Havana is easily a city I still think about. I frequently catch my thoughts drifting towards it at random points, mulling over the anachronistic elements of the city combined with the friendly locals and vibrant culture. Here’s a travel guide to Havana that’ll make planning your trip that much easier!
If you are planning a trip to Cuba, first check out my guide here.
Where to Stay in Havana
In order to support the Cuban people, I recommend that you stay in a Casa Particular. You have a variety of options such as a private room in a local’s house, a shared room such as a hostel, or the entire apartment to yourself. We booked ours on Airbnb and had a seamless experience with our incredibly gracious hosts.
New to Airbnb? Click here for $40 off your first stay!
I highly recommend you stay in Habana Vieja (Old Havana) so that you are central to all the action. However, it can be a little hard to find accommodations for large groups so if you are looking for larger houses, try Vedado but be aware that you will have to take taxis into Old Havana and it’s a bit more of a secluded area.
What to do in Havana
There is plenty to do in Havana. If you’re not much of a planner, just throw away the map and explore the vibrant streets, dotted with bright colored buildings and you’ll find plenty to do. If not, here are some of the best things to do in Havana.
Classic Car Tour
Exploring the city in a classic car is a great way to not only get a more private tour but also some epic photos. You can book these in the center, through your host at your Casa Particular, through Airbnb, etc.
Pro tip: If you want to save some money and skip a tour, a lot of the taxi drivers have classic cars. Simply wait to hail one until you’ve spotted the car that you want and then just pay the normal fare for your destination. If your driver is nice like ours was, he even may let you take photos with the car when you get out.
Visit Museums
I will let you in on a little secret. I’m not the hugest fan of museums. I know I know, a little blasphemous but I just don’t think taking a list of every popular museum and checking them each off is a great use of your time because what are the odds that you are actually going to be interested in all of them? With that being said, here are some of the top museums in Havana and I’d recommend you do further research on any that catches your attention to see if it makes sense with your itinerary.
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Museum of Fine Arts)
This museum has an extensive collection and is considered to be one of best museums in Havana. It boasts exhibits spanning the colonial era up through contemporary art. If you’re an art lover, this museum is for you
Museo Napoleonico (Napelonic Museum)
If you’re a fan of 19th- century history, this museum is for you. It houses a large collection of Napoleon Bonaparte’s belongings. Housed in a beautiful former mansion, this museum is extremely popular.
Taquechel Pharmacy Museum
We actually stumbled upon this museum without knowing what it was and it was actually very fascinating. You will feel as if you stepped back in time to what a pharmacy back in the day may have looked like.
Museo del Ron Havana Club (Rum Museum)
Located in an 18th century palace, the Rum Museum tells the story of the history of rum to manufacturing it. You can even get free samples at the bar.
Walking Tour of Old Havana
I’m a huge fan of walking tours because they’re a great way to orient yourself in a new city and give you access to a local that you can ask any and all your questions to. As with any walking tour, I simply take note of the places I want to return to and it makes building out an itinerary for the remainder of my stay so much easier!
Learn to Salsa
Always wanted to salsa but never had the time for lessons? Now is your time to cross it off your bucket list! Besides just hearing the music while you’re wandering the streets and following it inside to a live band, there are some places where you can actually take salsa lessons in Havana. Salsabor, SalsAmiga All Star Dance Academy, and La Casa del Son are all extremely popular spots!
Nightlife in Havana
No guide to Havana would be complete without mentioning the nightlife. No matter what pace of nightlife you enjoy, whether it be a Havana night club or a relaxed cocktail bar, you have to go to these two spots!
Fabrica de Arte Cubano
I have truly never experienced anything like Fabrica de Arte. With different levels and rooms to wander through the space is part art gallery part bar part everything. You can see the latest art work or tour eccentric exhibitions, all while enjoying great music and some great cocktails.
La Zorra y El Cuervo
An intimate venue, this jazz club is another must during your stay in Havana. Top jazz players perform here around 10 pm every night. A bit gritty but a whole lot of fun, we loved every minute at La Zorra y El Cuervo.
Best Restaurants in Havana
I was pleasantly surprised by the food scene in Havana. I hadn’t heard a lot of great things but we definitely had some delicious meals on our trips. Here are some of the best restaurants in Havana, Cuba.
La Guarida
An absolute must for dinner! If you can get a reservation in advance, I’d recommend doing so (just ask your host or another local to make it for you). The best part about dining at La Guarida is that the entire meal is an experience from the moment you step into the building and see the grand staircase to the rooftop that we spent hours dancing at after our meal. The ambiance is reason enough to visit La Guarida but luckily, the food also does not disappoint.
304 O’Reilly
Located in Old Havana, another restaurant that nails the balance of ambiance and food (are you seeing a trend here?). Treat yourself to Latin influenced food and some delicious cocktails for a relaxing dinner.
El Cocinero
Located right next door to Fabrica de Arte, this is the perfect stop before your night out. The restaurant itself is quite picturesque and the food just as delicious.
Mojito Mojito
This was the perfect spot for lunch after our walking tour of Old Havana. As the name suggests, they have some killer mojitos with different flavors if you want to try something besides the classic. They also had a live band so we spent a few hours eating, drinking, and dancing. Truly the perfect way to spend an afternoon
Writing that just made me want to book a return ticket back! Hope you enjoyed this guide to Havana xx
Loved this guide to Havana? Then you’ll love these
The Ultimate First Timer’s Guide to Cuba
7 of the Best Things to do in Medellin
6 of the Best Buenos Aires Cafes
Pin this Guide to Havana for later:
