Best Time to Visit
November to April (dry season, 21-28°C, less humidity)
Language
Spanish (limited English outside tourist areas)
Currency
Cuban Peso (CUP) — tourists often use EUR or USD cash
Time Zone
CST (UTC-5), CDT (UTC-4) in summer
Airport
Jose Marti International (HAV)
Population
2.1 million (city proper)
Climate
Tropical, avg 25-30°C year-round, hurricane season June-November
Safety Rating
Generally Safe (Level 2) — petty scams targeting tourists common
UNESCO Sites
Old Havana and its Fortification System (UNESCO World Heritage since 1982)
UNESCO-listed colonial quarter with baroque churches, elegant plazas, and pastel-painted buildings dating to the 1500s. Free to wander. Key squares: Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza Vieja, Plaza de Armas. Allow half a day minimum. Best explored on foot — streets are narrow and pedestrian-friendly.
Havana's iconic 8-km seawall promenade stretching from Old Havana to Vedado. Free to walk anytime. Best at sunset when locals gather to socialize, play music, and fish. Classic car photo ops everywhere. Allow 1-2 hours for a full walk, or sit and people-watch with a rum cocktail from a nearby bar.
Hemingway's favorite daiquiri bar since the 1930s — his bronze statue still sits at the end of the counter. Frozen daiquiri: ~6 USD. Open daily 11AM-midnight. Live music most evenings. Located at the entrance to Obispo Street in Old Havana. Touristy but historically unmissable. Allow 1 hour.
Cruise Havana in a restored 1950s American convertible — Chevrolets, Buicks, and Fords in candy colors. 1-hour city tour: 30-50 USD per car (fits 3-4 people). Book through your casa particular or negotiate directly with drivers along Parque Central. Best route: Malecon, Revolution Square, Vedado mansions.
Havana's coolest cultural venue in a converted cooking oil factory. Art galleries, live music, dance performances, film screenings, and bars across multiple floors. Entry: 2 USD. Open Thursday-Sunday 8PM-3AM. Dress code: smart casual. Popular with locals and visitors alike. Allow 3+ hours.
Massive open square dominated by the Jose Marti Memorial tower (109m) and the iconic Che Guevara steel mural on the Interior Ministry building. Tower entry: 5 CUP. Open 9:30AM-4:30PM (closed Sundays). The square hosted rallies of over 1 million people. 2 km from Old Havana — take a classic car or taxi.
A graffiti-covered alleyway in Centro Havana covered in Afro-Cuban murals, sculptures, and bathtub shrines. Free to visit. On Sundays at noon, free rumba performances draw crowds — arrive by 11:30AM for a good spot. The surrounding neighborhood is authentic and lively. Allow 1-2 hours.
Arrive at Jose Marti International Airport (HAV) and transfer to your casa particular in Habana Vieja. The drive takes 30-40 minutes. Settle in, meet your host, and take a first stroll through the colonial streets as the late afternoon light hits the pastel facades.
Airport transfer to Old Havana casa particular(40 minutes)
Arrange through your casa host (15-25 USD) or grab a classic car taxi outside arrivals — negotiate before getting in
Check-in and orientation with your casa host(1 hour)
Casa hosts are invaluable — ask about restaurant recommendations, taxi contacts, and current CADECA exchange rates
Evening walk along Calle Obispo(1.5 hours)
Havana's busiest pedestrian street stretching from Parque Central to Plaza de Armas. Live musicians on every corner, art galleries, and souvenir shops. End at El Floridita for a frozen daiquiri (6 USD) at Hemingway's old spot
Dinner at Dona Eutimia(1.5 hours)
Tucked behind the Cathedral on Plaza de la Catedral — arguably the best ropa vieja in Havana. Mains 8-12 USD. Arrive before 7PM or expect a wait
Dedicate the full day to exploring Habana Vieja's four main plazas and the literary haunts of Ernest Hemingway. Start early to beat the heat and the cruise ship crowds that arrive mid-morning.
Plaza de la Catedral and Havana Cathedral(1 hour)
Arrive by 8:30AM — the baroque cathedral facade glows golden in morning light. Entry is free. The square fills with art vendors by 10AM
Plaza de Armas and secondhand book market(1 hour)
Browse stalls selling vintage Cuban posters, old coins, and Che memorabilia. Haggling is expected — start at 50% of asking price
Plaza Vieja(45 minutes)
The most architecturally diverse square with restored 17th-century buildings. Climb the Camera Oscura tower (2 CUP) for a live 360-degree projection of the city
Lunch at La Bodeguita del Medio(1.5 hours)
Hemingway's mojito bar on Calle Empedrado — walls covered in signatures. Mojito: 6 USD. The food is decent (lamb shank 10 USD) but you're here for the atmosphere and the drink
Museo de la Revolucion(1.5 hours)
Housed in the former Presidential Palace. Entry: 8 CUP. See the Granma yacht in the glass memorial behind the building — the boat that brought Castro and Che from Mexico in 1956
Sunset at the Malecon(1.5 hours)
Walk the 2 km from Old Havana along the seawall as the sun drops. Locals gather with guitars and rum. Grab a can of Cristal beer from a street vendor (1 USD)
Take the iconic classic car tour through Vedado and Revolution Square in the morning, then explore the raw, authentic streets of Centro Havana in the afternoon — a neighborhood most tourists rush through but where Havana's real daily life pulses.
Classic car tour of Havana(2 hours)
Negotiate a 1950s convertible from Parque Central — 30-40 USD for a 2-hour loop covering the Malecon, Vedado mansions, Plaza de la Revolucion, and the Colon Cemetery. Fits 3-4 people per car
Plaza de la Revolucion(45 minutes)
Photo stop at the massive square with the Che Guevara steel mural on the Interior Ministry and the Jose Marti Memorial tower (109m). Climb the tower for 5 CUP
Lunch at San Cristobal Paladar(1.5 hours)
The paladar that hosted Obama in 2016. Walls crammed with religious icons and vintage memorabilia. Creole dishes 8-15 USD. Located on Calle San Rafael in Centro. Reserve through your casa host
Callejon de Hamel(1.5 hours)
Afro-Cuban art alley in Centro covered in murals, sculptures, and bathtub shrines. Free to visit. If it's Sunday, arrive by 11:30AM for the free rumba performance — drums, dancing, and spiritual energy that's electrifying
Drinks at Hotel Nacional terrace(1.5 hours)
Art deco landmark on the Vedado waterfront where Winston Churchill and Frank Sinatra once stayed. Cuba libre on the garden terrace with cannon battery views: 8 USD. Live music most evenings
Day trip to the stunning Vinales Valley, 2.5 hours west of Havana. Dramatic limestone mogotes (flat-topped hills), tobacco fields, and cave systems make this a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. Arrange through your casa host or a reputable tour agency (50-70 USD per person all-inclusive).
Drive to Vinales Valley(2.5 hours)
Depart by 7AM. The drive passes through Pinar del Rio province — Cuba's tobacco country. Classic car taxis charge 80-100 USD round trip for up to 4 people
Visit a tobacco farm (vega)(1.5 hours)
Watch a guajiro (farmer) roll cigars by hand and learn the difference between wrapper, filler, and binder leaves. You'll get to smoke a fresh-rolled cigar and buy directly — 1-2 USD per cigar vs 15+ USD in official shops
Cueva del Indio cave boat ride(45 minutes)
Underground river trip through a limestone cave. Entry: 5 CUP. Motor boat ride through illuminated caverns. Short but memorable. Can get crowded — arrive before 11AM
Lunch at a Vinales paladar(1.5 hours)
Try El Olivo or Finca Agroecologica — farm-to-table meals with roast pork, black beans, rice, and fried plantains. Full meal: 8-12 USD including a mojito
Mirador de los Jasmines viewpoint(30 minutes)
The iconic vista over the valley with mogotes rising from the tobacco fields. Free to access. The Mural de la Prehistoria (a 120m-tall painting on a mogote face) is visible from here
Return to Havana(2.5 hours)
Arrive back by early evening. Grab dinner at your casa — hosts prepare incredible lobster dinners for 8-12 USD
Take a slower morning to rest and recharge, then explore Vedado — Havana's residential and cultural district with leafy boulevards, faded mansions, and the city's coolest nightlife venue.
Late breakfast at your casa particular(1 hour)
Most casas include breakfast — fresh tropical fruit, eggs, toast, coffee, and fresh juice. Ask for a cafe cubano
Necropolis Cristobal Colon(1.5 hours)
One of the Americas' most important cemeteries with elaborate marble tombs, angels, and mausoleums. Entry: 5 CUP. Map available at entrance. 57 hectares of funerary art dating to 1876. Look for La Milagrosa — the most visited tomb
Walk through Vedado neighborhood(1.5 hours)
Stroll along Linea and Calle 23 past art deco apartment buildings and the University of Havana campus. The ice cream at Coppelia (the famous ice cream parlor on Calle 23, 1-2 CUP for locals' line) is worth the wait
Dinner in Vedado(1.5 hours)
Try Cafe Laurent on the penthouse floor of a faded mansion on Calle M — French-Cuban fusion, mains 10-18 USD, stunning rooftop terrace. Reserve ahead
Fabrica de Arte Cubano (FAC)(3 hours)
Havana's converted cooking oil factory turned multi-floor cultural venue. Open Thu-Sun 8PM-3AM. Entry: 2 USD. Art galleries, live bands, dance performances, film screenings, and bars on every floor. Dress smart casual. This is the best night out in Havana
Explore the outskirts of Havana — the fishing village that inspired 'The Old Man and the Sea,' Hemingway's former home, and an entire neighborhood covered in mosaic art. You'll need a taxi for the day (negotiate 40-60 USD).
Finca Vigia (Hemingway's house)(1.5 hours)
Hemingway lived here from 1939-1960. Entry: 10 CUP. You can't enter the house but peer through open windows at his writing desk, typewriter, and 9,000-book library exactly as he left them. The swimming pool and his fishing boat Pilar are in the garden. 15 km southeast of Old Havana
Cojimar fishing village(1 hour)
The small coastal village where Hemingway moored his boat and befriended fisherman Gregorio Fuentes — the inspiration for Santiago in 'The Old Man and the Sea.' See the Hemingway bust on the waterfront. Quiet and authentic
Lunch at La Terraza de Cojimar(1.5 hours)
Hemingway's favorite seafood restaurant in Cojimar, open since 1925. His corner table is preserved. Fresh fish and lobster 10-18 USD. The grilled red snapper is excellent
Fusterlandia(1.5 hours)
In the Jaimanitas neighborhood, artist Jose Fuster has transformed an entire district into a mosaic wonderland — houses, bus stops, park benches, and gates covered in Gaudi-like tilework. Free to wander. Fuster's studio is open for visits. 20 minutes west of Old Havana
Farewell dinner and live music in Old Havana(2 hours)
Dinner at Paladar Los Mercaderes on Calle Mercaderes — elegant colonial setting, Cuban-fusion cuisine, mains 10-15 USD. Then walk to Plaza Vieja for live son cubano music at Cafe Taberna — no cover, drinks 4-6 USD
Final morning in Havana for souvenir shopping and one last walk through the streets before heading to Jose Marti Airport. Allow at least 3 hours before your flight for the airport transfer and check-in.
Cigar shopping at La Casa del Habano(1 hour)
The official Habanos shop at the Hotel Conde de Villanueva on Calle Mercaderes. Authentic cigars only — a box of Cohiba Robustos: 250-350 USD. Staff can advise on varieties. Never buy cigars on the street (almost always fake)
Last walk through Old Havana(1 hour)
One final loop through the plazas. Pick up rum at a shop — Havana Club Anejo 7 Anos (5-8 USD/bottle). Check US customs rules for cigar and rum limits before buying
Transfer to Jose Marti Airport(40 minutes)
Allow extra time — check-in at HAV can be slow. Keep your tourist card handy for exit immigration. Taxi or pre-arranged classic car: 20-30 USD
All visitors need a Cuban Tourist Card (tarjeta de turista), not a visa stamp. US travelers get a pink card (~50-100 USD from airlines at check-in). Non-US travelers get a green card (~25 USD from Cuban consulates or airlines). Valid for 30 days, extendable once for another 30 days at immigration offices in Havana.
The biggest mistake tourists make: relying on credit/debit cards. US-issued cards do NOT work in Cuba at all. European cards work at some hotels but ATMs are unreliable. Bring enough EUR or USD cash for your entire trip. Exchange at official CADECA offices (never on the street). Budget 50-80 USD/day for mid-range travel.
Authentic Cuban cigars: buy only from official Habanos shops (La Casa del Habano). A box of Cohiba Robustos: ~250-350 USD. Havana Club rum: 5-15 USD per bottle at shops. You can bring back up to 100 cigars and 2 bottles of rum duty-free (US travelers: check current OFAC regulations as rules change frequently).
Old Havana is walkable. For longer distances: classic car taxis (negotiate before riding, 5-15 USD per trip), yellow coco-taxis (motorcycle rickshaws, 3-5 USD short rides), or the Havana Bus Tour hop-on-hop-off (10 USD/day). Uber and ride-sharing apps do not operate in Cuba. Agree on the fare before getting in any taxi.
Stay in casas particulares (private homestays) for an authentic experience. Rooms run 25-50 USD/night with breakfast often included. Hosts provide local tips, arrange taxis, and cook traditional meals (8-12 USD for lobster dinner). Look for the blue anchor symbol on doors. Book through Airbnb or Cuba-specific booking sites.
Wi-Fi is available at ETECSA hotspots in parks and hotel lobbies. Buy scratch cards (ETECSA offices or hotels) for 1-2 USD/hour. Connection is slow. Some newer hotels and casas have Wi-Fi included. Mobile data works for some international carriers — check with yours before traveling. Download offline maps (Maps.me) before arrival.
Cuba is physically safe but scams target tourists: 'the cigar factory is closed, come to my friend's shop' (fake cigars), restaurant touts steering you to commission-paying places, and inflated taxi fares. Always negotiate taxi prices upfront, buy cigars only from official La Casa del Habano shops, and choose restaurants independently.
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