Havana 5-Day Itinerary

How this 5-day Havana plan works

Havana + Viñales tobacco valley

Each day below is grouped geographically so you spend your time in Havana rather than in transit. Habana Vieja + Centro Habana + Vedado walkable within each district; between districts use taxis or cocotaxis. Almendrones (shared 1950s classic-car taxis) run set routes CUP 20–50 (US$0.10–0.20) — locals-only pricing but tourists can join. Tourist taxis (yellow) US$5–15 in centre; agree fare (no meter). Uber does NOT operate. Hop-on-off tourist bus T3 US$10/day covers Vedado + Miramar + Playa. No functioning metro; buses (guaguas) chaotic. José Martí airport (HAV) 20 km — taxi US$25–35 (agree fare in advance).

Day by day

• Day 1

  Day 1–3 — Havana classic (as above).

• Day 2

  Day 4 — Private taxi to Viñales (2h30 west) + tobacco-farm tour + horseback ride + mogote hike + overnight casa particular.

• Day 3

  Day 5 — Viñales sunrise + return Havana + Fusterlandia mosaic house + Nazdarovie evening.

Where to base yourself

• Habana Vieja (Old Havana)

  UNESCO colonial core — Plaza Vieja, Cathedral, Plaza de Armas — Iberostar Grand Packard, Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski, Hotel Saratoga (currently closed after 2022 blast — check status).

• Centro Habana

  Between Old Havana + Vedado — Malecón + Barrio Chino + faded grandeur — casas particulares dominate; hotels limited.

• Vedado

  Leafy 1950s elegance — Hotel Nacional (Cuba's most iconic hotel), Habana Libre (former Havana Hilton), Meliá Cohiba, Riviera by Iberostar.

• Miramar + Playa

  Diplomatic + business district west — Meliá Habana, H10 Habana Panorama, quieter + modern.

Best time to run this itinerary

November–April dry season (24–28°C, low humidity) — peak. Late-January Havana Jazz Festival draws global musicians. February Habanos Cigar Festival. May–October green season (28–33°C, humid); September–November is hurricane risk. Christmas + New Year books out 4+ months ahead. Avoid August peak heat + humidity unless you love it slow.

Before you go

• Bring cash EUR / CAD / GBP — US-issued credit + debit cards do not work in Cuba; hotels only accept limited foreign cards.

• Casas particulares (government-licensed private homestays) are often better + cheaper than hotels — Airbnb + Cuba Junky work.

• Buy an Etecsa Wi-Fi scratch card or ETECSA data eSIM — Wi-Fi is now widely available in hotels + parks + squares (better than 5 years ago).