Overview

This map shows the main neighborhoods covered in this guide, including Old Havana, Vedado, Miramar, and the easy beach escape to Santa María del Mar. It’s designed to help you choose where to stay and understand distances before booking accommodation or planning day trips.

Best Time to Go to Cuba, Havana

November to April is ideal – sunny, warm, and lower humidity. Avoid hurricane season from June to November.

How to Get to Havana, Cuba

Direct flights from the U.S. (Miami, New York, etc.) and Latin America (like Medellín) land at José Martí International Airport in Havana.

Getting Around Havana, Cuba

Old Havana is best explored on foot or via a classic 1950s car tour to soak up the atmosphere. For trips outside the city, taxis, private drivers, or ride apps like Sube make longer journeys easier. Public buses exist but can be slow and confusing if its your first time.

My Top Tips & 18 Best Things to Do and See in Havana, Cuba

Havana is messy, magnetic, and full of life. Classic cars, faded pastel buildings, music drifting out of open windows, and daily life unfolding on the street. It’s not polished, but that’s the point. The city pulls you in through atmosphere, conversations, and small moments rather than big sights. Where you stay and how prepared you are makes a real difference here, more than in most cities.

Where to Stay in Havana, Cuba

Havana isn’t a city you “dip into” between sights. It’s layered, loud, slow, beautiful, and sometimes chaotic. Staying in the right area changes how much of that you actually experience. When you travel to Havana, one of my top tips is to either stay in hotels (state-owned) or Casa Particulares (locally owned).casa

Set in Vedado near the coast, Meliá Habana offers a quieter base away from the crowds of Old Havana. Rooms are spacious by Havana standards, the pool area feels like a reset button after hot city days. This is a good fit for travelers who want comfort, reliable service, and a calmer atmosphere without disconnecting from the city entirely.

Iberostar Selection Parque Central sits right on the edge of Old Havana. Staying here means you can explore early mornings and late nights without planning logistics. It’s ideal if culture, architecture, and atmosphere are the priority.

Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski is a gorgeous 5-star hotel with an incredible infinity pool on the rooftop and the best views of the Capitolio. Seriously, the rooftop bar is the perfect place for sunset! It’s a fantastic place with its deluxe rooms, modern amenities, and great Wifi! The Kempinski is right by Habana Vieja and makes exploring this historical part incredibly easy.

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Stay in a Casa Particular in Havana

In my opinion, the best way to support locals is to stay in a Casa Particular when in Cuba Havana, though. The families usually have one to two rooms in the house they live in themselves and rent these out. They still have to pay high taxes to the government to run them but it’s a wonderful chance to enhance the quality of life.

The casa particulares can be booked on Airbnb or Hostelworld.

La Habana Budget Bed & Breakfast: Casa Triz for 18 US$ is an absolute gem!

1 El Capitolio

The Capitolio Nacional de Cuba is one of the country’s prettiest and most important buildings. Located in Centro Habana, it is similar to that in Washington D.C, but a meter high, taller, and longer with way more details. It was built in 1926, needing more than 5000 workers, 3 years, and all supported by the American government.

It was in 2013 that it finally underwent a 6-year restoration, bringing back its former glory.

2 Plaza de Armas Main Square

The Plaza de Armas was built in the 16th century and used to be more of a military function. It’s a beautiful, shady and green square that’s ideal for rest and escaping the sun on a hot day. Nearby, you can find various restaurants and the famous Obispo Street.

Interestingly, there are a bunch of unique museums just around there, such as the City Museum, El Templete Museum, or the Sailing Museum (Museo de Navegacion).

3 Saint Francis of Assisi Square

Created in 1628, the Saint Francis of Assisi Square served as a water supply point for the fleets. It sits right by the seaside and is surrounded by beautiful pink colonial houses and the Church San Francisco de Asis.

In the middle of it, you can find the fountain of lions, which is conceived as a representation of the Spanish Empire.

4 Plaza Vieja

The Plaza Vieja is easily the most colorful colonial square of the four, with breweries, buzzing cafes, and great architecture all around. It’s a fantastic mix of Cuban baroque and Art Nouveau, modern and lovely, restored.

Back in the day, Plaza Vieja was used for military exercises, carnivals, and any sort of proclamations. Nowadays, it’s a wonderful place to grab a bite – highly recommend this as one of my tips of your Havana journey!

5 Plaza de la Catedral Square

The Plaza de la Catedral Square is probably the most uniform of the four squares. Most of the buildings, including the Cathedral, date back to the 18th century – a real-life Cuban Baroque museum!

You could spend a whole afternoon here, visiting the San Cristobal de La Habana Cathedral, the Marques de Arcos Palace or the worthwhile Colonial Art Museum.

The Cathedral hosts concerts and musical performances of renowned artists. So for my Havana tips – if you’re lucky to be there at the same time, go visit!

6 Calle San Ignacio, Cuba Havana

No trip to Havana should be complete without seeing a more local side of things. Head to Calle San Ignacio in Havana Viejo to see how Cubans are truly living, what their day-to-day life looks like, and where they buy food. Because it’s such a special area, one of my top tips is to go on a walking tour to experience this side of Havana.

It’s a raw, authentic look into the real Cuba and you’ll see the contrast of the city.

7 Museo Casa del Chocolate

Another tip and fascinating place to explore in Old Havana is the Chocolate Museum. Already from the outside, you can smell the aroma and get a taste of what’s to come.

Inside, you can find various pictures that take you on a journey through the history of cocoa, its cultivation, production, and commercialization in Cuba. There’s also an exhibition showcasing chocolate cups from different countries.

One of my other tips is to get there early or prepare to queue as they only have small tables and this Havana gem is always buzzing! The best things to try is either hot or cold chocolate. It’s just divine!

8 Habana 1791 (Museo Del Perfume)

One of the more unique museums you can visit, the Perfume Museum in Old Havana. This perfume store and laboratory sits in a 1791 colonial building and makes a great stop on a city tour!

The shop sells locally sourced scented products in beautifully colored, unique little bottles of your choice. The ladies blend the scents to your liking and prepare them so you can take it back home as a gift.

There’s also a little exhibition at the far end of the building showcasing old flacons and historical artifacts.

9 Walk Along the Malecon

The 7km attractive promenade stretches from Old Havana to parts of New Havana. It’s one of the most authentic and famous avenues in Havana and is very worth a visit. At night, you can find many locals hanging out here.

One of the main tips I want to give you is to take a walk before sunset for the best views and climate of Havana, and to experience it.

Watching the Cannon Blast Ceremony must be one of Havana’s most interesting spectacles. Happening each evening at 9 pm, it’s one of the city’s oldest traditions and dates back 300 years. Each night, the shooting of the cannon from the San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress across the Havana harbor would signal the closing of the walled city and, hence, the protection of the city.

You can hear the sound of the cannonball through most of Havana Vieja. My favorite place to see the fort from Havana Vieja is from the Malecón.

12 Explore the Havana Club Rum Museum

The Museo del Ron Havana Club recently reopened and is one of the things you need to do in Havana, Cuba! It’s there that you can go on a journey back to the roots of Cuban history and its origins.

The museum offers various tours to choose from, ranging from 1 hour to 1 hour 45 minutes. You can explore the whole rum-making process from the cut sugar cane to its finished rum bottle and how the distillery and aging warehouse worked.

13 Go on a Drive in a Vintage Car

If there is one activity that you cannot miss when in Havana, Cuba, it’s driving around in a 1950s vintage American Car. The drivers have their usual routes that take you to a range of sights within Havana and the trips can last between 1 to 1.5 hours.

Most of the vintage cars are parked around Parque Central, and you can just approach the drivers. To give you an idea, a 1-hour tour might be around 50 USD, but I’d try to negotiate!

14 Plaza de la Revolucion

The famous Plaza de la Revolución is the base of the Cuban government and the place where large-scale political rallies are held. It’s big enough to hold 1 million people, as it happened in 1998 when Pope John Paul II visited.

The whole plaza is surrounded by utilitarian buildings from the late 1950s, with one that you might have seen before. The Ministerio del Interior on the north side is well known for its huge mural of Che Guevara with the words – hasta la victoria siempre (Always Towards Victory).

15 Almacenes San Jose Artisans’ Market

If you’re after some souvenirs, and you should when in Cuba, then this is the place to go. The Almacenes San Jose Artisan’s Market is a warehouse, right on the waterfront of Havana Vieja. It was built in 1885 and is considered the oldest depository in Old Havana.

Unlike other South American countries, Cuba doesn’t have a strong history of producing handicrafts. Therefore, it’s wonderful to see how the artisans have developed their craft over the last 30 years. These vendors offer all things from musical instruments, leather items, clothing, and colorful ceramics.

The second level is entirely made of artwork from self-taught and street artists, showcasing popular themes of Cuba.

16 Drink Cuban Mojito in La Bodeguita del Medio

Technically a place to eat and drink, it’s also one of the must-visit sites in Havana. Founded in 1942, it started as a food store. Later on, La Bodeguita del Medio was the place to be for famous writers, artists, and important politicians.

It was journalist Leandro Garcia who started signing the wall and leaving a mark or a memory. Nowadays, you can find the signatures of Salvador Allende, Pablo Neruda, and of course, Ernest Hemingway.

It was Ernest Hemingway, who frequented the bar, and to this day you can find his sign saying: ‘My mojito en La Bodeguita. My daiquiri en El Floridita’.

17 Visit El Floridita & Try a Frozen Daiquiri

The popular El Floridita is one of the most iconic places you can visit in Havana and one of my main tips for when visiting the city. As Hemingway’s favorite bar, El Floridita features a bronze statue of the famous writer, always having a full daiquiri sitting on the bar.

The history dates back more than 200 years. It started off as ‘The Silver Pineapple’, attracting the Havana citizens. It was then in 1931 when the owner created the Frozen Daiquiri for the first time, making the El Floridita world famous.

Therefore, now when you think about El Floridita, you also think about Hemingway. He lived down the road and frequented the bar, always to have his Daiquiri. Legend has it, that one day, after a few Daiquiris, he came up with the idea for his book ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls.

With its antique interior with the charm of the 1950s, old pictures on the walls, and live music, it’s a fantastic hangout

18 Teatro America

The Teatro America is one of Cuba’s most important theaters in the artistic scene. Inaugurated in 1941, it has hosted shows and functions by renowned national and international artists.

It’s likely the only building standing that still shows the name ‘America’. With its beautiful Art Deco look, it has this unquestionable similarity to the Radio City Music Hall and the Rockefeller Centre. Totally among my top tips for your Havana trio, it’s a thing you cannot miss in Cuba!

Best Restaurants in Havana, Cuba

Where to Eat & Drink in La Habana, Cuba

El Arcangel is a cute place for breakfast in Central Havana. It has affordable prices and a nice variety of dishes.

Best Western-style coffee & breakfast I found at HAV Coffee & Breakfast. It’s a super nice Boutique Hotel and offers free Wi-Fi!

Just around the corner lies El Cafe, which has a lively vibe, great Western-style breakfast options and good coffee! Very worth popping by!

My favorite place for dinner is La Fonda del Pirata. It’s ideal if you are looking for a lively and friendly vibe, great big dishes, and affordable prices in Habana Vieja.

For a more upscale option and if you want to visit the best restaurant in Cuba, try La Guarida.

Where to go out in Cuba, Havana

I can highly recommend Yarini Habana’s rooftop bar for some cozy vibes, special cocktails and an art exhibition on the first floor!

Practical Havana Travel Tips

How to Enter Cuba

To enter Cuba, you’ll need a tourist card, usually included with your flight or purchased through your airline for around 20 USD. Don’t lose it, you need both parts

You need to fill out the DViajeros Migration Form before entering Cuba.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months, and travel insurance that covers Cuba is required, though it’s rarely checked.

Important note for US travel. If you’ve visited Cuba since January 2021, you can’t use ESTA to enter the US and will need a visa instead.

How to Get Around Cuba

If you want to travel independently around Cuba, your best and cheapest bet would be the local buses. You can buy your bus tickets online via the Viazul website and pay online. For this you need to use a VPN. To access all your social media and apps, sign up for ExpressVPN before the trip. I used the same and would always do it again!

Other options are private taxi services. A general rule is that the price of the ride costs 10 Dollars/euros per hour. So a trip to Varadero costs you at least 20-25 Dollars/Euros and to Santa Clara it’s around 35 Dollars/Euros. Your Casa Particular host or hotel should be able to connect you with a trusted driver.

Cuba, Havana Tips: Money

The country just went through a few changes regarding its currency and which currency is best to use for what. For example, certain supermarkets accept card payments in US Dollars (my card didn’t work, though).

As of writing this in 2022, people prefer you bring Euro, GBP or CAD over US Dollars. *Update: April 2024 – people accept and use US Dollars in restaurants, buses or hotels and sometimes give you change in US Dollars.

Remember that your overseas bank cards won’t work in Cuban banks, so you need to bring cash. The rule here is to only change it little by little, as you might not be able to convert the Cuban Peso CUP back to your currency.

The official way would be to change your money at the banks, at the official rate. However, as queues might likely be very long, I’d suggest changing money only with people you trust ie. your Casa Particulares Host or hotels

As a rule of thumb, anything that’s state-owned like hotels or transportation, is priced in US/Euro and can be paid online.

Internet in Havana, Cuba

Over the last years, the availability of Wi-Fi has increased dramatically. Most of the Casas Particulares offer Wi-Fi, as well as all the big hotels in Havana.

You can buy a local Cuban SIM card at one of the city’s ETECSA offices or at the Havana-José Martí International Airport. I bought a tourist SIM card for about 15 USD which gave me 8 GB of data.

Havana Supermarkets

When I visited in October 2022, I was shocked to see the queues in front of the local shops. Especially in Havana, it’s nothing rare to see 30+ people queuing in front of a bakery or Supermercado. There are shops in which you can only pay in COP cash such as fruit shops, or subsidized shops. Mind you, these subside shops are extremely sparsely stocked – so you wouldn’t go buy things there either

With that being said, a few things you need to bring because you cannot buy them or they are very hard to find and therefore pricy are: mosquito spray, condoms, female hygiene products, pain killers – most things you’d find in a Western supermarket.

Finding packed snacks or something quick to eat is rather difficult and I’d almost say I haven’t found it.

What to Pack for Cuba:

My last of the Havana tips is to pack female hygiene products, shampoo, soap, body lotion, deodorant, mosquito spray, condoms etc.

Old clothes or shoes that you don’t need are so welcome. I had women ask me regularly if I had something to spare. It doesn’t need to be new!

Medication of any sort, especially painkillers like Paracetamol, and band-aids!

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I hope this article gives you a starting point to explore this fascinating city and country! If you have any questions or any other tips for Havana, feel free to get in touch via my Instagram @christintheilig.

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