Destination guide · Havana
Havana Travel Guide: Where to Stay, What to Do and When to Go
A practical Havana travel guide: best neighbourhoods to stay in, top things to do, getting around, food, costs and the best time to visit.
Updated 2026-07-01
Why visit Havana
Havana is Cuba's magnetic capital — UNESCO Habana Vieja + Malecón + Vedado + Plaza de la Revolución, 1950s American classic cars, son + rumba + jazz (Fábrica de Arte Cubano), Cohiba cigars, Havana Club rum. One of Latin America's most photogenic + culturally intense cities, best paired with Viñales tobacco valley or Trinidad colonial time-capsule.
Havana is Cuba's magnetic capital — UNESCO-listed Habana Vieja with baroque cathedrals + colonial plazas (Plaza Vieja, Plaza de Armas, Plaza de la Catedral), the 8 km Malecón seawall at sunset, faded pastel mansions of Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, and 1950s American classic cars still ferrying locals + tourists. Home to son + rumba + jazz (Buena Vista Social Club, La Zorra y el Cuervo), Hemingway's La Floridita + El Floridita daiquiri, Cohiba cigars, Havana Club rum, and one of Latin America's most photogenic + culturally intense cities.
Cuba's magnetic UNESCO capital — Habana Vieja plazas, Malecón sunsets, 1950s classic cars.
Bring cash EUR/CAD/GBP — US-issued credit + debit cards DO NOT WORK in Cuba.
US travellers need one of 12 authorised travel categories (most use 'Support for the Cuban People').
Base in Habana Vieja (atmospheric) or Vedado (leafy 1950s elegance + Hotel Nacional).
Currency CUP (Cuban peso); Type A/B/C 110/220V plugs; drink bottled water only.
Best time to visit Havana
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.
Where to stay in Havana
Choosing the right neighbourhood matters more than the hotel itself in Havana. These are the areas travelers book most.
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.
Regla + Casablanca
Ferry-across-harbour Afro-Cuban Santería neighbourhoods — day trip only.
Casas particulares (island-wide)
Government-licensed private homestays — often the most authentic + best-value stay (US$25–80/night).
Top things to do in Havana
Habana Vieja plazas walking loop
Free — Plaza de la Catedral + Plaza de Armas + Plaza Vieja + Plaza de San Francisco — allow half a day; UNESCO restored heart of Old Havana.
Malecón sunset walk + classic-car ride
Free walking + US$25–40 for 1h vintage-convertible ride along the 8 km seawall + Vedado + Plaza de la Revolución loop.
Museo de la Revolución + Granma boat
US$8 — former Presidential Palace + Che + Fidel memorabilia + the Granma yacht that brought them from Mexico in 1956.
Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC) — Vedado nights
US$2 entry — old cooking-oil factory now Havana's essential nightlife + gallery + music venue; Thurs–Sun 8pm–3am; queues 30 min.
Callejón de Hamel Sunday rumba
Free — Afro-Cuban art alley in Centro Habana; Sunday noon rumba drumming + dancing (donations welcome).
Getting around Havana
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).
Walking
Habana Vieja + Centro Habana + Vedado walkable within each district.
Almendrón (shared classic-car taxi)
1950s American cars running set routes CUP 20–50 (US$0.10–0.20) — locals-only pricing but tourists can join.
Tourist yellow taxi
US$5–15 in centre; agree fare in advance (no meter, no Uber, no Cabify).
Cocotaxi
Yellow scooter-taxis — US$5–10 in centre; touristy but fun.
T3 hop-on-off tourist bus
US$10/day — covers Vedado + Miramar + Playa route.
What to eat in Havana
Ropa vieja
Shredded braised beef in tomato-pepper sauce — Cuba's national dish.
Moros y cristianos
Black beans + rice cooked together — Cuban staple side.
Lechón asado
Roast suckling pig — traditional Sunday + celebration dish.
Practical tips for Havana
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).
How long to stay and what it costs
Most travelers spend 4–5 days (+ 2 nights Viñales or Trinidad) in Havana. Compare live hotel rates for your exact dates before fixing the length of your trip — shoulder-season nights in Havana are often materially cheaper than peak weeks.
Havana FAQs
Do I need a visa for Cuba?
Nearly all nationalities need a Cuban Tourist Card (tarjeta de turista) — 30 days, extendable once for 30 more. Cost US$25–75 depending on point of purchase (airline counter, Cuban consulate, online). US citizens must travel under one of 12 authorised categories (most common: 'Support for the Cuban People') + keep a 5-year records log — technically no tourism, though enforcement is loose. Passport valid 6+ months + proof of health insurance required on arrival.
How do I combine Havana with Morocco?
Havana ↔ Madrid direct 9h Iberia + Air Europa → Madrid ↔ Marrakech / Casablanca 3h — total 13–15h. Marhaba's Atlantic-history arc: 5 nights Havana + Viñales day → Madrid 2 nights → Marrakech + Sahara 5 nights. Culturally the two capitals of layered colonial + indigenous / Andalusi / African heritage. Note: US-issued cards do not work in Cuba — bring EUR / CAD / GBP cash.
How do payments work in Cuba? (This trips up everyone)
US-issued credit + debit cards DO NOT WORK in Cuba (Chase, Amex, Visa, MasterCard). Bring cash in EUR, CAD or GBP (not USD — 10% surcharge to exchange). Exchange at hotels or CADECA offices to CUP (Cuban peso) at official rate ~24 CUP = 1 USD but the informal rate is 320+ CUP = 1 USD — dramatically better; ask your casa host or a trusted local. Budget US$40–100/day cash for a mid-range trip. Wi-Fi is now widespread + faster than a decade ago (Etecsa scratch cards or ETECSA data eSIMs).
How do I visit Viñales / Trinidad from Havana?
Viñales (2h30 west by Viazul bus US$12 one-way or private taxi US$120 return) — tobacco valley, mogotes karst, horseback rides + tobacco-farm tours. Trinidad (5h30 southeast) — UNESCO colonial time-capsule + Ancón Beach — worth 2 nights minimum. Both essential Cuba beyond Havana. Book Viazul 24h ahead in season; private colectivo taxis often same-price + faster.
Is Havana good for families?
Older kids (10+) love it for the classic cars, live music + Malecón vibe; younger kids find heat + walking distances hard. Aquarium National (Miramar), Callejón de Hamel Sunday rumba, Fusterlandia (Fuster mosaic house), Plaza de la Catedral evening street performers, Playas del Este 20 km east for beach day. Family rooms best at Meliá Cohiba, Iberostar Grand Packard, casas particulares with 2-3 rooms.
What's the best luxury stay in Havana?
Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski (2017 — Old Havana's finest, roof pool with Capitolio view), Iberostar Grand Packard (Prado + Malecón), Iberostar Parque Central (Prado — split into two connected buildings), Meliá Cohiba (Vedado — business + expat scene), Hotel Nacional (Vedado — historic 1930 grande-dame, all leaders + celebrities stayed here). Best-of-Havana experience often the boutique + service of Kempinski + character of Nacional in one trip.
How do I get from HAV airport to my hotel?
José Martí (HAV) 20 km southwest — 3 terminals (T3 international the main one). Taxi US$25–35 (agree fare in advance — no meters, no Uber, drivers accept USD or EUR cash). Journey 30–45 min depending on traffic. Some hotels + casas particulares offer complimentary pickup on request — highly recommended for first arrival.
Is Havana safe for tourists?
One of the safest capitals in Latin America — violent crime rare, heavy police presence in tourist zones. Petty theft + jineterismo (hustling tourists — restaurant scams, currency-exchange scams, over-priced 'friend' introductions) common but non-violent. Verify taxi fare + restaurant menu prices in advance. Solo women get lots of piropos (catcalls) — cultural, not dangerous. Emergency 106 (police) / 104 (ambulance).
Ready to book your Havana trip?
Everything in this guide is bookable through Marhaba's licensed partners.
