Havana

Sights

• Habana Vieja – The colonial old town with four grand squares, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Malecón – The seafront promenade where the whole city gathers in the evening.
• Capitolio – A monumental domed capitol in the centre.
• Classic car ride – A ride through the city in an open-top 1950s American car.
• Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña – A cannon is fired here every evening in a traditional ceremony.
• Callejón de Hamel – An alley of Afro-Cuban art with rumba on Sundays.

Food & nightlife

• Paladares – Private restaurants, often in homes – the city's best food.
• Ropa Vieja – Shredded beef in tomato sauce with rice and beans.
• Mojito and daiquiri – The rum classics in bars once frequented by Hemingway.
• Son and salsa – Live music in the bars of the old town – people dance everywhere.

Day trips

• Viñales – A tobacco valley with limestone hills (mogotes), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Trinidad – A cobbled colonial town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Varadero – A long white-sand beach on the north coast.
• Cienfuegos – The «Pearl of the South», with a French-influenced old town.

Good to know

When to go

November–April

Getting around

On foot in the old town, otherwise taxis and classic-car taxis; between cities, Viazul buses or shared taxis. Bring enough cash, as cards don't work everywhere.

Tipping

Around 10% is customary in restaurants.

Power

Plug type A/B/C/L, 110 V – pack an adapter for Swiss plugs.

Currency

Cuban Peso (CUP)

Plan your trip to Havana together

Create a trip plan and the Travel Guide comes with it – with a map, ideas to suggest and saved for offline use.

Plan with Pickeed